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.
Are you the creator? Claim this podcast
Episodes (685)
Autoline #1233: Hypernova
HypernovaExperts in Astronomy have studied collapsing stars for years. The phenomenon of Hypernovas is very rare but extremely destructive since they morph themselves into light-swallowing black holes. Meanwhile, experts in the automotive industry have been watching their own collapsing star, or more appropriately, collapsing Pentastar in Chrysler. Some analysts believe that the venture capitalists at Cerberus bit off more than they could chew when it bought the troubled automaker last August. Now faced with a depressed truck market and a four-cylinder lineup that just isn't selling the way it should be in our $4 a gallon gas world, some fear that Chrysler will collapse like a Hypernova with its brands and pieces swallowed by other industry giants. That is not a fear of Tom Lasorda. Chrysler's co-President insists that Cerberus is committed to the company and believes it can be profitable thanks to a future portfolio of energy efficient vehicles built by not just by Chrysler but an international alliance of partners as well. Of course that's easier said than done. To get to that point the company must slog through the next couple years of retrenchment like every other manufacturer. Hear how he believes Chrysler will circumvent this crisis as he joins John McElroy for an exclusive one-on-one interview from the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan.And remember, if you don't want to wait until the weekend you can now watch this new episode of Autoline immediately by visiting us at http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/ . There you can also view our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment as well as any of our archived shows.So if you're looking for the automotive stars to stay aligned, just follow the light from this week's all new episode of Autoline.
Autoline EXTRA #1232: NATOTY
On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy and his panel continue their mid-year review of trucks competing to win the 2009 North American Truck of the Year Award. They discuss the Volkswagen Tiguan, Chevy Traverse, and the BMW X6. Watch to see whether or not the panel believes these vehicles have what it takes to take home the award. Joining John for the discussion is Natalie Neff from AutoWeek, and Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.
Autoline #1232: Sign O' The Times - Part 2
SIGN O’ THE TIMES - PART TWOSerendipity can strike with serendipity. Sometimes it occurs in music when the right album comes along at the right time and affects the industry as a whole with both high sales and critical praise. And then again, it can also occur in other industries, sometimes with deleterious effects. Take today's energy crisis for instance. With gasoline roller-coasting around $4 a gallon, automotive manufacturers have suddenly seen the Truck market "tank" this summer. So the OEMs have circled the SUVs so to speak, and have reforged the truck future.But as we're waiting for that future to take form, new product continues to hit dealer lots around the country. Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers of all types have been released in 2008. On this week's Autoline, John McElroy looks at some of these new vehicles like Ford's "Back to the Future" Flex Crossover, Mercedes’ new GL with its Clean Diesel technology, and Chrysler's Two-Mode Hybrid SUVs to see how they stack up when it comes to perhaps winning some "Best Of" awards later this year.Joining John to talk trucks are two of his fellow judges from the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards. Natalie Neff is the Road Test Editor for AutoWeek while Mark Phelan is an automotive columnist with the Detroit Free Press.And if you don't want to wait until Sunday, remember you can now watch this new episode of Autoline immediately by visiting us at http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/ . There you can also view our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment as well as any of our archived shows.So if you're looking for a sign of times in the truck world, don't miss this week's Autoline for the best insight around.
Autoline #1231: Sign O' The Times - Part 1
SIGN O' THE TIMES - PART 1It's been twenty years since the musician Prince released what many call his greatest work. "Sign O' The Times" debuted in the shadow of the market collapse of 1987 and the presidential election of 1988, two major events that shaped America over the next few years.In an eerie irony, the title of this album couldn't be more relevant today. 2008 has had its own tumult. With our own presidential election in full swing and an energy crisis that's never been more serious, the sign of "these" times is about change...especially when it comes to the auto industry. $4 a gallon gasoline has given consumers a new fever for small cars. That's why this is the perfect time to look at some of the lineup that has been released so far this year. From small and economical like the Honda Fit to the performance-based cars like the BMW 1 series to Ford's new luxury sedan the Lincoln MKS, it's Cars and NACTOY on this week's Autoline. John McElroy is joined by two of his fellow judges from the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards as they examine the best in cars so far this year. Natalie Neff is the Road Test Editor for AutoWeek while Mark Phelan is an automotive columnist with the Detroit Free Press. And if you don't want to wait until Sunday remember you can now watch this new episode of Autoline right now by clicking here www.autolinedetroit.tv and going to our website. There you can also watch our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment as well as any of our archived shows as well. So get ready for new cars through NACTOY eyes on this week's Autoline.
Autoline EXTRA #1231: NACOTY
On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy and his panel of colleagues continue their mid-year review of cars competing to win the 2009 North American Car of the Year Award. They discuss the Nissan GT-R, Dodge Challenger and the Acura TSX. Watch to see whether or not the panel believes these vehicles have what it takes to take home the award. Joining John for the discussion is On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy and his panel of colleagues continue their mid-year review of cars competing to win the 2009 North American Car of the Year Award. They discuss the Nissan GT-R, Dodge Challenger and the Acura TSX. Watch to see whether or not the panel believes these vehicles have what it takes to take home the award. Joining John for the discussion is Natalie Neff from AutoWeek, and Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.
Autoline EXTRA #1230: Nissan's Dominique Thormann
On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John sits down with Dominique Thormann, the Senior VP, Administration and Finance at Nissan North America. In addition to talking about Nissan’s new North American Headquarters in Tennessee, Mr. Thormann gives his perspective on the changing market and how Nissan has responded. And he also reveals when Nissan is looking to bring out electric vehicles for the U.S. market.
Autoline #1230: New Roots
NEW ROOTSReplanting can be tough. Just ask any backyard horticulturist how easy it is to move a ten-year-old tree. It's not. So imagine the degree of difficulty of moving a nearly 50-year-old company -- not within the same city or even the same state, but some 2,000 miles away. But that's just what Nissan did with its North American Headquarters. Two years ago the company rocked the automotive world with the news that it was leaving Orange County, California for the rolling hills of Nashville, Tennessee. And just last month that move became a reality as Nissan dedicated its $100-million North American HQ Campus. With a number of politicians, guests and employees looking on, the company's CEO Carlos Ghosn flew in to officially open the facility. Normally that would be news unto itself, but during his short visit to Tennessee, Mr. Ghosn sat down with John McElroy for a wide-ranging exclusive one-on-one discussion on all things automotive. From the oil crisis to electric cars to future partnerships, the twenty-minute interview even broke a little news, but we won't spoil the surprise here.At the same time, don't forget you can always catch our Internet-only segment, Autoline EXTRA, at our website 24/7 along with our entire archived Autoline catalogue. Just go to http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/ and start watching.
Autoline EXTRA #1230: Nissan's Rob Traynham
Nissan recently unveiled its new $100 million North American Headquarters in Franklin, TN and on this edition of Autoline EXTRA Rob Traynham the Director of Corporate Services at Nissan North America, gives Autoline a preview of the new building. He explains how it was designed “inside out”, meaning it was designed with employee’s interests in mind. And you get a look at the environmental and technological features of the building.
Autoline #1229: Auto Oracles
AUTO ORACLESTrying to figure out the future has probably been a hominid passion since the first Neanderthals grunted their way through the Ice Age. And even though their "more evolved" ancestors have employed tools like Astrology, Tarot cards and Clairvoyant readings since, the future, arguably, hasn't gotten any clearer.So if it's darn near impossible to decipher if Uncle Jack is going to give you, and not your cousin, that Civil War sword you've longed for, how the heck do the auto companies, with billions of dollars on the line, accurately predict the future? With a multitude of products and a five year lead time facing them as they jostle external forces like rising steel, fuel and labor costs to name a few, this is not a job for the faint of heart. It requires the expertise of a top level engineer, a great understanding of tomorrow's consumer and perhaps even a little help from Dionne Warwick and that Psychic Friends Network doesn't hurt either.On this week's Autoline, John McElroy interviews two of today's leading Product Planners for the Auto Industry. John Smith is the Group Vice President for Global Product Planning at General Motors while Larry Dominique is Nissan's Vice President of Product Planning for North America. Both men join John to discuss the high wire walk that many Product Planners are faced with as the market changes on seemingly a daily basis.And as usual, don't forget you can catch our Internet-only exclusive segment Autoline EXTRA -- along with all our archived shows -- 24/7 at our website http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/So if you're wondering what it's like to peer into a crystal ball and see the cars of the future, join John and the men who make it their business to know what we'll want to drive on down the line this Sunday.
Autoline EXTRA #1229: Product Planners
On this edition of Autoline EXTRA John McElroy talks with product planners at Nissan and General Motors. John gets their insight into what they believe will power our vehicles in the future. John Smith, Group VP, Global Product Planning, at General Motors and Larry Dominique, VP, Product Planning, of Nissan North America, share their expertise on E-85, electric vehicles and even T. Boone Picken’s energy proposal.