Automotive Insight

40 Episodes
EU needs to protect its auto industry
EU needs to protect its auto industry episode artwork
Yesterday at 6:41 PM

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the European auto industry is expected to lose 350,000 jobs by the end of the decade and automakers and suppliers are begging for help.


Electric vehicle sales start to make a comeback
Electric vehicle sales start to make a comeback episode artwork
Last Monday at 6:15 PM

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports with gas prices higher than a year ago, people may be looking to an EV. Kelly Blue Book says 85,000 EV's were sold in May. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)


Different specifications for autos means everything is more expensive
Different specifications for autos means everything is more expensive episode artwork
Last Thursday at 6:14 PM

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports one way to cut the cost of a car is to have automakers have the same specifications.


Magna CEO has ideas on how auto industry leaders can make decisions faster
Magna CEO has ideas on how auto industry leaders can make decisions faster episode artwork
06/10/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Magna's CEO says decisions have to be made faster to keep up with the ever changing industry.


China establishes 4 tier program to make factories more automated
China establishes 4 tier program to make factories more automated episode artwork
06/09/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports China is worried about more manufacturing moving out of the country so it is pushing automation.


Concerns about another chip shortage amid AI craze
Concerns about another chip shortage amid AI craze episode artwork
06/08/2026

Another chip shortage on the horizon, this time linked to AI, could make the vehicle affordably crisis even worse, says WWJ automotive analyst John McElroy. (Photo: Getty Images)


Stellantis reorganization could save automaker a ton of money
Stellantis reorganization could save automaker a ton of money episode artwork
06/04/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Stellantis had been spending about $12 billion on capital expenditures each year, so the automaker will be saving billions under their new $70 billion investment proposal.


The mid-size pickup segment is getting flooded
The mid-size pickup segment is getting flooded episode artwork
06/04/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports there is a problem with so many mid-sized pickups planned by automakers. He says the mid-sized segment won't grow enough to accommodate the new entries. (Photo: Getty Images)


Trump administration opens the door a crack to Chinese cars
Trump administration opens the door a crack to Chinese cars episode artwork
06/03/2026

The Big Three don't want China selling cars in the U.S., but WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says a move by the U.S. Commerce Department has opened the door to Chinese state-owned Geely, just a crack.

(Photo: Getty Images)


Ferrari looks to attract different buyers with new Luce EV
Ferrari looks to attract different buyers with new Luce EV episode artwork
06/02/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Ferrari's first electric vehicle is designed to appeal to different buyers including women. He says it's a smart business plan.


There's a downside to China coming out with new cars so quickly
There's a downside to China coming out with new cars so quickly episode artwork
05/28/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Chinese automakers are turning out new car models faster any any other automakers, but the downside is the older cars lose their value much faster than other cars.


Stellantis sets ambitious turnaround plan
Stellantis sets ambitious turnaround plan episode artwork
05/27/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the Stellantis turnaround plan involves building all of its new vehicles from three platforms, including one developed with a Chinese automaker. (Photo: Getty Images)


Fisker auto owners hack their own cars
Fisker auto owners hack their own cars episode artwork
05/25/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports car owners were in a tough spot when Fisker Automotive went out of business They didn't have critical functions because they needed to connect to Fisker's cloud services. Several car owners got together and hacked into the system. (Photo: Getty Images)


AI is the next big thing in cars
AI is the next big thing in cars episode artwork
05/21/2026

Generative AI is spreading into everything in our lives — and that includes cars, trucks and SUVs. WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says you'll soon be able to ask AI about buildings you are passing on the road.


First gas, now oil change prices are about to increase
First gas, now oil change prices are about to increase episode artwork
05/21/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports much of the oil used in car engines comes from the Middle East, so prices for an oil change are expected to go up soon. (Photo By Tom Pennington/Getty Images for the Texas Motor Speedway)


Forget generative AI! What about quantum computing?
Forget generative AI! What about quantum computing? episode artwork
05/18/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says while generative AI is all the rage right now, the next big thing could be quantum computing. And a well-known auto supplier is investing.


Car repossessions hit 1.7 million last year
Car repossessions hit 1.7 million last year episode artwork
05/13/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports cars are being repossessed at numbers we've never seen before. Repossessions have increased 43% since 2019. (Photo: Getty Images)


Ford's reorganization is all about speed, quality and costs
Ford's reorganization is all about speed, quality and costs episode artwork
05/12/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Ford's new core operating organization is getting rid of all of the silos in the company and employees will be more involved in collaboration. (Photo: Getty Images)


Detroit auto companies called on to help US military
Detroit auto companies called on to help US military episode artwork
05/08/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Uncle Sam is asking Detroit to ramp up the Arsenal of Democracy by having executives volunteer to help straighten out the procurement and supply chain mess in our military.


Ford and GM need to collaborate
Ford and GM need to collaborate episode artwork
05/06/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says General Motors and Ford should work together like they did years ago to develop a ten speed automatic transmission. He says both companies could cut billions in costs.


Designers can make cars more affordable
Designers can make cars more affordable episode artwork
05/06/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the cost of insuring cars has increased and designers can play their part in lowering costs by designing cars that don't cost so much to fix. (Photo: Getty Images)


Auto businesses brag about strong finances, but all are adjusted numbers
Auto businesses brag about strong finances, but all are adjusted numbers episode artwork
05/04/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the adjusted numbers that include many one time expenses are included in every quarterly report and is similar to what led up to bankruptcies in the past.


US automakers need to go back 30 years to learn how to compete with Chinese
US automakers need to go back 30 years to learn how to compete with Chinese episode artwork
05/01/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says a playbook from 30 years ago could be used by American car executives to compete with the Chinese.


The CEOs of auto companies make millions and many don't like it
The CEOs of auto companies make millions and many don't like it episode artwork
04/30/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the CEOs of the car companies are making millions, but the public is against it. Attitudes change a little when people learn that much of the compensation is in the form of stock payments, not cash.


Automakers now designing cars to be disassembled
Automakers now designing cars to be disassembled episode artwork
04/29/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports automakers put a lot of work into making cars and trucks easy to assemble, but now they have to do the opposite.


China's electric vehicle price war is back
China's electric vehicle price war is back episode artwork
04/28/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports while China's auto industry is booming overseas, there is a price war in the country. The government says the war could be described as involution.


GM, Ford, Stellantis rethink passenger cars
GM, Ford, Stellantis rethink passenger cars episode artwork
04/23/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports giving up on passenger cars meant the Big 3 gave up 20% of the US market to the competition.

(Photo: Ford Focus compact cars are offered for sale at a dealership on June 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. By Scott Olson/Getty Images)


China's auto industry appears headed for a major restructuring
China's auto industry appears headed for a major restructuring episode artwork
04/23/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports there are 953 models in China and a wide majority lose money. Some analysts say there may be only seven automakers in China in the future.


Warranty and recall costs are skyrocketing
Warranty and recall costs are skyrocketing episode artwork
04/20/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports automakers and EV startups spent $55 billion on costs related to warranties and recalls and there's no end in sight. (Photo credit: Getty Images)


A new car company in Saudi Arabia will make an EV
A new car company in Saudi Arabia will make an EV episode artwork
04/17/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Ceer is staffed by executives with global automotive experience including several from GM. The automaker will come out with an EV that will be sold throughout the Mideast. Foxconn, Hyundai and BMW are all involved.


Software defined vehicles are hot topic in the auto industry
Software defined vehicles are hot topic in the auto industry episode artwork
04/14/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports software defined vehicles get better over time and a survey shows the Chinese are embracing these vehicles more than in other parts of the world.


Info from automakers on remanufacturing is tough to find
Info from automakers on remanufacturing is tough to find episode artwork
04/13/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says remanufacturing is big business for the automakers, but the companies don't want to release any information.


Change coming to residual value of electric vehicles
Change coming to residual value of electric vehicles episode artwork
04/09/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the resale values of used electric vehicles are expected to improve because of a lack of incentives and subsidies.


Will the Big 3 automakers build a new auto plant
Will the Big 3 automakers build a new auto plant episode artwork
04/08/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports there are fewer people buying cars and other factors that could make Ford, GM and Stellantis reluctant to build a new plant. LAKE ORION - APRIL 23: The GM Orion Assembly Plant sign is shown April 23, 2009 in Lake Orion, Michigan. According to to reports, GM is planning to shut down most of its U.S. plants for up to nine weeks this summer in an effort to reduce its backlog inventory of vehicles. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)


The feds want to raise gas taxes and fees
The feds want to raise gas taxes and fees episode artwork
04/06/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the federal gas tax has not gone up in 33 years, but that will change.


High gas prices have car shoppers hunting for EVs
High gas prices have car shoppers hunting for EVs episode artwork
04/02/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says the war in Iran, and its impact on gas prices all over the world, could be the tipping point that pushes more people into electric cars.

(Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)


Ford CEO earns more compensation despite record recalls
Ford CEO earns more compensation despite record recalls episode artwork
04/01/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Ford CEO Jim Farley received a bigger bonus this year because, despite spending $5.2 billion, recall and warranty spending went down. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)


Detroit Big 3 need to work together to compete against the Chinese
Detroit Big 3 need to work together to compete against the Chinese episode artwork
03/31/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy tells about a new report that shows the Detroit three automakers should be competing as a region, not as stand alone companies. (Photo: The Chinese producer of electric cars BYD presents its vehicles (EV) on the 2nd day of the IAA MOBILITY 2025 automobile fair on September 10, 2025 in Munich, Germany. By Johannes Simon/Getty Images)


As robotaxis become more popular, auto sales could drop by 30 percent
As robotaxis become more popular, auto sales could drop by 30 percent episode artwork
03/30/2026

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports on new research that says robotaxis could cut car sales by 30% by 2035 and that will affect auto companies, suppliers and auto dealers. (Photo credit: Getty Images)


GM spent $10 billion trying to develop robotaxis. Now what?
GM spent $10 billion trying to develop robotaxis. Now what? episode artwork
03/26/2026

General Motors spent a fortune trying to develop autonomous cars, before it shut the operation down. But WWJ Auto Analyst John McElroy says you may see remnants of it driving around Detroit. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)