It decided to display an ad here that marketers rarely do: the ad never showed the product.

The ad is quite delightful and can be watched here:

Luxury car makers are said to be experiencing strong growth in China. Daimler AG says that its Mercedes division saw 16% growth to 98,400 cars in November. Audi’s sales have more than doubled to 16,500 cars in the same month. BMW’s sales up 40% to 8,470.

The luxury car segment is expected to continue its strong growth given its low sales base, China’s increasing affluence and the strong status symbol a luxury car holds in China.

The investigation comes not long after Toyota has admitted that improper installation of floor mats had caused sudden acceleration, leading to a mass recall of Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

It’s meant that car manufacturers have had to include/display costs such as dealer delivery charges.

Car manufacturing took down prices from their website in response and updated it later to incorporate user location so they can show relevant CTP and statutory charges.  

Today, seven months later, most manufacturers have been able to adapt their website to the new legislation. It’s meant more fiddling on the part of users on websites but it’s provided aruguably better pricing information.

Strangely, BMW have yet to do this. Instead, they quote the component pricing laws and leave it at that. Go to your dealer if you want prices. Our website only has pictures and specs even though you probably came to check out our prices.

Thankfully, you can still visit places like carsales.com.au and get some dealer quotes for something of a guide. But still, most anyone interested must find this an unnecessary hassle.

It’s time for BMW to include prices once again.

Population has encoutered record growth with an increase of over 400,000, with immigration accounting for 285,000, according to government data for the year to June 2009.

“The key with bringing video games into the auto show booths is keeping people in your booth longer,” Lenihan said. “If you’re playing the game or watching someone else play over at the Hyundai booth or the Lexus booth, then you’re not at the Mazda booth or the Dodge booth.”

Frankly, this seems a waste of time, effort & money. I can’t imagine wanting to buy a car after driving in a simulator. Perhaps to sharpen driving skills as pilots do with flight simulators.

The bid is expected to be in the $2bn range. The primary issue preventing the sale has been intellectual property rights.

Chevy Volt

GM announced its intention to focus efforts on its “extended range electric car”, the Chevrolet Volt. The Volt has a 4-cylinder gasoline engine that can run 40 miles on battery alone.

GM is working on several electric car programs including international partnerships with Reva Electric Car Company in India to develop a small electric car for the Indian market and the opening of a China Science Lab to help develop high tech cars in China.

The Volt will be rolled out in California first where typically newer technology are tried out.

The vice chairman, in a Q & A, said a higher gas tax would be needed to make more expensive electric cars worthwhile to consumers.

Charging stations would also need to be rolled out at public areas such as metered parking spaces so the electric car can be charged outside the home garage.

An obstacle to electric cars is that it’s difficult to set up a charging station for those that live in apartments. Once out-of-home charging becomes available, electrically powered cars would become more viable for people living in apartments.