Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Autoline Detroit LIVE with special guest Tom Stephens, GM VC of Global Product Development]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/autoline-detroit-live-with-special-guest-tom-stephens-gm-vc-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/autoline-detroit-live-with-special-guest-tom-stephens-gm-vc-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/autoline-detroit-live-with-special-guest-tom-stephens-gm-vc-of/#commentsFiled under: ,

Join John McElroy and his journalist colleagues for an all-new LIVE webcast discussion with Tom Stephens, GM Vice Chairman of Global Product Development. First, you'll get to see a LIVE taping of Autoline Detroit starting at 10AM EST, then we will hand the mic over to the audience, and Tom Stephens will answer your questions coming through the website and our hotline 1-620-288-6546 (1-620-AUTOLIN).

Live Videos by Ustream

Enter your questions into the field above. Note that this chat is only open for questions this morning. General chat and off-topic comments will not be added. Please enter your questions only once, they will start to appear during the viewer Q&A portion later in the show. Thanks! You may also call in a comment or question at 1-620-288-6546 (1-620-AUTOLIN).

Autoline Detroit LIVE with special guest Tom Stephens, GM VC of Global Product Development originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TOYOTA'S HYBRIDS COULD BE BANNED FROM THE AMERICAN MARKET

In a shocking development Toyota faces a lawsuit filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission that seeks to ban the import of all hybrids to the American market. Toyota is being sued by Paice LLC for patent infringement on its hybrid system.

Before you think this is just a frivolous lawsuit that has no standing whatsoever, consider the fact that Paice has already successfully sued Toyota on five counts of patent infringement, and won on three of them. In April of this year, Paice was awarded by the Federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas a future royalty of $98 for every Prius sold.

Toyota is appealing that verdict, but just to up the ante Paice decided to file its suit with the ITC and go for an all-out ban on all the hybrids the giant Japanese automaker brings into the U.S. market.

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John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.
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Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitautolinedetroitautolineonautoblogfalsejohn mcelroyjohn mcelroy autoblogJohnMcelroyJohnMcelroyAutoblogpriustoyotatoyota priusToyotaPriusThu, 17 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: ,

BOOM TIMES COMING IN THE USED CAR MARKET

The future looks so bright for the used car market that I'm almost tempted to try and get into that business myself. Even though car dealers are going through tough times trying to sell new vehicles, they are going to more than make up for that on their used car lots.

The reason I'm so bullish on the used car business is that we're facing a looming shortage of good used cars. First off, the new car market has fallen by roughly 7 million units since its peak two years ago. That translates into 7 million fewer trade-ins available in the used car market. And the story gets even more interesting when you start to dig down into those numbers.

Follow the jump to keep reading...

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John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.
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Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT IN THE PISTON ENGINE

There are all kinds of ways to boost the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. Hybrids are becoming more and more popular. Clean diesels seemed poised to make major inroads in the market. And even though they're a ways down the road, hydrogen fuel cells sure look promising.

But the problem with these technologies is that they add considerable cost to a car. Toyota has probably got the cost of its hybrid system down to about $2,500, but that's still a lot of money to add to the cost of the powertrain. At their present level of development, clean diesels probably carry $4,000-$5,000 worth of extra emissions control equipment. And hydrogen fuel cells aren't quite ready for prime time no matter what they cost.

Engine engineers complain to me all the time about these alternative technologies. They say it's unfair to compare what they are doing with gasoline-fueled piston engines to these alternatives. And it all comes down to money. They claim they can achieve comparable performance, emissions, and fuel efficiency at a lot lower cost.

Specifically, they say "Let me add just $1,000 worth of equipment and technology to my engine and let me show you what I can do."

____________________________________________________________________________________

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.
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Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 May 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitautolinedetroitautolineonautoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyFri, 08 May 2009 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/10/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/10/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/10/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under:

IT'S A FUEL PROBLEM, NOT A FUEL ECONOMY PROBLEM

Every single day, the United States ships $600,000,000 out of the country. That's what it costs us to pay for the oil we buy from other countries at $50 a barrel. It is the single biggest cause of our massive trade deficit.

The U.S. uses roughly 20 million barrels of oil every single day, and about 60% of that is imported. About 10 million of those barrels are used in transportation, including the kinds of cars and trucks you and I drive, plus all the planes, trains, heavy trucks and off-road vehicles in the country.

Yet, our entire effort to reduce our dependence on oil is based on Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations (CAFE). And that only impacts passenger cars and light trucks. In other words, the industry that causes less than 50% of the problem is bearing 100% of the effort to fix it. No other industry is being regulated to reduce our dependence on oil, and that doesn't look like a very effective approach to me.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.
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Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO SYSTEM, ALL THANKS TO SOFTWARE

I just experienced one of the most amazing sound systems that that I ever heard in a car. What makes it so amazing is that it doesn't use a power booster, or equalizer, or better speakers, or anything like that. Instead, it's all done with software.

The inventor of this system is a guy named Tony Bongiovi, a brilliant recording engineer who's worked with a lot of the biggest names in music business: Aerosmith, Talking Heads, the Ramones, and Gloria Gaynor, to name a few. He also launched the career of his second cousin, Jon Bonjovi. He got his start back in the mid-1960s as a 17-year-old high school student from New Jersey who managed to wrangle his way into Motown Records as a recording engineer. That is a story unto itself but too long to recount here.

To hear Tony tell it, he used to drive around a lot of sub-compact rental cars and was always disappointed they did not come with better sound systems. So he set to work to figure out a way to improve the standard radio in the car to make it sound like a premium system. But he knew he had to do it in a low-cost way.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitautolinedetroitautolineonautoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyTony BongioviTonyBongioviFri, 27 Mar 2009 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy - 2010 Chevy Camaro Edition!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy-2010-chevy-camaro-editi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy-2010-chevy-camaro-editi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy-2010-chevy-camaro-editi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 CHEVY CAMARO: DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

I'm sure there are a lot of Autobloggers out there who know the specifications of the new Camaro far better than I do. But numbers on paper don't mean much until you experience them through the seat of your pants. So here are my driving impressions of the new Camaro, after spending the better part of a day with four different models, driving them hard over a variety of different roads.

First off, this is unmistakably a Camaro, yet one that looks fresh and modern. It's a powerfully built car that almost has a pugnacious appearance to it. Almost. But the size and proportions are well balanced, and it looks good from every angle. Follow the jump for more.

Come back Monday (3/23) at 12:00PM EST for Autoblog's own First Drive of the 2010 Chevy Camaro. We'll be working on it all weekend, so you won't want to miss it.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.


Gallery: 2010 Chevy Camaro Driving Impressions by John McElroy

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy - 2010 Chevy Camaro Edition!

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy - 2010 Chevy Camaro Edition! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BIG THREE SITTING ON $10 BILLION GOLDMINE

There's no question that the Detroit-based auto industry needs a lot of help. There's a 100-year history of how it got into the problems it's in, and some of those problems are beyond management's control.

But there is one area where General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have total, complete control, and that's in how they deal with their suppliers. While progress has been made in some areas, most supplier CEOs who I know are still frustrated with how the "Big 3" treat them. They tell me there is at least $10 billion in waste that could be eliminated every year if they worked together as true partners instead of at loggerheads.

Remember, more than 70% of the value of a car today is actually designed, developed and manufactured by suppliers, not the car companies. GM purchases roughly $97 billion of materials, components and services from suppliers. Ford buys $90 billion, Chrysler $40 billion. We're talking about a massive amount of money, which potentially means a massive amounts of savings.

Here's how suppliers say the "Big Three" could slash costs and put some of that money back in their pockets.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto supplierauto suppliersauto supply industryautolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitautolinedetroitautolineonautoblogAutoSupplierAutoSuppliersAutoSupplyIndustrybig 3Big3detroit 3Detroit3featuredjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyFri, 13 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HYBRID BATTERIES SURPASS ALL EXPECTATIONS

When Toyota's Prius first hit Japanese showrooms in 1997, I was highly skeptical that hybrids would catch on. Not only was the technology really expensive, I thought the nickel-metal hydride batteries would prove to be the Achilles Heel in the system. Sooner or later you'd be facing an expensive replacement bill, right?

Well, here we are more than a decade later and those batteries are proving to be amazingly reliable. Toyota now has sold over 520,000 hybrids in just the American market. Honda has sold over 300,000 worldwide. Ford is just about to break through the 100,000 mark. The only reason they could sell so many hybrids is that the technology is working exactly like it's supposed to, including the batteries.

While these batteries were designed to last 10 years or 150,000 miles, in many cases they're even doing better than that. Ford brags that some Escape hybrid taxis now have anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 miles on them and are still running strong with the original batteries.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DETROIT AND OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE

In all this debate about whether we should provide the Big Three with a bridge loan, not enough attention has been devoted to their impact on our national defense. I'd hate to see this country ever get involved in a total global war again, but I especially shudder to think it might happen without the manufacturing capability that General Motors, Ford and Chrysler provide to the United States.

Some people say the Detroit 3 no longer play much of a role in making armaments for the American military. And that's true. But then again, except in time of war, they never have.

Prior to World War I, American automakers were way more interested in making cars for a booming market than they were in diverting resources to military matters. But after the United States entered the war they became intricately involved in the effort.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FORD REPORT: DIESEL VS. HCCI VS. STRATIFIED CHARGE

To hear Ford's CTO tell it, all these painful layoffs and budget cuts going on at the company can actually be beneficial. "It gets you really focused on what's really necessary," says Gerhard Schmidt, the Chief Technology Officer at Ford.

Ford now evaluates its R&D efforts by comparing the money it spends to the percentage of fuel economy improvements it gets. "This makes you structure your portfolio for what's really key, not just what's interesting to explore," he says.

So Ford is taking a very safe, but very sound approach to the technology it's developing. And its goal is to make that technology affordable for the masses. "Henry Ford didn't invent the combustion engine," says Schmidt, "but he made it available to everybody."

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM IS ON ITS LAST LEGS

There is only one number that really matters in today's financial report from General Motors: how much cash it has in the kitty. And the answer is, not enough. GM is now burning through its cash reserves at a rate that will run short before Christmas.

Every month GM spends $13 billion to pay all the bills that keep the company running. And it has to pay out even more on top of that to meet other obligations, like paying the UAW for the VEBA or bailing out Delphi. Like all other companies, GM keeps a reserve of cash on hand that it can dip into when it doesn't sell enough new cars to get the money to pay its bills. But that cash reserve is running out fast.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WHAT IF GM COLLAPSES?

Anyone watching the auto industry these days is acutely aware that General Motors is hurtling towards disaster. It's burning through cash reserves at a rate that will put it in Chapter 11 sometime next year, no matter how much management says "that's not an option." It's still being crushed by its legacy costs, yes, even after concessions from the UAW. And it just witnessed its own finance arm, GMAC, essentially pull out of the automotive lending business.

What was an emergency just a month ago has now blossomed into a full blown crisis. Unless something is done quickly, General Motors could collapse.

This is why we're hearing talks of a potential GM-Chrysler merger, and of a bailout from the Federal Government.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM-CHRYSLER, WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

The headlines say General Motors is feverishly putting a plan together to take over Chrysler. From my standpoint, only two theories can explain why this is happening. Either the billionaire boys from Cerberus have a master plan to revamp the American auto industry, or they are in so far over their heads that they don't know what they're doing. More on that in a minute.

If GM does take over Chrysler, then Walter P. Chrysler will be turning in his grave. After all, Walter P. quit GM back in 1919 because he didn't like the direction in which the company was going, and later went on to start the company that still bears his name.

A takeover of Chrysler will be the kiss of death for the company. The only way GM can justify taking it over will be to take an axe to its operations. You think Chrysler has shriveled to a shadow of its former self over the last two years? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'M LOSING MY BET ON DIESELS

A few years back I made a bet with a former Director of Engineering at General Motors. I bet him five bucks that Americans would fall in love with modern diesel engines and would want them in their cars. Specifically, I predicted that diesel sales in passenger cars would reach 1 million units by 2012. He bet it wouldn't happen.

Last year I ran into him and he ruefully conceded he was probably going to lose the bet. But that was last year. Now I'm pretty sure I'm the one who's going to lose. What a difference a year makes!

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HOW TO KICK OUR (IMPORTED) OIL HABIT

There's a lot of talk about making the U.S. energy independent. Or getting off oil altogether. I guess anyone who believes it can easily be done has never taken the time to count how many millions of barrels of oil we import every day. Damn do we use a lot of oil!

Some say the country is in trouble because we don't have an energy policy. That's not true. We do have a policy. It doesn't have a grandiose name attached to it, but for decades now, with strong bi-partisan support, the U.S. has maintained very low gasoline taxes, has legislated cleaner fuels (which yields less fuel), and has put strict limits on drilling.

We seem to be saying that we don't want to use oil, but since we don't want to hurt the "little guy," we'll keep it as cheap as possible.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HOW FORD WILL SAVE MERCURY

When Alan Mulally came to the Ford Motor Company two years ago he finally forced the company to face reality. It wasn't going to go anywhere, he told his executive team, unless it put all its resources into resuscitating the Ford brand on a global basis.

So Jaguar and Land Rover were given the heave-ho, and Volvo was put "under review." The decision was made to let Mercury slowly die, and Lincoln's turn-around was put on the back burner until the Ford brand revived.

But as the company formulated its turn-around plan, it slowly dawned on everyone involved that there was a real opportunity to save Mercury. They figured out a way to give the brand a unique line-up of vehicles without breaking the bank. So in April of this year they took their ideas to Mulally, and after extensive studies they got the go-ahead in June to save it.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THE DOWN SIDE TO LITHIUM BATTERIES

John McElroyUh-oh. In the pell-mell race to develop lithium-ion batteries for plug-ins, EV's and hybrids, has any automaker taken a hard look at where all that lithium is going to come from? Guess what? Not only are global lithium supplies pretty tight, prices are about to skyrocket.

Today, the United States imports almost all of its lithium. We get most of it from Chile, then Argentina, and a little bit from Canada and Zimbabwe. The only producer in America is actually a German company, Metallgesellschaft, which has a mine in Nevada. Yet, even though we import most of our lithium, the United States is the world's largest processor of the material.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SIX QUARTERS TO DOOMSDAY

2010 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in the American auto industry. From a product standpoint there will be a lot of interesting hardware in showrooms, including range-extending EVs, plug-in hybrids, clean diesels, pure electrics, and flex-fuel vehicles running on cellulosic ethanol. But it's also shaping up to be the year when the domestic industry will have to deal with its greatest challenge ever.

In short, the "Big Three" are running out of money, and running out fast. At its present spending rate, General Motors will burn through almost all the cash it has in the next 6 quarters. Ford can hold out a little bit longer. And Chrysler? Well, who the hell knows what's going on there?

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitautolinedetroitAutolineOnAutoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyThu, 07 Aug 2008 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/31/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/31/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/31/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: ,

TELL THE FEDS TO FREEZE THE REGS!

Every day Chrysler LLC builds Euro-spec versions of the Chrysler 300 at its assembly plant in Canada, bolts a V6 diesel engine into most of them, and ships them off to Europe. That diesel 300 gets better fuel economy, over 30 mpg, than all the other vehicles in Chrysler's U.S. showrooms. But it's against the law for Chrysler to sell that car in America.

Right now Ford and General Motors are trying to figure out how to bring many of their fuel-efficient European models to the U.S. and manufacture them here. They'd love to do it immediately, but it will take them several years to modify, test and validate those designs before they can meet U.S. regulations. Until they do, it's illegal to sell those cars in America.

Anybody else out there agree with me that this is crazy? Let's let automakers bring their fuel efficient European cars over here immediately. As long as a car meets the Euro 5 emission regulations and the latest European NCAP safety standards, we ought to let them build those vehicles in the U.S. with no other modifications.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitAutolineDetroitAutolineOnAutoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyThu, 31 Jul 2008 15:58:00 EST