Autoline This Week

Looking at Ford Management most experts believe that the Blue Oval has the best bench strength in the business. So when Alan Mulally retired last year and Mark Fields moved into the CEO role, it was no surprise that Joe Hinrichs was promoted to run The Americas for Ford, Mr. Fields old position. Joining John McElroy for his first Autoline interview as the new second in command at Ford is Joe Hinrichs along with journalists Alisa Priddle from the Detroit Free Press and the Wall Street Journal’s Mike Ramsey.

The economy is growing. Automakers are building cars and trucks that customers want. And car sales, in fact, are nearly back to the glory days before the fall as they push 17 million in the U.S. But are things really that great or are we wearing rose-colored glasses? On this week’s Autoline John McElroy is joined by some of the top economists in the auto industry for their perspectives on where we are. His guests include: Dr. Mustafa Mohatarem, Chief Economist, General Motors; Emily Kolinski Morris, Chief Economist, Ford; Charles Chesbrough, Senior Principal Economist, IHS Automotive.

If you’re interested in horsepower, MPGs and all things under the hood, this week’s Autoline is right up your alley. John is joined by the editors from Ward’s who discuss which powertrains made their Top Ten Engines for 2015. Drew Winter, Tom Murphy, Christie Schweinsberg talk to John McElroy about who made the grade and why.

He may be a Brit working for a quasi-Italian company running an All-American brand, but don’t be fooled. Al Gardner has a long history with the Chrysler Corporation. In fact, he started with the company back in 1986 and has worked his way up to where he is now in charge of the Chrysler brand for FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Joining Mr. Gardner and John McElroy on today’s Autoline panel is Lindsay Brooke from SAE and The Detroit News’ Mike Wayland.

Join John McElroy and three members of his blue ribbon panel as they discuss this year’s candidates for Autoline Automotive Executive of the Year. Among this year’s contenders are Akio Toyoda the head of the world’s largest car company, Toyota and his Italian counterpart from Fiat- Chrysler Sergio Marchionne.

Mark Reuss has been around General Motors for so much of his life, if cut he probably would bleed GM blue. Not only was his father Lloyd a former GM president, but Mark himself – who has been with the corporation for over 20 years – started as an intern and has now risen to Executive Vice President of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain -- in essence the Number 2 position in America’s largest auto company. He joins John McElroy along with his panel on this very special edition of Autoline THIS WEEK.

There’s an all-aluminum pickup truck in the running, a new pony car as well as a midsize pickup truck. Those are only three of the six finalists for this year’s NACTOY car and truck of the year awards. Join founding member of the award John McElroy and three other jurors as they review the finalists and tell you who they think will walk away with Car and Truck of the Year.

Who do you turn to when you need advice? If it’s personal, perhaps a friend; if it’s spiritual maybe a priest. But when many folks want advice on hardware – everything from a dishwasher to a smart phone to a television -- they turn to Consumer Reports: the product watchdog who has been reviewing, comparing and contrasting consumer goods since 1936. On this episode of Autoline THIS WEEK, CR’s head of auto testing Jake Fisher joins host John McElroy along with Brent Snavely of the Detroit Free Press and Joe White of the Wall Street Journal to discuss the organization’s latest test results on automotive multimedia devices.

Factories used to be no place for a kid. In fact, there were some that might’ve even scared the bravest of men. But with today’s super clean 21st century factories some almost resemble a hospital operating room. That’s only one of the reasons that Michigan’s Macomb County – just north of Detroit – has gone all in to educate young students on the benefits of working with today’s manufacturing. Joining John McElroy to talk about this groundbreaking program is County Executive Mark Hackel, Michael DeVault, Superintendent of Intermediate Schools and Larry Drake from Kuka Systems.

Maybe it’s the snappy new product or the effective marketing campaign, whatever is accounting for Buick’s sales growth in 2014 Duncan Aldred is a happy man. Appointed VP of Buick-GMC Sales, Service and Marketing only last February, this former European executive joins John McElroy for his first time on the Autoline panel. Mike Colias from Automotive News and Autotrader.com’s Michelle Krebs join in on the questioning.