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 After Hours with John McElroy, Jason Vines, and Peter DeLorenzo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/autoline-after-hours-with-john-mcelroy-jason-vines-and-peter-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/autoline-after-hours-with-john-mcelroy-jason-vines-and-peter-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/autoline-after-hours-with-john-mcelroy-jason-vines-and-peter-d/#commentsFiled under: ,



In this week's episode of Autoline After Hours, John McElroy, newly minted Christian publishing mogul Jason Vines and Peter "The Autoextremist" DeLorenzo gather for another unusually frank discussion about the motoring industry's ups and downs.

You can even join in by submitting questions to the panel at viewermail -at- autolinedetroit.tv (put "AAH QUESTION" in the subject line) to be answered on-air tonight during the show's Rapid Fire segment. Follow the jump to watch it live beginning at 7 PM EST.

Continue reading Autoline After Hours with John McElroy, Jason Vines, and Peter DeLorenzo

Autoline After Hours with John McElroy, Jason Vines, and Peter DeLorenzo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline after hoursAutolineAfterHoursautolinedetroitautolineonautoblogjason vinesJasonVinesjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroypeter delorenzoPeterDelorenzoThu, 09 Jul 2009 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Chrysler media man Vines named head of P.R. at... Christian publishing house?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/ex-chrysler-media-man-vines-named-head-of-christian-publishin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/ex-chrysler-media-man-vines-named-head-of-christian-publishin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/ex-chrysler-media-man-vines-named-head-of-christian-publishin/#commentsFiled under: ,



Former Chrysler PR chief Jason Vines has had more than his fair share of jobs over the years. He's had automotive gigs at Chrysler, Ford and Nissan, he's worked as a stand-up comedian, he spent time at Compuware and he even spent time at the food rescue program Forgotten Harvest. We've even spotted Vines (seen here at left, with comedian David Spade) regularly hanging with John McElroy on Autoline After Hours.

The likable master of spin has reportedly found yet another calling, as he's been named the Vice President of public relations and communications at Zondervan; a Christian publishing division of HarperCollins out of Grand Rapids, MI. The move is a bit of a surprise, considering the fact that Vines' outspoken personality (some would call him outspoken, others crass) doesn't exactly jibe with the conservative nature of most Christian organizations. Vines' new job shows that really talented people tend to find work even in a down market.

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Ex-Chrysler media man Vines named head of P.R. at... Christian publishing house? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslercommunicationscompuwaredavid spadeDavidSpadefordForgotten harvestForgottenHarvestharper collinsharpercollinsjason vinesJasonVinesprzondervanThu, 09 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline After Hours: TTAC's Robert Farago joins McElroy, De Lorenzo and Vines]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/30/autoline-after-hours-ttacs-robert-farago-joins-mcelroy-de-lor/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/30/autoline-after-hours-ttacs-robert-farago-joins-mcelroy-de-lor/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/30/autoline-after-hours-ttacs-robert-farago-joins-mcelroy-de-lor/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you haven't caught an episode of Autoline After Hours, this is the show to watch. Joining AAH's host and Autoblog contributor John McElroy is Autoextremist's own Peter De Lorenzo and former Chrysler PR man Jason Vines. For an additional bit of flavor, The Truth About Cars' founder and editor, Robert Farago, will join the trio to discuss the week's events, including - but not limited to - Chrysler's bankruptcy filing and the death of Pontiac. With everything that's gone on in the past four days, tonight's show should be an epic meeting of the minds, and the fun begins now. Make the jump to watch the show live, and remember, you can engage in the debate by using the comments embedded into the video player.

Continue reading Autoline After Hours: TTAC's Robert Farago joins McElroy, De Lorenzo and Vines

Autoline After Hours: TTAC's Robert Farago joins McElroy, De Lorenzo and Vines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline after hoursautoline on autoblogAutolineAfterHoursAutolineOnAutoblogjason vinesJasonVinesjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyperter de lorenzoPerterDeLorenzorobert faragoRobertFaragoThu, 30 Apr 2009 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline After Hours with John McElroy, Jason Vines, Peter De Lorenzo and... us!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/02/autoline-after-hours-with-john-mcelroy-jason-vines-peter-de-lo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/02/autoline-after-hours-with-john-mcelroy-jason-vines-peter-de-lo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/02/autoline-after-hours-with-john-mcelroy-jason-vines-peter-de-lo/#commentsFiled under:

John McElroy and the good people at Autoline Detroit have decided to make their weekly Autoline After Hours internet show a weekly series. Last week we hosted their first episode on Autoblog, and this week it returns with John McElroy as host, regular guests Jason Vines and Peter De Lorenzo, and us.

That's right, Autoblog Editor-in-Chief John Neff will appear via Skype Video as this week's new guest. Topics for the show will be the General Motors meltdown and other top news coming out of the automotive world this week. Follow the jump to watch the show, which starts at 7PM EST (or a little after if there are any technical difficulties). Be sure to participate in the chat room, and we'll update the post later on with an archived version in case you missed the live show.

Continue reading Autoline After Hours with John McElroy, Jason Vines, Peter De Lorenzo and... us!

Autoline After Hours with John McElroy, Jason Vines, Peter De Lorenzo and... us! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline after hoursAutolineAfterHoursjason vinesJasonVinesjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroypeter de lorenzoPeterDeLorenzoThu, 02 Apr 2009 18:53:00 EST<![CDATA[BREAKING: Jason Vines resigns from Chrysler LLC]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/10/breaking-jason-vines-resigns-from-chrysler-communications/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/10/breaking-jason-vines-resigns-from-chrysler-communications/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/10/breaking-jason-vines-resigns-from-chrysler-communications/#commentsFiled under: ,

For as long as this young blog can remember, Jason Vines has been the official voice of Chrysler. Though he began at Chrysler back in 1983, Vines' professional career has seen him receive paychecks at both Nissan and Ford before returning to Chrysler in 2003 to become Vice President-Communications. Little did Vines know that he'd be on the front lines when this whole blog phenomenon hit the big time and the face of automotive journalism began to change. He's had to endure embargo breaks, late night confirmation calls and the unique personalities that exist within our cottage Web 2.0 industry for the past four years. At the end of December, however, Vines will have to deal with it no more as Chrysler has just announced his resignation, effective immediately. It appears as if his parting is on friendly terms, as Vines will stay on through the end of the month to help his replacement, Nancy Rae, formerly Senior Vice President-Human Resources, get settled. We, for one, will miss Vines, as he possessed a shrewdness in his craft that most mouthpieces lack, and proved up to the task of matching wits with us internet folk as we made his life more difficult time and again. There's no word on where Vines is headed next, but we'll try and find out if he's exiting the auto industry stage left or landing in another cubical across town somewhere.

Follow the jump to read Chrysler's official announcement of Vines' resignation.

[Source: Chrysler LLC]

Continue reading BREAKING: Jason Vines resigns from Chrysler LLC

BREAKING: Jason Vines resigns from Chrysler LLC originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchyslerjason vinesjason vines resignsJasonVinesJasonVinesResignsMon, 10 Dec 2007 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[John Edwards hears it from Jason Vines]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/31/john-edwards-hears-it-from-jason-vines/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/31/john-edwards-hears-it-from-jason-vines/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/31/john-edwards-hears-it-from-jason-vines/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Jason Vines, Chrysler's VP of Communications, read about John Edward's comments about SUV buying and just couldn't hold his tongue. Democratic presidential hopeful Edwards let slip during a speech to a labor group that Americans should sacrifice their SUVs in favor of more fuel efficient vehicles. While there are undoubtedly many people out there who have SUVs for their trendiness and perceived indestructibility, many SUVs are owned by people who truly need them. And those are the people Vines is defending. He blasts Edward's hypocrisy for asking civilians to give up their freedom of choice, when the presidential hopeful must realize that Secret Service motorcades are full of large SUVs.

And what does the presidential hopeful and his family use for personal transport? Jalopnik reports that Edwards drives a Cadillac SRX, and while his spokespeople claim the senator drives a hybrid SUV (they're all the rage on Capital Hill) around his home state of North Carolina, the family also reportedly has another SUV and a small truck.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading John Edwards hears it from Jason Vines

John Edwards hears it from Jason Vines originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Jason VinesJasonVinesJohn EdwardsJohnEdwardsThe FirehouseTheFirehouseFri, 31 Aug 2007 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[LaSorda recognizes Chrysler's ads are lame]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/lasorda-recognizes-chryslers-ads-are-lame/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/lasorda-recognizes-chryslers-ads-are-lame/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/lasorda-recognizes-chryslers-ads-are-lame/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

During a meeting with Detroit-area dealers, Tom LaSorda, Chrysler group's CEO, expressed his displeasure with the current advertising route employed by the Detroit New York offices of BBDO.

He specifically singled out the ad where a stranded motorist enlists the help of a Nitro driver to jump his car. You've seen the rest, so we're not going to bore you with a description.

The one Nitro ad we would have pointed to is the "Planet" piece, where the SUV is dropped from a crane, falls through the ground, travels through the underworld accompanied by the happy, go-lucky sounds of a 70s-era lounge lizard and then pops out in China. Both ads are so lame, we didn't want to post them after the jump, but we did.

Jason Vines, the Chrysler group spokesman, has gone to BBDO and told the execs, in so many words, to do better. We'd hope so Jason, for both your good and ours.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Continue reading LaSorda recognizes Chrysler's ads are lame

LaSorda recognizes Chrysler's ads are lame originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerdodgejason vinesJasonVinesnitrotom lasordaTomLasordaMon, 11 Dec 2006 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Was it something I said? Chrysler's Joe Eberhardt stepping down]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/was-it-something-i-said-chryslers-joe-eberhardt-stepping-down/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/was-it-something-i-said-chryslers-joe-eberhardt-stepping-down/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/was-it-something-i-said-chryslers-joe-eberhardt-stepping-down/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda announced today that Joe Eberhardt is stepping down as the company's Executive Vice President-Global Sales, Marketing and Service. Eberhardt is reportedly returning to the retail side of the business within the Mercedes-Benz dealer network in the United States. His exact position and new role in the company on the retail side of things was not explained, however.

The first reaction to this from our sources was that Eberhardt's exit is a demotion. As Executive VP of Global Sales, Marketing and Service, Eberhardt has been accussed by his own dealer network of pressuring them to take on excess inventory the company mistakenly built that's been sitting on lots for month. News of Eberhardt leaving comes just a day after The Chrysler Group announced unprecedented dealer cash incentives to sell the company's remaining 2006 inventory, a move perhaps that Eberhardt was not willing to make (our speculation). In a press release, however, Chrysler states that Eberhardt had been talking about going back into retail for some time. Having worked in retail though, we can't understand why anybody would want to go back in once they've gotten out.

Check out The Chrysler Group's official statement after the jump, as well as our own pictoral exposé on why it's cool to be Chrysler's Executive Vice President-Global Sales, Marketing and Service.

[Source: The Chrysler Group]

Continue reading Was it something I said? Chrysler's Joe Eberhardt stepping down

Was it something I said? Chrysler's Joe Eberhardt stepping down originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Jason VinesJasonVinesJoe EberhardtJoeEberhardtTue, 05 Dec 2006 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler PR responds to gag ad pull]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/01/chrysler-pr-responds-to-gag-ad-pull/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/01/chrysler-pr-responds-to-gag-ad-pull/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/01/chrysler-pr-responds-to-gag-ad-pull/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Chrysler Group's PR chief Jason Vines responded yesterday to the company's decision to ask YouTube to yank the two not-ready-for-prime-time gag ads that Jalopnik had posted and featured on its blog this week. Vines explains the two ads were "part of an outtakes reel for the real gag ads." The two profane ads, he goes on to say, were released without permission, which subsequently sent Vines into a profane-peppered rage of his own after learning of the breach when he returned home from the L.A. Auto Show.

We're not entirely certain what the "real gag ads" are and for what reason so much time and effort was spent producing professional quality gag ads that could never be legally aired in the U.S. Regardless, Vines considers the issue dead. Unfortunately, the Jalopnik crew may find it in their hearts to forgive, but they never forget.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Chrysler PR responds to gag ad pull originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gag adsGagAdsjalopnikjason vinesJasonVinesyoutubeFri, 01 Dec 2006 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[The upstaged press conference: GM insists it was a coincidence]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/19/the-upstaged-press-conference-gm-insists-it-was-a-coincidence/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/19/the-upstaged-press-conference-gm-insists-it-was-a-coincidence/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/19/the-upstaged-press-conference-gm-insists-it-was-a-coincidence/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Ahh, we love nothing better than a little drama in the automotive industry.

Autoblog's Eric Bryant reported on Wednesday a little snafu involving the trailer truck hauling the Chevy Camaro, which drove right past a press conference featuring the Dodge Challenger concept. Vines called the stunt a "wuss move" on GM's part and even mixed it up in the comments section of Eric's post, saying that he applauds GM for reintroducing the Camaro, "albeit one year later than our Challenger."

But what does GM have to say about the whole thing?

At a GM press event yesterday (during which the Dodge Challenger did not make an appearance -- too bad, we say, we would have liked to have seen what kind of antics Vines was no doubt mulling in return), Chevy general manager Ed Peper told Autoblog that Chevy's intentions were innocent, and that what Vines describes as an attempt on GM's part to upstage his press conference was really just coincidental. His comments echoed those of Chevy spokesman Terry Rhadigan as quoted in the Detroit News on Wednesday, but we wanted to hear it for ourselves.

"The Camaro happened to go by," said Peper. "We don't try to do that. We're all for good, fair competition, but everyone should have the space to do what they need to do."

Peper told us that the truck carrying the Camaro was merely enroute from one media event to the next. With GM's news this week that the Camaro will go to production, the car has become a hot commodity, purportedly causing its presence to be requested at back-to-back events. In the morning, the "Cruiser's Blast" put on by Detroit radio station WJR-AM enjoyed the Camaro's company at Fox & Hound's up in Pontiac, while the press conference put on by the Woodward Dream Cruiser's organizers in the afternoon hosted the Camaro next in Pleasant Ridge. For those not familiar with the Detroit area, Pleasant Ridge is about 20 miles downstream from Pontiac-- an impressive distance with all of the congestion on Woodward for the Dream Cruise.

The upstaged press conference: GM insists it was a coincidence originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camarochallengerdodgeed peperEdPeperjason vinesJasonVinesSat, 19 Aug 2006 13:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Auto industry and Big Oil trading blows]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/12/auto-industry-and-big-oil-trade-blows/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/12/auto-industry-and-big-oil-trade-blows/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/12/auto-industry-and-big-oil-trade-blows/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It would seem that if there are two parties who really shouldn't be playing the blame game regarding the world's energy problems: oil companies and auto manufacturers. That certainly hasn't stopped either from taking shots at each other in the media, however. Late last year, ExxonMobil apparently started running print ads that took automakers to task for a lack of fuel efficiency improvements in the past twenty years. In response, Chrysler VP of communications Jason Vines decided to strike back with a post on the company's blog.

We're not quite sure what to make of this fight so far, but it seems like both sides are waging a war in an attempt to win public sympathy that simply doesn't exist. It seems rather strange that ExxonMobil is upset that it has turned record profits recently largely on the back of the automotive industry, and indeed, it would be hard to argue that Big Oil has been proactive in bringing new energy solutions to the market. Of course, some critics would charge that carmakers haven't exactly been aggressive in their development of fuel-efficient vehicles. In both cases, the consumer has ultimately been in charge of the decision-making, but blaming customers has never been a successful marketing tactic.

If you'd like to take a side, feel free to do so in the comments. As for us, we'd rather see cooperation between automakers and energy suppliers to improve the situation.

[Source: The Detroit News; image from Frank Galasso]

Auto industry and Big Oil trading blows originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Big OilBigOilEmissionsExxon MobilExxonMobilFrank GalassoFrankGalassoFuel EconomyFuelEconomyGreenJason VinesJasonVinesWed, 12 Apr 2006 09:58:00 EST