Autoline Daily

China's "soft" sales numbers are suddenly looking a lot better in July, while India's sales dipped for the first time in two years. GM plans to slash the number of platforms it builds in half. And, it works, it really works! Electronic Stability Control reduces deaths and accidents in the real world. All that and more, plus a Taiwanese company may just have an EV breakthrough that combines batteries with super capacitors.

As market woes continue, expect automakers to lower expectations -- especially the Japanese companies. Toyota plans to smash the EV lap time at Nurburgring hoping it will stir up more excitement for green technologies. The Obama Administration turns its focus toward reducing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. All that and more, plus we put the new eAssist technology in the Buick LaCrosse to the test!

The stock market is hurting big time but for the automakers times have been great in 2011, worldwide sales in the first half hit 39 million units even despite the disaster in Japan. Lincoln looks like it's just about to break through, and with new designs from Ford's luxury division, styling will play a big part. The world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, is sliding, rather plummeting, in sales. To the tune of 50 percent! Putting a dent the company's profits. All that and more, plus Ford's head of vehicle electrification, Nancy Gioia shares a lesson that helped her career at Ford!

General Motors is back to being No. 1 in global car-sales for the first six months of the year, knocking Toyota from the top spot. Volkswagen is crying foul on the Obama administration’s proposed CAFE rules saying they favor large vehicles and pretty much ignore diesels. Chevy confirmed it will sell its small hatchback, the Spark, in the U.S. All that and more, plus a look at the fantastic paintings of one automotive artist and how he puts so much realism into his work.

In a speech he gave at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced he plans to stick around until at least 2015 . . . and maybe longer. Aston Martin is feeling the squeeze. Without the backing of a major, volume brand it doesn’t have the resources to compete with other high-end automakers. Budget Rent A Car has come up with an interesting way to save drivers money. All that and more, plus a look at Chrysler’s new SRT8 lineup.

Automakers reported sales numbers for July and overall it was a pretty mediocre month with sales gaining less than one percent compared to June. But one company stands out from the rest. Toyota's sales numbers surged nearly 18% month over month. One analyst says South America is poised to become the best emerging global market for the auto industry over the next five years. All that and more, plus guest host Anne Doyle takes a look at what one global automotive supplier is doing to tap the full leadership potential of top women talent.

Volkswagen seems like a prime target for unionization, but manufacturing executives at the company say there haven't been any discussions between the UAW and its operations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mazda is showing off its new CX-5 crossover before it premiers at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month. The new Honda Civic took it on the chin in Consumer Reports' latest round of testing. The perennially popular compact car is no longer recommended by the influential magazine. All that and more, plus guest host David Kiley from AOL Autos shares a few of his thoughts on current affairs in the U.S.

Honda reported its first quarter earnings which were way down due to disruptions from the earthquake in Japan earlier in the year. Global vehicles sales in the first half of the year were barely up compared to 2010 because of the disaster in Japan, a cooling market in China, and a drop in sales in Europe. BMW unveiled two electric vehicle concepts which hint at where its new "i" sub-brand is headed. All that and more, plus guest host Jim Hall shares his thoughts on the real meaning of CAFE.

To hit the proposed CAFE target of 54.5 MPG automakers would have to improve fuel economy at a rate the industry has never achieved in 100 years. Sergio Marchionne announced management changes at Fiat-Chrysler, but one industry expert says he still has too many direct reports. Toyota is readying a product blitz in the U.S. in which it will introduce 20 new models by 2013. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline about which new cars and trucks that have come out this year have a shot at winning the North American Car and Truck of the Year award.

European automakers are posting exceptionally strong earnings today and we hit some of the highlights. The UAW wants a seat on GM's board of directors. Ford just released some pretty impressive numbers for the Explorer, which is getting an EcoBoost four-cylinder engine for the 2012 model year. All that and more, plus a look at the brand-new Nissan Versa.