Audi vs Jaguar Land Rover

Audi begins production of the A2 e-tron; CEO unveils new electric model in Paris; Martin Sander to lead Sales and Marketing

Audi has begun production of the A2 e-tron in Ingolstadt, with development time shortened by 21 months. CEO Gernot Döllner unveiled the A2 e-tron in Paris, emphasizing its efficiency and everyday usability. Additionally, Martin Sander will take over Sales and Marketing at Audi effective October 1, 2026.

Chery hires Audi manager for Germany brand building

Chinese automaker Chery has appointed Chayne Brand, a long-time Audi marketing manager, to the newly created position of Head of Brand Marketing & Communication in Germany. Brand started the role on September 1st. The article is largely paywalled, with the full details restricted. However, the key event is a personnel appointment for brand building, which is relevant to marketing and advertising as it involves leading marketing strategy for a brand in the German market.

• Chery hires Audi marketing manager Chayne Brand for Germany.
• Brand becomes Head of Brand Marketing & Communication.
• Role is newly created and started on September 1, 2026.

Volkswagen Q2 Profit Falls One Third

Volkswagen reported a significant profit decline in Q2 2026, with after-tax profit falling 32.9% to €1.54 billion versus €2.29 billion in Q2 2025. Deliveries across the group fell about 9% to 2.08 million vehicles, while sales in China dropped by more than one third to 424,300 units. The company said it is cutting its sales outlook and plans new cost-saving measures including reviewing up to 50,000 jobs worldwide and four German plants, in addition to previously announced reductions through 2030. The plans have drawn resistance from the works council, unions and the state of Lower Saxony.

• Volkswagen Group after-tax profit in Q2 2026 fell 32.9% to €1.54 billion.
• Volkswagen's after-tax profit in Q2 2025 was €2.29 billion.
• Group deliveries fell about 9% to 2.08 million vehicles in April–June 2026.

WPP and Jaguar Land Rover Face Shrinkage Challenge

This opinion piece draws parallels between WPP and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), both iconic British companies facing workforce reductions and competitive pressures. WPP's 'turnaround to Elevate28' plan, which regained the entire JLR account, is overshadowed by JLR's job cuts. Both companies have lost distinctiveness, with WPP struggling to differentiate from rivals like Publicis and Omnicom, while JLR's brand equity has eroded due to the end of the Defender and a controversial rebrand. The article argues that cost-cutting alone cannot restore their former greatness.

• WPP won the entire Jaguar Land Rover business earlier this year.
• JLR is signaling thousands of job cuts.
• WPP expects a 'mid to low single-digit decline in revenue' this year.

WPP CEO: Outcome-Based Pay Still Years Away

WPP CEO Cindy Rose said widespread client adoption of outcome-based remuneration will take several years, despite making it a pillar of WPP’s turnaround plan. WPP published its first-half results showing revenues (less pass-through costs) of £5 billion, down 4.7%, with creative revenue down 3.5% and media down 5.4%. The group is pursuing AI investments (including a previously stated £300m annual commitment), cost optimization for AI token use, sales of non-core businesses to raise £200m by year-end, and £500m of cost savings over three years, alongside ongoing staff reductions (headcount down ~8.1% to 97,400). CFO Joanne Wilson said WPP’s Open platform and AI tools are central to operations and pitches. Rose said WPP will use a “mixed economy of business models” as it stabilizes and aims to return to growth in 2027.

• WPP CEO Cindy Rose said client adoption of outcome-based pay will likely take a few years.
• WPP H1 revenues less pass-through costs were £5 billion, down 4.7% year-on-year.
• WPP’s creative businesses (including VML and Ogilvy) saw revenues fall 3.5%; WPP Media revenues fell 5.4%.