Dragged down by a still-worsening automotive recession in their home continent, European automakers are pulling out all the stops in efforts to retain and create sales momentum—with some new initiatives in Europe and many in the still-growing markets outside of it. Meanwhile, Lexus is planning a global brand campaign in May as it finally puts a disastrous 2010 and 2011 behind it.

German automakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW are jockeying not only to attempt to stay above the fray in a troubled European market but also to advance their individual designs on global supremacy. VW vows to become the world's top automaker in the next several years, while its Audi brand also is battling with BMW and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand for worldwide luxury-sales leadership.

One possibility for Volkswagen is to add still more automotive brands to its existing stable of 12, CEO Martin Winterkorn said. Last year, VW completed its purchase of Porsche and added Italian motorcycle maker Ducati.Continue reading...

ABC challenges Leno and Letterman with shift of Jimmy Kimmel Live to 11:35 p.m. ET.

Abercrombie & Fitch sales slide as half-naked models begin to underwhelm.

BMW revs motorcycle line as Audi ups threat via Ducati purchase.

Barnes & Noble sees results boosted by Fifty Shades of Grey popularity.

Boston Market pulls salt shakers off tables.

Caribou Coffee inks on-site deal with Jewel grocery chain.

Conde Nast booms overseas.

Dell reports gloomy outlook.

Dos Equis hits streets with fleet of food trucks.

EPrize acquired by private-equity firm.

Fazoli's pivots toward more premium positioning. Continue reading...

Film: Madagascar 3 (DreamWorks Animation)
Total Products Spotted: 8
Standout Placement: Cirque du Soleil (by implication)
Most Memorable Placement (positive): Ducati
Most Memorable Placement (negative): HP
Other Product Placements: Airbus, Central Park Zoo, Duane Reade, Ferrari, New York Knicks, Central Park Zoo
Overall Product Placement Integration Grade (1-10): 4
Comments: There are some odd observations to be made about the products and brand names found in Madagascar 3. Most odd is that the most obvious brandcameo (Cirque du Soleil), while explicitly hinted at, is never mentioned by name — even though knowledge of that name is assumed of the audience.Continue reading...

GM pressures TV networks for discounts in upfront.

Ducati is booming in North America.

Facebook sees future in India, and explores access for under-13-year-olds as fallout from botched IPO continues.

Adidas sues Merrell over three-stripe design.

Apple/Motorola patent trial will feature Steve Jobs 'testimony.'

Big Tobacco goes to war in California.

BlackBerry-maker RIM victim of own 'identity crisis' (at least it's still cool with South African youths).Continue reading...

Volkswagen AG sent shockwaves a couple of years ago with its bold declaration of its scheme for world domination, with a stated goal to become the world's #1 automaker by 2018. Then it began taking steps to do just that.

Today, the company's luxury brand sent a similarly strident message. The Volkswagen Group's Audi division confirmed rumors that it wants to take on take on BMW and go wheel-to-wheel with its cross-nation rival for global supremacy by buying Ducati Motor Holdings — and its premier motor bikes with names such as Street Fighter, Monster and Diavel — for an estimated $1 billion.Continue reading...

It's doubtful that the new T-Mobile US campaign flashing a Ducati bike (above) made the difference, but Audi appears poised to snap up the Italian motorcycle brand for about $1 billion, according to Bloomberg News.

Bloomberg hears that the board of Volkswagen AG, Audi's parent, is expected to ignite the deal for the maker of luxury motorbikes at the same meeting on Wednesday where it is set to endorse the choice of a site in Mexico for building its first North American plant. Both moves represent a further coming of age of the nascent Audi brand.

Buying Ducati would mark a significant step toward its goal of becoming the world-leading premium luxury brand, and would give BMW's own venerable cycle brand some competition. Ducati has been the apple of the eye of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech for some time, and he publicly expressed interest in buying the brand in 2008 before losing out to Investindustrial SpA of Italy.Continue reading...

ABC edges out NBC in the morning.

AOL pushes to grab TV-ad dollars.

Apple loses luster on its shares.

Audi set to buy Ducati, Bloomberg reports.

BlackBerry store sits as quiet marker of RIM failed strategy.

Coca-Cola profit beats estimates.

Coty says it has lined up capital for Avon bid.Continue reading...

Apple balks at Proview's iPad trademark demands; held cross-licensing talks with Motorola, EU reveals.

AT&T expands 4G LTE rollout.

Audi said to be in talks to buy Ducati.

BabyBjorn gets a boost from Beyonce, while New York Times logo gets boosted by Jay-Z in Amex-sponsored show at SXSW.

Bob Lutz defends the Chevy Volt.

China promotes its homegrown brands.

Coca-Cola lobbyists spend millions to defeat soda taxes, hires Jean-Paul Gaultier as Diet Coke's European creative director.

Facebook sued by Yahoo for allegedly infringing patents, while Timeline apps inspire developers.

Friendly's ice cream chain expands ordering and loyalty online.

Intel reportedly eyes web TV service.

Jeremy Lin may endorse Volvo in China.Continue reading...