Autoline Daily - Video

Last week we reported that GM was going to switch battery suppliers for the Chevy Volt. But GM tells Autoline Daily that is not the case at all. BMW is following Mercedes-Benz and Audi into the four-door coupe market with the 6 Series Gran Coupe. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are renewing efforts to block the use of E-15, or gasoline with 15 percent ethanol. All that and more, plus a look at the all-new Buick Regal GS.

General Motors is going to change battery suppliers. It had been buying batteries from LG Chem, now it will switch to batteries from A123. A new study shows there are now more electric car charging stations in the United States than there are gas stations that sell E-85 fuel. Taiwanese automaker Luxgen revealed its latest car, the Luxgen5. All that and more, plus a look at Hyundai’s funky looking new car, the Veloster.

The Detroit News reports that UAW president Bob King is calling Nissan a human-rights violator, but he offers no specifics. Nissan, of course, says the accusations are baseless. Renault is releasing details about its facelifted Scenic and Grand Scenic models. GM and Chrysler dealers who lost their franchises when the two companies went bankrupt want to take their case against the feds all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. All that and more, plus we take the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe for a spin.

The Chevrolet Volt seems to be getting slammed by everyone right now and it looks like GM has a full blown public relations disaster on its hands. Chinese consumers prefer foreign car brands, due to big gaps in quality and reliability with the homegrown ones. Dodge is bringing back the Dart name for its new replacement for the Caliber. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the “You Said It!” segment.

While global car sales have been running at decent rates all year long, sales of heavy trucks are running at record rates, especially in China and North America. We’re going to see a lot more European vans in the U.S. as Ford, GM and other automakers expand their range of offerings. Honda announced it plans to deliver best-in-class fuel economy in every vehicle segment within three years thanks to a new suite of technologies it's calling "Earth Dreams." All that and more, plus we take a look at the new Range Rover Evoque.

Automakers are ramping up their production plans for the first quarter of 2012. EV start-up company Aptera announced it’s closing its doors because the company is out of money. Volkswagen’s new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee was just rated the greenest auto assembly plant in the world. All that and more, plus a look at the new Volkswagen Beetle.

As the auto industry struggles to sell more cars, teens aren’t helping matters because fewer of them are learning to drive. Motorcycle sales are on the increase in India while Tata Nanos languish on dealership lots. This RC car doesn’t come cheap, but for good reason: it can hit 100 miles per hour! All that and more, plus John McElroy’s analysis of November sales results.

While the UAW settles on a transplant to unionize, it's picketing Hyundai dealerships in the U.S. in support of workers in South Korea. GM develops a technology that will double the life expectancy of brake rotors by preventing rust. Plus Audi reveals the A1 Sportback, Renault has a new Twingo and Toyota shows off a new fuel cell concept. All that and more, plus Seamus McElroy goes for a spin in MINI’s new Coupe.

The Center for Automotive Research says that the U.S. auto industry is going to add 190,000 jobs in the next four years. Volkswagen introduced a plug-in hybrid SUV concept at the Tokyo Motor Show called the Cross Coupe. And Honda unveiled seven new concepts in Tokyo, all of which are electric. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and comments in the “You Said It!” segment.

General Motors is in full-blown damage control over reports that the batteries in the Chevy Volt caught fire after a crash test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Japanese automakers are getting hammered by the strength of the yen, and things could get a lot worse. Mazda just introduced a new regenerative braking system called i-ELOOP. All that and more, plus John reviews the movie “Revenge of the Electric Car.”

Further crash tests on the Chevy Volt by NHTSA found that the battery could catch fire in certain circumstances. Toyota finally revealed its new rear-wheel-drive sports car, called the GT 86. Daimler announced it will drop the Maybach brand since it was unable to turn a profit in nearly a decade. All that and more, plus a look at the new BMW X3.

Mazda is moving production out of Japan to Mexico because of the strong value of the yen and the number of free trade agreements Mexico has. Chinese automakers are starting to learn how to make safer cars. The Geely Emgrand EC7 and the MG6, were awarded four stars in the latest Euro NCAP tests. The used car market in the U.S. remains strong and in some cases second-hand vehicles are not depreciating in value. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the You Said It! segment.

In a move that probably did not surprise anyone, Laura Soave was let go as head of the Fiat car brand in the American market. Speaking of personnel moves, General Motors appointed its vice chairman, Steve Girsky, as the chairman of the supervisory board of Opel. If you thought that the Volt is expensive here in the U.S., good thing you don’t live in China! All that and more plus a review of the new Chevrolet Sonic.

Car sales in China have been slowing all year and now the drop in sales is even hitting the luxury segment. But even with the slow down, China is still the biggest market in the world and that’s why Ford just announced plans to introduce 20 new engines and transmissions in the country. GM is considering a simple mid-size work truck for the U.S. All that and more, plus a look at how Chevy makes the ZL1 Camaro slice through the wind.

The electric version of the Honda Fit will only be available for lease in select cities in the U.S. GM’s sales chief in the U.S. says sales in 2012 won’t grow that much. Conversely, J.D. Power says next year’s sales rate could hit 14 million units. BMW just bought a 15 percent stake in a company called SGL Carbon, a maker of lightweight materials. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week the most recent UAW contract negotiations.