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Behind The Wheel

Behind The Wheel
Automakers, cars, auto industry, parts, service, American or European models, or automobile news, CNBC's Phil LeBeau covers the world of autos in his blog, Behind The Wheel. Get updates on the auto indusry's latest moves and news from around the worl

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Articles

Ford's Mulally: Showing The Quiet Confidence To Lead
2008-01-09 15:48:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauHaving covered and coming to know Alan Mulally during his time running Ford and previously as head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, I've come to expect him to be upbeat, even in the most dire of times. I've also been with him enough to know when his optimism turns to quiet confidence. Read More Topics:Marketing | Alternative Energy | Energy | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Boeing Co | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO | VIDEOPermalink
More About: Confidence , Lead , Quiet

Detroit Auto Show: Which Model Do You Want On CNBC?
2008-01-08 14:57:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauIt's the grand daddy of American auto shows, so it's about time the Detroit Auto Show goes "Prime Time." It finally happens next week and we couldn't be happier that CNBC is the network raising the profile of the auto show. Read More Topics:Marketing | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Model

Ford Explorer: Can This SUV Get Back To "Riding" High?
2008-01-07 14:52:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauHave you seen the Ford Explorer lately? The current model shows just how far the once vaunted SUV has plunged, while the new Explorer America Concept is a vision of where sport utilities and Ford may be headed in the future. Read More Topics:Alternative Energy | Energy | Japan | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Back , High , Riding

GM's Volt: Not Ready To "Electrify" Anybody Yet
2008-01-04 15:16:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauIt still hasn't been built and it may not hit showrooms by the time people have been projecting. Yet, it's causing a puzzling amount of angst for investors and auto fans. I'm talking about the Chevy Volt, an electrically driven car GM is developing. Read More Topics:G. Richard Wagoner | Marketing | Alternative Energy | Energy | CEOs and CFOs | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors CorpMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Ready

Auto Sales Numbers: Toyota Creates Watershed Moment
2008-01-03 21:39:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauAs I was digesting the latest auto sales numbers, I saw one bullet point cross the newswires that I keep thinking about. For the first time since 1931 Ford is not #2 in U.S. Auto Sales behind General Motors. The second place slot is now controlled by Toyota . Read More Topics:Economy (U.S.) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO | VIDEOPermalink
More About: Moment , Numbers

Votes In: No, Not Iowa, But The "Most To Prove" Automaker
2008-01-03 17:58:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauIt was nowhere as close as the presidential races taking place in Iowa . Nor does it have the level of importance that goes with a presidential caucus. But when we asked you to let us know which automaker has the most to prove in 2007, you made it clear, by a long shot, that Ford is the automaker on the hot seat. Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Prove , Votes , Not I

Cast Your '08 Vote Now: The "Candidates" Are Ford, GM, Toyota
2008-01-02 15:50:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauMaybe it's because of the Iowa caucus' taking place Wednesday night. Maybe it's because at the start of a new year, it's a good time to make predictions. Or maybe it's because the auto show season is about to kick off with the automakers putting out their visions for the future. Whatever the reason, I think today is the day to ask YOU which automaker has the most to show, prove, gain, lose in 2008? Read More Topics:Marketing | Japan | CEOs and CFOs | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Candidates , Vote , Cast

The Yugo's Next Life (We're Serious)
2007-12-28 19:09:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauFor sale: Auto company with a colorful, if unspectacular, track record. Located in the fast-growing Eastern Europe market, with plenty of capacity for building new models. The prize property on the block? Yugo! Yes, that Yugo! Read More Topics:Marketing | Eastern Europe | Alternative Energy | Energy | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Asia | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and PartsMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Life

The 'Rodney' Awards: Cars That Get No Respect
2007-12-26 16:58:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauWith Detroit essentially shut down for the week between Christmas and New Year's, it's a good time to step back and hand out "The Rodneys": The car and auto brands that -- taking a note from comedian Rodney Dangerfield -- don't get enough respect, according to you, the reader. Read More Topics:Alternative Energy | Japan | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Asia | Labor Unions | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:AB Volvo | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Cars , Awards , Respect

The 'Vette: 'Rodney Dangerfield' of Autos?
2007-12-21 16:12:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauOccasionally, when I state my opinion about a particular car or automaker, I get swamped with e-mails from people who think I'm an idiot. Yesterday was one of those days: I was talking about the new Corvette ZR1... Read More Topics:CEOs and CFOs | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Asia | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors CorpMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Autos , Vette

GM's $100,000 Corvette: Okay, I'm "Sold" On It
2007-12-20 14:45:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauI'll admit it, I've never really been a big Corvette fan. Don't get me wrong, I clearly see the car's appeal. But for my money, the 'vette has always been a solid sports car that failed to blow my doors off. I know, you 'vette fans are reading this and saying, "You are wacked Toyota Phil." Read More Topics:Marketing | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors CorpMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Sold , Vette

Auto Branding: Hold That Thought, You Might Be Wrong
2007-12-19 15:33:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauJust for a minute, I want you to block out the opinions you have about certain auto brands. So if you always see BMW's as refined and stylish, stop. Or if you think Hyundai's are overrated, hold it. OK, now that you have a clear mind, think about this: Saturn, Suzuki, and Buick are changing their acts and are increasingly being seen in a positive light by car buyers. Read More Topics:Advertising | Marketing | Auto mobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Hyundai Motor Company | General Motors CorpMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Branding , Thought , Wrong , Hold

Gas Prices: "Driving" You To Buy A Different Car?
2007-12-18 15:22:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauAs I've been talking about for some time, and as we've seen from auto sales in the last couple of months, the price of gas IS causing people to shift the kinds of vehicles they are planning to buy. The latest evidence comes from Kelley Blue Book. Read More Topics:Alternative Energy | Energy | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Automobiles and PartsMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Driving , Gas Prices , Prices , Diff

GM: Will It "Two-Peat" As Car And Truck Of The Year?
2007-12-17 15:17:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauFor the second straight year, General Motors is in a position to win the honors of North American Car and Truck of the year. The winners will be announced at the start of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit January 13th. Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Mazda Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd.MEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Year

Out Of The Office
2007-12-14 19:42:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauOut on assignment for the last couple of days. Hope to have some new posts for you on Monday. See you then. Read More Permalink
More About: Office , The Office

Eight For '08 Predictions: Ford, Smart Cars, Chrysler And More
2007-12-12 18:56:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauAs we close out this year, I know some of you are asking, "Hey Toyota Phil (a nickname a friend gave me after accusing me of giving the Japanese automaker too much praise) what do you think will happen in the auto industry next year?" Well, since you asked, and I know some of you haven't asked, here are my prognostications for 2008. Read More Topics:Marketing | Eastern Europe | Alternative Energy | Energy | Japan | CEOs and CFOs | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Asia | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Cars , Chrysler , Smart , Predictions

GM's HUMMER: I Doubt Japan Will Find Room For This Big Rig
2007-12-11 15:32:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauHere's an interesting move: take a large SUV that struggles to get great mileage and export it to a market known more for compact cars. That's what GM is doing with its HUMMER brand and its expansion into Japan . I'm not sure this makes sense. Read More Topics:Marketing | Alternative Energy | Energy | Japan | Asia | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors CorpMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Hummer , Find , Room , Doubt

Car Sales: Europe Ready To Pass U.S. As Number One?
2007-12-10 15:10:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauWant further proof we're in a global auto market where the countries outside the U.S. are playing a bigger role? Consider this: there are reports that Europe is on the cusp of passing up the U.S. as #1 in the world for sales. Think about that for a second. Read More Topics:Marketing | Eastern Europe | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Sales , Pass , Ready , Rope

Out of Office Today
2007-12-07 14:46:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauI am out of the office, traveling for a TV story I'm doing, so I won't be posting today. However, I'll be back on Monday with new content so see you then and have a good weekend. Read More Permalink
More About: Office , Today

Car Colors: Are They As Bland For You As They Are For Me?
2007-12-05 14:46:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauOh, for the days of the gold Plymouth Duster (my friend Bob had a '72 one with three on the tree) or light green (my friend referred to it as "puke green") AMC Gremlin. Remember the old days when some automaker would come out with a funky colored car and people actually bought them? Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Colors

Smart Fortwo Cars: Smart Move Or Not?
2007-12-04 14:46:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauCan 30,000 people be wrong? That's how many people have placed an order for the new Smart Fortwo b cars that hit the U.S. next year. Those early signees will no doubt be glad to see Daimler A.G. Chairman Dieter Zetsche, in Washington Tuesday promoting the impending arrival of the 'b' car early next year. Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Automobiles and PartsMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Cars , Move

Your Car Or Truck: Would You Buy It Again?
2007-12-03 14:52:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauI heard it again Saturday night. I was talking to a friend at a party and he said, "I want a car I'm gonna like...I mean really like." I chuckled and told him, "Join the club." After giving him some suggestions I told him about the latest survey from Consumer Reports on the models with the most satisfied owners. Read More Topics:Marketing | Western Europe | Japan | Economy (U.S.) | Asia | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Hyundai Motor Company | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd. | DaimlerChrysler AG | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Truck

Car And Driver's Best Of '08: Good News For GM
2007-11-30 16:05:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauFor General Motors, this is pretty darn good. No, let me amend that. This is really good. The automaker has three cars listed on Car and Driver's best of 2008. It's the only domestic automaker to get a car on the list. And most importantly, the new Chevy Malibu is among the 10 best according to Car and Driver. Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Volkswagen A G Spons | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd.MEDIA:PHOTO | VIDEOPermalink
More About: News , Good News , Good

Chrysler: Will Ambitious "From Russia With Love" Plan Work?
2007-11-29 15:44:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauWho'd have thunk it. Russia has become one of the hottest and fastest growing auto markets in the world. Now Chrysler wants a piece of the action and it may wind teaming up with a Russian automaker GAZ. Today in Michigan Chrysler executives and Michigan's governor are reportedly set to meet the president of GAZ to discuss the Russian automaker investing in the U.S. Read More Topics:Eastern Europe | CEOs and CFOs | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Love , Work , Plan

U.S. Car Buyers: What's Giving Them The "Jitters?"
2007-11-28 15:47:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauAs we wrap up this year, we are close to seeing U.S. auto sales fall to their lowest point in nine years. It has me wondering about what's spooking vehicle buyers? Is it the economy? Is this simply the natural ebb and flow of demand for new cars, trucks and SUV's? Why are some of my neighbors and friends putting off buying a new model? Read More Topics:Consumers | Retail Sales | Alternative Energy | Energy | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Giving , Buyers

Volkswagen: Can It "Drive" Down A Successful Road?
2007-11-27 17:03:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauIt's hard for me to find a more perplexing automaker than Volkswagen . Mainly because it is a brand and a company with so much potential, so much brand loyalty, and yet, from my perspective, it has not achieved what it should. Read More Topics:Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors CorpMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Drive , Road , Swag

Better Mileage or Fewer Features?
2007-11-26 16:22:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauI hear it everyday. "Why can't we get cars, trucks and SUVs that give us 30 miles per gallon of gas?" My answer is usually along the lines of, "Yes, the automakers can do that, but there's a trade-off. You want a big SUV to haul people and stuff, then you have to accept lower fuel economy." Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Features , Mileage

Your "Free Car" Wishes And More Ford Comments
2007-11-23 18:21:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauWhat one car would you drive if you had to get a model with a brand other than your favorite? Here are some of your responses. Read More Topics:Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd. | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Free , Comments , Wishes

Big 3 Automakers: Why They Really Can Be Thankful
2007-11-21 18:39:00
Posted By:Phil LeBeauIn a year that has included two strikes, billions of dollars in losses, tens of thousands of layoffs, and more of the "Why can't the Big 3 get their act together" comments, there is reason to give thanks in Detroit (and no, it doesn't involve the Lions). Read More Topics:Marketing | Economy (U.S.) | Asia | Automobile IndustrySectors:Automobiles and PartsCompanies:General Motors Corp | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
More About: Hank

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