Autoline This Week

Fresh Metal 2

As a follow-up to "Fresh Metal 1," in this week's second part, John and his panel continue their talk about some of the newest product hitting dealer lots this year, including the hottest hybrids from Honda, Toyota & Ford, the latest in the luxury segment from Mercedes, BMW and Lexus and a discussion on the nearly non-existent diesel market in America as well.

Recently General Motors and Chrysler eliminated thousands of dealers in order to restructure their business. But what will happen to those dealers, will they turn to foreign nameplates to put product in their showrooms? On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy and his colleagues discuss that and all the other issues related to the dealership closings. The conversation also touches on Volkswagens goal of reaching a million in sales in the American market sometime next decade. Joining John in the conversation are Michelle Krebs, senior editor with Edmunds.com, Daniel Howes, a columnist for the Detroit News, and Sean McAlinden, an economist for the Center for Automotive Research.

They Are Legend

Just two years ago actor Will Smith ruled the movie world with "I AM LEGEND," a post-apocalyptic tale of isolation, innovation and survival. In 2009, it doesn't strain credulity to imagine a follow-up version this time focused on the auto industry and starring at least two members of the former Big Three. All the ingredients are there -- two huge diseased corporations doing whatever they can to survive leaving in their wake a trail of despair led by suppliers, dealers, employees and let's not forget the customers. Well, that may be the plot line but what's the ending? Will they survive? Who will survive? Will anyone survive?

This week joining John on his Autoline panel to help craft the ending before it hits the Silver Screen are three great writers in their own right. Sean McAlinden is the chief economist at the Center for Automotive Research while Michelle Krebs is the senior industry editor for the industry website Edmunds.com and Daniel Howes is the business columnist for The Detroit News.

Which legend will live? See it all on Autoline Detroit...

Fresh Metal 1

Whether it's a local pro shop, jewelry store or hard rock radio station, there's a constant infusion of "fresh metal" or new product for consumers throughout the year. But the place where you find the most interesting and expensive metal is at new car dealers across the country. There, customers have the opportunity to buy everything from the latest hybrid technology to a new luxury crossover. Yet there are so many new products each year, and even more older models being refreshed, it's tough to keep up with everything. That's why two times each year Autoline brings some of the best auto experts together to spotlight the newest, most interesting and sexiest vehicles out there.

This week in Part 1, John is joined by Stephanie Brinley of AutoPacific, Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver and Frank Markus from Motor Trend to give their analysis on some of the hottest vehicle segments out there and the cars that go with them.

The "Re" Word

General Motors embarked on a new journey this week. It may have gone kicking and screaming but a new journey nonetheless. Some say it will lead to a "rebirth" of the company while others insist there will be a "renaissance" at GM. Yet the description the company seems to have decided on -- at least for its latest advertising campaign -- is re: invention; something that's been going on in the product end of the business for some time now. So as Fritz Henderson and his team begin to explore the new financial frontier ahead of them, outgoing Vice Chairman Bob Lutz and his replacement Tom Stephens along with Global Design Chief Ed Welburn put the company's best product foot forward this week by showcasing what the new GM has in store for the American public.

Autoline After Hours co-host Peter De Lorenzo had a chance to talk separately with all three men about where General Motors has been and where its headed in this brave new world.

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy is joined by Mark Fields, the president of all of Ford’s operations in the Americas. The cash for clunkers bill that’s currently being debated in Congress is discussed and Mr. Fields gives his opinion on the proposal. Also talked about is the need for a national energy policy so not only Ford but all automakers can better plan products without worrying about fluctuating gas prices. Joining in the discussion are Jean Jennings the editor in chief with Automobile magazine and Bryce Hoffman with the Detroit News.

Focus

The word "focus" conjures a number of different reactions these days. For instance, some immediately hear the hit single of the 1970s while others visualize the action to the lens of a camera, and probably even more think of the compact car produced by Ford. But the interesting thing is when you hear "focus" used around Ford today, it may refer more to the company's concentration that it does the car. As the sole member of the former Big Three who has not taken any government money, it has been somewhat overshadowed by the tsunami of bad news that's been flooding the other two. But as the bankruptcies, resignations and negotiations have grabbed the headlines these past few months, the blue oval has been flying under the media's radar all the while winning awards, improving quality and regaining market share. Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, believes that it's thanks in big part to the company's "focus". On this week's Autoline, Mr. Fields talks about that focus as well as some of the new product it's releasing this year and the future of the company as a whole. Joining John on the panel is Jean Jennings from Automobile Magazine and Bryce Hoffman of The Detroit News.

With General Motors and Chrysler eliminating thousands of dealers last week, will those dealers turn to foreign manufacturers to put product in their showrooms? On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, Joe Serra, president of the Serra Automotive Group joins John McElroy and his panel, to offer his insight on the issue. Mr. Serra also talks about his decision to start selling Fisker electric vehicles in some of his showrooms. And also discussed is the new fuel economy regulations and how it will affect the mix of vehicles in the United States. Also joining in the discussion is Neil Boudette from the Wall Street Journal, and auto analyst Aaron Bragman from IHS Global Insight.

Thinning The Herd

Darwin observed it in the Galapagos while Rockefeller watched it on Wall Street. Call it natural selection, call it the free market, it all comes down to survival of the fittest. But what happens if everyone survives; strong, average and the weak as well. Some, like elements of our federal government, believe it puts the majority in peril, and so, they opt to "thin the herd." And that's exactly what we saw happen last week with the cutting of more than 2,000 Chrysler and General Motors dealerships. So this week Autoline tackles the topic of the brave, new and sometimes unfair world of automotive retail. Joining John on the panel is Neal Boudette, Detroit Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, Aaron Bragman, automotive analyst from IHS Global Insight and a man whose family has been knee deep in the car business for more than 50 years, Joe Serra of the Serra Automotive Group.

David Kiley from Businessweek and Paul Eisenstein from the Detroit Bureau join John McElroy in this edition of Autoline EXTRA to discuss the latest news. They talk about GM CEO Fritz Henderson hinting that the company could move its world headquarters out of downtown Detroit and whether or not it’s a possibility. And they talk about Fiat’s plans to take a stake in Opel and how that would work with the company just completing its alliance with Chrysler.