You want to look tough while cruising China’s roadways? Well, if you choose to do so on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, you can only do so on certain roadways due to varying regional restrictions that make it difficult for riders to spend extended time on their bikes.

Bloomberg reports that Harley is attempting to change things in the world’s most populated country and “is lobbying the Chinese to ease those laws in an effort to hike sales by as much as 40 percent annually through 2016.”Continue reading...

The IBM board of directors today elected Virginia "Ginni" Rometty president and CEO of the company, effective January 1, 2012. She succeeds IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer Samuel J. Palmisano, who retires as IBM's traditional age of 60 and will remain chairman of the board.

"Ginni Rometty has successfully led several of IBM's most important businesses over the past decade—from the formation of IBM Global Business Services to the build-out of our Growth Markets Unit," Palmisano said in a statement. "But she is more than a superb operational executive. With every leadership role, she has strengthened our ability to integrate IBM's capabilities for our clients. She has spurred us to keep pace with the needs and aspirations of our clients by deepening our expertise and industry knowledge. Ginni's long-term strategic thinking and client focus are seen in our growth initiatives, from cloud computing and analytics to the commercialization of Watson. She brings to the role of CEO a unique combination of vision, client focus, unrelenting drive, and passion for IBMers and the company's future. I know the board agrees with me that Ginni is the ideal CEO to lead IBM into its second century."Continue reading...

Nike illustrates its "Never Stop Running" tagline with a new campaign featuring Alice, whose family and friends can't distract her from her run. At first you might think it's a new feature of Nike+ (stay in touch with your social network while you run!) but it's more about not letting them distract you from your goals.

The spot's description: "When your shoes are ultra-comfortable, it means longer runs. Like, 'a marathon is just the warm-up' longer runs. Which brings us to Alice. Who puts on the LunarGlide+ 3 Shields and meets her family while, well, running."

Is it a worthy follow-on to the "Just Do It" tagline, or an ode to selfishness?Continue reading...

For 2011, BMW has an 8,000-car lead on Mercedes-Benz for the privilege of supplanting Lexus as the best-selling luxury brand in the United States. And now its executives are expressing confidence not only about this year's race but also about getting off to a fast start in the 2012 upscale-sales derby.

"We have a window to stay No. 1 in the first quarter" of next year, Ludwig Willisch, who took over BMW's North American operations, told Bloomberg this week. His confidence comes in part because BMW is introducing a new 3-Series sedan, an updated version of its classic entry-level vehicle that hits the sweet spot for Millennials who want to move up into the luxury niche. BMW has introduced a redesigned 5 Series sedan and X3 sport-utility vehicle over the last year.

His remark contradicted a view offered in August by his predecessor, who believed that Mercedes — also on the strength of new-product launches — might take a first-quarter lead. Neither did Willisch address the rest of 2012. One factor that he and competitors are acutely aware of is that Lexus is beginning its return to ample supplies of all vehicles this quarter, and by early next year expects to be flush with all of the Lexus vehicles that its highly loyal customers want to buy.Continue reading...

With more than 12 million vehicles sold since the launch of its first generation in 1975, BMW claims the 3 Series is the world’s most successful premium vehicle. The launch of the sixth generation 3 Series looks to continue BMW’s success in the premium segment when it hits dealerships in February.

However, BWM’s announcement marks an important change for the brand, as the base engine in the latest 3 Series will be a turbocharged four cylinder.

For the last decade, BMW — the 15th-ranked Best Global Brand — has relied upon a six cylinder powertrain to drive the 3 Series, but BMW has now fallen in-line with European premium competitors Audi and Mercedes, who also offer turbocharged four cylinder engines as the default option in the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class, respectively.Continue reading...

"Samsung and Google introduced the Galaxy Nexus smartphone and offered a preview of the Android 4.0 operating system, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, on Tuesday night (Pacific time) in Hong Kong," reports the Los Angeles Times. "The Galaxy Nexus — which will hit stores this November in Asia, Europe and the U.S. — will be the first device to run Ice Cream Sandwich, an operating system that will eventually make its way to tablets too."

The next generation of Nexus devices co-developed by Samsung and Google, Galaxy Nexus combines innovative hardware with the newest version of Android, 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, and the latest Google mobile services. As Bloomberg notes, the device's facial recognition feature is clearly designed to take aim at the iPhone.

Starbucks today announced its lightest coffee yet: Starbucks Blonde Roast. The java purveyor says more than 80 recipes were tested before settling on this blend, which will come in two varieties, Veranda and Willow, and become available at Starbucks retail stores as well as in its grocery stores (as packaged whole bean, roast and ground) starting in January. With the move, Starbucks' beans will be called Blonde, Medium and Dark.Continue reading...

Microsoft this week rolled out its first multi-product global holiday ad campaign. The commercials, running in 35 countries through January, integrate an array of Microsoft branded products — Windows, Windows Phone, Kinect for Xbox and Office — targeted at families.

The 30-second TV spot above (which debuted during Sunday Night Football) is called "Epic Share." It features a dad playing Dance Central 2 on an Xbox 360 with Kinect as his teasing kids capture his "tech-no" dance moves on a Windows Phone, before using Windows editing software to share the footage.

The second holiday spot — "Dog.PPT," below — features a boy giving a PowerPoint presentation to his skeptical parents on why the family needs a dog, which inspires his father to try his own presentation.Continue reading...