General Motors' CMO Joel Ewanick made waves this week with the news that he's refusing to buy ads on Facebook until he can be convinced there's any ROI for doing so. The automaker is still committed to engaging on Facebook, as a statement on GM's Facebook page this morning notes:

"Just wanted to let our millions of Facebook fans know, we're still here, and we 'like' you back! We may not be advertising on Facebook at the moment but we'll still be talking with you all daily. If anything, we will be providing more content across our many GM Facebook pages - including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac - to keep the dialogue going."

He's got some sympathies from brand executives of other automakers who are scratching their heads about the value of actually paying for space on the ubiquitous social site. But most car brands (including Kia and Subaru, as the Wall Street Journal noted) are sticking with Facebook ads as well as in beefing up the content and engagement available that doesn't cost them anything (other than staffers' time or agency fees) on their brands' Facebook pages.

Ford strikes the highest-profile dissension with its cross-town rival in assessing the value of paid ads on Facebook. "We are doing more advertising on Facebook," Matt VanDyke, Ford's director of marketing communications, told brandchannel, "and it is a growing and critical part of our media mix."Continue reading...

Arguably, Ford is leading the U.S. auto industry when it comes to understanding the behavior and buying preferences of the Millennial generation. That's one big reason Ford was able to steal a march on all of its competitors with the Sync infotainment system — by making it available in the first place, to work with most smart phones, and then by promoting it heavily as a must-have "accessory" in small vehicles aimed at twentysomethings, including the Focus and Fiesta.

That obviously is the type of insight also underlying a deal with Zipcar that Ford announced today (a deal previewed in the New York Times). Just in time for back to school, Ford will supply the car-sharing service with up to 1,000 Focus sedans and Explorer SUVs to Zipcar locations on 250 college and university campuses in the United States.Continue reading...

Ford's Explorer spot featuring rapper Nelly received kudos on social networks tonight.

As if landing Ed Begley Jr. to promote the Focus electric vehicle launch wasn't enough Cali cred, Ford is further embracing west coast living with a series of breezy "surfer cool" spots with the tagline "Go. Do" — also the title of the Jónsi track that accompanies the Ford Explorer spot, above.Continue reading...

Alcoa shines as aluminum prices rise.

AMD ousts CEO Dirk Meyer.

American Airlines strikes back at Sabre.

Apple snaps up more patents than rivals.

AT&T prepares wireless plan in the event Verizon announces deal for iPhone today.

Bloomberg poaches Forbes list-maker to start rival annual tally of world's richest.Continue reading...

Ford today unveils its new Explorer exclusively on Facebook, where new videos and interactive components going up throughout day to spark a conversation about Ford's iconic (and completely reimagined) SUV brand. Scott Kelly and Scott Monty, Ford's digital and social media minds behind the campaign, tell Mashable the FB exclusive was inspired by the social media build up for the Ford Fiesta. Check out the Explorer's Facebook reveal page and let us know what you think.

AT&T accidentally reveals VIP iPad owners' information as iPhone 4 "retina display" challenged.

BP shares plunge 16% as oil industry's Dr. Doom predicts collapse.

Goldman Sachs was sued by Australian hedge fund.

Google and Apple are fighting over mobile ads.Continue reading...