GM Skips 2009 Oscars, Won’t Buy any Advertising Time

General Motors has pulled the plug off its 19-year long relationship with the Academy Awards, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. Despite the fact that the Oscars are one of the biggest annual events on broadcast television, GM decided to end its long-time sponsorship of Hollywood’s flashy annual awards that included heaps of advertising time and the use of its vehicles to transport celebrities to the event and to Oscar-related parties. "It is a great property, but it simply didn't fit into our plans for 2009," said a GM spokeswoman. -Continued

The cash-strapped American automaker was one of the biggest advertisers for the Oscars spending $13.5 million for ad time last February and over $110 million the past 11 years according to TNS Media Intelligence. "With the current business challenges and tightening budgets, we've decided to focus our advertising and promotional dollars on activities that reach customers in the most impactful ways," a GM spokeswoman said. In other words, GM has decided to shift a large portion of its ad budget from the traditional media to digital marketing (internet) where the company’s execs believe they’re getting more bang for their bucks.

Holden Builds Seven Millionth Vehicle

The seven millionth vehicle has rolled off the production line of General Motors’ Australian unit Holden which is also celebrating its 60th birthday this year. The milestone vehicle was a 60th Anniversary Commodore sedan (Pontiac G8 in the States), identified for dual fuel LPG fitment. Holden built Australia’s first mass produced car – the 48-215, in November 1948 at Fishermans Bend in Port Melbourne, Victoria while its one millionth car rolled off the production line almost 14 years later in October 1962. The Commodore was launched in 1978 and has been Australia’s best selling car for the past 12 years. -Continued

GM Holden Vehicle Production Milestones

• First Holden (48-215) launched November 1948 (Fishermans Bend, Vic)
• One millionth (EJ) October 1962 (Dandenong, Vic)
• Two millionth (HK) March 1969 (Dandenong, Vic)
• Three millionth (HQ) June 1974 (Pagewood, NSW)
• Four millionth (VC Commodore) June 1981 (Dandenong, Vic)
• Five millionth (VN Calais) August 1990 (Elizabeth, SA)
• Six millionth (VX Commodore SS) June 2001 (Elizabeth, SA)
• Seven millionth (VE Commodore) August 2008 (Elizabeth, SA)

Ford Kuga Tuned by Wolf Racing

German tuning firm Wolf Racing has introduced a new sport package for the European Ford Kuga that includes a power kit for €795 that increases output of the 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine from 136 HP to 158 HP. Wolf Racing also offers 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 275/30 R20 Pirelli tires at a cost of €2,850 in Germany that can be combined with a set of sport springs for €199 that bring the compact SUV 20mm lower to the ground. -Continued


Via: Diariomotor