Amazon has partnered with Ford to list certified pre-owned “Blue Advantage” vehicles on its Amazon Autos platform, allowing shoppers within 75 miles of participating dealers to browse inventory, arrange financing, and complete most paperwork online. The move adds momentum to Amazon’s push into the automotive space following its deal with Hyundai and aligns with its marketplace strategy of scaling without owning inventory. Despite a softening used-car market, the collaboration could strengthen Amazon’s foothold in auto ecommerce, helping it compete with Carvana and CarMax by offering convenience and dealer-backed credibility.
“To say that anybody has an emotional response to any marketing expression is the highest praise one might receive,” said Nicolas Chidiac, chief strategy officer at Razorfish. “But the reality is it’s a significantly harder reality to materialize.” The gap between belief and consumer behavior is wider than many realize.
This year, media and entertainment brands will spend nearly twice as much on linear TV ads (10.0%) as they will on over-the-top (OTT) streaming services (5.4%), according to MediaRadar data and an August 2025 EMARKETER forecast.
Last week, Tesla and Rivian approved two of the most aggressive CEO compensation plans in history—Elon Musk’s potential $1 trillion payout and RJ Scaringe’s $4.6 billion plan. Both hinge on hitting decade-long performance and valuation targets tied to EV production, AI innovation, and market capitalization growth. Why it matters for brands and marketers: This compensation era spotlights the rise of the personality-driven company. Musk and Scaringe are seen not just as CEOs, but as brand assets whose visibility and vision influence valuation. For advertisers, the message is that leadership narratives can serve as marketing multipliers that help drive brand identity and, for better or worse, brand reputation.
WPP cut its full-year outlook after Q3 organic revenue fell 5.9% to £2.46 billion, its steepest quarterly decline since 2020. New CEO Cindy Rose said the company “hasn’t gone fast enough” to meet client needs and outlined a turnaround focused on AI, operational efficiency, and simplifying its agency network. WPP’s slump reflects broader challenges facing holding groups in the AI era: proving value through speed, integration, and measurable results as brands increasingly turn to self-serve, platform-driven ad solutions.
For its latest campaign, BMW is using celebrity storytelling and music to raise awareness for its certified pre-owned program, which the automaker says remains underrecognized among potential buyers.
The connected car is shifting from a tech talking point to a marketing one as in-car entertainment becomes the next attention battleground for advertisers. Nearly two-thirds (63%) want infotainment systems to give them personalized recommendations based on listening behavior, and 67% want those systems to organize content seamlessly. A brief window exists before in-car ecosystems mature and become harder to penetrate. Marketers should act now by experimenting with partnerships, designing “car-first” experiences, establishing a cross-device identity, and investing in personalization.
Technological advancements are set to transform the automotive industry's cost structure, with managers forecasting 30% efficiency gains within five years, per Bain & Company. Through advanced technologies like digital platforms, intelligence automation, and a fabless future, carmakers can make significant productivity improvements. Successful automotive companies will be defined by their ability to embed technology to solve core problems. To compete, brands must focus on high-impact use cases, build a clean and integrated data backbone, and radically rethink their operating models to prioritize speed and scalability.
Amazon added JPMorgan Chase, Santander, and Wells Fargo as financing partners for used vehicles on Amazon Auto, per Automotive News. Those banks now offer auto loans through the platform, which lets buyers apply for auto loans via Amazon in cities where sellers list used vehicles. The latest Amazon Auto partnerships illustrate embedded finance’s ascendancy into the mainstream. Megabanks and large regional banks will continue to participate in dedicated embedded finance partnerships, particularly with partners that need scale—demonstrating the maturity of a business model that 10 years ago didn’t even have a name.
US auto sales are on pace to rise 6.2% year-over-year in Q3, with GM, Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai leading gains, while record EV sales of 410,000 units pushed electric vehicles to nearly 10% of the market ahead of expiring tax incentives. Cox Automotive lifted its full-year forecast to 16.1 million vehicles, but the industry faces growing challenges as CarMax reports steep declines, Ford leans on risky financing, and Volkswagen and Porsche cut output. GM is also scaling back EV production with layoffs in Tennessee and Detroit. Despite recent momentum, fading incentives, rising costs, and tighter demand signal a turbulent road ahead.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK’s biggest carmaker, was crippled by a cyberattack that has shut down production lines for three weeks and counting, per The New York Times. JLR halted production at several major factories, with up to 1,000 cars a day not being built. The company’s 33,000 employees were furloughed or sent home, per the BBC. Brands can’t afford to wait until the next breach to act. Companies should invest in cybersecurity insurance to shield themselves from devastating losses and supply-chain shocks. Equally important, they must build brand marketing strategies around recovery to protect brand equity.
Robotaxi deployments are moving from pilots to broader rollouts as companies try to cash in on advancements in autonomous driving. Lyft recently began robotaxi tests in Atlanta, and Amazon's Zoox launched in Las Vegas. For companies investing in robotaxis, the opportunity extends beyond passenger rides. These fleets could eventually serve as a backbone for cost-saving delivery services, expanding the commercial applications of the technology. With Uber and DoorDash testing delivery robots, robotaxis could be the next move in on-demand logistics, moving beyond transporting passengers to carrying packages, meals, and groceries.
LG Electronics will integrate Xbox into its vehicle infotainment systems, allowing passengers to play games on the road, per Engadget. At the same event, IAA Mobility 2025, LG announced plans to incorporate Zoom, integrating a user experience that will allow drivers to participate in meetings without added distraction. LG’s integrations open up new in-vehicle advertising opportunities within premium ad formats, including in-game inventory. With LG’s data, brands will be able to geotarget the gaming and productivity demographics while they’re on the move—opening opportunities for gas stations, restaurants, and brick-and-mortar stores.
The news: General Motors is tapping the brakes on electric vehicle production just after posting its best-ever month of EV sales in August. The automaker plans to scale back output of the Chevy Bolt and two Cadillac models as the federal $7,500 EV tax credit expires at the end of this month. “It will take several months for the market to normalize,” wrote Duncan Aldred, senior vice president and president, North America, in a blog post explaining the move. In the meantime, GM aims to avoid overproduction, anticipating a “smaller EV market for a while.” Our take: GM revived the Bolt to fill an unmet niche: affordable EVs. While the GOP tax and spending bill may narrow that opportunity, strong consumer interest suggests GM can still carve out meaningful gains—if it delivers a compelling value-for-money proposition.
The gap between retail’s most and least digitized categories will grow even wider.
The news: Tesla’s Q2 earnings disappointed as fallout continues from Elon Musk’s political spotlight, highlighting the risks of a brand being tied to its leader’s actions. Revenues reached $22.49 billion and deliveries hit 384.1 million, down 12% and 13% YoY, respectively. Between January and June, EU car sales declined 44% YoY, per the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. Our take: While complicated to execute, brand equity should be as independent as possible to avoid tying company identity to a single leader. When CEOs make mistakes, companies can rebuild trust through honesty and accountability and by highlighting assets other than leaders, like employees, partnerships, or key products. Tesla seems to be on the path to recovery, but it may have a long road ahead.
Tesla is officially in the restaurant business following the much-hyped opening of the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles. The futuristic concept could be the template for additional openings in the US as well as abroad, CEO Elon Musk said—helping the company boost brand awareness, engagement, and sales. The diner’s launch—and the accompanying wave of press and social media posts—could help reset consumers’ perceptions of the Tesla brand at a particularly tumultuous time for the company. But it could also, given the company’s increasingly polarized reputation, become a focal point for protests, which might deter would-be customers from stopping in.
Automakers face an increasingly difficult environment as President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the removal of EV tax credits reshape supply chains and production strategy. Like the broader US economy, auto sales have been resilient thus far, as tariffs and other government policies motivate consumers to buy now. Automakers and dealers are capitalizing on the moment with incentives like employee pricing, but the short-term surge is unlikely to last.
The insights: Electric vehicle owners are ideal targets for out-of-home (OOH) advertising and foot traffic. Chargers bring in foot traffic to surrounding areas. Half (50%) of EV drivers go grocery shopping while waiting for their vehicles to charge, per a JOLT Audience Insights survey in Australia. Our take: Here’s how retailers, brands, and advertisers can get ahead in this space: Install charging stations outside brick-and-mortar locations to capitalize on both foot traffic and OOH ads. Add QR codes to EV charger advertising that provide discounts to nearby or online businesses. Offer store credits or gift cards that cover the cost of charging fees to boost loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
The news: The electric vehicle industry hit a rough patch in Q2, with sales slowing across the board—especially for companies focused solely on EVs. Our take: If the so-called Big Beautiful Bill passes—as many expect—and eliminates the EV tax credit, the industry could find itself in a downturn it can’t easily steer out of. Without incentives to offset higher upfront costs, EV adoption may slow even further, leaving automakers stuck with inventory and uncertain demand.