Autoline This Week Episode Archives

“Car of the Year plus two”

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach; Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press; Matt DeLorenzo, KBB. Topic: Car of the Year.

Three North American Car & Truck of the Year jurors join host John McElroy to analyze the three finalists for Car of the Year as well as their predictions for Truck and Utility of the Year.

“Continental: Supplying the Future”

Samir Salman, CEO NAFTA Region, Continental Corporation; Drew Winter, WardsAuto.com; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production. Topic: Continental.

Some only think of Continental as a tire company, but it’s so much more. From interior to safety, to even what it calls Clean Power, Continental is a huge company supplying so much of today’s car. Joining us to talk about the Automotive Group and what it’s doing to prepare for the future is Samir Salman, CEO NAFTA Region of Continental Corporation.

“Federal Regs & the Family Car”

Jeff Carlson, Chairman, National Automobile Dealers Association; Mike Colias, Wall Street Journal; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production. Topic: Car dealers.

As the auto industry changes, so must everything that it touches, including dealerships. On this edition of Autoline THIS WEEK, NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson joins John McElroy and his panel – Mike Colias of the Wall Street Journal & Gary Vasilash of Automotive Design & Production – to discuss where car dealers are today and how they will adapt to a changing auto industry.

“EPIC Employment (Part 2)”

Anne Grimm, Marysville (OH) Early College High School Student; Erica Miller, Columbus State Community College Student; Ramiro Hernandez, CSCC Graduate -- Honda Mfg. Technician. Topic: Honda manufacturing.

Enthusiasm, Passion, Innovative and Commitment are the four key words that describe the people that Honda wants in its workforce. So many of today’s youth ignore manufacturing jobs that companies like Honda have reached out to local communities to create programs like the one in central Ohio called EPIC. John McElroy takes his show on the road to Honda’s Development Center in Marysville, Ohio to talk with a variety of educators, students and workers on how to develop an interest in today’s high-tech manufacturing jobs.

“CMA: Connectivity, Mobility, Autonomy”

Richard Wallace, Center for Automotive Research; Sam Abuelsamid, Navigant Research; Lindsay Brooke, SAE. Topic: Connectivity, Mobility and Autonomy.

This week’s show talks about the technology that is dominating transportation today and into the near future, and does it with a macro view in language we can all understand. Joining John McElroy on his panel discussing Connectivity, Mobility and Autonomy are: Richard Wallace from the Center for Automotive Research; Lindsay Brooke, Society of Automotive Engineers; and Sam Abuelsamid, Navigant Research.

“Strategic Spending”

Thomas Lake, VP, North American Purchasing, Honda North America; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production; Joann Muller, Forbes.com. Topic: Honda Purchasing.

Ask any of the automotive media who they prefer to talk to at an automaker and it’s usually the company CEO. But if you happen to be a supplier to that same automaker the line usually starts at this week’s guest Thomas Lake, the Vice President of North American Purchasing at Honda North America. Joining host John McElroy on his panel are Gary Vasilash of Automotive Design & Production and Joann Muller with Forbes.

“International Design”

Amko Leenarts, Global Director, Interior Design, Ford/Lincoln; Kevin Kerrigan, SVP, Automotive Office, MEDC; Marc Greuther, Chief Curator and Curator of Industry and Design at The Henry Ford. Topic: Design.

Autoline THIS WEEK doesn’t usually have a live audience but then it’s not usually taped in front of the Industrial Designers Society of America conference held recently in Detroit, Michigan.

Joining John McElroy to discuss using “Design as a Change Agent” is Amko Leenarts the Global Director of Interior Design from Ford; Kevin Kerrigan from the Automotive Office of the Michigan Economic Development Authority; and Marc Greuther, the Chief Curator at the Henry Ford.

Guests

• Following a fascinating discussion on whether design can be a change agent with our panel of Amko Leenarts, Ford/Lincoln; Kevin Kerrigan, MEDC; Marc Greuther, The Henry Ford, and John McElroy, the audience at the Industrial Design Society of America conference gets into the act with questions for our panelists.

“Deep Freeze for the I.C.E.?”

Dean Tomazic, EVP & CTO, FEV North America; David McShane, VP, Business Development, Ricardo; Paul Whitaker, Powertrain & Technical Director, AVL Powertrain Engineering. Topic: The internal combustion engine.

If there’s an auto company getting more publicity these days than Tesla and its electric powertrain, we’d be surprised. That’s why Autoline has brought together three Tier One Suppliers who have specialized in the good old Internal Combustion Engine (I.C.E.) to talk about what’s going on with that franchise and put the rumors of its demise to rest. Joining host John McElroy will be representatives from AVL, FEV and Ricardo.

“Lightening the Load”

Marco Palmieri, President, Novelis North America; Alisa Priddle, Motor Trend; Richard Truett, Automotive News. Topic: Aluminum components.

You’ve been drinking from its cans for years. More recently, you’ve probably sent an email or answered a phone from one of the computing/telematics companies it supplies. And soon, if not already, you may be driving an aluminum-bodied car or truck brought to you, in part, by Novelis.

On this week’s show, John McElroy welcomes Novelis president of North America Marco Palmieri to the Autoline studios to talk about its expansion into automotive and where the company goes from here. Also on the panel are Alisa Priddle of Motor Trend and Richard Truett from Automotive News.

“A Life In Design”

Ed Welburn, VP, Global Design, General Motors. Topic: Ed Welburn, GM.

John McElroy and GM Global Design Chief Ed Welburn discuss his career in cars and corporate America as he prepares to retire after 44 years at General Motors.

“Analyzing the Chinese Auto Market”

Michael Dunne, Dunne Automotive; James Chao, Managing Director, IHS Automotive Asia-Pacific; Bill Russo, Managing Director, Gao Feng Greater China. Topic: Chinese auto industry.

Three Asian automotive experts including Michael Dunne of Dunne Automotive, James Chao of IHS Automotive Asia-Pacific & Bill Russo from GaoFeng Greater China, join John McElroy on the floor of the Beijing Auto Show to discuss the, up to now, booming Chinese automotive market and where it goes from here.

“Car Wars”

John Murphy, Senior Auto Analyst, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Joann Muller, Forbes; Greg Gardner, Detroit Free Press. Topic: Auto industry outlook.

Every great ride has to end sometime: whether it’s at the amusement park or the retail world. For instance, most auto analysts predict the U.S. car market will soon slow down; everyone, seemingly, other than John Murphy of Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In fact, Mr. Murphy is so stoked he’s doubling down per his data which says the good times for the auto industry will continue to roll into the 2020s.

Joining host John McElroy to discuss John Murphy’s antithetical view of the auto economy is Joann Muller from Forbes.com and Greg Gardner from the Detroit Free Press.

“South Carolina Strategies”

Dirk Pieper, President & CEO, Sage Automotive Interiors; Lewis Gossett, Executive Director, South Carolina Manufacturing Alliance; Matt Critell, Program Director, Fisher Middle School. Topic: Manufacturing careers.

Factory work in 2016 is a new universe compared to just 20 years ago. Today’s manufacturing has more in common with Google than it does heavy-duty grease. But despite its clean environment and use of computers, the under 30 crowd just doesn’t seem interested in these jobs and that’s troubling for manufacturers of all types.

So some companies have joined together with states, municipalities and schools to try to attract workers from both Millennials and Generation Z. On this week’s Autoline, John McElroy looks at what one area of South Carolina is doing to bring a younger work force into manufacturing. His panel includes: Dirk Pieper, President & CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors; Lewis Gossett, Executive Director SCMA (South Carolina Manufacturing Alliance); Matt Critell, Program Director, Fisher Middle School.

“An Interior View”

Steve Miller, CEO, IAC Automotive; Jeff Bennett, Wall Street Journal; Tom Murphy, WardsAuto.com. Topic: Car interiors.

Steve Miller is an automotive turnaround specialist. His bona fides date back to the bankruptcies of Chrysler and Delphi with stops at Federal-Mogul and Ford for good measure. Now he presides over the International Automotive Components Group as it moves from a private Wilbur Ross company to a publically traded firm. Mr. Miller joins John McElroy as his special guest for this week’s Autoline discussing the consolidation of the automotive interior business and where he sees it going. Joining the panel are Jeff Bennett of the Wall Street Journal and Tom Murphy from Wards Auto.

“The EV Era”

Salim Morsy, Bloomberg New Energy Finance; Chelsea Sexton, www.chelseasexton.com; John Voelcker, Green Car Reports. Topic: Electric cars.

Electrics were all the rage a few years ago. Nissan, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet – among others – gave consumers their first taste of gas-free driving. But as manufacturers improved the performance of their internal combustion engines, electrics almost went into hibernation. But now, suddenly, they are de rigueur once again. Join John McElroy from the floor of the New York Auto Show as he discusses this electric resurrection with Salim Morsy from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, John Voelcker of High Gear Media and EV enthusiast Chelsea Sexton.

“Protecting Industrial Secrets”

Bryson Bort, CEO, Grimm; Dr. Anuja Sonalker, VP, Engineering & Operations, TowerSec Automotive Cyber Security; BG Michael A. Stone, Assistant Adjutant General, Installations, Michigan National Guard. Topic: Cybersecurity.

Personal phones and computers aren’t the only items that need protection. Hackers are at work everywhere. We saw recently how they controlled a car driving down the road. And despite layers of protection, even the U.S. military is worried about its platforms. Cybersecurity has become the clarion call of the times.

From the site of the National Defense Industrial Association Conference join John McElroy for an in-depth look at what members of the NDIA are doing about Cybersecurity. Today’s guests include Bryson Bort, CEO of Grimm, a cyber research and development company; Dr. Anuja Sonalker, VP, Engineering & Operations, TowerSec Automotive Cyber Security; and BG Michael A. Stone, Assistant Adjutant General for Installations, Michigan National Guard.

“The Secrets of Silicon Valley”

Ken Washington, VP, Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford; Frankie James, Managing Director, GM Advanced Technology Silicon Valley Office; Arwed Niestroj, CEO, MBUSA Research and Development North America. Topic: Silicon Valley.

Apple, Intel and Facebook are there. So are electric and autonomy leaders Google and Tesla. But in addition to these tech giants, today’s Silicon Valley in Northern California also contain a lab or office from nearly every major automaker as well. Joining John McElroy from the floor of CES 2016 in Las Vegas to talk about why they’re attracted to Silicon Valley are top executives from three different major car companies including: Ken Washington, VP, Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford; Frankie James, the Managing Director of General Motors’ Advanced Technology Silicon Valley Office; and Arwed Niestroj, the CEO for MBUSA Research and Development North America.

“Driving Matters”

Robert Davis, SVP, Mazda USA Operations, Mazda NA; Dutch Mandel, Autoweek; Todd Lassa, Automobile. Topic: Mazda.

Driving has always mattered at Mazda. From its iconic “Zoom-Zoom” tagline to classic cars like the Miata to its involvement with motorsports, this small Japanese company remains a favorite of automotive enthusiasts around the world. Joining John McElroy on this special edition of Autoline is the Senior Vice President of Mazda’s North American Operations, Robert Davis. Rounding out the panel are Todd Lassa from Automobile and Dutch Mandel of Autoweek.

“The New Communicators”

Tony Cervone, SVP, Global Communications, General Motors; Chris Hosford, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, Hyundai Motor America; Stuart Schorr, VP Communications & Public Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America. Topic: Corporate Communications.

Automakers are mammoth organizations with campuses, plants and offices across the globe. So you can imagine with so many divisions and employees, it’s tough to speak with one voice. And for the most part that voice is Corporate Communications. Whether it’s talking to the automotive press, crafting a vehicle campaign or dealing with a crisis, this is the company voice. Joining John McElroy on this very special edition of Autoline to discuss OEM Communications, where it is today and how it’s changed over the last few decades are: Tony Cervone, the SVP of Global Communications for GM, Chris Hosford, the Director of Corporate Communications for Hyundai Motor America and Stuart Schorr, the VP of Communications and Public Affairs for Jaguar Land Rover North America.

“Truck of the Year”

Mike Austin, Autoblog; Jeff Gilbert, CBS Detroit; Ron Sessions, AutoWeb.com. Topic: Truck of the Year.

The competition is as tough as some of the trucks themselves. The vehicles up for North American Truck of the Year include: the Nissan Titan XD, the Volvo XC90 and the Honda Pilot. On this edition of Autoline THIS WEEK, John McElroy is joined by fellow NACTOY jurors Mike Austin of Autoblog.com, Jeff Gilbert from CBS Detroit and Ron Sessions of AutoWeb.com.