We're featuring a series this month called “2019: A Look Ahead” and continue with a look at the future of the auto industry. In 2018, car makers announced the end of many lines of sedans and coupes to focus on more popular SUVs and trucks. Companies like Ford, General Motors and Toyota are looking to spend more resources on autonomous vehicles and electric cars. The companies are also dealing with rising interest rates and trade tariffs that impact steel prices as well as sales in China. If the disappointing reviews coming out of the motor city are a sign, 2019 could be a rough year for the auto companies. Host Dan Loney talks about these contributing factors with John Paul MacDuffie, Professor of Management at the Wharton School and Director of the Program on Vehicle and Mobility Innovation at Wharton's Mack Institute, and Paul Eisenstein, Publisher and Editor of TheDetroitBureau.com on Knowledge@Wharton. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.