Autoline This Week - Audio

The new cars, trucks and SUVs that we’re all buying are not only filled with new technology, they are also filled with data. Data that some companies will pay dearly for such as where we go and what we listen to. But how can automakers monetize that data? They have enough to do just designing and engineering the vehicles. On today’s show, John McElroy and his panel explore how to turn that data into gold with John McFarland from General Motors, Ben Hoffman the CEO of supplier Movimento and Joe Vitale, the Global Automotive Leader from Deloitte.

You might know Dearborn, Michigan as the home of the Ford Motor Company. But what you may not know is that Henry Ford wanted to make the city the model suburb for the rest of America. Join John McElroy as he welcomes author and historian Heather Barrow as she highlights the Ford philosophy as it moved from the factory floor to mass suburbanization.

Many know Jack Roush from his NASCAR teams, but his businesses reach far beyond just racing. Join John McElroy for a very special one-on-one interview with the man who started at Ford in the ‘60s and today commands companies that touch everything from the environment to autonomy.

It burst onto the scene at the NY Auto Show, with a stunt worthy of Hollywood itself. And in fact, the Dodge Demon has teamed up with the Fast and Furious film franchise. So what’s all the hoopla about? Join John McElroy and the man responsible for this 840 horsepower muscle car coming up on Autoline THIS WEEK.

If you look back 8 or 9 years, the state of Michigan was an absolute mess. As two of its largest tax payers – GM and Chrysler -- declared bankruptcy, there was a legitimate fear that many tangential companies would also fall, putting the layoff totals in numbers not seen since the 1930s. But of course that did not happen. And in fact, Michigan’s automotive recovery couldn’t have been stronger. So what happened and how did the state avoid the worst? Joining John McElroy on this edition of Autoline THIS WEEK are representatives from three organizations who had a front seat to everything that happened.

Automakers may have their logo on cars and trucks, but more than any time in history, what they produce is a team effort. And much of that team consists of Tier One Suppliers. Joining John McElroy to discuss the relationship of Suppliers and the OEMs are Lon Offenbacher, President and CEO, Inteva Products along with Rainer Jueckstock, Co-CEO and Co-Chairman of the Board, Federal-Mogul.

Before the Great Recession, General Motors had its hand in a lot of different powertrains. But once it slimmed down it had lost a lot of those options. But 2017 is certainly a new day. Now there are diesels, hybrids, electrics and let’s not forget the good old internal combustion engine in both the car and truck lineup. On today’s show John McElroy and his panel get the inside scoop on GM engines from Dan Nicholson, the vice president of Propulsion Systems.

From the floor of the New York International Auto Show, John McElroy interviews three Wall Street analysts whose job it is to keep an eye on what’s going on with the automotive landscape. We’ll see where they think the industry is headed and how soon autonomous vehicles may be driving off dealer lots.

As the consumer appetite grows for more luxury vehicles, automakers are trying to differentiate themselves from the competition. One addition that’s been successful is turning the car into a rolling concert hall with the help of high-end audio systems. On this week’s show, representatives from HARMAN Audio and Lincoln Motor Company discuss why this option seems to be working for the buyers of today’s upscale autos, and how the two companies work together to pump out the jams.

It’s not just urban planners who are looking at the layout of the city of tomorrow. It’s also companies like Ford. On today’s show, two futurists from the Ford Motor Company are joined by a University of Michigan engineer to explain how they are working together to make sure the transportation fits the future urban landscape.

When it comes to alternative powertrains, over the last few years most automakers have been concentrating on electrics or hybrids. But the question is what happened to fuel cells? Early on it seemed like hydrogen was going to be the fuel that most cars would feature. This week our expert panel discusses if fuel cells are still a viable alternative.

Each year automakers continue to introduce several new products containing new materials, processes and technologies. But will the lack of skilled talent and manufacturing constraints slow new cars and trucks getting to dealer lots? On today’s show John McElroy talks with two OEM executives and an auto expert on where we go from here.

The new administration in Washington, D.C. means lots of changes; and some of those changes impact consumers. On today’s show the CEO of the American Financial Services Association talks to our panel about how President Trump will affect the car industry especially the loan process.

As the number of electronics continue to grow on cars one of the biggest concerns is cyber security: how to keep a car safe from hackers. This week three experts discuss the latest in protecting a vehicle’s software including: Karl Heimer from Autoimmune, General Motors’ Jeffrey Massimilla and SSA Thomas Winterhalter, FBI Cyber Division.

Just because you don’t see any Chinese automakers in America doesn’t mean they aren’t here competing. In fact, they’re already here in a big way. Chinese auto expert Michael Dunne joins host John McElroy with panelists Michelle Krebs from Autotrader and Reuters’ Joe White to discuss where they are and where they aren’t…just yet.