Ford boss Alan Mulally wants to do in Germany what he did in the U.S.: Use fuel economy and technology to win buyers. The automaker says its retail prices lagged VW by an average of 6.3% in the past eight months. The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker ranks fifth in sales, with 7.5% of the German market, according to J.D. Power & Associates. That's less than half the of Volkswagen's share. Ford is also behind Mercedes Benz, BMW, GM's Opel, and Audi in Germany. To win hearts and minds Ford is promoting its ties to Germany and trying …

Six online advertising industry firms continued to use active tracking cookies despite promising in their privacy policies to stop tracking consumers after they opted out of targeted ads, according to a study from Stanford University Security Laboratory. The companies "promise to stop tracking after opting out, but nonetheless leave tracking cookies in place," according to the study. The researchers found that the tracking cookies used by 24/7 Real Media, AudienceScience, Netmining, Undertone, Vibrant Media and Wall Street on Demand actively update after a consumer opted out.

PepsiCo Beverages Canada has introduced the 7UP EcoGreen bottle, Canada's -- and North America's -- first soft drink bottle made from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, plastic, the company reported Wednesday. The company says the move reduces the amount of virgin plastic used by approximately 6 million lbs. over the course of one year.

Fiat Spa and Chrysler Group LLC will have a single management structure soon, according to Sergio Marchionne, CEO of both companies. Marchionne plans to announce the new joint structure soon. The executive told reporters the news in Zurich after a speech at the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce.

Even though Americans are driving less, fuel prices are actually heading back up, which seems to belie the natural order of things. West Texas Intermediate Crude rose more than 2% on Tuesday, climbing $2.28 a barrel, to $97.43. In Europe, Brent Crude rose to $117.36 a barrel. Economists had predicted oil price numbers would fall reflecting worsening economic news around the world, meaning less demand. But even though U.S. motorists have, for the fourth month in a row, cut driving, the pump doesn't care.

Sluggish economy not withstanding, sales of specialty sauces and seasonings have soared in recent years, and many say the phenomenon has to do with demand for local products or because shoppers have been eating out less and cooking more at home. At Detroit-based Hiller's Markets, shoppers choose local sauces and seasonings over national brands even more when economic conditions are poor, said Justin Hiller, vice president of the seven-store chain. "People understand that we are responsible for getting ourselves out of a financial crisis, so they consciously choose local products to help put money back into …

7-Eleven finished a renovation effort in the shortest time in its history, updating more than 1,000 of its stores on the East Coast. The renovation drive started in March when the company added new coffee bars and hot-foods equipment, while in some cases updating the stores' interiors at stores in New York City, northern and central New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The company set a four-month schedule to do 60 stores each week. Most stores stayed open during the remodeling. Each store upgrade took five days or less, and the work occurred at night to …

Hanes, known for whites, is launching a graphic T-shirt division. Hanes Ink, which the company will announce this week, includes a range of styles with a focus on women's fashion. T-shirt consumption has risen sharply, to more than 10 per person last year from around four in 1990, according to Hanesbrand data from market-research firm NPD Group and the Census Bureau. Americans bought 3.2 billion T-shirts in the 12 months ended in May, up 4.1% from a year earlier.

Supermarket chain A&P has introduced a line of locally raised chicken, turkey and beef products exclusively at select A&P, Pathmark, Superfresh, Waldbaum's and The Food Emporium stores. According to A&P, the animals used in the product line are fed a 100% vegetarian diet made from corn, soybean meal and a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and oils.

Baltimore has hired Under Armour Inc. to renovate a basketball court at Federal Hill Park at no cost in exchange for branding. The city is paying Under Armour and allowing it to include its logo on the court surface. The city and company caught flak from residents in April 2010 for an Under Armour ad painted on the grass of Federal Hill Park. Under Armour also has its logo on a city baseball field in Locust Point, near its headquarters.