Design dictates so much — perhaps the biggest share — of purchase descision-making by car-buyers. So the automotive-design world is a highly competitive crucible and that rare arena inside the industry where individual creative genius often is allowed to shine. Marketing is the other such place.

So Walter de Silva, global design chief for Volkswagen, caused a bit of a sensation when he criticized many other automakers' current design languages, and actually an entire reigning school of automotive design, as outdated and on the decline.

And what, does he believe, is ascendant in automotive design? Well, said de Silva at a VW product launch in Tokyo, that would be, of course, his brand's approach to design.Continue reading...

It's Labor Day in the U.S., a public holiday which has become America's biggest retail sales day of the year.

Apple takes aim at Samsung's Galaxy S III in amended patent complaint, as Samsung stock takes a beating and company's culture, strategy, labor practices and PR tactics come under fire in wake of California ruling. Samsung and other Apple mobile rivals including Nokia are rushing new smartphone announcements ahead of expected Sept. 12th new iPhone reveal.

Abercrombie & Fitch brand cools, prompting store closures.

Allstate plans addressable TV campaign in U.S.

Apple offer to Amazon revealed in European e-books price-fixing inquiry.

Barack Obama plans to focus on issues at Democratic National Convention this week as jobs debate heats up this Labor Day.

BP's former CEO Tony Hayward returns to the spotlight.Continue reading...

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne served as a proxy for much the rest of the European auto industry a couple of weeks ago when he complained that "the Germans and French" -- presumably including giant Volkswagen AG -- weren't willing to consider production cuts that could help the entire faltering European market reach more of an equilibrium between supply and demand. VW executives rebuffed Marchionne then.

But VW's real revenge seems to be to continue to have its way with the European auto market and, the company hopes, the rest of the world. VW chief Martin Winterkorn has made no bones about the goal of global sales domination over the next few years for Volkswagen. It's already coming to pass in Europe, and VW also is aiming for far more sales and influence in other crucial markets including China and the United States.

In Europe, VW and its brands -- VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda -- now command a market share of 24 percent, up from about 19 percent in 2004, while the VW brand on its own commands nearly 13 percent. Meanwhile, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Europe's second-biggest automaker, has dropped to a 12 percent share from nearly 14 percent. Continue reading...

Volkswagen raised a lot of eyebrows five years ago when it vowed to become the world's No. 1 car maker, as measured by sales, by 2018. General Motors was still very much on the global throne then, and Toyota was its No. 1 threat.

But VW got with it and has become an extremely credible bet to carry out its pledge. It's even possible that — depending on how the three companies measure sales from their joint ventures in China — Volkswagen already could threaten to become the world's largest auto maker this year. VW certainly is vying with a resurgent GM and a wounded Toyota to meet its goal seven years early, as each of them closes in this month on around 8 million sales for the year.

VW has leapt ahead of expectations on the strength of a sales boom in China and in other emerging markets in recent years, acquisitions of other brands such as the Czech bargain-price marque Skoda, and a better-than-predicted surge back into the U.S. market with new products and VW's first U.S. assembly plant in decades, which makes the Passat in Chattanooga, Tenn. And let's not forget the well-oiled marketing buzz around the new Beetle.Continue reading...

Adbusters' role in branding Occupy movement examined in New York Times as Occupy LA protesters dig in heels.

Amazon eyes China growth.

Apple critiqued for not getting social media (but does it matter to brand loyalists?) as digi-savvy toddlers' parents fuel iPad sales.

Black Friday sales boost LG and Samsung as e-tailers are poised for Cyber Monday lift.

BSkyB's James Murdoch loses investors' confidence.

China's Chery automaker launches Qoros brand as Subaru joint venture gains lifeline.

Coach, expanding in China, will list shares on  Hong Kong's Hang Seng stock exchange.

Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nestle and Mars sign European pledge to only promote nutritious products on their websites.

Disney releases mobile app for Spider-Man, as the Marvel-owned web-slinger finds his feet on Broadway.Continue reading...

Maria Shriver (who recently hinted she's in transition) and Arnold Schwarzenegger prepare to divorce as he announces movie comeback and their son Patrick responds on Twitter.

Bristol Palin lands reality show on History Channel's BIO cable channel.

Facebook asks to be exempt from US political advertising rules.

Audi launches roadside assistance app.

Australian advertisers face opposition on self-regulation and children's marketing.

BMW launches eBay store in the UK.Continue reading...

• Anne may Hathaway with acting, but could the agent who told the Oscars co-host the above skit is funny please take it back before Sunday?

• Viral experiment of the week? @wkwardprice lets "advertisers catch the attention of the public by paying crazy money for common and worthless items sold on Ebay." Uh, no thanks.Continue reading...