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Los Angeles Times
Staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, covering the automobile industry
PROFILE
Jerry Hirsch
Guest
FROM Jerry Hirsch
Design and Architecture
L.A. Auto Show Jerry Hirsch of the Los Angeles Times says the LA Auto Show now serves as the showcase for clean energy cars. He and his colleague David Undercoffler say that Hydrogen fuel cell cars are becoming the next big thing in green technology. They also discuss the future of autonomous cars.
Design and Architecture
Petersen Museum Almost 20 years ago the founder of Hot Rod magazine, Robert E. Petersen, created his museum to cars. Now Robert Petersen is gone, and the museum’s current management is ringing in some big changes. At the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance they announced plans for a dramatic overhaul of the building, jazzing up its rather dark interior, creating more exciting installations, and wrapping the building in undulating “ribbons” of steel. The architect is Eugene Kohn, of the New York firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, and he talks about how the design is intended to capture in its imagery the "speed, elegance, motion and power" of gorgeous cars, particularly "French cars with Italian bodies" of the 1930s. But the excitement at the new plans have been somewhat tempered by stories that circulated about the sale of some of the Petersen’s classic cars. Jerry Hirsch, automotive business reporter for the Los Angeles Times, set off a firestorm when he reported that “the Petersen is quite under the radar selling off 100+ of its vehicles” in order to finance capital construction, in what he describes as a breach of its public trust.
To the Point
Is Tesla a Threat to Car Dealerships? Since the start of the US auto industry, manufacturers have granted the right to sell vehicles to new-car franchisers. State laws now require that car makers leave retail sales to somebody else. But a tiny new maker of electric cars is challenging that system. Elon Musk , who founded PayPal and was the first to launch private missions to the International Space Station, is making the sleek, expensive Tesla . Rather than use the franchise system, he's setting up his own stores. Auto dealers and regional associations are fighting back. Jerry Hirsch reports on the auto industry for the Los Angeles Times .
To the Point
GM's Balance Sheet in the Black In 2009, General Motors lost $21 billion before it declared bankruptcy. Last year, for the first time since 2004, GM turned a profit of $4.7 billion. Even after today's announcement the bailout of General Motors remains one of the most controversial actions of the Obama Administration. Did the government bailout save the day? Will taxpayers get their money back? We ask Jerry Hirsch who covers the auto industry for the Los Angeles Times .
Which Way, L.A.?
Looking for Sexy and Green at the LA Auto Show After raising 20 billion-dollars in the first day of trading, it’s not Government Motors any more, although taxpayers still own a big share of GM. But the big news about cars in LA is the Auto Show, which opens to the public tomorrow at the Convention Center.
Which Way, L.A.?
Price War Continues in Southern California Grocery Stores The ongoing recession has increased business for discounters like Wal-Mart and Target. Now grocery chains like Vons and Ralph's are striking back with what they call "significant" reductions in prices. While both chains say its just a "coincidence," it's a pattern that's been developing for much of this year. Jerry Hirsch of the Los Angeles Times reports on southern California's supermarket price war .
Recommended
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.