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Playlist: Shifting Gears: The Retooling of the U.S. Auto Industry

Compiled By: PRX Editors

 Credit:
Curated Playlist

The global economic crisis and the U.S.-based credit collapse have pushed a challenged U.S. auto industry into uncertain territory. With approximately one in ten American jobs touched by the auto industry, how are communities feeling the affect of this transition?

Over two, one-hour programs, Shifting Gears will hear from plant workers, car dealers, consumers and civic leaders in cities from Detroit to the Midwest and through the South in an exploration of the changing nature of the U.S. car business. You'll hear interviews with people on the edge of the industrial shift and how it is touching lives, careers, communities and civic life.

Learn more about the programs and the producers.

Shifting Gears Program One

From WDET Detroit Public Radio | Part of the Shifting Gears: The Retooling of the U.S. Auto Industry series | 53:01

In this first part of Shifting Gears, host Craig Fehle examines the challenge of retraining a work force that built the US car industry. Could the midwest become one of the centers of the emerging electric auto industry; we'll check in with Bill Anderson at KCUR who has the story of one emerging truck company near Kansas City; and then it's to Washington, DC to examine how the changing political lineup on Capitol Hill is already affecting the fortunes of the auto industry.

Shiftinggears_small

The global economic crisis and the U.S.-based credit collapse have pushed a challenged U.S. auto industry into uncertain territory. With approximately one in ten American jobs touched by the auto industry, how are communities feeling the affect of this transition?

Over two, one-hour programs, Shifting Gears will hear from plant workers, car dealers, consumers and civic leaders in cities from Detroit to the Midwest and through the South in an exploration of the changing nature of the U.S. car business. You'll hear interviews with people on the edge of the industrial shift and how it is touching lives, careers, communities and civic life.

These fast-moving programs are anchored from WDET-Detroit and transition to hosts and guests in multiple cities. Station editorial partners include Louisville Public Radio, KCUR-Kansas City and WUNC/The Story-Chapel Hill. Lead producers are Kate Hinds from WNYC, Ron Jones and primary host Craig Fahle, both from WDET. Funding for the specials comes from the EconomyStory project from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The two hours can be run back to back or on successive days. The programs are FREE to all stations regardless of PRX membership.


Shifting Gears Program Two

From WDET Detroit Public Radio | Part of the Shifting Gears: The Retooling of the U.S. Auto Industry series | 53:01

In this second part of Shifting Gears, host Craig Fahle talks with The Story's Dick Gordon about the South as the new home of the US auto industry, with all of its complex social, labor and financial questions. Then we visit Julie Kredens from Louisville Public Media for a tale of two vehicle plants and how their fortunes have hit the pockets of auto workers nearby. Finally, a glimpse into the future and where auto designers think consumers want to go.

Shiftinggears_small

The global economic crisis and the U.S.-based credit collapse have pushed a challenged U.S. auto industry into uncertain territory. With approximately one in ten American jobs touched by the auto industry, how are communities feeling the affect of this transition?

Over two, one-hour programs, Shifting Gears will hear from plant workers, car dealers, consumers and civic leaders in cities from Detroit to the Midwest and through the South in an exploration of the changing nature of the U.S. car business. You'll hear interviews with people on the edge of the industrial shift and how it is touching lives, careers, communities and civic life.

These fast-moving programs are anchored from WDET-Detroit and transition to hosts and guests in multiple cities. Station editorial partners include Louisville Public Radio, KCUR-Kansas City and WUNC/The Story-Chapel Hill. Lead producers are Kate Hinds from WNYC, Ron Jones and primary host Craig Fahle, both from WDET. Funding for the specials comes from the EconomyStory project from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The two hours can be run back to back or on successive days. The programs are FREE to all stations regardless of PRX membership.