Autoline Daily - Video

Yesterday the FBI raided the Michigan offices of Japanese seat belt supplier Takata. China's problems with traffic congestion is becoming much worse. Dodge unveiled the new 2012 Charger SRT-8 at the Chicago Auto Show which features a completely new look. All that and more, plus John calls out Ray LaHood, the Secretary of Transportation for not having the guts to call it like it is.

Credit increased by more than $6 billion a month ago; economists expected it to rise by only $2.4 billion. General Motors will likely pay its hourly workers in the U.S. a bonus of more than $1,800, the highest profit-sharing checks they’ve ever received. More and more cars come with keyless ignition systems these days but now the technology is under scrutiny because several people have died from leaving their cars running in their garages. All that and more, plus a look at the 2011 Ford explorer.

The government's proposal to raise the fleet average of vehicles to 62 MPG was a hot topic at the annual National Auto Dealers Association convention. One analyst says that used cars will outsell new ones by a three to one margin this year. Indian automaker Mahindra receives a shockingly poor rating from the U.S. EPA for its diesel pick-up truck. All that and more, plus a look at the new Hyundai Elantra.

Thousands of taxpayers in the U.S. have filed for an electric vehicle credit even though they don't own one. A company based in Denmark says the global market for cellulosic ethanol will start to take off in 2013. Honda is avoiding advanced technology to improve fuel economy because it says it can get the same results or better with less expensive parts. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about a part of the Detroit Auto Show that you’ve never seen before.

Ford posts disappointing, stock-plummeting profits in the fourth quarter of 2010. Raw material costs and a looming incentives war raise the alarm bells. New York City is holding a competition to determine its "Taxi of Tomorrow" and two-thirds of the finalists are from ... Turkey? All that and more, plus John McElroy answers your questions and comments in You Said It!

BMW’s electric Mega City car is reportedly spawning a sub-brand. All of GM’s vehicles must now make it through the "knothole" in order to get produced. Continuously variable transmissions will soon be used outside of the drivetrain to improve efficiency. All that and more, plus John McElroy offers his Instant Impression on the Fiat 500.

More Japanese automakers are moving or planning on moving production out of the country as the strong yen cuts into their profits. Chrysler workers will cash in as CEO Sergio Marchionne prepares to hand out bonuses. BMW is developing a smart key fob that could allow drivers to do things like check up on their vehicle or even book travel arrangements. All that and more, plus a look at the enhanced 2011 Jeep Patriot.

Chrysler reported its earnings for 2010 and while the numbers are not great, they do show progress. Daimler is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and will give employees a €1,000 bonus. Starting tomorrow Renault will introduce its own line of tires specifically designed for its older vehicles. All that and more, plus a tour of the new Lincoln MKX with chief engineer Elaine Bannon.

Ford just reported a full-year net income of $6.6 billion for 2010, the company’s highest net income in more than a decade. Chrysler wants its dealers to avoid haggling over the price of the Fiat 500 with customers. Volkswagen showed off a futuristic two-seat concept called the XL1 this week at the Qatar Motor Show. All that and more, plus a design tour of the 2011 Chrysler 300.

Earlier this week we reported that Ford is facing a parts shortage and now other automakers are feeling the squeeze, too. Volvo plans to drastically cut its lineup in the U.S. Tesla announced it's launched a battery-recycling program in Europe with a Belgian company called Umicore. All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, takes a stab at responding to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

A group of eight automakers are getting together to work on car-to-car communications. Toyota is recalling 1.7 million vehicles worldwide to replace faulty parts including defective fuel systems. Italian sports-car builder Pagani revealed its latest creation and this thing is crazy-looking! All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on GM CEO Dan Akerson and his latest moves to put his "stamp" on the company.

GM's selling more cars in China than in the United States, but guess where most the profit comes from. Speaking of "most" where do the most vehicles get built in North America? We have the answer. Ford is closing a plant due to a supply shortage, and you can expect to see it happen again. All that and more, plus we get some track time in the Dodge Challenger 392.

Fiat gets its first rebadged Chrysler Group product. We reveal the top three biggest automakers in the world. Money for advanced vehicle technology gets tangled up in government bureaucracy. All that and more, plus we hit the trail in the new and improved 2011 Jeep Compass.

The price for raw materials used to make cars keeps going up which means the prices that we pay for new cars and trucks will continue to rise. The head of Mazda's North American operations says the company will focus on diesels instead of hybrids. Mitsubishi plans to phase out all of the vehicles it currently builds in North America. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Jim Farley, the group vice president of global marketing, sales and service at Ford.

GM CEO Dan Akerson is really putting his stamp on the company by shuffling some of its top-level executives. It looks like the UAW is targeting Toyota first as it aims to organize foreign transplants in the U.S. Chrysler, in partnership with the EPA, is developing hydraulic hybrid technology with the goal of using it in large passenger cars and other light-duty vehicles. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and responds to your comments in another installment of "You Said It!"