Autoline Daily

Over the last several years, automakers boosted car sales globally thanks to explosive growth in emerging markets, but now some of those markets are starting to cool down. In an effort to boost electric vehicle sales, Nissan is making some management changes. Ford announced the introduction of two all-new Transit models. All that and more, plus John McElroy gives his insight on how a former GM exec ended up on the board of directors at Toyota.

One of the former executives from the old General Motors lands a big job. The Ford Mustang is getting a 4-cylinder engine …again. For the first time in 35 years, iconic sports car brand Alpine will be returning to endurance racing. All that and more, plus Autoline Daily correspondent Seamus McElroy takes us for a few laps around Austin Texas’ brand new Formula 1 track in the 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT.

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson touts the company’s research and development. New vehicle sales in the U.S. market are one of the truly bright spots in the American economy right now, but last month the sales growth came exclusively on the truck side. Acura’s Precision All-Wheel Steering, or PAWS is the first system to feature independent and continuous control of the left and right-wheel steering angles. All that and more, plus guest host Murray Feldman gives his thoughts on how automakers can do a better job of winning over customers.

The UAW is holding a press conference near the Geneva auto show today as part of its effort to ramp up its organizing effort at Nissan’s assembly plant in Mississippi. Fueled by higher gas prices, sales of hybrids, plug-ins and electrics enjoyed a strong February in the American market. For the second straight year Toyota President Akio Toyoda overhauled the top management positions at the company’s North American operations. All that and more, plus John McElroy gets to your questions and comments in this week’s edition of You Said It!

General Motors takes the wraps off the convertible version of the 2014 Corvette Stingray. Kia reveals a small sleek looking hatchback called the provo. Ferrari finally gives us a look at the successor to the Enzo, the LaFerrari. All that and more, plus today’s host Christie Schweinsberg takes a look at a few of the models that have impressed her for this year’s Ward’s 10 Best Interiors award.

Car sales in the American market were strong in February. In hopes of boosting sales of its K9 luxury sedan, Kia has come up with a sales gimmick to bring in new customers. Coda, the EV startup company, just closed the showroom doors at its LA store. All that and more, plus we take a walk-around of the 2014 Mazda6 with one of its designers.

You’d think that they’d be happy just to have their jobs, but hourly workers at Chrysler are protesting a change in shifts at some of the company’s assembly plants. Supplier company Continental is teaming up with BMW to develop autonomous technology further. Toyota is showing off the concept of the convertible version of the FT-86, what they call the Open. All that and more, plus at the Autoline Supplier Symposium we found one of the biggest problems that suppliers face now is they’re straining to meet demand, they can barely keep up with car sales.

Reports are out that several hundred of Nissan’s factory workers in Smyrna, Tennessee met with the United Auto Workers this week at a local hall. GM is boosting plug-in production as it believes that demand for its extended range electric vehicles is going to grow this year. After 75 years in the automotive business, Toyota marks the milestone with a fully interactive timeline. All that and more, plus we take a look at Visteon’s vision of what cars and the technology they’re equipped with will be like in the year 2020.

In one of the fastest growing markets in the world, EVs are going nowhere fast. Meanwhile, the future for EVs on the racing circuit could be looking bright as Formula E kicks into gear. The automotive equivalent of the “little black dress” is here and the secret is velvet. All that and more, plus John McElroy answers your questions and comments in this week’s edition of You Said It!

In a move that caught most industry observers by surprise, General Motors hired away the top marketing executive from Volkswagen of America. The U.S. Treasury Department is selling off its remaining shares in General Motors. And one of those people who bought stock was GM CEO Dan Akerson. NISMO became Nissan’s exclusive performance and motorsports brand. All that and more, plus John McElroy shows you how the top car companies stack up against each other.