Aston-Martin sells stake to Italian private-equity firm.

Citigroup sees CMO depart for Gilt.

YouTube relaunches site to feature original channels.

Coca-Cola relaunches Glaceau Vitimanwater in the UK.

Daily Beast considers charging for web content as Washington Post also plans paywall.

Delta faces California suit over app.

Ford finds opportunities in "social shifting."

Google to rein in free Google Apps.Continue reading...

Is it the brand or the products that sell automobiles? Nissan isn't taking any chances.

The Japanese automaker plans to introduce five new models to replace the mainstays of its vehicle lineup over the next 15 months, so Nissan has got the product angle covered. But Nissan USA also is about to launch a new marketing campaign that brings renewed attention to the brand over the vehicles, at least for now.

The new campaign, breaking April 5th (but teased on the Nissan USA YouTube channel) to align with the New York Auto Show, reinforces Nissan's long-time "Innovation" brand persona while at the same time teasing the 2013 Nissan Altima, Pathfinder, Sentra, Versa, and Rogue ahead of their Big Apple premieres.

Ads will use the imagery, common to auto-product introductions, of a sheet covering the new models. While the new Altima, which goes on sale this summer, is revealed, the other vehicles stay under wraps. In that way, Nissan both reminds consumers about its important new launches as well as allows a continuing focus on its brand.Continue reading...

Brand managers kept Nissan out of last month's Detroit Auto Show and Sunday's Super Bowl TV lineup, but they’re doing plenty of other things to make sure the company capitalizes on its increasingly strong performance in the U.S. auto market.

For several months, Nissan could rely on buzz about its Leaf all-electric vehicle to supply marketing energy behind the overall brand. But now that Leaf is on the market, the Nissan brand is moving into the next phase, as the American arm of the Japanese automaker tries to close the gap with its relatively stagnant main rivals, Toyota and Honda.

The biggest marketing gambit for Nissan — its sponsorship of the upcoming Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.Continue reading...

Two ads currently in heavy rotation during football games may not initially appear to have anything in common. One is for an automobile. The other is for insurance.

Look a little deeper, though, and the two ads share a fundamental structure. They also share one other detail: ineffectiveness.Continue reading...