Core Insights - VML has received multiple prestigious awards, including being named No. 3 on Fast Company's 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators, APAC Network of the Year by Campaign Brief, and Global Network of the Year at the Gerety Awards [2][3][6] Group 1: Awards and Recognition - VML was recognized as No. 3 on Fast Company's 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators, highlighting its culture of innovation and employee empowerment [2] - The agency climbed to No. 1 as APAC Network of the Year in Campaign Brief's The Work 2025, improving from No. 3 in 2024 with 148 Acceptances [3][4] - For the second consecutive year, VML was named Global Network of the Year at the Gerety Awards, collecting 50 honors including nine Gold and 14 Silver [6][7] Group 2: Market Performance - VML's strong presence in the APAC region is evidenced by its top rankings in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and a No. 2 ranking in Thailand [4] - VML Australia and VML Thailand ranked No. 4 and No. 5 respectively in the APAC agency table, contributing significantly to the agency's overall success [5] Group 3: Innovative Projects - VML developed the SupportBelt with Ford, which sold out within 36 hours and received a 96% positive sentiment on social media [8] - The agency repurposed outdated copper cables into protective garments for children with Butterfly Skin disease, improving mobility by 70% [8] - A children's book designed for Fruittella achieved over 300 million impressions and 257% higher engagement than benchmarks [8] Group 4: Leadership and Vision - VML's CEO Jon Cook emphasized the agency's commitment to creativity and technology integration, which drives growth and meaningful connections [9] - WPP's CEO Cindy Rose praised VML for its world-class creativity and ability to connect with audiences effectively [10] Group 5: Company Overview - VML is a leading creative agency that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, recognized for its innovative work with major clients [10] - The agency operates with 26,000 employees across 55 markets, with principal offices in key global cities [10]

Market Overview - Crypto majors experienced an overnight selloff, with BTC down 1% at $115,000, ETH down 2% at $4,520, XRP down 2% at $2.99, and SOL down 4% at $236 [1] - Total3 (total crypto market cap minus BTC and ETH) reached a new all-time high of $1.12 trillion over the weekend [1] - The overall AI x Crypto market cap decreased by 6% to $13.6 billion [2] ETF and Treasury Investments - BTC ETFs saw net inflows of $642.4 million on Friday, totaling $2.32 billion in the past week [1] - ETH ETFs experienced their biggest day in weeks with $405 million in net inflows on Friday [1] - Galaxy Digital facilitated Forward Industries' treasury push by purchasing over $700 million in SOL [1] Memecoin and NFT Trends - Memecoin leaders were significantly down, including DOGE (-8%), Shiba (-6%), PEPE (-8%), PENGU (-6%), BONK (-10%), TRUMP (-4%), SPX (-8%), and FARTCOIN (-10%) [1] - ETH NFT leaders showed mixed performance; Punks increased by 3% to 48.3 ETH, while Pudgy decreased by 2% to 10.2 ETH, and BAYC decreased by 3% to 8.9 ETH [2] - A grail Pokemon card was sold for $4 million over the weekend [2] Token and Protocol Developments - Polkadot DAO approved a referendum to cap DOT tokens at 2.1 billion to reduce emissions and increase scarcity [1] - Punk Strategy bought 6 Punks, causing the PNKSTR token to soar to $30 million (now $15 million) [1]

My Ride: Raymond Beniquez discusses his 1939 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon and the history of wood-bodied vehicles in Puerto Rico https://t.co/4IDxzCKeGV ...

Job Cuts - Ford plans to cut more than 470 jobs at two plants in South Africa [1] Import Trends - Imports of cars from India and China are jumping [1]

Core Insights - The industry's brand loyalty rate declined to 51.1% in the first half of 2025, down 1.4 percentage points from the same period in 2024, indicating ongoing volatility in loyalty trends post-pandemic [2][3]. Brand Loyalty Trends - More than half of all brands tracked experienced year-over-year loyalty declines of one percentage point or more, affecting both mainstream and luxury brands [3]. - The shift in loyalty rates reflects a balance between returning market volume and strong competition among brands, with households more open to cross-shopping compared to pre-pandemic levels [4]. Conquest Activity - Conquest volume increased by 7.6% among mainstream brands and 6.2% among luxury brands in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, indicating brands that executed competitive strategies were able to capture households more effectively [4][5]. Market Dynamics - The number of households returning to the market rose by 4.2% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, marking the third consecutive year of improvement, which created more opportunities for defections as brands competed for returning customers [5]. Manufacturer Performance - General Motors led multi-brand manufacturers with a loyalty rate of 68.1%, while Ford topped all brands at 58.9%. Mini showed the highest loyalty growth, improving its rate by 4.6 percentage points year-over-year, and the Chevrolet Equinox ranked as the model loyalty leader at 42.7% [9].

Core Insights - The automotive industry's transition to electrification is ongoing, with electric vehicles (EVs) being recognized as the future of transportation [1][3] - Mercury Insurance has released a list of the most affordable EVs to insure, aimed at helping budget-conscious consumers maximize insurance savings [1][2] Industry Overview - The list includes vehicles from the 2025 and 2026 model years, marking the 10th year of publication by Mercury Insurance [2] - Factors influencing insurance costs include claims on similar vehicles, repair costs, and vehicle safety records [2] Consumer Guidance - With federal EV tax credits nearing expiration, consumers are encouraged to consider purchasing an EV now [3] - The list provides options for consumers looking to reduce the total cost of car ownership, including insurance costs [4] Featured Vehicles - The top 10 most affordable EVs to insure include: - Chevrolet Blazer EV - Chevrolet Equinox EV - Nissan Leaf - Kia Niro EV - Ford F-150 Lightning - Hyundai Kona EV - MINI Cooper SE - Hyundai IONIQ EV (all models) - Fiat 500e - Subaru Solterra/Toyota BZ4X [8]

Core Insights - Lear Corporation achieved seven top-four finishes in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study, outperforming all other seating competitors for the third consecutive year [1][3] - The study surveyed 92,694 vehicle purchasers and lessees of new 2025 model-year vehicles, conducted from June 2024 through May 2025 [1] Company Performance - Lear's President and CEO, Ray Scott, emphasized the company's commitment to advanced innovations and operational excellence, which contributed to their industry-leading performance [1] - The company swept the top three vehicle spots in the Mass Market Truck/Van category with the GMC Canyon, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and Chevrolet Silverado HD [3] - Lear achieved the best in-segment score in the Small/Compact SUV category with the Ford Bronco Sport [3] - The company earned three top-four finishes across two Premium segments (Car and SUV), including the Porsche 911, Porsche Taycan, and Jaguar F-Pace [3] Company Overview - Lear Corporation is a global leader in automotive Seating and E-Systems, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and is the largest U.S.-based automotive supplier [2] - The company has over 100 years of heritage and focuses on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability to enhance comfort, safety, and efficiency in mobility solutions [2]

Rare Earths & Critical Minerals Supply Chain - Establishing a domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing business is possible but faces challenges [1] - Building the infrastructure for harvesting and refining rare earths takes considerable time, impacting EV production [2] - Government intervention is warranted in cases of market failure or negative externalities related to public goods like climate [4][5] - Ford and other U S manufacturers have experienced production pauses due to rare earth supply shortages [6] - The U S refining infrastructure for rare earths is estimated to be up to speed within 5 to 10 years [7] Electric Vehicle (EV) Market & Policy - The transition to EVs accelerated after 2010, reaching approximately 10% market share [8] - IRS tax credits have significantly influenced EV sales, with potential slowdowns anticipated without them [8][9] - Domestic sourcing of critical minerals is crucial for climate and national security reasons [9] - The Trump administration invested in private industry, such as MP Materials, to advance domestic rare earth production [3]

AI Startup Squint Raises $40 Million To Keep PepsiCo And Ford’s Machines Running https://t.co/t7AeNYc5wT ...

AI Startup Squint Raises $40 Million To Keep PepsiCo And Ford’s Machines Running https://t.co/0VpqfQF1oB https://t.co/0VpqfQF1oB ...