Autoline This Week - Video

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Many know this classic 1939 film pitted an everyman Jimmy Stewart against the rich and powerful under the U.S Capitol Dome. And though more than 70 years have passed, even the writers of this academy-award work of fiction couldn't have imagined that Washington would be even more corpulent and confusing in 2010. And one of the best examples of this weighty indecision can be found in what passes, or doesn't pass, for the nation's energy policy. Solar, Wind and Shale are just a few power options that we've added to the mix over the years while natural gas, electric and hydrogen hint at what may be driving our cars and trucks down the road: yet today no one knows for sure what's best and where we're going.

So the question remains: what is our policy and who is driving it? And where better to try to get a handle on what's going on than "inside the beltway" as they say, than by paying a visit to our nation's capitol itself. This week Autoline presents its own version of "Mr. McElroy Goes to Washington" from the floor of the Washington Convention Center. There John is joined by two members of what are known as NGOs or Non-governmental organizations along with the publisher of a cutting-edge automotive periodical to discuss everything from off-shore drilling to the EPA.

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John talks with Larry Dominique, the VP of Product Planning for Nissan North America, from the floor of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Mr. Dominique talks about Nissan's new EV, the Leaf and where it will first be introduced in the U.S. and whether or not the company plans to build it in North America. And staying on the topic of electrics he also explains why the company is so bullish on them.

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John sits down to talk with the President and CEO of Dodge, Ralph Gilles, from the floor of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Mr. Gilles talks about how he balances his dual role as the head of Dodge and also one of the leaders of design for the Chrysler Group. He also talks about how Dodge will hang on for the next year or so before new product hits showrooms.

The Sun Also Rises

After a decade of reporting everywhere from local streets to foreign wars, Ernest Hemingway wrote and published his first novel "The Sun Also Rises." And though you might think we chose this title to turn a clever phrase regarding this week's guest, it has more to do with what the book wasn't named...at least in the United States. With the novel focused partially on traveling in Europe in the 1920s, Hemingway originally titled the book "Fiesta." Of course it was changed here in America but used in several countries throughout the continent. And how appropriate for this week's guest who chose to make a splash here in the U.S. recently with a European car called, ironically enough, "Fiesta." Ford's Global Marketing guru Jim Farley has been turning the Blue Oval every which way trying to draw attention to the new crop of critically-acclaimed products it has been putting out and it's been working on. With a sweep of the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards earlier this month with Fusion & Transit Connect, and the Fiesta and Focus on the way, they might not be holding a party down in Dearborn quite yet, but clearly Ford is on the rise.

Watch John's full interview with John Casesa a Managing Partner at the Casesa Shapiro Group from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Watch John's full interview with Susan Docherty, the VP of Sales, Service & Marketing at General Motors from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Watch John's full interview with Mike Jackson, Chairman and CEO of AutoNation from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Getting Better

Throughout the sixties the "sweet and savory" song writing from the Lennon & McCartney partnership produced lines that emphasized the beautiful schizophrenia of life. That's why this week it didn't take much to imagine that the good folks at the Detroit Auto Dealers Association might've been recalling the 2009 NAIAS with the Beatles' chorus "I've got to admit it's getting better...it can't get no worse" echoing in their ears. Yet the good news is true to the song, this year's edition is indeed "getting better" thanks to more OEM booths, more journalists and a heck of a lot of more smiles even though they -- the smiles -- are probably still bordering on the "cautiously optimistic" type.

This week on Autoline Detroit John McElroy talks to three automotive professionals from disparate parts of the industry -- wholesale, retail and analytical -- to hear what they have to say about not only the 2010 North American International Auto Show, but where the next twelve months will take us.

Even though Chrysler will display some of its vehicles at this year's auto show in Detroit, they decided not to have a press conference or make any big announcements. This is somewhat perplexing since the show is right in Chrysler's back yard and they haven't held any press events since their day long one back in November. With that in mind, on this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John and his panel discuss what they expect to see from Chrysler at this year's show. Is the company missing a big opportunity or not? Joining John in the discussion are Sarah Webster from the Detroit Free Press, Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics and Guy Gordon from WDIV-Detroit.

Crawlin' From the Wreckage

Who would've predicated thirty years ago that a little known new wave song from England's Dave Edmunds would prove to be the perfect theme for the 2010 North American International Auto Show? Last January's edition of the world's most important auto show was less about cars, trucks and crossovers as it was about bailouts, Obama and bankruptcies. Add to that the strange Kabuki dance around the attempted restoration of Cobo Hall -- the show's longtime site -- and the '09 show had all the panache of sportscaster Howard Cosell's 1975 Variety show. But what a difference a year makes...

"Crawlin' from the wreckage, into a brand new car"

Just as the song's chorus suggests a rebirth, the 2010 NAIAS is likewise being resurrected. Manufacturers are again investing in their booths, prodigal sons have returned and the show is even recharging the career of '80s singer Eddy Grant with its "Electric Avenue" display. So watch this week's Autoline Detroit for an in-depth preview of all that is going on at this year's North American International Auto Show.