Though not as big as it once was, General Motors is still a formidable global corporation with offices and factories all over the world and the numbers and financials to match. And the man in charge of making sure all those add up correctly is John McElroy’s special guest on Autoline This Week. Joining GM CFO Dan Ammann is Jeff Bennett from the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg’s Tim Higgins.
Here at Autoline After Hours we pride ourselves on tracking down the all-important “gurus of go” in the automotive industry. Well, dang if we ain’t lassoed another! Jordan Lee is the Global Chief Engineer and Program Manager for Small Block Engines at GM. But, Mr. Lee might just be upstaged by our other special guest on set: none other than the heart and soul of the Corvette itself, the 6.2L LT1 V-8. Plus, we’ll get into some hot topics this week including the end of the great driving boom as miles driven per capita continues to decline. The new Fiat-Chrysler headquarters could end up in Auburn Hills, MI — surprised? And is Jaguar going too far with its “baddest boy on the block” claim? Joining Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, to discuss all this and more is Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design & Production and Scott Burgess from Motor Trend.
Thanks to our sponsor who makes Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone.
Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:
Honda returns to Formula 1 racing after leaving in 2008. Of the 11 small SUVs tested in the IIHS small overlap crash test, only one received a good rating. A company called Laservision invents a unique solution to warn truck drivers of low-hanging overpasses. All that and more, plus how a three-time racing champion is helping Infiniti develop its cars.
General Motors takes aim at Ford with a rebadged version of Nissan’s NV200. Acura announces it will build its supercar at a new Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. The American Civil Liberties Union files a lawsuit against LA’s two major police departments over data collecting scanners. All that and more, plus the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, shares his thoughts on Jaguar’s new marketing plan.
The European Commission approves a deal to allow Volvo Trucks to acquire a 45 percent stake in a Chinese truck division. Honda could get rid of over half of its lineup in the American market, and sales would not go down that much. Facebook is close to purchasing social mapping and traffic app maker, Waze. All that and more, plus the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on the value of Chief Marketing Officers.
While traffic fatalities in the U.S. have fallen 40 percent in the last decade, they leaped by 72 percent in Brazil. GM sees an opportunity to start selling advertising in the car, as internet access becomes more available. At its private 50th birthday party, Lamborghini pulls the wraps off a very futuristic looking concept. All that and more, plus host John McElroy responds to your comments and questions in this week’s edition of You Said It!
While the rest of the automotive industry is trying to scrounge up every last sale it can, Ferrari has decided it’s selling too many. On the subject of product, can you tell the difference between the old and new Silverado designs? Has Chevrolet built a vehicle that lacks differentiation? Meanwhile, Jaguar is making it very clear what it is and what it isn’t — we’ll explain what we mean. Onboard to discuss all this and a whole lot more with John McElroy is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, Jim Hall from 2953 Analytics and Todd Lassa of Automobile.
Thanks to our sponsor who makes Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone.
Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:
There was a time that vehicles were said to be made out of steel, but these days you say they’re made out of steels. Structural adhesives can make a quieter, stronger, lighter car that is easier to manufacture, which is why one automaker is using a lot more of them. The joint venture between Chinese automaker Brilliance Auto and BMW comes out with a low-cost minivan. All that and more, plus in our exclusive interview with UAW President Bob King he discusses the controversial topic of Right-to-Work.
The United Auto Workers is going through an identity crisis. From the bankruptcies to the VEBA to the loss of over a million members, the UAW is plotting its future path. Will it unionize transplant factories in right-to-work states? Maybe expand beyond automotive and bring in other industries or services? The man with the answers – UAW President Bob King -- makes his first official visit to the Autoline set on this week’s show. Joining John McElroy’s panel are Brent Snavely from the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News’ Bryce Hoffman.
While a few EV startups have bit the dust recently, Tesla reports its first quarterly profit. Elio Motors makes its debut with a prototype three-wheeler. Even after selling 7,300 cars last year, Ferrari decides to reduce sales to under 7,000 units. All that and more, plus a look at what’s new with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK.