Autoline This Week
Autoline
Last episode almost 4 years agoIn depth discussions of the most important trends and developments shaping the automotive industry with industry executives and the top auto journalists. Your half-hour update on what they’re talking about in the C-suites.
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Episodes (685)
Autoline This Week #1837: The Consumers’ Bible
Who do you turn to when you need advice? If it’s personal, perhaps a friend; if it’s spiritual maybe a priest. But when many folks want advice on hardware – everything from a dishwasher to a smart phone to a television -- they turn to Consumer Reports: the product watchdog who has been reviewing, comparing and contrasting consumer goods since 1936. On this episode of Autoline THIS WEEK, CR’s head of auto testing Jake Fisher joins host John McElroy along with Brent Snavely of the Detroit Free Press and Joe White of the Wall Street Journal to discuss the organization’s latest test results on automotive multimedia devices.
Autoline This Week #1836: Manufacturing a New Generation
Factories used to be no place for a kid. In fact, there were some that might’ve even scared the bravest of men. But with today’s super clean 21st century factories some almost resemble a hospital operating room. That’s only one of the reasons that Michigan’s Macomb County – just north of Detroit – has gone all in to educate young students on the benefits of working with today’s manufacturing. Joining John McElroy to talk about this groundbreaking program is County Executive Mark Hackel, Michael DeVault, Superintendent of Intermediate Schools and Larry Drake from Kuka Systems.
Autoline This Week #1835: Buick Makes Its Move
Maybe it’s the snappy new product or the effective marketing campaign, whatever is accounting for Buick’s sales growth in 2014 Duncan Aldred is a happy man. Appointed VP of Buick-GMC Sales, Service and Marketing only last February, this former European executive joins John McElroy for his first time on the Autoline panel. Mike Colias from Automotive News and Autotrader.com’s Michelle Krebs join in on the questioning.
Autoline This Week #1834: Crisis Communication
What happens when “60 Minutes” shows up at a corporation’s door or some crisis occurs that it wasn’t ready for? That’s when they turn to crisis communications experts like Jason Vines, the former automotive PR executive who has experienced more than his share of corporate trauma. So much so that he’s written a book, which brings him back to Autoline for the first time in a decade. Joining host John McElroy to discuss Jason’s book is Peter De Lorenzo from the Autoextremist.com and Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh.
Autoline This Week #1833: The Charge of the Battery Brigade
As the auto industry continues to explore new and different ways to power cars and trucks, engineers keep coming back to the good old battery. With the days of GM’s EV1 seeming like ancient history even though it’s only about 20 years old or so, today’s batteries are light years better. And on today’s panel John McElroy is joined by three experts: Ann Marie Sastry from Sakti3, LG’s Prabhakar Patil and Brett Smith from the Center for Automotive Research.
Autoline This Week #1832: Leading America’s Car Dealers
Where do you buy a car? These days you can do so on the Internet, a big box retailer and even certain OEM stores. But to this day, the tried and true model, and the place where most people still buy their cars, is the local car dealer. And the man currently in charge of America’s dealers is the NADA’s Forrest McConnell. This week he joins host John McElroy along with Steve Finlay from Wards and AutoTrader.com’s Michelle Krebs for a look at the latest in today’s retail world.
Autoline This Week #1831: It’s a Lightweighting World
The aluminum onslaught has begun. It started years ago with Jaguar but now Ford is making its F-150 truck part of the lightweighting foray as it works to increase the MPGs of its best-seller. But it’s not just aluminum and it’s not just those two companies making vehicles lighter. It’s a long list of manufacturers as well as suppliers making all kinds of contributions to cars. Joining John McElroy on Autoline THIS WEEK to discuss all aspects of lightweighting are Chuck Evans from Henkel as well as Dura Automotive's Nizar Trigui and Richard Schultz from Ducker Worldwide.
Autoline This Week #1830: Arsenal of Democracy
By all accounts, the Greatest Generation may have won World War II with its blood, sweat and tears, but as author A.J. Baime writes in his new book “The Arsenal of Democracy,” Ford Motor Company had a little bit to do with it as well. Join host John McElroy, Henry Payne from The Detroit News and Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press as they talk about the great automotive contribution to the war effort with Mr. Baime on Autoline THIS WEEK.
Autoline This Week #1829: The Secret World of 3D Printing
From toys to sporting goods and even some replacements parts for cars, it looks like 3D Printers are tackling more in more in the world of manufacturing. For a look at how this industry is growing, especially within the automotive industry, join host John McElroy with his panel of 3D Printing experts including, David Darbyshire from DASI Solutions, Bruce Bradshaw from 3D manufacturer Stratasys and Brian Levy of Joe Gibbs Racing on Autoline THIS WEEK.
Autoline This Week #1828: America’s Auto Bubble
Auto sales in America have recently been on a tear. In fact, some suggest the SAAR might actually challenge those heady days of 18 million units. Enter AlixPartners whose newest study indicates that U.S. sales may have already peaked. Joining host John McElroy to discuss this topic and more are Mark Wakefield from AlixPartners, Charles Chesbrough from IHS as well as Jeff Schuster from LMC Automotive.
Autoline This Week #1827: Manufacturing in Mexico
The front pages may be filled with news about Mexico, but the real story about our neighbor to the south can be found in the business section. The country is quickly becoming a second home to auto manufacturers from around the globe. On this week’s Autoline, join host John McElroy along with John Martin from Nissan North America, Norm Jacobs from SANLUIS Rassini and Ernst and Young’s Randy Miller for a look at Mexico: the new Mecca for manufacturing.
Autoline This Week #1826: Focusing on the Future
It wasn’t until the late 20th Century that the all-powerful auto industry started to realize it didn’t operate in an autonomous protected bubble; that forces around the world impacted everything it did. So many of the manufacturers started to pay closer attention to trends, not just in their backyard but around the world. On this week’s Autoline John McElroy is joined by three experts who make it their business to not only watch but sometimes affect global trends including: Marketing strategist John Gerzema, Sheryl Connelly from Ford and technology designer Gadi Amit.
Autoline This Week #1825: Buying a Car in 2014
Do you still go to your dealership and kick the tires? Or are you one of those that go online and buy your car? These days you can get a new car in a variety of ways including from Costco, yes, you read correctly Costco the warehouse retailer! This week on Autoline join host John McElroy along with TrueCar’s Larry Dominique, Jim Prueter from Costco and traditional Chevy dealer Scott LaRiche as they discuss options for today’s 2014 new car customer.
Autoline This Week #1824: Telematics
Connectivity is driving so much of what we do in our daily lives that it’s natural that the connected car and telematics deserves an Autoline spotlight of its own. Joining John McElroy to discuss the latest developments in the industry are: Henry Bzeih, CTO and Head of Connected Car, KIA; Thilo Koslowski, VP and Distinguished Analyst – Automotive, Gartner; Jim Keller, Chief Engineer Automobile Technology Research, Honda R and D Americas.
Autoline This Week #1823: Making all the Right Mobility Moves
Mobility seems to be the flavor of the month these days. Everyone from manufacturers to tier one suppliers to even academics are trying to discover secrets to the way people will move around in the future. Joining John McElroy on his panel to discuss the topic are Erica Klampfl, Global Future Mobility Lead, Ford; Kaye Ceille, president, Zipcar; Peter Sweatman, Director, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Autoline This Week #1822: Intelligent Transportation
The world of intelligent transportation is a broad umbrella that covers businesses, municipalities and people across the globe. That’s why when the ITS Conference comes to America every 3rd year it’s important to take account of what has changed and what will be changing with mobility. Joining John McElroy to discuss the 2014 conference is Richard Wallace, The Center for Automotive Research; Michele Mueller, The Michigan Department of Transportation; and co-chair of the conference Jim Barbaresso of HNTB Corp.
Autoline This Week #1821: A Peek Under the Hood: Today’s Groundbreaking Engines
Between the increase in power and improvement in mpgs, today’s engines are giving drivers the best of both worlds. Join John McElroy and his panel Chris Thomas, the Chief Technical Officer from BorgWarner; Tod Hynes, Founder and President XL Hybrids; and Oliver Schmidt, Volkswagen’s GM of Engineering and Environment, as they discuss today’s cutting edge engines.
Autoline This Week #1820: Motor City Masters
Reality TV is ruling the airwaves these days. From dancing to singing to surviving, you knew it wouldn’t be long until cars became involved. Joining John McElroy to talk about their new car design reality show are two of the contestants, Camilo Pardo and Darby Barber, along with veteran auto editor and judge, Jean Jennings.
Autoline This Week #1819: The Global Bowtie: Selling Chevy Around the World
If Chevrolet still used the old ad line “baseball, hot dogs and apple pie” to sell cars, it might be considering updating today’s version with “soccer, sushi and strudel” to reflect the global growth of the brand. And the man responsible for making all marketing decisions for the brand as it continues to expand around the world, Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney joins John McElroy as his special guest on Autoline THIS WEEK along with Michelle Krebs with AutoTrader Group and Nathan Bomey from the Detroit Free Press.
Autoline This Week #1818: Auto Alchemy: The Secrets Behind the Colors of Cars
Technology might be on every car buyer’s wish list these days, but what designers are doing to make the whole package more attractive to the eye might surprise you. From conjuring new cutting-edge colors to adding luxury elements to even economy cars, designers are having a field day in the creative process. Join John McElroy and his panel including GM’s Sharon Gauci, Susan Lampinen from Ford and Nissan’s Francois Farion as they talk about the design secrets of making today’s cars and colors cool.
Autoline This Week #1817: The End of the Line? Making Cars in the 21st Century
With the closing of so many of America’s manufacturing factories over the last few years and seeing those jobs go to countries like Mexico and China, many have asked if the U.S. was getting ready to retire from that type of business altogether? Join John McElroy and his panel Jay Baron from the Center for Automotive Research, Michael Robinet from IHS and analyst Laurie Harbour from Harbour Results as they discuss the future of automotive manufacturing in America.
Autoline This Week #1816: Opening the Door on Interior Designs
Have you noticed the changes going on inside new cars these days: Softer materials, accent lighting and tip-top technology to name just a few. On this edition of Autoline THIS WEEK John McElroy talks with three experts involved in the process of making your car like a mobile living room. Joining him on the panel is Helen Emsley from GM Design, and two Tier One suppliers, Jay Hutchins of Faurecia and Inteva’s Pat Stewart.
Autoline This Week #1815: Shaving Weight: The Secrets of Lightweighting
It’s no secret that auto manufacturers are making their cars and trucks lighter for a variety of reasons in a number of ways. On this week’s edition of Autoline, John McElroy talks with three men on the front lines of taking weight out of vehicles including, Ed Moss from Chevrolet, Alcoa’s Randall Scheps and John Van Alstyne of I-Car.
Autoline This Week #1814: Built in Detroit
Historians have long chronicled the rough and tumble world of the United Auto Workers union. But few have seen what it was like from the inside, as author Bob Morris did. His father, Ken Morris, was there during the founding of the UAW and held a leadership position for more than 3 decades. Bob has captured it all in a sizzling book called “Built in Detroit” and he joins host John McElroy on this week’s show along with Henry Payne of The Detroit News and Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press.
Autoline This Week #1813: 50 Years of Mustang
Though manufacturing has been changing the last 25 years many of the workers remained the same. Now as they prepare to retire, how do we get the millennials interested in 21st century factory work? On this week’s Autoline, John McElroy explores that question with Karl Klimek from SquareOne, the SAE’s Chris Ciuca and Tim Grewe from FIRST Robotics.