
Automotive Insight
527 episodes — Page 2 of 11

Need an oil change? Automakers now offering mobile service
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports a number of automakers offer mobile service where mechanics come to you to do basic service. Ford appears to be the most aggressive.

CEO around the world using AI in supply chain operations
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports a new survey about disruptions shows executives at auto suppliers are using artificial intelligence to fix or trigger changes.

Headlight glare is the the top complaint for drivers
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports headlights are getting brighter and it may get worse. But there are some suppliers who are working on a fix. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ford is making radical changes to how it develops EVs
WWJ Automotive Analyst John McElroy says Ford's next electric vehicle platform is being developed in a completely different way, "'breaking all the rules."

Lear goes with vertical integration, saves money
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Lear Corporation found a lot of savings by moving to vertical integration and they are now the biggest American automotive supplier.

Honda wind tunnel helps USA Olympic bobsled team
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the US Olympic bobsled team is getting some help from Honda's wind tunnel in Ohio to find ways to be aerodynamic.

Cadillac sees sales success with electric vehicles
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Cadillac is surging forward with electric vehicles.

Chinese automakers really want to get into the United States
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the Chinese want to get into the U.S. because it has the richest and most profitable car market in the world. (Photo: Getty Images)

Will Chinese cars be built and sold in the U.S.?
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports some dealers want to sell Chinese cars in the United States, but lobbyists are trying to delay the move for four years so the Big 3 can be in better shape.

EV write-offs have been a fiasco of historic proportions
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says the amount of money wasted on EV investments is more than 55-billion dollars, which is bigger than the economy of several countries.

Car prices have risen way more than the rate of inflation
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports cars today costs about five times more than in 1967,

Tesla to pivot and dive into AI and humanoid robots
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says Tesla will scrap its models S and X and push the company to AI, robo-taxis, computer chips and robots. (Photo: Getty Images)

Why Audi is stuck in import limbo
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Audi saw the biggest sales drop of all luxury brands and one problem is tariffs.

Michigan could become a global leader in hydrogen production
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Governor Whitmer announced an initiative at the Detroit Auto Show to explore for geologic hydrogen and Michigan may have the best formations for massive amounts of hydrogen.

Tips to avoid a crash on snowy roads
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy has some tips on ways to avoid a crash or other problems while driving on snow-covered roads.

Auto suppliers wary of anti-drunk driving technology
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Congress wants technology in cars to keep people who are drunk from driving, but auto suppliers are worried about reliability and unintended consequences. (Photo: Getty Images)

Chinese automaker Geely wants to make cars in the US
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Geely wants to build cars in the United States, at Volvo's assembly plant in South Carolina. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)

AI makes radar like lidar
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports one company has reached a breakthrough with artificial intelligence and radar signals.

Neumo AI using sensors in head rests to capture brain waves of drivers
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Neumo, which is set up at New Lab in Detroit, can capture the brain waves of drivers and it could make driving safer.

Honda, VW try to avoid having dealers sell new EV brands
WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Honda and VW are ready for a legal fight over the sales of their new electric vehicles.

Humanoid robots could take auto jobs
bonusWWJ Auto Analyst John McElroy reports while robots have long been in auto plants, humanoid robots can do almost all jobs in a manufacturing facility. (Photo: Getty Images)

The best auto stocks from 2025
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports GM and Ford did way better than Tesla when it comes to investments.

What's the best way to cut the cost of cars? Fewer parts
bonusAutomakers are getting really serious about designing vehicles with fewer parts, and WWJ Auto Analyst John McElroy says it's all about cost-cutting.

GM working on new EV battery that would cut costs by $10,000
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports General Motors is working on a new LMR battery for electric vehicles that could cut the costs of a pickup by ten thousand dollars.

Ford reverses course on electric vehicles
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Ford is taking a significant hit to its balance sheet as it shifts electric vehicle programs and other automakers may have to do the same.

The Chinese auto industry is headed for a massive restructuring
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports China has massive automotive over capacity and the government is trying to help by putting an end to price wars.

Automakers should focus on three things and outsource other areas
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports automakers should focus on three specific things — and leave everything else to suppliers.

Ford targets Toyota in mid-sized pickups
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports while Toyota is dominating the mid-sized truck market, Ford is expanding its lineup to close the gap.

The auto industry is a family affair for many companies
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy is amazed by how many families are involved in the auto business. That includes families who control Ford, BMW, VW and other companies.

A comeback for station wagons? Fat chance!
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the U.S. Transportation Secretary thinks station wagons will make a comeback because of the easing of fuel economy standards. But McElroy says the problem is fuel economy wasn't the reason station wagons went away. (Photo: Getty Images)

Toyota takes aim at the Corvette
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the layout of a new sports car from Toyota, the GR GT, is very similar to the Corvette.

The back and forth with auto emissions regulations
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports automakers need to be careful about how they handle a change in emissions standards.

Detroit is more important to auto industry than Detroiters realize
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says companies from all over the world are coming to Detroit to show off and talk about their latest manufacturing tech. (Photo: Getty Images)

Autonomous cars are safe, but how safe is safe enough?
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports autonomous cars may save a bunch of lives, but that may not be good enough for some people.

Mercedes using a new wild and crazy EV motor
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Mercedes is getting ready to use a new kind of electric motor in one of its EVs.

BMW is leaving Mercedes in the dust when it comes to sales
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says BMW has done a better job of selling electric vehicles while Mercedes' EV sales have fallen enough that executives are working up a new strategy.

Automakers need to hit the next demographic wave
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the next big demographic wave is Gen Z, those 14-28 years old, and Gen A, who are even younger, and the auto execs who figure out what kind of cars they want will be able to ride the wave well into the century. (Photo: 1966 Ford Mustang via Getty Images)

Full sized electric pickup trucks have no hope of being successful
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports GM, Ford and Stellantis face a problem with some of their EV platforms. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

US tool and die shops need help
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports GM and Tesla don't want any parts from China going into the vehicles they make in the US, but they are still sourcing a lot of tooling from China. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tariffs aren't boosting auto jobs in the U.S.
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says automotive production in the U.S. is lower than it was last year and there are fewer automotive jobs. But an analysis from Brown Consulting says some plants are employing more people and making more cars. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

HORSE wants to make engines for the Big 3
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says a company named HORSE is already building engines for Renault, Volvo, and Mercedes and the Big 3 may want to consider outsourcing to HORSE as well.

Ford's new headquarters could change company culture
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the new headquarter building is much different than the old headquarters, the Glass House, that had a top-down style with many offices and cubicles.

Research shows those who don't buckle up are more likely to die in crash
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports a new study shows people who don't wear seatbelts are more likely to die in a crash.

GM doesn't want suppliers to rely on China for materials, other items
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says General Motors has dropped a bombshell on suppliers telling them not to source anything from China.

Legacy specs hindering Detroit automakers
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy says the Big Three should burn their legacy specs because they are leaving them tangled in red tape.

Automakers make billions from service parts
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports big automakers are leaving some money on the table when it comes to car, truck and SUV repairs. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

A piece of advice from the godfather of Toyota's production system
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports a Toyota manufacturing expert told workers to always wipe down their machines at the end of every shift.

Classic cars are exempt from auto tariffs
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports imported classic cars are exempt from the tariffs imposed by President Trump. (Photo: Getty Images)

One of the greatest auto developments of all time
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Tesla came up with over the air updates, or OTAs, and doesn't get enough credit for it.

Will Chrysler go back to being Chrysler?
bonusWWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the former CEO of Stellantis says you shouldn't be surprised if the automaker is broken up, and Chrysler ends up with American ownership. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)