Autoline This Week

The National Auto Dealers Association is one of the most powerful lobby groups in the United States. It has a clear idea of where it’s going and what it wants. On Autoline This Week, Wes Lutz, the 2018 Chairman of the NADA talks about the Trump Administration’s plans for imported car tariffs. He also shares his views on electric cars, autonomous cars and how mobility services may impact automotive retailers.

While everyone in the automotive industry focuses on new cars, the used car market is red hot right now. But how long will it last? Technology is both enhancing and disrupting sales of used vehicles. On Autoline This Week, our panel discusses if the used car market will continue to boom or if it’s just another bubble.

One of the hottest parts of the U.S. auto market right now is with pickup trucks and SUVs. And while they’re perceived to be gas guzzlers, these vehicles are getting a lot more fuel efficient. In fact, Fiat-Chrysler is in the process of converting most of its pickups and Jeeps into hybrids. On Autoline This Week, Brian Spohn from FCA powertrain explains how the company is doing these conversions.

Automakers are starting to introduce new technology in their factories that is making working safer, faster and more productive. Technology such as drones, 3D printing, co-bots and exoskeletons. On Autoline This Week, Dan Grieshaber, the Global Director of Manufacturing Integration at General Motors, explains how today’s factory workers are at the forefront of a new industrial revolution.

The convergence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and ride sharing is going to change the auto industry as we know it. It’s going to have as much impact on society as when the automobile first appeared over 100 years ago. On Autoline This Week, Larry Burns the author of the book "Autonomy," lays out his vision for how the world is about to change.

The common perception is that millennials don’t want to buy new cars and don’t even want to drive. But Professor Mike Bernacchi at the University of Detroit Mercy, has data that refutes that perception. On this episode of Autoline This Week, he explains how car companies and dealerships should be marketing to millennials.

Automakers, suppliers and tech companies are investing tens of billions of dollars in developing ACES cars. That’s the industry vernacular for Autonomous, Connected, Electrified and Shared cars. But AlixPartners, a global consulting company, says much of that money is going to be wasted. On today’s episode of Autoline This Week, Mark Wakefield of AlixPartners explains how these companies need to get into this field with their eyes wide open.

Almost 40,000 people are killed every year in the United States in car accidents but the auto industry has impressive new technology coming that could slash that number. Some of the technology is going into cars right now and some will come later. On Autoline This Week, Jada Smith talks about the role Aptiv is playing in bringing this technology to market.

Cars used to be made out of wood and steel. Today, they’re made out of many different grades of steel and aluminum and different kinds of plastics and even carbon fiber. Moreover, today’s cars bristle with all kinds of safety sensors. They’re being electrified and soon will be autonomous. That makes today’s cars far more complex to repair. So, how do technicians get proper training when cars are constantly changing? And how do body shops ensure they have the right kind of commitment? This show delves into how automakers and independent repair shops are trying to meet the challenge.

Automakers face a dizzying choice of propulsion systems to use in their vehicles, which includes piston engines, hybrids, plug-ins, battery electrics and fuel cells. On Autoline This Week, Dan Nicholson, the Vice President of Global Propulsion Systems at General Motors, discusses GM’s strategy on where and when to use each one. And he also talks about the need for a new national standard on high octane gasoline.