Autoline Daily - Video

Last week Mazda denied it would build a plant in Mexico, today the company announced it will build a factory in Mexico. And with Mazda dropping out of the Flat Rock plant in Michigan and moving to Mexico, Ford may want to move the Mustang which is also made in Flat Rock. Just a few days after blocking a bill that would drop subsidies for ethanol, the U.S. Senate turned right around and approved a bill that would end them. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with special guest Bob Lutz.

J.D. Power and other analysts are forecasting increased car sales in the coming years, even projecting a return to 16 million annual sales. Supplier company Bosch is answering the auto industry’s call for more turbochargers, partnering with Mahle to build blowers. Buick fans get a surprise as the new Regal GS is rated as having the most horsepower per liter of any engine built by GM. All that and more, plus John investigates the Hyundai Equus’ iPad-based owners’ manual.

The Boston Consulting Group is wondering aloud whether EVs will be out-shined by advanced internal-combustion engines. The Center for Automotive Research says new fuel-economy standards will make cars more expensive, so much so that over five years the increased cost WILL NOT pay for itself in fuel savings. Yesterday the U.S. Senate voted to keep ethanol subsidies. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

Word on the street is that GM CEO Dan Akerson told Opel recently they will not be sold as had been previously thought. Daimler is, however, considering outsourcing its Maybach cars to Aston Martin due to the line’s low sales. The Department of Energy has cut funding for the once-popular hydrogen fuel-cell program, saying it’s too expensive to support along with other alternative-energy programs. All that and more, plus Seamus McElroy evaluates the Prius v.

A Plexiglas Pontiac display car from the 1939 world's fair is slated to hit the RM auction block this summer. China is recalling its electric taxicabs after one burst into flames recently due to faulty wiring and battery leaks. California is proposing targets for EV sales in their state that would mandate 14 percent of new cars be EVs by 2025. All that and more, plus John reports on Hyundai's fight to be top dog in the fuel economy war.

David Strickland, the head of NHTSA, says companies developing in-car applications must not sacrifice safety for entertainment. Volvo is developing technology to avoid crashes with animals that will be ready for market in the next few years. Ford is only going to sell hybrid versions of the C-Max in the American market and it will only sell the two-row version, not the Grand C-Max version with three rows. All that and more, plus find out who John thinks will be the next CEO of Ford in the Race to Replace Mulally.

GM is again seeking to sell its money-losing Opel Division and this time Volkswagen and Chinese car companies may be interested. Unions at Volkswagen want to buy a 3 percent stake in the company to increase their influence over how the automaker is run. Autoworkers at Maruti-Suzuki in India are striking for longer tea breaks, among other changes. All that and more, plus the fourth segment of the Race to Replace Mulally.

Chrysler shuffles its deck of brand CEOs as Ralph Gilles is appointed CEO of the Street Racing Technology group while Fred Diaz will become CEO at Chrysler de Mexico. Popularity and prices of used cars are on the rise both in the United States and in Spain, helped by shortages of new cars and higher prices. Ford set a goal yesterday to increase its global sales 50 percent by 2015 largely through increased sales in Africa and Asia. All that and more, plus the third installment of the Race to Replace Mulally.

Chinese automakers are expanding at a rapid pace and one of them is building cars in Iraq of all places. Geely and Volvo are clashing over the direction the safety-conscious Swedish brand should go. GM CEO Dan Akerson adds Lincoln to the long list of brands he's bashed. All that and more, plus we evaluate BMW's fast and fun X5 M.

A Saudi Prince wants to see lower oil prices to keep Americans and Europeans from seeking alternatives. BMW unveils its all new 1-series along with its treasure trove of new features. Pick-up trucks of all makes and shapes are piling up across the U.S. as sales slow due to gas prices. All that and more, plus a look at how the auto industry and the EPA are training engineers to make more fuel efficient vehicles.

The U.S. government sold its remaining Chrysler stock to Fiat and President Obama is going to a Jeep plant in Ohio today to celebrate. GM's President of North America, Mark Reuss wants to test the company's futuristic autonomous electric vehicle, the EN-V, in Detroit. Mazda is in talks with Ford about selling its stake in their shared assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan where the Mazda6 and the Mustang are built. All that and more, plus a look at some fascinating stories that came out of last month’s new-car sales in the U.S.

Well, the analysts were right. May sales were down compared to April as high gas prices and other factors steered customers away from showrooms. But the news isn’t all bad. Ron Bloom, White House auto advisor, says taxpayers will not lose nearly as much money on the bailouts of GM and Chrysler as previously thought. Also, startling statistics from China about child safety-seat usage. All that and more, plus GM builds parts for the Chevy Volt out of used oil booms.

Car sales in the American market slowed down in May. J.D. Power forecasts that the SAAR rate will come in at only 11.5 million units. UPS is testing a fleet of lightweight trucks made with composite body panels which reduce the weight of the truck by 1,000 pounds compared to its normal delivery trucks. Fiat decided to dump the Chrysler brand in Europe and slap Lancia badges on them instead. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about Chevy, labor negotiations and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

Even though GM and Ford are recovering quickly in the American market they still want to close more assembly plants where they have slow-selling models. Mercedes is introducing another lust-worthy supercar, a drop-top version of its SLS AMG. Volkswagen announced it wants to completely take over MAN, the German commercial-vehicle maker. All that and more, plus John shares some of his thoughts on the 2011 Kia Optima SX.

The UAW wants to get seats on the boards of the Detroit automakers. The Japanese automaker recovery is going faster than initially predicted. BMW demonstrates the advanced state of autonomous technology at race tracks around the world. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit in which the panel debates which foreign transplant the union will target.

Chinese car sales aren’t just slowing, they could fall. U-Haul won’t rent you a trailer if you’re a Ford Explorer buyer or own a soft-top Wrangler. Ford demos Sync integration with medical equipment for blood sugar monitoring on the go. All that and more, plus we get a look into the EPA where we learn they don’t just test cars.

CEO Sergio Marchionne wants to have one management group for both Fiat and Chrysler, not the two separate groups like they’re now using. General Motors will build the next-generation Chevy Impala at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, alongside the Volt and Malibu. One analyst is warning that Chinese automakers face severe overcapacity unless they change plans to expand. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about diesels, CAFE rules and more in the "You Said It!" Segment.

For more than 50 years the Arabian Peninsula has fueled the modern world, but the easy pickens are rapidly becoming slim pickens as supplies of high-quality light-crude oil dwindle. Louis Renault’s heirs are suing the French government for seizing the company back in 1944 and not providing them with any compensation. Mercedes-Benz is seriously considering bringing its Vito utility van to the U.S. as a compliment to the larger Sprinter. All that and more, plus we attempt a bit of a cannonball run in Kia’s new SX vehicles.

A company called Planning Perspectives, which tracks supplier relations, says the Detroit Three have improved dramatically, while the Japanese, in the words of the study’s author, "have lost their way." Volkswagen, at its new plant in Tennessee, will be paying its hourly workers $27 an hour, including wages and benefits. That compares to about $52 an hour for GM and Chrysler and $58 at Ford. The average age of cars and trucks on the roads in the U.S. is getting older. All that and more, plus a look at the convertible version of the Camaro 2SS.

The Obama Administration has dropped its idea of handing out letter grades to vehicles based on their fuel economy. J.D. Power says that car sales in May will drop. It forecasts the SAAR at just 11.9 million units which was previously at 13 million units. Auto supplier TRW just introduced an airbag that's installed in the roof which replaces the passenger airbag mounted in the instrument panel. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline Detroit with Paul Mascarenas, the Chief Technology Officer of the Ford Motor Company.

Earlier this week the Consumer Federation of America said that Americans overwhelmingly support raising the fuel economy standard to over 60 miles per gallon . . . but they have no idea what it's going to cost them! Audi's next-generation A6 Avant is scheduled for take off late this summer. There’s a storm brewing between Johnson Controls and its battery partner, French company Saft Groupe. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

A couple new studies just released differ on how much the auto industry will recover in the U.S. One says sales will rebound to pre-recession levels of 16 million units by 2013, the other predicts sales will be 14.5 million in 2013. And speaking of car sales, a new report says Japanese automakers could lose 193,000 sales in the American market this year. Saab is aiming to restart production next week at its plant in Sweden. All that and more, plus a look at how the EPA tests and certifies engines.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel just unveiled plans to double financial aid to German automakers, with the goal of getting 1 million EVs on the country's roads by the end of the decade. Cadillac is gearing up for the debut of its new XTS by selling off the DTS and STS models it will replace. Audi is capacity constrained right now but at least it has a sense of humor about the situation. All that and more, plus a look at the updated 2012 Honda Civic.

Major automotive retailers in the U.S. are running out of inventory because of production disruptions in Japan due to the earthquake. Saab says it now has another last minute deal with Chinese automaker, Pangda which will reportedly pay $92 million for 24% of Saab. Toyota and Volkswagen have banned tobacco use at two of their plants in the U.S. All that and more, plus a look at a website Johnson Controls just launched that's designed to educate consumers about the benefits of hybrid cars.

Chinese automaker Hawtai says its deal with Saab fell through due to "economic realities," not because it couldn't get the proper permits from the Chinese government. NASCAR's Tony Stewart and F1's Lewis Hamilton are going to trade cars in a demonstration run at Watkins Glen. The head of Bosch's North and South American operations predicts diesel powered cars and trucks will make up 10% of all new car sales in the U.S. by 2015. All that and more plus, we find out why it’s taking so long for the EPA to get the hydraulic hybrid it developed to the marketplace.

Earlier this week GM announced it will be hiring 4,200 workers at its plants in the U.S., and now Bloomberg reports that Chrysler may add 3,000 more jobs, too. And in another indication the American economy is clawing its way back, the big-truck segment had its best sales month of the year in April. The saga at Saab is going from bad to worse. The Swedish automaker thought it had a deal with Chinese car company Hawtai, but the deal collapsed this morning. All that and more, plus John thinks it's time to raise the speed limit in a BIG way.

Toyota reported its net profit fell by 77% in its fourth quarter due to the earthquake in Japan and the strong value of the yen. The first hydrogen fueling station in the U.S. fed directly from an existing hydrogen pipeline opened yesterday. Google is lobbying the state of Arizona for it to become the first place in the world to allow autonomous cars to drive legally on streets. All that and more, plus a look at the EPA's hydraulic hybrid technology which could help cut the cost of making hybrid vehicles.

China’s Ministry of Commerce is accusing the United States of dumping cars in China. Ford is teaming up with The Ohio State University to figure out how to use dandelions as a sustainable resource for rubber. Bob Stempel, the former Chairman and CEO of General Motors, passed away last weekend. All that and more, plus John shares his take on the Buick Regal Turbo.

Ford is paying U.S. line workers $8 an hour more than the foreign transplants and says it needs to close that gap if it’s going to continue investing in the United States. Low inventory levels of new cars in the U.S. is pushing prices of used cars up by as much as $3,000. The Chevy Volt may not qualify for incentives under China's New Energy Vehicle Development Plan because it's not built in the country. All that and more, plus John shares his thoughts about the new Acura TL.

Despite tripling its net profit, GM's stock dropped yesterday because Wall Street wasn't impressed with its operating profit. The Obama administration is looking at a new road tax based on vehicle miles driven to help raise money to fix our roads. Jaguar is going to build the C-X75 concept it unveiled at the Paris auto show last year. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Tim Manganello, the chairman and CEO of BorgWarner.

General Motors absolutely blew through analysts’ expectations for the first quarter. New federal regulations are requiring suppliers to disclose their use of minerals that come from war-torn countries in Africa. Demand for diesel fuel and gasoline has been falling in the U.S. for more than a month. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

April sales numbers are in and they're up over 13% compared to a year ago, coming in at over 1.1 million new vehicles sold. Even though sales were up last month, automakers were able to increase them with reduced incentives which were at there lowest levels since 2005. New York City announced that Nissan won its "Taxi of Tomorrow" competition with a modified version of its NV200 commercial van. All that and more, plus guest host David Welch from Bloomberg News/BusinessWeek shares his thoughts on Toyota's recent decline.

Saab is saved . . . again. The Swedish automaker just received a €30 million loan plus an even bigger investment from Chinese car company Hawtai Motor Group. Audi is adding shifts and boosting production to keep up with brisk demand for its vehicles. Cadillac is expected to introduce turbocharged four-cylinder engines on its upcoming ATS and XTS models. All that and more, plus a look at Delphi’s plug-less EV charging system.

More first quarter financial numbers are in. Chrysler posted its first net profit since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009 and the tire maker Goodyear posted a record net profit for its first quarter. Ford will offer the Boss 302 5.0 liter V-8 as a crate engine through the company's performance-parts catalog. Fiat planted pear trees in eight different 500s to participate in New York City's, Million Trees NYC project. All that and more, plus a few of John’s thoughts on the Chevy Cruze Eco.

More first quarter earnings are in. We'll take a look at the financial numbers for Daimler, Kia and BorgWarner. Ford says demand for its EcoBoost engine in the F-150 is stronger than expected. Mazda North America announced that Robert Davis is being promoted to senior vice president of the company's newly created U.S. Operations Group. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Joel Ewanick, the head of global marketing at General Motors.

Wow! Hyundai just surged past Honda in global sales in the first quarter. The federal government is downsizing . . . the vehicles in its fleet, that is. Six U.S. Senators - three Democrats and three Republicans - are working on a debt-reduction plan that includes a gas-tax increase! All that and more, plus a look at the power-to-weight ratios of some popular b-segment cars.

Volkswagen’s first quarter numbers are in and they are a record for the German automaker. Audi just completed its first public test of its latest diesel powered racecar, the R18 TDI, at Le Mans over the weekend. General Motors released a couple images of its next-generation Opel Astra GTC which is set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments about hydraulic hybrids, Lexus design and more in the "You Said It!" segment.

Ford is back on track. It just posted impressive profits for the first quarter of 2011. Analysts are predicting the automotive industry in India will surpass those in Brazil, Russia and Europe by 2015. The Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF just aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s rigorous crash tests. All that and more, plus a look at a safer way to refuel racecars.

Toyota says production won't return to normal until December and doesn't expect to meets its full year global production goal of 7.7 million units. Six Japanese companies had their outlooks downgraded to negative from stable by the Standard's and Poor's Rating Service. Chinese automaker SAIC wants to export cars to the U.S. and other markets because the market in China is slowing down. All that and more, plus a look at a new type of electric car that can be recharged in less than five minutes.

Inexpensive polymers may soon make paint scratches a thing of the past. The usage of public EV charging stations in France calls their worth into question. BMW will be the first manufacturer to equip all motorcycles with anti-lock brakes. All that and more plus a drive in the smart ED and a wrap up of the New York International Auto Show.

Fiat will take a controlling stake in Chrysler sooner than expected, with the company paying $1.27 billion in order to boost its stake. Scion unveiled a rear-wheel drive sports coupe concept in New York called the FR-S which will be the inspiration for a new model coming out next year. In order to get people to come check out the new A7 at the New York Show, Audi made a paper replica of the car. All that and more plus guest host Murray Feldman from Fox 2 News, Detroit wonders when or if the American taxpayer will ever make money or break even on their investments in automakers.

The UAW takes a new negotiating tact by targeting the domestics for an early labor agreement. Mercedes takes the wraps off a dramatic new A-Class concept. Hyundai's new technology combines the functionality of Sync and OnStar. All that and more, plus John responds to your comments in this week's "You Said It!"

New York and Shanghai fight it out this week for auto show supremacy. Volvo reveals its stunning Universe concept in China. What will you have to pay to get your hands on BMW’s all-electric ActiveE? All that and more, plus Chevrolet officially takes the wraps off its new Malibu in a global reveal.

Toyota, Nissan and Honda now have all their plants in Japan up and running but only at half capacity. Nissan revealed a race car that's powered by the same EV technology as the LEAF, called the LEAF NISMO RC. Mazda announced that its crossover concept, the MINAGI, which debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show, will be called the CX-5 when it goes on sale next year. All that and more, plus a look at the redesigned Beetle that Volkswagen just unveiled at the auto shows in both Shanghai and New York.

Toyota will run at 50 percent capacity at all of its plants in Japan for nearly a month starting in May due to supply shortages. Chevy just announced a lineup of aftermarket parts for the Sonic called Z-Spec accessories. Ford plans to introduce 15 new vehicles and double the size of its dealer network in China by 2015. All that and more, plus guest host Murray Feldman from Fox 2 News, Detroit shares his thoughts on whether or not the growth in the auto industry is too much, too soon.

Experts are saying the adoption of EVs may be derailed by the high cost of building the infrastructure to support them. Chrysler announced an agreement with parts supplier Magneti Marelli and Shell Lubricants that will allow its dealers to service competitors' vehicles. Volkswagen is introducing a new commercial van for the UK market. Called the Crafter, it's based off the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. All that and more, plus guest host Christie Schweinsberg fills us in on the 2011 Ward's Auto Interiors Conference.

Detroit automakers are having trouble delivering new vehicles by rail due to a shortage of freight cars and delays are taking anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Chrysler is developing compressed natural gas vehicles that could go on sale by 2017 in the U.S. Lexus revealed its LF-Gh hybrid concept before its debut at the New York Auto show next week. All that and more, plus guest host Rod Meloni from WDIV Local 4 News, Detroit answers your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

Big news in the Renault espionage scandal. A number of executives are resigning from the company. Daimler and Bosch have teamed up to produce electric motors for Mercedes-Benz and smart. GM has pulled the 2013 Chevy Malibu ahead by several months and it's expected to go on sale early next year. All that and more, plus guest host Rod Meloni of WDIV Local 4 News, Detroit shares a few of his thoughts on Chrysler's resurgence.

A company owned by Russian billionaire Vladimir Antonov will purchase Saab assets from Spyker and then lease it back to the company. New fuel economy mandates are spurring automakers and suppliers to develop more fuel efficient powertrains and as a result they are hiring hundreds of engineers. Ford is using a nylon-based resin that’s made from 100 percent recycled carpeting to make plastic cam-covers for some of its engines. All that and more, plus guest host Scott Burgess from the Detroit News, explains why he resigned and went back to the newspaper.

Car sales in the U.S. and China are neck and neck, but America squeezes out a win — for now. John Mendel reports that Honda will make up for production lost during the Japanese crisis. Jaguar and Jeep both seem to be digging diesels. All that and more, plus maybe cell phones aren’t quite as bad as we thought.