Episode 239 – Toyota Issues Huge Recall, Fiat Dumps Magna, Tokyo Sneak Peek

September 30th, 2009 at 12:00pm

Runtime 7:07

Toyota is facing a recall of over 3-million vehicles, it’s biggest recall ever. Fiat won’t renew a contract with Magna to build Chrysler vehicles in Europe. A peek at some of the concept cars coming to the Tokyo auto show. All that and more, plus John answers viewer questions in the “You Said It!” segment.

Transcript and Story Links after the jump . . .

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Episode 238 – GM Marketing Is Working, Acura ZDX Stamping, FedEx Hybrid Conversions

September 29th, 2009 at 12:00pm

Runtime 7:32

General Motors’ new marketing campaign is working, for the most part. Honda works on new stamping techniques. All that and more, plus a look at how delivery company FedEx is retrofitting older trucks in its fleet to convert them into hybrids.

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Episode 237 – Weak Dollar Hurts Japan, Frankfurt Attendance Down, BMW Lovos Concept

September 28th, 2009 at 12:00pm

Runtime 7:08

The American dollar is sinking against other currencies, and that has hit Japanese automakers hard. Attendance at the Frankfurt Auto Show was down by 150,000 people compared to the last show. BMW comes out with another really weird concept car. All that and more, plus a look at the new BMW 5-series GT.

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Episode 236 – GM Sees Sales Growing, Chrysler Suppliers Balk, New Ford Super Duty

September 25th, 2009 at 12:18pm

Runtime 7:03

GM CEO Fritz Henderson says sales will grow by 1 million to 1.5 million units next year. Suppliers are reluctant to bid on new programs at Chrysler because the company will not guarantee production levels on any vehicles. All that and more, plus a look at the new Super Duty pickup Ford revealed at the Texas State Fair yesterday.

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Episode 235 – Donoughe Leaves Tesla, Marchionne Wants 5 Facelifts, Honda’s Wild U3-X

September 24th, 2009 at 12:10pm

Runtime 7:57

Tesla is losing its head of engineering and manufacturing. Chrysler’s new CEO, Sergio Marchionne, wants face lifts on five different models by 2011. Honda comes out with an electric unicycle . . . that you’ve just gotta see. All that and more, plus how General Motors came up with the fuel economy number for the Chevy Volt.

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Episode 234 – U.S. Automakers Recovering, VW May Buy Ssangyong, GM Looks To Reduce Battery Costs

September 23rd, 2009 at 12:10pm

Runtime 6:52

Sure signs the American automakers are starting to recover. Volkswagen might buy Korean automaker Ssangyong Motors with help from its Chinese joint venture partner, SAIC. All that and more, plus a key way GM will be able to slash the cost of the batteries in the Chevy Volt.

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Episode 233 – Magna to Cut Opel Jobs, Audi & Ford Grow In China, BMW Designs Bus Stop Benches

September 22nd, 2009 at 12:00pm

Runtime 6:24

Now that Magna has bought part of Opel, it’s going to cut 10,500 jobs. Ford and Audi build more plants in China. BMW Design Works USA, designs bench seats for bus stops. All that and more, plus Tom Stephens, who is now in charge of all global product development at GM, talks about how we’re on the brink of getting cellulosic ethanol.

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Episode 232 – Geely Finds Investor, Visteon Cuts Bonuses, Speed Limiters in Canada

September 21st, 2009 at 12:28pm

Runtime 5:23

Goldman Sachs will invest $250 million in Chinese automaker Geely, which could allow Geely to purchase Volvo from Ford. Auto supplier Visteon, has decided to cut executive bonuses by 85 percent. All that and more, plus Canada considers limiting the top speed of cars to 93 miles an hour.

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Autoline LIVE: Tom Stephens, GM Global Product Development

September 21st, 2009 at 8:59am

AUTOLINE LIVE WITH TOM STEPHENS

GM’s Tom Stephens, the Vice Chairman of Global Product Development, joined us for a LIVE taping of Autoline Detroit and then continued the broadcast in an exclusive web-only Q & A session with you, our audience. Watch as Tom responds to questions about the Pontiac G8, what General Motors’ answer is to EcoBoost, whether natural gas is a viable option going forward and more!

Episode 231 – GAZ to Get GM Tech, Toyota Can’t Seal Rollover Case, VW’s Weird Car Names

September 18th, 2009 at 12:00pm

Runtime 7:58

GM will let Opel and Russian automaker GAZ have access to its technology as part of the deal to spin Opel off. A judge has ruled that Toyota cannot seal a lawsuit which alleges the company hid rollover data. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline Detroit about why VW has some of the strangest car names in the business.

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