Jeff Gilbert's Tales From The Auto Beat

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.