Autoline Daily - Audio

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.