In Chinese, they have become known as "breast milk exhibitions" (乳展). Except, the shows have nothing to do with babies. Nor are they promotional events for plastic surgeons or any of the sketchy breast enlargement centers commonly found on China's streets. "Breast milk exhibitions" is the colloquial name that mainland social web wags now use for China's auto shows. All it takes is a look at a few photos from recent events to understand why the moniker makes sense.

China should probably have seen it all coming almost exactly a year ago when one Heilongjiang Province VW dealer used naked women to move product off the floor. The authorities are upset. But so far, the punishment bark is worse than the bite, which assures that China will only soon see more "breast milk exhibitions," no matter how pointless the promotions are. Continue reading...

Kubang! It's not Chinese, it's Italian. But Maserati is aiming its new luxury SUV Kubang concept vehicle at the growing China market in the hopes of eating some of Porsche's lunch.

While it's rare to see a Porsche Cayenne SUV on streets in the West, the model is an astoundingly common sight in the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing. The driver is almost always a woman. China is Porsche's largest market in the world for the Cayenne SUV. And while sales of Porsche in China may be slowing due to a flattening of China's luxury car market, sales of the Cayenne specifically may slow because the marketplace is about to get a lot more crowded.

While the West is still nursing its SUV hangover, Chinese drivers are just entering the nation's SUV age. Brands, luxury and less luxurious, are lining up to cash in as mainland consumers begin delusionally rationalizing SUVs.Continue reading...

Angry Birds Space sets mobile download record.

Apple and Microsoft face price-gouging inquiry in Australia.

Barack Obama tests "Forward" as a campaign slogan.

BP will pay $4 billion on new oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

BlackBerry will be in the hot seat at BlackBerry World conference by RIM on Tuesday.

Broadway tests autism-friendly theater performances.

Brooklyn Nets unveils new team logo designed by Jay-Z.

Chrysler boosts Jeep production.

Facebook will announce a "life-saving tool" on Good Morning America on Tuesday.Continue reading...

While every major global automaker now has — or is trying to establish — a significant foothold in China, there's one significant aspect of western auto retailing that remains a huge frontier in China: the car dealership.

China now is crawling with car brands, some indigenous and many imported from the west, spurring global automakers on a major buildout of manufacturing capacity on the mainland. But China's auto-retailing network to this point is relatively underdeveloped. Many so-called Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in China still don't have auto dealerships at all, Jim Press, a former Toyota and Chrysler top executive turned consultant, told Automotive News.

But that, like everything else about China's auto market, seems to be changing fast. At the Beijing Auto Show this week, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson announced plans to expand its dealership network in China to 3,500 stores by the end of this year from 2,900 at the end of last year. But is China ready to support the aggressive rollout of local dealers that Detroit has in its sights?Continue reading...

The auto market in China has slowed from its breakneck pace, and the Chinese government is increasingly ambivalent about the expansionary plans in China of Western auto brands. But you can't tell either of these problems from how American, European and Asian car brands are putting their best foot forward at the Beijing auto show this week.

From Lamborghini's first new SUV in 20 years to Ford's Chinese version of its new Escape SUV, auto brands are investing unprecedented resources in the Beijing-show platform in the hopes of upsetting the share mix in an auto market that remains the world's most dynamic and promising despite a recent slowdown.

Here's a look at what auto brands are touting in Beijing this week:Continue reading...

Walmart copes with fallout from revelations of bribery in Mexico.

Chrysler aims new Dodge Dart at Millennials, opens new door to get suppliers' best ideas, and returns to China with new concept vehicle at Beijing Auto Show.

Disney accepts resignation of film chief after loss on John Carter, while more companies hire Disney Institute to help with customer service.

Amylin is searching for a buyer.

Audi sees demand surge in China and U.S.

Avon arrives late at e-commerce.Continue reading...

Victoria Beckham doesn't just design form-fitting frocks — she also helped Land Rover as a guest creative designer on the Range Rover Evoque, which will officially launch at the Beijing international auto show on April 22nd. Click here to check out the 2010 unveiling of Beckham's special edition, at London's Kensington Palace.