MAM
Forbes.Com delivers on ad RoI guarantee; Net advertising looking up
MUMBAI: A number cruncher might claim not be too impressed but Internet advertising looks to be on the up and up. For those who can deliver quality that is.
First some numbers. Internet ad revenue in the United States was $5.95 billion in 2002, a 17 per cent decrease from 2001, according to trade group Interactive Advertising Bureau. Also, Net ad revenue was $1.5 billion for fourth-quarter 2002, down 9.8 per cent from fourth-quarter 2001, the IAB has said in a report released with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
There is an upside though. Ad revenue rose 2.3 per cent in the fourth quarter from the third, the IAB reported. “Those who monitor the industry know that a few predominant factors contributed to the [year-over-year] revenue decline, including the conclusion of some long-term advertising deals. What’s important to recognize is that the majority of online publishers are profitable, and their revenues continue to rise year-over-year,” Greg Stuart, IAB president/CEO, was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The improved performance over the past two quarters reflects a stabilizing online advertising market, highlighted by continued strength in paid-for-search results. The recent upturn, coupled with forecasts of continued expansion of broadband distribution, bodes well for a strong year in 2003” said Tom Hyland, Chair, PricewaterhouseCoopers New Media Group.
The report is based on data from the top 15 online ad sellers, which account for 80 percent of online ad sales, the IAB said.
Coming to the quality issue, forbes.com is a case in point. Last September, forbes.com introduced a “brand increase guarantee” scheme wherein it announced it wouldn’t charge advertisers for placements that prove completely ineffective.
The offer was only made available to advertisers willing to spend $100,000 (enough for a measurable quantity of impressions) and run campaigns for two months before the tests were conducted to determine whether the advertising has worked. The guarantee was that the advertising would boost at least one of four brand metrics: awareness, message association, purchasing intent and brand favorability, as measured by Dynamic Logic.
Blue chip marketers like AT&T, Samsung, Acura, LG and BearingPoint were among those that bought into the idea and forbes.com says none of them have come away disappointed.
The aggregated results of the program show a lift in each of the four brand metrics measured as follows:
Message Association: +28%
Purchase Consideration: +14%
Aided Awareness: +11%
Brand Favorability: + 6%
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
