AdWeek: The 10 Best Super Bowl Ads of 2020
Another Super Bowl is in the books, and now we find out which ads people will actually still be talking about now that the anticipation is over. It wasn’t the strongest year, with few truly iconic pieces of creative, but there were still quite a few gems in the muddled mix of A-list cameos and emotional entreaties. AdWeek is covering its picks for this year’s Top 10 Super Bowl spots. Porsche’s “The Heist” makes the cut, as well as Hyundai’s “Smaht Pahk”. Read more here.
Automakers Quit Monthly Sales Reporting Game
For the longstanding industry tradition of reporting monthly new-vehicle sales, the dominoes are falling, reports Automotive News. In fact — the game is now more or less over. Audi, BMW, Nissan, Porsche, and Volkswagen have made back-to-back announcements that they will stop reporting their model-by-model monthly sales results across the U.S., switching instead to quarterly reports. Toyota has joined the rebellion by brands that represent the bulk of U.S. sales, although last week it held out the possibility of at least making its monthly results available on a less formal basis. The stampede away from tradition follows similar decisions by U.S. automakers. Read more here.
Nissan Dealers Sour on Selling New
Nissan's well-intentioned tweaks to its controversial stair-step program last year appear to be backfiring, reports Automotive News. Some of the brand's U.S. retailers say they are walking away from the sales incentive program after Nissan decoupled some bonus money from hitting volume-based targets. And worse, the diminished pool of incentive support is making it harder for many Nissan retailers to turn a profit. In December, about 50 percent of the brand's dealers participated in the factory sales incentive program, down from about 65 to 70 percent two years ago, Nissan National Dealer Advisory Board Chairman Scott Smith told Automotive News. "It's very difficult for the majority of dealers to hit current stair-step targets, with the money in the system, and be profitable," Smith said. Read more here.
Toyota's Lexus Brand Surges Globally, Despite U.S. Sales Stall
Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury Lexus brand posted a double-digit sales gain last year, taking its 30th anniversary in stride as strength in China and Europe offset stalled demand in North America, reports Bloomberg. The brand, which debuted in 1989, grew 10% to 765,330 vehicles worldwide, Toyota said in a statement Monday, powered by strong sales of its UX subcompact crossover and best-selling RX sports utility vehicle. China sales soared 25% to 202,000 vehicles in 2019 and deliveries in Europe climbed 14% to 87,000 vehicles. But in North America, the brand’s largest market, sales came to 325,000 vehicles — which Toyota said were “level with prior year.“ Read more here.
VW Plots U.S. Push with Traton's $2.9B Navistar Bid
Volkswagen AG offered to buy the rest of Navistar International Corp. in a $2.9 billion bid to secure a bridgehead in the U.S. heavy-truck market and step up its challenge to Daimler AG and Volvo AB. According to The Detroit News, the expansion was somewhat offset by Volkswagen’s first major divestment since the German automaker skidded into the diesel-emissions scandal in 2015. An agreement to sell industrial machinery unit Renk AG, valued at 760 million euros ($840 million), indicates VW is more inclined to bulk up than slim down, even amid the costly shift to electric cars. The swoop for Navistar, which was first reported by Bloomberg, would reduce the reliance of VW’s heavy-truck unit Traton SE on Europe and South America. Volkswagen AG offered to buy the rest of Navistar International Corp. in a $2.9 billion bid to secure a bridgehead in the U.S. heavy-truck market. Read more here.
February Webinar: Tax Reform Reversal or Status Quo?
Join AutoTalk for an early February program on Tuesday, February 11th at 2:00 p.m. ET and listen in as experts from Moss Adams help you navigate planning for the uncertainty and how to maximize today's tax environment.
They will also discuss:
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Areas That Are Highly Susceptible to Reversal in a New Administration
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How Can I Hedge Against Future Changes?
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What Steps Can I Take Now To Ensure I Am Maximizing The Current Tax Environment?
Around the Web
2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Spy Shots and Video [MotorAuthority]
Nissan's 11 Greatest Concept Cars [CarBuzz]
12 Sad Things Sports Car Owners Had to Deal with in the 80s [The Things]
Porsche Creating Vision GT Concept for Gran Turismo [Autoblog]
