Jeff Gilbert's Tales From The Auto Beat

April 5, 2019:  Everyday people get a chance to take a ride in an automated vehicle.   We ride-along, and get their impressions.

March 25, 2019:  Reports out of Europe say Fiat Chrysler is once again actively seeking tie-ups with other carmakers, but has rejected at least one offer--from PSA. We talk about it with AutoTrader analyst Michelle Krebs.

March 15, 2019:  Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveils the new Model Y small crossover.  We hear from him and talk about the importance of the vehicle with Edmunds.com analyst Jessica Caldwell.

March 5, 2019:  Lordstown Assembly is about to become the first of GM's "unallocated" plants to stop building vehicles, as the last Chevrolet Cruze makes its way down the assembly plant. We talk about it with UAW Local 1112 Vice President Tim O'Hara, who also worked at the plant for 41 years.

February 28, 2019:  We talk with Richard Retting, the author of a study that found 6227 pedestrians died in vehicle related crashes in 2018

February 27, 2019:  French carmaker PSA decides that the Peugeot brand will lead its return to the United States. We talk about it with Larry Dominique, who's President and CEO of PSA North America.

February 26, 2019:  Fiat Chrysler makes a $4.5 billion dollar investment in Michigan, so it can build more Jeeps in more varieties. We take an in-depth look.

February 25, 2019:  We talk with LMC Automotive analyst Jeff Schuster about trends we are seeing, so far, in February. Carmakers--other than Ford and GM--release their February sales numbers on Friday, March 1st.

February 21, 2019: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates mid size SUV's on their ability to automatically brake for pedestrians.  Meanwhile, Consumer Reports issues it's latest auto rankings. We talk with the Institute's David Aylor, and Consumer Reports head of auto testing Jake Fisher.

February 20, 2019:  Vehicle Locate is a unique General Motors product.  You can set it up to send text alerts based on the location of your car or truck. For example, it could send you a text when your child arrives at school, or send your spouse a text when you leave work for home. We talk with the project's manager, Alejandra Gonzalez.

February 15, 2019:  Amazon is leading an investors group that's putting $700 million into electric vehicle start-up Rivian. We talk about it with AutoTrader analyst Michelle Krebs.

February 13, 2019:  We talk with JD Power Vice President David Sargent about their latest Dependability Study of 3 year old vehicles. Lexus finishes first, Toyota second, with Chevy topping the domestics.  

January 22, 2018:  Google's self-driving car arm is looking for a facility in Southeast Michigan where they can fit partners vehicles with Waymo self driving equipment. We talk about it with AutoTrader analyst Michelle Krebs.

January 3, 2018:  FCA, Mazda and Subaru show sales gains for 2018, Ford, GM and Nissan among those who's sales dropped. We talk about the 2018 sales report with analyst Michelle Krebs of AutoTrader.

December 19, 2019:  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revels it annual list of vehicles that win the "Top Safety Pick Plus" designation. We talk with Institute President Davd Hawkey.

December 17, 2018: Lincoln brings back "coach doors" in a very limited form in the Continental.   The doors--nicknamed "suicide doors" open out from the inside.  They will be available in a very limited number of top trim Continental's, all with sticker prices over $100,000.

December 14, 2018:  GM says it has jobs for most of the workers at plants that it wans to close, but many will have to move. We talk about it with Kristin Dziczek of the Center for Auto Research.   

December 11, 2018:  Supplier Magna will be taking a very interesting seating concept to CES in 2019.

December 10, 2018:  With more self-driving test cars on the road, you would expect more crashes. John Simpson, of the group "Consumer Watchdog" has noticed something that he considers a "disturbing trend."

December 6, 2018:  Fiat Chrysler is expected to announce soon that it's converting the closed part of its Mack Engine Plant into a small assembly plant, to build 3-row Jeep Grand Cherokees.  The company isn't comenting. We talked about it with LMC Automotive analyst Jeff Schuster.

December 5, 2018:  Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz tells the Detroit Economic Club that sales will continue to outperform expectations--if there's a positive settlement on tariffs. You have to listen if you want to know about the toothbrush part.

December 4, 2018:  Work crews begin converting the long closed Michigan Central Station into the centerpiece of Ford's new Corktown campus. We visit the site, and talk with the project's manager.

December 3, 2018:  We talk with a series of experts about November's car and truck sales, which come in a little behind November of 2017--but remain strong by historic standards.

November 16, 2018: Carmakers become a bigger part of CES every year.  There are big plans for the 2019 event, which will be held in Las Vegas in early January. We talk one-on-one with Gary Shapiro, the President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association.

November 15, 2018:  While car companies target "Black Friday" with promotions, there are deals to be found throughout November, and December as well. We talk about it with Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor with Edmunds.com.

November 14, 2018:  Ford and Wal-Mart team up to use self-driving vehciles to deliver groceries, as part of an experiment in Miami. We talk with Brian Wolf, who heads Ford's automated vehicle business developmetn team.

November 13, 2018:  Google's Waymo self-driving car operation is reportedly ready to start an automated ride-hailing service.  GM and others have their own plans. We check in with Navigant Research analyst Sam Abuelsamid, who tracks the automated vehicle business.

October 6, 2018: Fresh off of his exclusive interview with VW CEO Herbert Diess, Automotive News Reporter Larry Vellequette tells us about possible areas where Volkswagen and Ford can work together.  

November 5, 2018: Lincoln hires the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to record the warning chimes for its new Aviator. There's a great story behind that, and Lincoln's Jennifer Prescott is here to tell it.

November 2, 2018:  GM posts a $2.5 billion third quarter profit that wows investors, then proceeeds to offer buyouts, and put some building projects on hold. It's a unique strategy in the auto business, and Rebecca Lindland of Kelley Blue Book really likes it.

November 1, 2018:  What should parents look for as they select a vehicle for their teen driver?  We talk with Jessica Cicchino, vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

October 31, 2018:  We talk one on one with GM's new CFO about the company's $3.5 billion third quarter profit.

October 30, 2018: Strong sales of Jeep and Ram products help boost Fiat Chrysler's third quarter earnings in North America. We hear from FCA CEO Mike Manley.

October 29, 2018:  We talk with Continental North America President Jeff Klei about crash prevetion technology, and about a new survey that shows drivers are becoming more apprehensive about self-driving cars.

October 26, 2018:  The Army is very interested in automated vehicle technology, because it keeps soldiers out of harms way.

October 25, 2018:  We talk with Ford CFO Bob Shanks about their fourth quarter earnings, and get an update on the company's restructuring efforts.

October 24, 2018:  Domestic brands fall, Lexus and Toyota lead, in the latest Consumer Reports Reliability Study.  Why? We talk about it with Jake Fisher, who heads Consumer Reports auto testing team.

October 23, 2018:  Carmakers prepare to announce their third quarter earnings.  What can we expect?  We preview the reports with David Kudla of Mainstay Capital Management. 

October 22, 2018:  Ford celebrates next week's start of production of the reborn Ford Ranger.  We take a ride in a Ranger, and talk to a couple of potential customers--as well as the company's CEO, Jim Hackett.

October 19, 2018:  Ford launches one of its most important ad campaigns in years.  We talk about it with Matt Van Dyke, who heads Ford's North American marketing team.

October 18, 2018:  We have an in-deph discussion with David Harkey, President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Data Loss Institute about their new study that shows a roughly six percent increase in crashes in states that have legalized recreational marijuana.

October 17, 2018:  We pay a visit to a small factory in Saline, Michigan, where French autonomous shuttle manufacturer NAVYA has started building self-driving shuttle vehicles.