WEEKLY VIDEO: Aerodynamics and Fuel Economy
PUBLIC RELATIONS - What it really matters, Now!

by Michael Pistol

When talking automotive Public Relations today, what really matters now may surprise many industry players unfamiliar with recent developments. Despite the obvious definition - managing the public's perception of a company, PR professionals are increasingly finding themselves holding the key end of their company's marketing and advertising stick. The subtle shift is part of a communications undercurrent that for the last several years has been constantly reshaping the dialogue between the consumer and the automotive product or service provider.

Repositioning

The shift is driven mostly by an unstoppable fragmentation of the traditional advertising-supported media: It's no longer a secret that consumers are increasingly abandoning generalized media formats built around ad and marketing bombardment (driven by revenue per eyeballs), favouring a more localized, specific-to-my-interests type of media - such as the Internet. The rub is that in this process, the much needed dollar support is also diminishing... Hence, the marketers are repackaging their messages to fit the ever-shifting media landscape: now we're talking viral and guerilla marketing in the same breath with the word of mouth and product placement. As such, for the automotive sector - where relevant product information goes hand in hand with branding, it's increasingly important to seamlessly integrate the desired message within the new media conduits.

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RESOURCES 2009
CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Need results? Meet our industry's key players.
Essential data, contacts, website.


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Seven Days
MANUFACTURING: FORD FLEX Rolls off Line in Oakville.
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STRATEGIC/MACRO DAILY INFORMATION for Canadian automotive business

TJAAautoinfo FASTWEBLINK

Friday - Feb. 03, 2012

FOCUS: Toyota expects global 2012 sales to rise 21% - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: China cabinet economist warns of "deflation" in 2012 - Reuters

CANADA

Ottawa leans on banks to tighten lending - ReportonBusiness

Canada's jobless rate rises - FinancialPost

INTERNATIONAL

Toyota's January China sales down 25% - MarketWatch

South Korea to get more Fords - Det.News

Major South American Markets Saw Mostly Positive Results in 2011 - Wards

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz Jan. global sales up 5.8% - MarketWatch

Thursday - Feb. 02, 2012

FOCUS: USA: Consumer demand, optimistic economic signals help Jan. auto sales - Det.News

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Worst yet to come for China growth: economist - Reuters

CANADA

Canadian auto-parts makers see green opportunity in India - ReportonBusiness

Canadian auto sales jump 15 per cent in January - TheStar

Canadian pension plan eyes Australia investments - MarketWatch

INTERNATIONAL

Chrysler profit means $1,500 bonus for employees - Det.News

Washington Stands Behind Claims of 54.5 MPG Fuel Rules - Wards

Mitsubishi Motors swings back to profit - MarketWatch

Indiana's electric-vehicle bust - Det.News

Wednesday - Feb. 01, 2012

FOCUS: Chrysler's U.S. January sales top 101,000 - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: German jobs miracle as Latin unemployment soars - Telegraph

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Hedge funds brace for euro zone break-up - Reuters

CANADA

Canada-EU trade deal a hopeful sign - FinancialPost

Is Old Age Security truly unsustainable? - CBC

INTERNATIONAL

Electric Cars: Doubling Down On Dumb - RealclearMarkets

Chrysler ends robust '11 with $183M profit - Det.News

Double-Digit Production Gains Forecast for North America in 2012 - Wards

Toyota reports robust orders for Aqua hybrid - MarketWatch  

Tuesday - Jan. 31, 2012

FOCUS: Japanese suppliers, execs to pay $548M in price fixing - Det.News

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Euro-zone Dec. jobless rate at record 10.4% - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Europe signs up to German-led fiscal pact - Reuters

CANADA

Did Quebec's fall jobs rout really happen? - FinancialPost

Warning: Debt binge a danger to financial health - ReportonBusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Hyundai Mobis reports new GM, Chrysler contracts - MarketWatch

Treasury ups auto bailout loss estimate - Det.News

Small XV Crosstrek Expands Subaru Lineup - Wards

UK: Ford's 1.0-litre Focus goes on sale - Telegraph

Honda's quarterly profit falls 41% on strong yen - MarketWatch

Monday - Jan. 30, 2012

FOCUS: EU car makers slam India free-trade pact - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: EU leaders struggle to reconcile austerity, growth - Reuters

CANADA

Austerity budget is coming, but is this the right time? - ReportonBusiness

Canada downgraded, relations with the U.S. at lowest point in 25 years - FinancialPost

INTERNATIONAL

In Beetle's creation story, a plot twist - Det.News

Hyundai Reticent to Tout Hybrids; Stop/Start Uncertain - Wards

Honda out to shake up market with first jet next year - Reuters

Car-buying tips men can learn from women - MarketWatch

Britain's auto industry rising from the grave - TheStar

Despite strong '11, Ford cautious - Det.News

Friday - Jan. 27, 2012

FOCUS: Ford Motor Co. earns $20.2 billion in 2011 - Det.News

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Investors fear mounting losses in Portugal as second rescue looms - Telegraph

CANADA

Does Harper really need to raise the retirement age? - ReportonBusiness

Borrowing Boomers pile on more debt - MoneyVille

INTERNATIONAL

Ford net jumps; operating profit lags estimate - MarketWatch

Jobs, Jobs and Cars - NYTimes

GM: Bad publicity hurt Volt - Det.News

New Chevy Window Sticker Details Cradle-to-Grave Environmental Impact - Wards

Kia targets 2012 sales growth to slow to 9.5% - MarketWatch

Thursday - Jan. 26, 2012

FOCUS: Hyundai Motor posts 38% rise in Q4 net profit - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: THE SEEDS OF DYSTOPIA: Roubini & Co. Scare The Crap Out Of Davos - BusinessInsider

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Bernanke has "finger on trigger" for new bond buys - Reuters

CANADA

Canadian jobs quality worsened in 2011: CIBC report - TheStar

Canada imports oil while battling over pipeline exports - CBC

INTERNATIONAL

Ford: Fusion isn't chasing Camry - Det.News

Nissan, Partners Explore Afterlife of EV Batteries - Wards

MG makes a return to racing - Telegraph

Crude oil edges above $100 a barrel - MarketWatch

Fiat-Chrysler in talks to produce Jeeps in China - Det.News

Wednesday - Jan. 25, 2012

FOCUS: Car makers work to sort out mess in Europe - Det.News

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Forget Greece; it's Portugal that'll destroy euro - MarketWatch

CANADA

Two major Canadian unions, CAW and CEP, exploring merger by mid-2013 - TheStar

More Canadians in low-paying jobs - ReportonBusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Audit rips exec pay in bailouts - Det.News

GM International Chief Sees Remedy for European Ops as Sales Soar Elsewhere - Wards

Opel Talking with SAIC Regarding China Sales Expansion - ChinaCarTimes

GM CEO to Congress: Volt is safe - Det.News

Tuesday - Jan. 24, 2012

FOCUS: European Debt Won't ‘Put Brakes on the World,' Ford Executive Says - Wards

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Worries Portugal may need second bailout: WSJ - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Euro zone may skirt recession as PMIs surprise - Reuters

CANADA

Signs augur well for Canadian entry in TPP: Trade Minister - ReportonBusiness

Carney warns U.S. may never fully recover - CBC

INTERNATIONAL

Auto bankruptcies weighed early - Det.News

The art of the supercar - Telegraph

Volkswagen Aims to Combine With Porsche as Soon as Economically ‘Sensible' - Bloomberg

Congress yet to OK electric auto agenda - Det.News

Monday - Jan. 23, 2012

FOCUS: OPEC: $100 oil acceptable to producers, consumers - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Davos guide: what you need to know about the World Economic Forum - Guardian

CANADA

Stalled on the road to economic recovery - ReportonBusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Hyundai rattles Volkswagen in Europe after winning in U.S. - Det.News

Momentum Builds for Chrysler Design Team - Wards

Toyota to cut 350 jobs at Australian plant - MarketWatch

GM Faces Task of Rebuilding Volt Image After NHTSA Ends Its Investigation - Bloomberg

Friday - Jan. 20, 2012

FOCUS: GM again world's largest on strong Chevy sales - Det.News

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Shilling says new global recession is here - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Factbox: What happens if Greece defaults? - Reuters

CANADA

Annual inflation falls sharply to 2.3% - ReportonBusiness

Who knew? Toronto's economy is on fire - FinancialPost

INTERNATIONAL

GM picks N.Y. man's ad to air during Super Bowl - Det.News

Mazda3 Hints at Things to Come - Wards

UK: Ten most expensive cars to insure - Telegraph

Chrysler, GM wait on raises, bonuses - Det.News

Thursday - Jan. 19, 2012

FOCUS: Science panel backs closing of Toyota acceleration probe - DetroitNews

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: IMF sees euro zone GDP down 0.5 percent in 2012: ANSA - Reuters

CANADA

Don't settle for new 'natural' jobless rate of 7 per cent - ReportonBusiness

BOC's Mark Carney puts a price tag on global turmoil - TheStar

Living the American dream -- in Canada - MarketWatch

INTERNATIONAL

Akerson to testify in Volt probe - DetroitNews

Saab: a celebration - Telegraph

Honda's Plan To Manufacture Supercars In America Is A Gamechanger - BusinessInsider

Renault has no plans to sell Volvo stake: report - MarketWatch

Kia Stop/Start Stalls - Wards

Wednesday - Jan. 18, 2012

FOCUS: Average age of cars, trucks hits 10.8 years, sets record - DetroitNews

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: IMF explores $1 trillion lending boost - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Hungary faces ruin as EU loses patience - Telegraph

CANADA

Federal budget may be delayed by European woes - CBC

Flaherty watching risky debt as Carney leaves BOC interest rate at 1 per cent - TheStar

INTERNATIONAL

Toyota sets high Korean target for Camry sales - MarketWatch

Lotus's Incoming Malaysian Owner Says It's Open to Selling Sports Carmaker - Bloomberg

Mercedes to Ponder Engine Exports From U.S. - Wards

Toyota to build 30,000 hybrid subcompacts in Feb - MarketWatch

Tuesday - Jan. 17, 2012

FOCUS: Saudis target 'triple-digit' oil price for the first time - ReportonBusiness

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Eurozone's 'big bazooka' bail-out fund is left in tatters by S&P downgrade - Telegraph

CANADA

Canada: A global energy superpower - FinancialPost

Euro woes temper growth: Mark Carney - ReportonBusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Fiat, Peugeot Lead European Car-Sales Drop as Economy Slows - Bloomberg

Public hearing in Detroit to address fuel economy standards - DetroitNews

Mini and Chrysler Recall Vehicles for Electronic Flaws - WSJ

 

Denso Growth Heats Up - Wards

Monday - Jan. 16, 2012

FOCUS: Today's youth a tough sell for automakers - DetroitNews

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: IMF: European outlook grim; high global risks - MarketWatch

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: UK back in recession and no interest rates rise 'until 2016' - Telegraph

CANADA

Carney set to keep powder dry, stand pat on rates - ReportonBusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Saab Owners Still Rallying To Support Brand - WSJ

Billionaire Syed Mokhtar's DRB-Hicom to Buy Control of Lotus-Owner Proton - Bloomberg

Opel to Unveil New Mokka Small CUV in Geneva - Wards

GM Vice Chair Stephens to retire on April 1 - DetroitNews

FASTWEBILINK ARCHIVE

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2008: INDUSTRY VIDEOS