Autoline Daily - Video

Toyota has sold its 1,000,000th Prius, but is that really impressive? Returning from the brink of collapse, Ssangyong makes an impressive showing at the Seoul Motor Show. GM announces the number of miles Volt drivers are going between fill-ups. All that and more, plus a closer look at the BMW ActiveE.

Saab stopped production again because of another dispute with suppliers over payments. Toyota and Microsoft will team up to develop smart grid technology to use electricity more efficiently and harness power from renewable sources. Yesterday we reported Ford was raising prices because of the rising cost of raw materials, now automakers in India are doing the same. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

Toyota just dodged another bullet. Plaintiff attorneys who are suing the company over unintended acceleration tried to get people in foreign countries to join their lawsuit, but the judge overseeing the case dismissed them. Ford is raising prices across the board because of the surging cost of raw materials. One website has a great way to get back at drivers that don't park properly. All that and more, plus a look at Kia's sporty new SX lineup.

Toyota wins its first lawsuit over unintended acceleration but the company still faces many more on this issue. Former Formula One champion, Kimi Raikkonen will race a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch's team. A software development company is introducing an app for first responders that lets them know where it’s safe to cut with the Jaws of Life. All that and more, plus a look at the sales results for March in the U.S. market.

Saab is running out of money fast and may be on the brink of collapse if it does not get new funding soon. Traffic deaths in the U.S. dropped for the fifth straight year to the lowest number since 1949. A couple reveals from the Seoul Motor Show. Chevrolet pulled the wraps off an ultramodern roadster concept called the Mi-ray, and Hyundai revealed its first-ever fuel-cell car called the Blue2. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Pietro Gorlier the CEO of the Mopar brand.

Yesterday President Obama called for the United States to reduce its dependence on oil - a goal every president since Nixon has stated - we'll see how it goes this time around. Buick is working on a rebadged version of the Opel Ampera. Chevrolet teases the upcoming 2013 Malibu. All that and more, plus we take a look at a technology called near-field communication that supplier company Visteon has found a variety of automotive uses for.

One economist says automakers may have consolidated their suppliers too much and may need to rethink how they structure their supply chain due to the disaster in Japan. Saab had to halt production in Sweden because some suppliers stopped shipping parts because they were worried about getting paid. A top UAW official says the union would be open to accepting more lower wage positions as long as automakers keep jobs in the U.S. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about electric vehicles, Hyundai and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

The news coming out of Japan isn’t getting any better. Deutsche Bank says production will not return to normal until October! Chrysler got back some 700 vehicles that were being held hostage by car-hauling company Allied Holdings. Nissan of Canada has turned down the Murano Crosscabriolet and this drop-top crossover will not be offered in the country. All that and more, plus John sits down with author and former Ford executive Anne Doyle to talk about enemies in the workplace.

Reports coming out of France say that Carlos Ghosn may have withheld evidence from police involving Renault's espionage case. IHS Automotive analyst Michael Robinet says the disruptions in the auto industry caused by the earthquake in Japan will be significant once parts shortages hit North America. The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation is hard at work reviving the MG brand and yesterday it debuted the new MG3. All that and more, plus a look at Daimler's new heavy-truck brand that was developed for the Indian market.

IHS Automotive projects global vehicle production could drop 30 percent this year due to parts shortages because of the disaster in Japan. Volvo will charge more than $2,100 per month for its C30 electric vehicle and the company says it will still lose money on the deal! An analyst in Europe says Volkswagen should buy Navistar, the American company that makes big diesels and heavy trucks. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with GM's president of North America, Mark Reuss.

Toyota, Nissan, Honda and many other companies are facing production disruptions around the world because of the disastrous situation in Japan. Detroit’s automakers are roaring back to life, hiring workers and engineers, and expanding their operations. The UAW is recruiting an activist army from countries around the world. All that and more, plus John shares some of his thoughts on Hyundai’s luxury car, the Equus.

Bob King the president of the UAW is calling Ford CEO Alan Mulally out on his recent stock bonus of nearly $57 million. China is going to make its own GPS, available for civilian use, to challenge the U.S. monopoly in satellite navigation. General Motors and Chrysler are suing car hauling companies for holding on to its vehicles and not giving them back. All that and more, plus John responds to your comments about Audi, Nissan and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

Japanese manufacturers have further delayed production with Toyota extending its shutdown until Saturday and Honda until Sunday. Fisker officially started production of the Karma plug-in hybrid at its plant in Finland. Just when you thought it was over for Toyota . . . it’s not. Plaintiff attorneys are challenging NASA's findings and demanding to look at the company's computer source code. All that and more, plus a look at McLaren's racing simulator.

As supplies of vehicles dwindle due to the earthquake in Japan, dealers are expected to end all discounts and sales incentives. GM, Ford and Chrysler want to give workers bonuses based on quality and profits, rather than just give them pay raises. France's Industry Minister, says he does not want to "destabilize Renault any further" when asked if Carlos Ghosn should step down as CEO. All that and more, plus a look at the new Audi A6 which has been extensively updated for 2012.

Ford held a ceremony at its Michigan Assembly plant to kick off production of the 2012 Focus but the big news is Ford will build the electric and hybrid versions of the C-MAX at the same plant. Nissan is monitoring all of its vehicles built in Japan for possible radioactive contamination due to the disaster in the country. JD Power released its annual Vehicle Dependability Study and for the first time ever Lincoln topped the list. All that and more, plus a look at Nissan's new commercial vans.

As if Japan wasn’t going through enough turmoil it’s now facing a currency crisis as the value of the yen surges. Sulfur in gasoline is a surprising roadblock to more efficient engines. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering fuel economy window stickers for used cars, and anyone can print them out. All that and more, plus John sits down with Roberto Giolito, the head of Fiat and Abarth design, to chat about how the company created a modern version of its iconic Cinquecento.

The United Auto Workers union is holding a convention next week to determine its bargaining strategy with GM, Ford and Chrysler in order to win back concessions. Auto supplier Honeywell predicts that the number of cars equipped with turbochargers will double in the U.S. by 2015. Carlos Ghosn apologized for the whole Renault espionage scandal but that might not be enough for the French government which is the company's largest shareholder. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about Alan Mulally, Chris Liddell and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

Renault’s Carlos Ghosn and Patrick Pélata have apologized profusely for the company’s bungled espionage caper and Ghosn is giving up his bonus. Of automakers in the American market Toyota is the most vulnerable to production disruptions because it imports more models from Japan than any other. Our colleagues at Edmunds Insideline put together an unusual comparison test, pitting the hot new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T against the General Lee. Yes, that General Lee. All that and more, plus a look at how Visteon is integrating cars and consumer electronics.

We know a little bit more about the new CFO at General Motors, Daniel Ammann and here's the best part, he owns a '61 Cadillac convertible and drives a CTS-V wagon. General Motors announced it will bring the Chevy Captiva Sport to the U.S. to sell to fleet customers. BMW just revealed its redesigned 6 Series which features numerous upgrades. All that and more, plus John shares his impressions of how Ford's EcoBoost technology performs with smaller engines in bigger vehicles.

Japan got pounded by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake yesterday afternoon and not surprisingly, automakers and suppliers are shutting down factories because of the disaster. If you add up the value of all the stock and options Ford CEO Alan Mulally has earned since joining the company, it’s now worth over $300 million! BMW reported record profits for 2010 with revenues increasing nearly 20%. All that and more, plus a look at Nissan's new light commercial vans.

In a bombshell of an announcement this morning, General Motors said that its Chief Financial Officer, Chris Liddell, is leaving the company. The espionage case at Renault just keeps getting more and more fun to watch and now the company is going to exonerate and rehire the three execs it fired. Going against the grain, one industry analyst is urging car buyers to NOT worry about gas prices. All that and more, plus a design tour of the new Chrysler 200 convertible.

Fiat held the top spot in sales in Brazil for the last 11 years but for the first two months of this year Volkswagen is number one. Chrysler will sell a couple of Fiat’s small commercial vehicles in the U.S. but they're not here yet, in the meantime the company will offer a utility version of its popular minivan, called the Ram Cargo Van. Pixar just released a new trailer for the upcoming Cars 2 movie that's in theaters this June. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about Ford, Chinese car companies ripping off designs and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

There's a gold rush in Dearborn! Ford CEO Alan Mulally earned $56 million in stock last year while Chairman Bill Ford made off with more than $42 million. The internal-combustion engine is under attack in Europe where the EC wants to ban them from cities by 2050. Sergio Marchionne wants to build more Fiat models at Chrysler's plant in Toluca, Mexico. All that and more, plus we take a look at the 2012 Mazda5's flowing design.

Chinese automaker Brilliance is coming out with two new vehicles that are blatant rip-offs of the BMW 5-series and Nissan NV 200. Speaking of China, car sales fell last month for the first time that we can remember. Even though there are more cars sitting on dealer lots, the day’s supply has gone down because the daily selling rate is so much stronger. All that and more, plus a look at how Ford's EcoBoost is different from its competition from a technical standpoint.

An Acura executive hints that the curiously-styled ZDX may not be for this world much longer. Raw material prices have been going up, up, up, but only now are automakers feeling the pain. The Renault espionage saga only gets more complicated. All that and more, plus the first-ever automotive recall to be caused by a spider.

Curiously, French automaker Renault is backpedaling from its claims that it was a victim of industrial espionage. Something fishy is going on here. Autoline Daily has learned how much the battery packs in the Chevy Volt and the Nissan LEAF cost. Hint: a lot. COBO Hall, home of the Detroit Auto Show, is getting some significant upgrades over the next three years as part of a $211 million investment. All that and more, plus McElroy responds to your questions and comments in the ever-popular “You Said It!” segment.

New car sales shot up by more than 27% in the American market last month, falling just shy of one million units. General Motors and Toyota put in a blistering sales performance in February amongst the major manufacturers. Cadillac had the most shocking sales performance with sales up 70%. All that and more, plus John test drives the new Mazda5 which is in showrooms right now.

We’ve got a full report on the latest news coming from the Geneva Motor Show including Ford’s new subcompact MPV, the B-Max, Volkswagen’s latest Microbus concept and a Saab model that points at the brand’s future design direction. Consumer Reports just released its latest . . . report; the magazine pans a surprising number of luxury automakers for quality. Ford is the master of PR spin. All that and more, plus a look at the 2011 Kia Optima TURBO.

Jaguar along with Italian design firm Bertone are pulling the covers off two concept cars at this week's Geneva Auto Show. Diesels are making a comeback in the European market where they had been losing market share. Researchers say safety systems in cars need to be specifically engineered to protect obese and older people in crashes. All that and more, plus John compares a Chevy Silverado with a 5.3 liter V-8 versus a Ford F-150 with an EcoBoost V-6.

Toyota is recalling another 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. because of floor mat issues. Volkswagen and Russian automaker GAZ will partner to build more than 100,000 VW and Skoda cars annually in Russia. Despite the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling, Mazda Vice President Jay Amestoy told Autoline Daily that it was what the Court didn't say that's also important. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about automotive television advertising.

General Motors reported its earnings for 2010 and overall the numbers look pretty good. In a sign that the global industry is turning around Daimler announced it plans to hire over 10,000 workers this year. Tiny Dutch automaker Spyker is selling its sports car unit to a Russian businessman in an effort to reduce its debt and allow it to focus more resources on saving Saab. All that and more, plus the one, the only Jim Hall shares a few his thoughts on Cadillac's controversial Urban Luxury Concept. Find out why it may not be such a bad idea after all.

Analysts are saying don’t be surprised if GM's fourth quarter earnings are not that good because it had to spend money on developing and introducing new vehicles. MINI will debut a concept in Geneva called the Rocketman which is smaller than any car it builds now. Aston Martin just introduced its latest sportscar, called the Virage which is powered by a hand-built 6.0-liter V-12 that cranks out 490 horsepower. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about ethanol, the Toyota Prius and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

Anti-government protests in Libya have shut down oil production in the North-African country causing the price per barrel to spike overnight. EcoMotors teamed with Navistar to deliver a production-version of its opposed-piston engine. The U.S. embassy has rated the air quality in Beijing WORSE than hazardous. All that and more, plus John gives us his instant impression of the brand-new, 2011 Chrysler 300.

Mazda is considering pulling out of its manufacturing plant in Flat Rock, Michigan which it shares with Ford. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to block E-15, gasoline that has 15% ethanol mixed with it. BMW just introduced a new performance exhaust system which reduces back pressure and allows the engine to produce an even more powerful sound. All that and more, plus John shares his impressions of Hyundai's luxury car, the Equus.

Yesterday Nissan Americas appointed Carla Bailo as the senior VP of Research and Development, the first American to hold the position. Chevy just introduced its own hands free voice control infotainment system called MyLink. Honda quietly revealed its brand-new Civic which offers some mechanical changes but not much else. All that and more, plus a big argument between what liberals and conservatives think the auto industry should be doing in a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit.

For the first time in what must be 80 years Ford has more dealerships than Chevrolet in the American market. We’re really starting to see car culture develop in China, in fact, the Chinese love the American lifestyle and are really getting into motorhomes. Over in Japan Nissan just introduced the third generation of its Moco minicar. All that and more, plus a walk around the brand-new 2011 Mini Countryman crossover.

New car sales have been falling in Europe for 10 months now due to the weak economy and governments ending incentive programs. Bob Lutz and General Motors are in talks about bringing him back as a paid consultant. Rinspeed will debut a wild looking vehicle at this year's Geneva Motor Show called the BamBoo. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about smart and covetic aluminum in the "You Said It!" segment.

Mercedes-Benz USA is taking over the distribution of smart from the Penske Automotive Group. President Obama wants to "pull the plug" on funding for clean-diesel and fuel-cell technologies, diverting it toward electric vehicles instead. Bentley set a new world-speed record, topping 330 kilometers per hour . . . on ice! All that and more, plus a look at the brand-new 2011 Nissan Quest minivan.

Inventory levels are increasing in the American market, a sure sign that automakers are making too many cars. Lamborghini will unveil a new flagship supercar at the Geneva Motor Show, called the Aventador, which is expected to cost more than $370,000! The average fuel economy of new light-vehicles sold in the U.S. fell last year. All that and more, plus a look at the new Ford Focus.

Yesterday we reported that Ford was suing Ferrari for using the F-150 name for its Formula One racecar, now the Italian automaker has agreed to not use the name. We've got more sneak peeks of what we'll see at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Chrysler will offer a special version of its Cummins turbo-diesel engine in the Ram with 800 pound-feet of torque! All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about how the people at Chrysler managed to make it through tough times the last several years.

Bringing to mind their rivalry in the 1960s, Ford and Ferrari are at it again, this time they’re bickering about the use of the F-150 name. Chevy revealed its red-hot, 550-plus horsepower Camaro ZL1 at the Chicago Auto Show yesterday. Opel just introduced its brand-new 2011 Corsa. All that and more, plus McElroy responds to your questions and comments in the popular "You Said It!" segment.

Yesterday the FBI raided the Michigan offices of Japanese seat belt supplier Takata. China's problems with traffic congestion is becoming much worse. Dodge unveiled the new 2012 Charger SRT-8 at the Chicago Auto Show which features a completely new look. All that and more, plus John calls out Ray LaHood, the Secretary of Transportation for not having the guts to call it like it is.

Credit increased by more than $6 billion a month ago; economists expected it to rise by only $2.4 billion. General Motors will likely pay its hourly workers in the U.S. a bonus of more than $1,800, the highest profit-sharing checks they’ve ever received. More and more cars come with keyless ignition systems these days but now the technology is under scrutiny because several people have died from leaving their cars running in their garages. All that and more, plus a look at the 2011 Ford explorer.

The government's proposal to raise the fleet average of vehicles to 62 MPG was a hot topic at the annual National Auto Dealers Association convention. One analyst says that used cars will outsell new ones by a three to one margin this year. Indian automaker Mahindra receives a shockingly poor rating from the U.S. EPA for its diesel pick-up truck. All that and more, plus a look at the new Hyundai Elantra.

Thousands of taxpayers in the U.S. have filed for an electric vehicle credit even though they don't own one. A company based in Denmark says the global market for cellulosic ethanol will start to take off in 2013. Honda is avoiding advanced technology to improve fuel economy because it says it can get the same results or better with less expensive parts. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about a part of the Detroit Auto Show that you’ve never seen before.

Ford posts disappointing, stock-plummeting profits in the fourth quarter of 2010. Raw material costs and a looming incentives war raise the alarm bells. New York City is holding a competition to determine its "Taxi of Tomorrow" and two-thirds of the finalists are from ... Turkey? All that and more, plus John McElroy answers your questions and comments in You Said It!

BMW’s electric Mega City car is reportedly spawning a sub-brand. All of GM’s vehicles must now make it through the "knothole" in order to get produced. Continuously variable transmissions will soon be used outside of the drivetrain to improve efficiency. All that and more, plus John McElroy offers his Instant Impression on the Fiat 500.

More Japanese automakers are moving or planning on moving production out of the country as the strong yen cuts into their profits. Chrysler workers will cash in as CEO Sergio Marchionne prepares to hand out bonuses. BMW is developing a smart key fob that could allow drivers to do things like check up on their vehicle or even book travel arrangements. All that and more, plus a look at the enhanced 2011 Jeep Patriot.

Chrysler reported its earnings for 2010 and while the numbers are not great, they do show progress. Daimler is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and will give employees a €1,000 bonus. Starting tomorrow Renault will introduce its own line of tires specifically designed for its older vehicles. All that and more, plus a tour of the new Lincoln MKX with chief engineer Elaine Bannon.

Ford just reported a full-year net income of $6.6 billion for 2010, the company’s highest net income in more than a decade. Chrysler wants its dealers to avoid haggling over the price of the Fiat 500 with customers. Volkswagen showed off a futuristic two-seat concept called the XL1 this week at the Qatar Motor Show. All that and more, plus a design tour of the 2011 Chrysler 300.