If GM Has a Brand, It's General Misery†

Company Has Eight Brands, but No Brand Messaging

Advertising Age, December 2, 2008 — "How Detroit drove into a ditch" is the headline of an article in the Oct. 25 issue of The Wall Street Journal.

When the most respected business publication in the world writes a 2,000-word article on the problems of the U.S. automobile industry, you have to assume it knows what it's writing about. Especially since the author of the article is the Journal's former Detroit bureau chief and a man who is writing a book about America's car culture.

Failure to Communicate

New York Times, November 5, 2008 — Traditionally, brands have spoken in a "monologue" form to consumers. Print ads. TV commercials. Billboards. They talk at, or to, consumers. They say, "Here I am. This is what I am/do." This began to evolve when brands started asking people what they thought of products. While consumers suddenly had a voice, they used it the only way they could--to deliver monologues right back at the brand. Now, those simple monologues are evolving into a genuine dialogue.

Buying from a 'dying' car brand

When car brands go away, the service continues but your value can dry up

CNNMoney.com, October 22, 2008 — With all the problems in the auto industry, you may wonder if the car brand you're thinking about buying today will be around tomorrow.

The bottom line is this: "You should stick with the strongest brand," advises Robyn Eckard, a spokeswoman for Kelley Blue Book, which tracks automotive values.

It's not what could go wrong with your car while you own it, she said. It's what happens when you want to unload it.

Toyota's Club Scion Gives Socializers A Lift At There.com

MediaPost Publications, August 14, 2007 — TOYOTA'S SCION DIVISION HAS ENTERED a second Second Life. Actually, a fourth. Toyota's Gen Y car division has this year created a presence on Whyville.com, Gaia.com, Second Life, and now, There.com. For the latter, the company--with help from Makena Technologies, which hosts There.com--has just launched Club Scion, a social club doubling as vehicle exploration.

Scion Drives Into There.com

MediaPost Publications, August 10, 2007 — TOYOTA'S SCION HAS PARTNERED WITH Makena Technologies, parent company of the virtual world There.com, to launch Club Scion--an in-world branded nightclub cum hangout spot.

Toyota's Scion Brand Bests E-Tailers With Recognition Among Young Consumers

MediaPost Publications, April 24, 2007 — SCION, TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A.'S brand founded in 2003 to appeal to Generation Y consumers, has 80% name recognition among young buyers, according to Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG)'s second annual e-commerce survey, putting it ahead of other, well-established branded online retailers Sears, Target, Macys, Best Buy and Amazon.com.