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.