Autoline Detroit - Audio

Autoline EXTRA #1301: Natalie Neff, Paul Eisenstein

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:54:43 -0500

The 2009 North American Car & Truck of the Year award is the topic on this edition of Autoline EXTRA. John McElroy and two of his fellow juror members discuss what vehicles they felt should have made the finalist list and they also predict what vehicles will take the awards home. Joining John in the discussion are Natalie Neff of AutoWeek and Paul Eisenstein from The Detroit Bureau.

Autoline #1301: Nuts & Bolts

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:47:11 -0500

Nuts & Bolts

It's that time of year again in the auto world when hardware takes on a special definition. Screwdrivers, sandpaper and galvanized nails are replaced, for a short time, with crystal trophies and plaques proclaiming "The Best of" for the most recently-produced cars or trucks. And for the 15th consecutive year, a group of veteran automotive reporters will be handing out the "hardware" for the 2009 North American Car & Truck of the Year. But before these awards are presented at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, these fifty voters winnow each list down to the three top cars and the three top trucks. On this week's show, John McElroy is joined by two of his fellow NACTOY jurors to discuss the six vehicles which made the cut. In fact, both Natalie Neff from AutoWeek and Paul Eisenstein with the Detroit Bureau along with John, will not only talk about these half dozen candidates but also discuss some of the other cars and trucks that they thought may have deserved to make the list. And in the end you might even hear their predictions about which manufacturer will walk away with this year's North American Car & Truck of the Year.

Autoline EXTRA #1245: Jeff Bennett, David Welch

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:56:13 -0500

GM and Chrysler got the loans they requested from Congress, so now what? On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy sits down with Jeff Bennett of Dow Jones Newswire and David Welch of BusinessWeek, to discuss what will happen next for the American automakers. They discuss whether or not Congress will approve more money for them in the future and also if this is the perfect opportunity for Detroit to change its image and public perception.

Autoline EXTRA #1245: William Diehl

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:51:12 -0500

GM and Chrysler got a lot of attention over the bridge loan requests they made recently but what got lost in the debate is that many suppliers are in trouble too. On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy talks with William Diehl, President & CEO of BBK, a firm that assists companies in turnarounds and restructuring. Mr. Diehl offers his advice to suppliers and what they need to do in order to turnaround business.

Autoline #1245: Emotional Rescue

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:47:03 -0500

Emotional Rescue

"I will be your savior, steadfast and true."

It's pretty safe to say that the Rolling Stones and George W. Bush have little in common. But when it comes to the Big Three bailout, these Mick Jagger-penned lyrics sound like a sentence that might've come from the Oval Office as the President approved the $17 billion bridge loans. Ahhh, everyone in Detroit breathes a huge sigh of relief. But how much of a rescue -- emotional or otherwise -- are the loans? As they say, be careful what you wish for.

On this week's show we take a look inside the bridge loans from three different perspectives: players, participants and partisans. We start the conversation with Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, a suburban Detroit Republican who had to balance ideology and reality throughout the crisis. Then John talks to a couple of automotive reporters, David Welch from BusinessWeek & Jeff Bennett of Dow Jones Newswire, who watched as Detroit nearly crumbled these last couple of months. We'll hear how the companies dealt with the ever-changing situation and explore their plans going forward. And speaking of plans, as part of the loan language the Big Three will have to restructure. What exactly does that mean? Joining John is an expert in the field, Bill Diehl who is the President & CEO of BBK, a company that specializes in doing just that.

Who would've predicted a few weeks ago that these late '70s Mick Jagger lyrics would seem appropriate?

With the long-awaited news from the White House last week, this line might've seemed natural coming from the President as it did when it was originally sung back in 1980 by the Rolling Stones.

Autoline EXTRA #1244: Anne Asensio

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:01:42 -0500

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy continues his discussion with Anne Asensio the VP of Design Experience at Dassault Systemes. Ms. Asensio discusses moving from the OEM side of design to the supplier side and what the differences are between the two. She also shares her thoughts on if designs in the 3D world can be as beautiful and artistic as drawing with conventional tools.

Autoline #1244: Pure Imagination

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:01:38 -0500

Pure Imagination

When Gene Wilder first sang "Pure Imagination" in the 1971 movie classic 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,' he was strolling amid Chernobyl-sized eatable candied plants and a river of liquid chocolate -- obviously fictitious creations from the fertile minds of movie magicians. Some 28 years later, when it comes to the equipment we're seeing in today's automobiles compared to the early '70s, you almost shake your head in disbelief as we did when we first saw Wonka's Candy Factory: works of pure imagination, indeed.

In this week's show we talk with three executives from three different companies and discuss not only some of these incredible products but just how they are being developed for today's cars.

We start with Anne Asensio from Dassault Systemes, a French firm that creates products for its client base in the virtual world. Ms. Asensio says that today, more than in the past, design has become an extremely collaborative effort that involves everyone in the food chain -- from the very top to the customers themselves. Meanwhile, one of the products coming out of this collaborative effort, in this case from our second guest's company iBiquity, is HD Radio. Bob Struble heads this supplier which produces digital receivers that allow you to listen to all those restricted local AM & FM radio stations that are now being broadcast only on Hybrid Digital bands. And speaking of restrictive broadcasting, let's not forget about the Internet. Chrysler sure hasn't. It’s working with a firm from Silicon Valley that's bringing the Internet to its cars and trucks in the not too distant future. Jennifer Applebee from Chrysler joins John to tell us just how far away this technology is and what will be available with it once it's in the vehicle.

Autoline EXTRA #1243: Dr. Gerhard Schmidt

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Energy Independence and Security Act, which was passed into law last year, mandates that 36 billion gallons of bio-fuel be produced in the U.S. by 2022. On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, Ford’s Chief Technical Officer, Gerhard Schmidt explains why that figure may be hard to achieve. And he shares his outlook for what type of fuels will be powering our vehicles in the future. Joining John McElroy in the discussion are Tom Murphy of WardsAuto.com and Csaba Csere from Car and Driver.

Autoline #1243: Technologic

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Technologic

Few might recognize this little used 19th century noun. Fewer still have probably noticed the word is the soundtrack to one of the slick new Lincoln MKS television ads. The song emphasizes the abundance of technology you find in the new sedan. And technology has been a key to not only Lincoln's renaissance, but Ford's as well. Dr. Gerhard Schmidt is the man who leads the team at the Blue Oval responsible for EcoBoost in the engine, Sync inside the car and everything in between. On this week's Autoline he talks about this latest technology and what may be coming in future Ford cars and trucks.

Autoline EXTRA #1242: Dr. David Cole, Mike Stanton

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:35:03 -0500

The bailout of the Big 3 is the topic of discussion on this edition of Autoline EXTRA. John McElroy and his panel discuss how the automakers could recover more quickly if the economy becomes more financially stable. Joining John in the discussion are Dr. David Cole, from the Center for Automotive Research, and Mike Stanton from the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers.

Autoline #1242: Lifeboat

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:34:58 -0500

Lifeboat

Long before he was dubbed the Master of the Macabre, legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock was known for his psychological thrillers. "Notorious," "Strangers On A Train" and the 1944 classic "Lifeboat" were prime examples of this work -- especially the latter film where a handful of strangers try to survive the unexpected adversity of their ship sunken at sea. One would think the group works together to overcome the odds, but that's not the way Hitchcock worked. And that may not be the way Washington works either when it comes to the proposed Detroit Three Bailout. GM, Ford and Chrysler are all asking for a monetary "lifeboat" but it's not going smoothly. The political forces are rocking the boat, pulling in opposite directions waiting for someone to take charge, while that someone -- President-Elect Obama -- doesn't take office for another 60+ days. Will something get done before then? Can something get done before Inauguration Day? Our guests offer their analysis on whether the lifeboat floats or not.

And speaking of lifeboats, Dow Automotive has created a quasi one for NASCAR in the form of energy absorbing foam. John is joined by the company's president Steve Henderson as he describes how they came up with the product Impaxx and what it's meant for the safety of NASCAR drivers since they started using it. Lifeboat, indeed!

Autoline EXTRA #1241: David Champion, David Sargent, Dennis Pietrowski

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:30:16 -0500

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA John and his guests continue their discussion about automotive quality. They shift focus to Hyundai and discuss the automakers unbelievable run up the quality charts over the last ten years. They also discuss if American consumers have different quality expectations than consumers in other countries. Joining John in the discussion are David Champion of Consumer Reports, David Sargent from J.D. Power & Associates and Dennis Pietrowski of The RDA Group.

Autoline #1241: Dromedary

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:25:59 -0500

Dromedary

When anyone thinks of a hump perhaps the first thought that comes to mind is that well-known beast of burden of North Africa - the Dromedary Camel. But in the auto industry, when the Detroit Three think of a hump those thoughts switch from camels to quality. That's because if there's any one hump or challenge that continues to hold them back from "import equality" it appears to be this. Now granted, all three OEMs have improved dramatically from the nadir of the '70s when they produced everything from poorly-designed diesels to flapping vinyl roofs. But today, with nearly all of those problems a thing in the past, GM, Ford and Chrysler are still looking up at many of the imports in a variety of quality rankings. So what accounts for that, and will any of them ever attain the top spot again? On this week's show John McElroy and his three experts on automotive quality will examine what it may finally take for the Detroit Three to get "over the hump.".

And don't forget you can watch the latest edition of Autoline right now at our website (http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/) along with our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment and any of our archived shows 24/7.

Autoline EXTRA #1240: Paul Haelterman, Rebecca Lindland

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The industry downturn looks to be turning into a problem for the entire globe, not just the United States. On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy and his panel discuss how Europe, China and emerging markets are being affected by the downturn in the auto industry. Joining John in the discussion are Paul Haelterman from CSM Worldwide and Rebecca Lindland from IHS Global Insight.

Autoline #1240: Scramble

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Scramble

If only describing a local golf event, a pressured quarterback or your morning breakfast, then "scramble" is a rather innocuous term. But when examining today's topsy-turvy automotive industry, where down is up, left is right and you may never know the players again with or without a scorecard, the word "scramble" takes on a darker connotation thanks to the worldwide financial meltdown. The credit and cash crunch may have started with banks but it quickly filtered its way to all businesses, especially the tenuous auto industry. Things were iffy before September when everyone was still hoping for somewhere around 13 million in sales. Now who knows how low the number could go? And then there's Chrysler, which, using Greek Mythology as our guide, seems in search of its own Hercules (see GM) to escape from Hades (see Cerberus -- the three-headed dog & the company). Confused yet? Well you're not alone. That's why John McElroy has invited these two top industry analysts to "unscramble" the situation on this week's Autoline.

And don't forget you can watch the latest edition of Autoline right now at our website (http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/) along with our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment and any of our archived shows 24/7.

Autoline EXTRA #1239: Mel Karmazin

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:54:08 -0400

Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius XM Radio joins John McElroy on this edition of Autoline EXTRA. Mr. Karmazin discusses what role telematics will play for Sirius XM in the future and what applications are already in use. He also shares his thoughts on HD Radio and what impact it will have for Sirius XM. Joining John in the discussion are Neal Boudette from The Wall Street Journal and Jeff Gilbert from WWJ Newsradio 950.

Autoline #1239: Starman

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:49:45 -0400

Starman

Too many channels, not enough listeners, pools of red ink -- welcome to the world of satellite radio. Despite its myriad of advantages and incorporation into many new cars and trucks, both Sirius and XM Radio seemed more hooked to financial life support than to fleets of vehicles the last few years. It was as if the business was crying for, as David Bowie put it, "a Starman waiting in the sky" to supernaturally save the service. Well, that celebrity executive landed at Sirius some four years ago in the form of Mel Karmazin with a resume that included running Infinity Broadcasting, CBS Radio and as well as the entire CBS Corporation. Since his arrival he has not only increased subscriptions but more importantly brokered a merger between the two services believing that one strong company can prosper in this less than predictable economy.

This week Autoline welcomes Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius XM Radio. Host John McElroy along with panelists Neal Boudette from The Wall Street Journal and Jeff Gilbert of WWJ Newsradio Detroit talk to this Hall of Fame broadcast executive about his survival plans for Sirius XM and the important role the auto industry plays in the process.

And don't forget you can catch more with Mel Karmazin at our website (http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/) in our Internet-only segment, Autoline EXTRA, as well as our brand new global automotive newscast Autoline Daily as soon as you see this e-mail.

So if you'd like to know what the "Starman of Sirius XM" plans for the media in your car or truck, check out this week's Autoline.

Autoline EXTRA #1238: Bruce Coventry, Lou Rhodes

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:08:19 -0400

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA John McElroy talks with the man in charge of ENVI, Chrysler’s electric vehicle program, Lou Rhodes and also with Global Electric Motorcars CEO, Bruce Coventry. They discuss Chrysler’s plans to demo the EV’s with retailers and consumers next year and also what benefits GEM can provide Chrysler from its experience selling neighborhood electrics.

Autoline #1238: Watt's Next?

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:02:42 -0400

Watt's Next?

Even as oil prices continue to drop, everyone from consumers to the cognoscenti understand that the genie is finally out of the bottle: fossil fuels are not the future. The question becomes, what is? We all know the roulette wheel of options, but at this point everything is a gamble and manufacturers are wondering where to put their chips.

Well Chrysler, which has been quiet up to now, is betting on electric which some consider a surprise. Despite the fact that for more than a decade it has owned an electric car unit that builds neighborhood vehicles, the company sent shock waves through the industry when it recently unveiled three electric prototypes. That's because few experts considered Chrysler a major player in the electric game.

Joining John McElroy on this week's Autoline are the two men leading the electrical charge at Chrysler. Lou Rhodes is the President of ENVI, a special team within the company that oversees the R & D of alternative drivetrains, while Bruce Coventry is the CEO of GEM, the makers of those neighborhood electric vehicles. Among the topics these executives tackle are Chrysler's electric strategy, the models and options they're working on, and when they expect it all to be delivered.

And don't forget that you can watch this latest edition of Autoline along with our Internet-only segment Autoline EXTRA as well as our brand new global automotive newscast Autoline Daily at our website right now by clicking here (http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/)

So if you're looking to get a charge out of some provocative television, tune into Autoline and its lineup of automotive information.

Autoline EXTRA #1237: Joe Hinrichs, Jay Baron

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Joining John McElroy on this edition of Autoline EXTRA is Joe Hinrichs, Group VP of Manufacturing at Ford Motor Co. and Jay Baron, President of the Center for Automotive Research. They continue their discussion from the broadcast about manufacturing in the 21st century. Mr. Hinrichs and Mr. Baron explain how last years agreement with the UAW will help lead to better technology to manufacture with and a more highly skilled workforce.

Autoline #1237: Change

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0400

CHANGE

Change seems to be a popular theme these days. Some say it began with the political season but those in automotive know better. In fact, it's been on the horizon for a while. Big Change. The kind that will reshape American manufacturing for years to come. The last time we saw something like this was in the mid-20th century with World War II. And though the factors leading this retooling aren't quite as dire, they are just as dramatic led by a massive shift in consumer preferences, the technological challenge of reducing CO2 emissions at the same time as dealing with the booming developing markets.

How will OEMs execute what some are calling the "Greatest Peacetime Manufacturing Conversion?" What will the effect be on their Suppliers? And what about the labor force -- how much will it diminish? These are just a few of the questions that John McElroy has for our two manufacturing experts. Offering insight from the OEM side is Joe Hinrichs the group vice president of global manufacturing for Ford Motor Company. Joining Mr. Hinrichs with an analyst perspective is Jay Baron, the president of CAR, the Center for Automotive Research.

And don't forget you can watch the latest edition of Autoline right now at our website (http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/) along with our Internet-only segment Autoline EXTRA as well as any of our archived shows.

So for a look at the changes in store for 21st Century manufacturing, don't miss this week's Autoline with John McElroy.

Autoline EXTRA #1236: Rob Moran