The assignment includes all Ford brand and Lincoln models, Ford Motor spokesman Alan Hall said today.

The position has been open since Moray Callum was promoted to become executive director of design for Ford in May 2009, Hall said.

Piaskowski, 41, left Mercedes-Benz in March after becoming the head of the automaker’s advanced design center in California in January 2009. Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz, Piaskowski headed the design team for Hyundai Motor America, where he was known for the design of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Genesis sedan. The Genesis sedan was named 2009 North American Car of the Year.

A 1990 graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Piaskowski began his career at General Motors, where he worked for 13 years on interior and exterior designs for Pontiac, Chevrolet, Buick and Opel.

Piaskowski will begin his position at Ford on Oct. 1.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20100920%2FOEM%2F10…

Despite the numerous benefits that social media can bring to a business or individual, there are many misconceptions about what it can and can’t accomplish. Far too often, unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment. Knowing what social media can’t do will make it easier to harness the power of what it can accomplish.

5 THINGS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN’T DO

Replace A Marketing Strategy

Social media is powerful, but it isn’t a stand-alone substitute for a marketing strategy. Effective marketing strategies can and should incorporate social media elements. However, simply launching a StumbleUpon account or Facebook Page isn’t going to cut it.

Deliver Instantaneous Success

Creating a Twitter account and expecting a few tweets to have followers flocking to you is unrealistic and highly improbable. Social media is a marathon, not a race and it takes time to cultivate a presence and following. Be patient with social media and you’ll be generously rewarded in return.

Guarantee Influence

Just because you believe that your business, product or service may be heads above the rest, doesn’t mean that others will. Social media is a jungle and it takes an expert guide to navigate the landscape. But even the most seasoned social media consultants can’t generate an interest if the masses don’t care.

Can’t Save A Sinking Ship

If a brand or business is going down, implementing a social media campaign isn’t going to make much of a dent in repairing the damage. Remember, transparency is critical with social media. Neglecting to be open an honest with your audience can permanently tarnish your reputation.

Be One Person’s Responsibility

When a business becomes involved with social media, each employee becomes that company’s social media ambassador. It’s up to everyone to promote the brand, not just the social media consultant. Social networking can greatly enhance social media efforts and it’s important to bolster initiatives by getting involved in positive and meaningful ways.

In Conclusion:

Social media isn’t a miracle worker, but it’s a definite must-have component for any good marketing strategy.
Comments are welcomed. Thanks for reading and sharing with your busineess friends.

originally posted by:
Chet Slater
Sarah Hartshom

1. Lust
Loving your customers is great, but take it easy. In the early days of social media – around 2006 – a business would sign up on MySpace and start “friending” everyone with a pulse. These days, lusting after fans like that will get you labeled as desperate – or even as a spammer. So take it slow and get to know the people who connect with your brand. In return, they might end up as customers for life.

2. Gluttony
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Once a business decides to take a seat at the social media table, they often dig in with gusto. The downside: They want to be everywhere at once, spreading themselves across every social media network instead of being strategic and focused. You don’t need accounts on all of the social media sites – just the right ones.

3. Greed
It’s hard to shake hands when you are reaching for someone’s wallet. We all want to make money through social media, and if you have a good business, it will happen. But if all you do is spout off sales messages on your Twitter feed or Facebook page, no one is going to stick around. Be yourself. Be helpful. Be a good listener. Then the money will come to you.

4. Sloth
Always avoid the temptation to “set it and forget it.” Starting a blog or creating a presence on a social network is easy. Keeping it alive takes hard work, adaptability and commitment. You would never open a store and then close it two weeks later because of a low turnout. Go for the long term and plan accordingly.

5. Wrath
There are a lot of people out there itching for a punch in the nose, but you’re not the one to give it to them. Once you are active online, you are bound to get a few critics. Some offer valuable feedback. Some shout obscenities. Focus on the ones who deserve a response. And no matter what, never lash out. Many businesses get into a social media shouting match and guess what? In social media, the business never wins.

6. Envy
Don’t be dissuaded by other people who are doing it better than you. Someone will always have more followers, more blog comments, and more write-ups in Mashable. Focus on who you are and what your business has to offer – and not on what the other guy is doing. And when you have to steal an idea (hey, these things happen), find a way to make it better so no one will even recognize the original.

7. Pride
Stay humble, rock star. Successful social media marketing is easier than you think. If you plan ahead, pace yourself and listen more than you talk, you will strike a chord with existing customers and potential fans alike. It will open new opportunities and build your brand in ways you never imagined. But don’t let it go to your head. There is always more work to do.

Originally posted at www.thesocialpath.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the US, the Focus will be powered by a new 2-liter direct-injection gas engine whereas in Europe it will be diesel powered. Sedan and hatchback models will arrive in 2011. Updated designs will sport “a European look”.

Read the NY Times article here.

Ford is also counting on the Focus’ fuel efficiency to encourage consumers to switch to the Ford line. The redesigned Focus features a small bump on the vehicle’s taillights that reduces air turbulence and allows the car to travel further on a tank of gas.

Read the Wall Street Journal article here.

In response to rising demand, G.M. said it would build 75 percent more vehicles in the first quarter than it did a year earlier, and Ford said it would raise first-quarter production by 58 percent. Both companies had been drastically cutting production since the middle of last year.

While sales figures for the months of July and August were significantly higher, mostly due to the Cash for Clunkers program, November sales were the third highest for 2009.

This article posted by AFP, noted that Chrysler sales in the U.S were down 25 percent compared with a year earlier to 63,560. Sales were down modestly compared with October’s figure of 65,803, and the company said this was a positive sign.

Ford meanwhile said increased sales of passenger cars and newer “crossover” vehicles offset weak demand for trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Ford said it sold 123,167 new vehicles in the month, marginally lower than the 123,222 in November 2008. The figure was down from 136,920 in October.

“We can see now that a modest economic recovery is under way,” Emily Kolinski Morris, Ford’s senior United States economist, said on a conference call Tuesday. “It won’t begin to feel like a recovery until the labor market has begun to improve materially.”

Hyundai was the industry leader last month, as it has been through most of 2009 as consumers look for lower-priced but reliable alternatives to some more popular vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency released a report Tuesday citing Hyundai topping Honda as the most fuel-efficient vehicle lineup.

“The discounts from dealerships, as well as manufacturers’ incentives, generate the highest discounts of the year on Black Friday,” said Jesse Toprak, an analyst for Truecar.com.

The average new car discount on Nov. 27 is projected to be 7.5%. The average discount the day before and after is expected to be just over 6%. On a typical day throughout the year, car shoppers usually pay about 4.7% less than the sticker price.

The article cites some dealers going to less-traditional measures to bring in customers. For instance, Paragon Honda will send bicycle riders dressed in gorilla costumes to a nearby Best Buy store.

Other dealers, like Bob Goldberg, general manager of Premium Nissan in New Rochelle, NY, denied that Black Friday is particularly special at his dealership. “Every day is important to us,” he said. “I don’t consider it different from any other day.”

Read the entire article at cnnmoney.com

Hyundai’s market share jumped to 4.3% in the first ten months of 2009 from 3.1% in the same year-ago period. In September, while the industry overall suffered a 22% sales drop in a post-Cash for Clunkers hangover, Hyundai managed to increase its new-vehicle tally by 27% to 31,511 units.

Read the complete article on AdAge.com.

General Motors Company announced today that it will be extending its 60-day satisfaction guarantee program as a part of its “May the Best Car Win” campaign.

GM originally planned to end the program on Nov. 30 but will now run it until Jan.4.

“It’s been very successful, and the third phase of the advertising campaign will launch in magazines due on shelves in December,” Ryndee Carney, GM spokeswoman told Automotive News. “They feature head-to-head comparisons of our vehicles versus our competitors.”…….

Original article on autospies.com

More stories on 60-Day extension at:
blogs.cars.com