Autoline This Week

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, the product and technology PR manager of Mercedes-Benz USA, Rob Moran, explains what kind of planning goes into a press event. Such as, when planning starts, how a location is chosen and how many different people are involved to make sure it runs as smooth as possible.

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA John McElroy rides shotgun with . He explains how he goes about putting a route for the journalists together. How he tailors each route based on the vehicle and Mr. explains the specifics of the BLUETEC event.

Automakers not only need to educate journalists about their products but they also need to educate the public as well, and this is where the marketing team steps in. Stephen Cannon is the VP of Marketing at Mercedes-Benz and he talks with John McElroy on this edition of Autoline EXTRA about how he plans to educate consumers on not only BLUETEC technology but also explain the advances in diesel technology.

Chairman and CEO of AutoNation, Mike Jackson joins John McElroy on this edition of Autoline EXTRA. Mr. Jackson is in charge of the nation’s largest automotive retailer with dealerships that cover just about every brand. Watch to see Mr. Jackson give his candid opinions on the domestic’s products and dealership network and what needs improvement. Joining in the discussion are Bill Vlasic from The New York Times and Steve Finlay of Ward’s Dealer Business.

"Mass" Exodus

Each time a dealer makes a sale and a car drives off the lot, along with it goes a few thousand pounds. And depending on the number of sales, those pounds can add up. But imagine losing one and a half billion pounds. Crazy? Well, that's just what America's largest automotive retailer AutoNation does every year. The company with nearly 250 dealerships across the country sells more than 500,000 units each year, which means more than 1.5 billion pounds of vehicles drive off its lots every twelve months. When it comes to the automotive retail world, all three of those numbers are staggering.

On this week's Autoline, AutoNation Chairman and CEO Mike Jackson joins John McElroy to talk about the industry, sales and how they're both reeling amid the economic disaster that is 2008. After that, they'll turn their attention to product. As a retailer who deals with nearly every OEM selling almost every kind of car and truck, he has unique insight into each manufacturer, its performance and its products. Plus, with dealerships throughout the United States, there isn't a demographic or geographic group he doesn't know or sell to. Joining Mr. Jackson and John McElroy on the panel are Bill Vlasic from The New York Times and Steve Finlay from Ward's Dealer Business.

As a reminder, you can now watch the latest Autoline immediately after receiving this email. Just click the link, http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/ and you'll find yourself at our website where you can watch this week's program, Autoline EXTRA or any of our archived shows 24/7.

So if you really want to know what's going on behind the curtain at your local dealer, check out this week's Autoline for the inside scoop.

Natural Number

The number three has a unique heritage. From time, to matter, to grammar, for years humans have naturally divided elements and categories into three. That may be because it's a natural counting number or the first odd prime number. Then again it may be as simple as sets of three, for whatever reason, just feel right. Take this week's Autoline for instance. John McElroy interviews three separate guests discussing totally different topics related to today's auto industry.

The first, Tim Leuiliette the new CEO of auto supplier DURA, offers his observations on the poor state of business for everyone automotive these days, especially the Detroit Three. He even dares to mention the "B word" as in bankruptcy and how that may be a factor in the near future.

Meanwhile, joining John to discuss the new spinoff from ArvinMeritor is its President & CEO Designate Phil Martens. Arvin Innovation, as it is called, takes over the company's light vehicle systems business and will be looking to grow its existing 2.3 billion in sales (2007) in a U.S. market that hasn't had much positive news for OEM or supplier alike.

Finally, as we pass the one-year anniversary of Cerberus buying Chrysler, John talks to private equity expert Frank Dunne from the national law firm Dykema. Mr. Dunne, a long time General Motors veteran, chronicles the movers and shakers from these high stakes financial groups and shares with John his impressions for the future of Chrysler and if private equity as a whole is getting what it wants out of auto.

And remember, you no longer have to wait to the weekend to view this latest episode of Autoline. Just click on our link, http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/ , and you can watch it immediately at our website along with our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment and any of our archived shows.

Co-founder of DUB Magazine, Myles Kovacs joins John McElroy on this edition of Autoline EXTRA. Myles talks about the beginnings of the magazine nine years ago and how it’s now grown to a $50 million business. He also shares his thoughts on the industry downturn, how it’s affecting DUB magazine and how he plans on steering DUB through the economic slump.

Hypernova

Experts in Astronomy have studied collapsing stars for years. The phenomenon of Hypernovas is very rare but extremely destructive since they morph themselves into light-swallowing black holes.

Meanwhile, experts in the automotive industry have been watching their own collapsing star, or more appropriately, collapsing Pentastar in Chrysler. Some analysts believe that the venture capitalists at Cerberus bit off more than they could chew when it bought the troubled automaker last August. Now faced with a depressed truck market and a four-cylinder lineup that just isn't selling the way it should be in our $4 a gallon gas world, some fear that Chrysler will collapse like a Hypernova with its brands and pieces swallowed by other industry giants.

That is not a fear of Tom Lasorda. Chrysler's co-President insists that Cerberus is committed to the company and believes it can be profitable thanks to a future portfolio of energy efficient vehicles built by not just by Chrysler but an international alliance of partners as well. Of course that's easier said than done. To get to that point the company must slog through the next couple years of retrenchment like every other manufacturer. Hear how he believes Chrysler will circumvent this crisis as he joins John McElroy for an exclusive one-on-one interview from the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan.

And remember, if you don't want to wait until the weekend you can now watch this new episode of Autoline immediately by visiting us at http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/ . There you can also view our Internet-only Autoline EXTRA segment as well as any of our archived shows.

So if you're looking for the automotive stars to stay aligned, just follow the light from this week's all new episode of Autoline.

Every year around 40,000 people die in the United States in traffic accidents. And that’s the reason why the U.S. Department of Transportation is looking at “connected vehicles” as a way to significantly reduce this number. Paul Brubaker from the U.S. Department of Transportation joins John McElroy on this edition of Autoline EXTRA and explains the benefits of using this technology and his goal of reducing accidents 90% by 2030.

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John McElroy and his panel continue their mid-year review of trucks competing to win the 2009 North American Truck of the Year Award. They discuss the Volkswagen Tiguan, Chevy Traverse, and the BMW X6. Watch to see whether or not the panel believes these vehicles have what it takes to take home the award. Joining John for the discussion is Natalie Neff from AutoWeek, and Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.