Autoline This Week - Video

If you’ve ever walked into a retailer like Nordstrom – which is known for its outstanding customer service – and wondered why buying a car couldn’t provide the same type of experience, you’re not alone. In fact, some manufacturers have thought the same thing and are attempting to upgrade the buying experience. On this week’s Autoline, John McElroy is joined by Jeri Ward, Audi’s Director of Customer Experience, Audi dealer Chris Consiglio (of Rochester Hills, MI), along with Customer Service research analyst Megan Burns to discuss how the OEMs and dealers are attempting to upgrade the entire experience of buying a car.

More than ever before, engines across the world are becoming more efficient with better gas mileage while not sacrificing performance…and we’re not just talking about those small 1 or 2-cylinder jobs either. No we mean the 6-cylinders and even the big boy V-8s as well. But what magic are the manufacturers using to achieve such a hefty cocktail of efficiency and power? On today’s Autoline John McElroy is joined by three experts who drive the engine business at the Detroit Three. Jamie Strandring is in Powertrain Integration for Chrysler while Jordan Lee is the Chief Engineer of the Small Block at General Motors and Mazen Hammoud is from Ford’s Powertrain Electrification department.

Today’s hybrid and electric cars are famous for their double digit mpgs. They get those great numbers, in part, by a combination of products under the hood that start in the earth’s crust. That’s where 17 chemical elements in the periodic table are found which go into lasers, rare-earth magnets and batteries that help power our 21st century transportation. Joining John McElroy on our Autoline expert panel is Kevin Moore, a Rare-earth metals consultant, Dr. Edward Becker who was GM’s Rare-earth expert before retiring and Jack Lifton co-founder of the company Technology Metals Research.

Everybody in the auto industry is looking to lose weight these days. With CAFE requirements creeping ever closer, all manufacturers want to improve their miles per gallon average. And the best way to do that is by lightweighting – finding lighter materials that are just as safe to use in production. And since everyone is doing it, John McElroy has put together the perfect panel to touch on the topic. Joining him is Carla Bailo the head of R and D for Nissan Americas, the CEO of CSP Plastics Frank Macher and Rose Ryntz from International Automotive Components.

Though not as big as it once was, General Motors is still a formidable global corporation with offices and factories all over the world and the numbers and financials to match. And the man in charge of making sure all those add up correctly is John McElroy’s special guest on Autoline This Week. Joining GM CFO Dan Ammann is Jeff Bennett from the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg’s Tim Higgins.

The United Auto Workers is going through an identity crisis. From the bankruptcies to the VEBA to the loss of over a million members, the UAW is plotting its future path. Will it unionize transplant factories in right-to-work states? Maybe expand beyond automotive and bring in other industries or services? The man with the answers – UAW President Bob King -- makes his first official visit to the Autoline set on this week’s show. Joining John McElroy’s panel are Brent Snavely from the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News’ Bryce Hoffman.

Regular viewers of Autoline know that few topics get host John McElroy’s attention like autonomous cars. He can’t wait for a Star Wars world here on earth. To get the latest lowdown on what’s going on with the self-driving set, John is joined by three special guests on Autoline This Week. Christian Schumacher runs Continental’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems while Annie Lien - a veteran of the DARPA Challenge - now works for VW’s Electronic Research Lab in California and Gary Silberg from KPMG wrote the definitive white paper on the topic.

2013 has been a pretty good year so far for Chrysler’s Ram brand. It started with its 1500 winning the North American Truck of the Year award before unveiling two new Cargo Vans at the Chicago Auto Show. Fred Diaz picked the right time to be in charge of a brand that’s clearly on the move. Join John McElroy and Ram's Fred Diaz along with panelists Scott Burgess from Motor Trend and Car and Driver’s Tony Swan as they talk trucks on Autoline This Week.

Automakers are still hunting for the 21st Century Holy Grail – better known as the next cheap energy source. With the jury still out on petroleum -- and ethanol, electricity and natural gas all having their issues -- what’s a vehicle manufacturer to do? Well some, like our three guests on Autoline This Week, say check out liquid propane. Join host John McElroy along with Wayne Moore from CleanFUEL USA, Ford’s Rob Stevens and Joe Thompson from ROUSH CleanTech for a look at what may be the next great fuel.

I guess when you’ve been a Plant Manager for Chevrolet, a VP of Manufacturing for VW and re-engineered Chrysler’s operations in addition to founding American Axle and Manufacturing, it’s time to write a book. And then when you call it “American Drive” with a subtitle that states “How Manufacturing Will Save Our Country,” you better have the experience to back it up, and Dick Dauch sure does. This week he joins John McElroy, The Detroit News’ columnist Daniel Howes and Jeff Gilbert from CBS radio on Autoline This Week.