NBA star Jason Collins comes out as the first openly gay active male athlete in American sports.

Primark is first retailer involved in Bangladesh factory collapse to offer aid to victims. 

Chrysler earnings plunge on model changes. 

Samsung reveals 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3.

Burger King tweaks menu and message after first-quarter sales decline.

BYD of China plans to sell "made in USA" buses.

Bayer pays $1.1 billion for birth-control company.

Boeing returns Dreamliner to the air but must reassure passengers, as China is deemed likely to approve the plane in May.

Canon crowdsources short films.

Honda scores so far with mid-cycle remake of Civic.Continue reading...

Global automakers—including home-owned ones—will be showing off their wares at the press preview of the Shanghai Auto Show on Saturday. What they display will reflect the brands' various crucial strategies for stoking sales and market-share growth in the world's largest auto market, which is only getting bigger.

Analysts and auto executives alike have shown up in Shanghai predicting that the national market will balloon to 30 to 35 million vehicles within several years, or as much as a doubling of last year's sales of 19.3 million vehicles (in a year in which US sales were 14.5 million). That kind of expansion would make the Chinese market as big as the projected European and American markets put together.

"There's lots of competition here and everyone wants a piece of this pie," GM China President Bob Socia told Channel News Asia. "As competitive as it is, it's probably the only market in the world that offers the type of opportunities this market offers."Continue reading...

Above, Beijing t-shirt maker Plastered releases its 草泥马老板 ("Grass Mud Horse" Boss) shirt. 

China is the second largest economy in the world and every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse)—but who's got the time?! Here's the week's reads that will make you look like a keen China observer in case you find yourself immersed in a cultural conversation.

This week: Beckham's Adidias/Nike problem... McDonald's closes iconic location... bashing Apple... Steve Jobs manga... what your brand of car says about your sex life... Walmart... Nongfu... more infant formula scandals... Jackie Chan... Vera Wang... bye bye black Audis... and much more.Continue reading...

"Argo" wins Oscar for Best Picture as 85th Academy Awards widely distribute recognition among films, actors and others, while The Onion runs into critical barrage over tweet about young actress.

KFC launches campaign in China after an antibiotics scandal damaged the brand.

IKEA withdraws Swedish meatballs from store restaurants in 14 European countries on horsemeat scare.

Barnes & Noble chairman mulls buyout that could split it in two and put B&N's Nook e-reader up for sale.

BP may be closing in on a settlement as spill trial nears.

BYD targets electric-vehicle sales.

Darden warns of sales declines at its restaurant brands including Olive Garden.Continue reading...

Apple gears up for "incredible" new products and focuses on TV.

RIM prospects dim further as BlackBerry wanes.

Pepsi inks biggest marketing deal yet for Twitter.

Airbus woes give Boeing some breathing room on next plane.

Allstate leads insurers to best start in nearly a decade in wake of fewer natural disasters.

BYD defends electric car after crash.

British Airways touts "height cuisine."

Caterpillar faces resistance to deal from stirking machinists.

Charles Schwab confronts impulse buying in social campaign.

CNN signs Anthony Bourdain to weekend show.Continue reading...

Apple grapples with Foxconn labor audit.

BP says Gulf oil spill was smaller than claimed.

Best Buy reboots big-box format.

BlackBerry owner RIM sees former co-CEO depart amid $125 million loss, trims exec staff, and explores strategic options including sale of Canada's troubled smartphone-maker.

Burger King sells 278 restaurants to biggest franchisee; tests new menu items; cedes U.S. crown to Wendy's; and brings lamb burgers to the U.K.

CBS and Turner boost digital ad sales through March Madness.

Chrysler unveils new spots to follow Super Bowl's "Halftime in America" commercial with Clint Eastwood.

Daimler and BYD announce Denza, a new EV auto brand for China.Continue reading...

Activision Blizzard to cut 600 game-making jobs.

Apple helps Nasdaq hit milestone.

Audi expects flat profit, citing uncertainties.

BYD suffers from pressures in Chinese auto and solar industries.

Buick touts technology in new Veron compact sedan.

Chevron talks with Russia about Arctic exploration.

Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and Subway top customer experience ranking.

Chrysler sales rise post-Super Bowl.Continue reading...

It took Korean brands Hyundai and Kia 15 years to attain their current levels of market acceptance among American auto buyers. If the Chinese and Indian auto brands now entering the U.S auto market don't want to wait until 2025 to pick up significant shares, they need to pick up the pace of their product and brand penetration.

According to a new study by GfK, only one-third of American vehicle buyers are willing to consider Indian and Chinese auto manufacturers, compared to 95 percent who are willing to consider U.S. manufacturers. Potential Chinese and Indian brand invaders face considerable skepticism from consumers about quality. Of course, Korean brands were able to overcome a reputation for poor quality, which initially dogged Hyundai when it entered the United States in the late 80's and 90s. The Korean brand addressed this with a trail-blazing 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and American consumers' perception of Hyundai's quality has climbed steadily in recent years. But it's no sure bet that any auto brand can turn around its quality story if things begin badly: Exhibit No. 1 in this regard is Yugo, which briefly flashed across the American landscape a quarter-century ago. Continue reading...