Autoline Daily - Audio

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!"

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the company is going to offer hybrid versions of the 300 and a minivan by 2013. Mazda will show off a compact crossover concept called the MINAGI at this year's Geneva Motor Show that highlights how the company plans to evolve its vehicles in the future. Auto supplier Dana will pay Toyota $25 million for Tacoma frames it supplied to the company that rusted out. All that and more, plus guest host Jim Hall shares his favorite reveals from last week’s Detroit Auto Show.

The last few years have been tough on OEMs, but the Center for Automotive Research predicts sales will improve significantly in 2011. Toyota halted production in Japan, but not for any of the reasons you might think. Ford is rumored to be developing a front-wheel-drive replacement for the Falcon it sells in Australia. All that and more, plus guest host Murray Feldman from Fox 2 News, Detroit, shares some of his thoughts on a potential problem the Big Three face going forward as the price of oil climbs.

Lancia is expected to reveal a rebadged version of the Chrysler 200 at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Toyota is polling people about what it should call its Prius family of hybrids. Mercedes just released photos of its new 2012 SLK Roadster that will go on sale later in the year. All that and more, plus a look at the updated Jeep Wrangler.

Toyota may be on the verge of a breakthrough developing electric motors that do not need rare-earth materials, in an effort to sidestep China's stranglehold on the market. Audi is now the top automotive luxury brand in the world, thanks to sales in China. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued new rules aimed at preventing occupants from being ejected from a vehicle during a rollover. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about TechShop, a place where anyone can create just about anything they want.

UAW workers could be headed for some pretty good profit-sharing checks this year. Ford is really on a roll, topping several categories in the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. Toyota is hard at work developing several different battery technologies for use in EVs, including one called magnesium sulfur. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

A decade ago MINI relaunched the brand in the North American market and to celebrate the occasion the company showed its MINI Paceman concept at the Detroit Auto Show. Hyundai's new three door coupe the Veloster makes its world debut in Detroit. A look at the concept version of the Honda Civic. All that and much more in this special edition from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.