Is the Chevrolet Volt coming back off the mat, or isn't it?

That was the question this week after General Motors reported that a stunning 2,289 Volts were sold in March — the controversial nameplate's best single month of U.S. sales, more than double the number sold in February, and nearly 300 percent more than the 600 or so Volts sold a year ago March and also this January, when the car arguably was at its reputational nadir.

The sales bonanza in March probably isn't repeatable this month, Alan Batey, Chevy's VP of sales, told brandchannel, because it resulted from some unique factors including a strong surge in demand from dealers in California, where new lower-emissions version of Volt could be eligible for single-occupancy access in carpool lanes and up to $1,500 in state rebates.Continue reading...

Whether Chevy is running deep, running sure (with its new global Commonwealth ad agency) or running well (based on recent strong sales), one thing the brand isn't running is away from its traditional association with baseball as the official sponsor of Major League Baseball.

And so in this opening week of the 2012 MLB season, Chevy has reached back to 1974 to remind American baseball — and car — fans to make sure they remember that it's always been behind America's Pastime. New ads key in on the catchy jingle from the old ads, "Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet," and put them in new voices.Continue reading...

Spring has sprung for U.S. auto sales, and it continues to create a fresh-smelling outlook: Sales in March were up by about 13 percent compared with a year ago, and most prognosticators now are looking for a strong second quarter as well.

Concerns loom about the second half, including how rising gas prices eventually might wear down a strengthening U.S. economy, and the wild card that election season always brings. But for now, auto-brand executives and analysts are crediting a brightening economy, easing credit, and even warmer-than-expected spring weather for a buying mood among American consumers.

The biggest driver: higher gasoline prices — for now, at least — are spurring purchases of more fuel-efficient compact cars. "Everyone, regardless of segment, places fuel economy top of mind, today," said Ken Czubay, Ford's vice president of U.S. sales, on a conference call today.Continue reading...

The New York International Auto Show has always been a crucial commercial platform for car dealers and buyers in the New York Tri-State area. But more and more, it is joining the big global auto exhibitions — Detroit, Geneva, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Shanghai and Chicago — as a place for car brands to make news of worldwide import to the industry as well as to butter up the local market.

That makes sense, given that New York is the global media and financial capital.

With the recent pickup in U.S. auto sales awaiting confirmation with March sales results being reported Tuesday, and more optimism ever in the air with the spring selling season, here are some of what auto brands are serving up at NYIAS:Continue reading...

Angry Birds are coming to TV.

Apple pressured on suppliers and sustainability as brand sees Consumer Reports soft-pedal problem of "hot" iPads.

Belvedere vodka "rape ad" actress sues Moet Hennessy.

BMW unveils "sexy" i8 Spyder concept.

Burger King promotes new menu with Jay Leno, Mary J. Blige, David Beckham and Sofia Vergara.

Chevrolet plans decision on future of "Chevy Runs Deep" with new ad agency.

Coty offers to buy Avon for $10 billion.

Current nixes Keith Olbermann as on-air anchor, citing behavior.

Dunkin' Donuts launches Hispanic marketing campaign.

Facebook delves deeper into search.Continue reading...

Bob Lutz is done complaining about the right-wing media conspiracy that he believes has its knives out for the Chevrolet Volt. Really, he is.

The former GM vice chairman vowed in his latest blog post for Forbes.com that he's finally, once and for all, irreversibly, incontrovertibly, done complaining about how Fox News and other conservative media outlets and journalists have conspired to attempt to sink the Volt plug-in hybrid that Lutz championed into existence when he was at General Motors.Continue reading...

Apple balks at Proview's iPad trademark demands; held cross-licensing talks with Motorola, EU reveals.

AT&T expands 4G LTE rollout.

Audi said to be in talks to buy Ducati.

BabyBjorn gets a boost from Beyonce, while New York Times logo gets boosted by Jay-Z in Amex-sponsored show at SXSW.

Bob Lutz defends the Chevy Volt.

China promotes its homegrown brands.

Coca-Cola lobbyists spend millions to defeat soda taxes, hires Jean-Paul Gaultier as Diet Coke's European creative director.

Facebook sued by Yahoo for allegedly infringing patents, while Timeline apps inspire developers.

Friendly's ice cream chain expands ordering and loyalty online.

Intel reportedly eyes web TV service.

Jeremy Lin may endorse Volvo in China.Continue reading...

Apple stock price looms large as iPad 3 (aka iPad HD) debut nears, and the company is sued by a firm that has a patent deal with Microsoft.

Boston Beer expands beyond Sam Adams.

BT and TalkTalk lose case against UK's anti-piracy legislation.

Chevy Volt woes may take solace from Toyota Prius.

Dunkin' Donuts brings pork doughnuts and LeBron James to China.

GM and Peugeot cement alliance.

Geneva International Auto Show opens amid slump in European car sales as Volkswagen shows off a Bentley concept SUV.

Jack Daniels opens "drinking school" with Zac Brown Band.Continue reading...