Automobile Manufacturing

Honda-owned luxury car brand Acura this month signed its first major sports sponsorship agreement, securing a three-year shirt deal with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew.

Indian motorcycle manufacturer Hero MotorCorp has agreed a deal to sponsor this year’s Fifa U17 World Cup national team football tournament, which will be staged in India.

Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota has stepped up its backing of US winter sports by partnering with US Figure Skating and US Speedskating, and extending an existing agreement with USA Hockey.

Korean automotive manufacturer Kia has renewed its partnership with the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

Newly-formed NHL ice hockey franchise the Vegas Golden Knights has signed up Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota as its first major sponsor.

Australian motor-racing series the Supercars Championship has agreed sponsorship deals with oil and energy giant Shell and German automotive company Porsche.

Czech automotive manufacturer Skoda has agreed to extend its partnership with the Tour of Britain cycling event.

Used car trading company Kaixin has signed on as the new main sponsor of Chinese Super League football club Hongyun FC.

Major League Soccer franchise Columbus Crew has agreed a record shirt sponsorship deal with Acura, the luxury vehicle marque of Japanese automotive manufacturer Honda.

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) has added carmaker Renault to its sponsorship portfolio and renewed its agreement with the NH Hotels chain as it looks to return its total sponsorship revenue to its 2013 high water mark.

Korean automotive company Hyundai has agreed a deal to become a co-title sponsor of the S.League, the top tier of club football in Singapore.

German automotive manufacturer Audi has agreed a deal with DC United that grants it naming rights to the Major League Soccer franchise’s future home stadium, which will be called Audi Field.

Newly-formed English Superleague netball club Wasps has entered into a partnership with British automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover.

Spanish automotive manufacturer Seat has agreed a partnership with the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) motorcycling series.

The British Superbike Championship motorcycling series has renewed an agreement with Rock Oil and struck a new deal with WNT.

The UK division of Korean automotive company Kia has extended its partnership with English County Championship cricket club Surrey, through which it will continue to hold naming rights to the Oval, the team’s home stadium.

French automotive manufacturer Renault has agreed a sponsorship deal with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), the country’s national governing body of rugby union.

German automotive manufacturer BMW has extended its long-term partnership with the USA Swimming national governing body.