Tracy Samilton
Tracy Samilton covers the auto beat for Michigan Radio. She has worked for the station for 12 years, and started out as an intern before becoming a part-time and, later, a full-time reporter. Tracy's reports on the auto industry can frequently be heard on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as on Michigan Radio. She considers her coverage of the landmark lawsuit against the University of Michigan for its use of affirmative action a highlight of her reporting career.
Tracy graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature. Before beginning her journalism career, she spent time working as a legal assistant at various firms in the Ann Arbor area.
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General Motors CEO Mary Barra faces a tough week of testimony before congressional committees about defective ignition switches linked to 13 deaths.
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John Dingell of Michigan, the longest-serving congressman in U.S. history, announced he won't run in 2014. As Tracy Samilton reports, Dingell's state will lose more than an icon when he retires.
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Next week in Tennessee, workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant will vote on whether to join the United Auto Workers. It's the first attempt to unionize a non-Detroit-run factory in 13 years. Volkswagen has given the drive its blessing but outside groups have stepped in to fight the union.
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Ford Motor Company closed the books on 2013 with a strong fourth quarter. For the year, Ford's net earnings surpassed $7 billion. It delivered 6.3 million vehicles, an increase of more than half a million over 2012. But Ford is warning this year will be a tough one.
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Every brake screech, whistle and rattle from the movie The Polar Express came from recordings of a historic locomotive, the Pere Marquette 1225. After four years of costly repairs, passengers can once again jump onboard and travel to see Santa Claus at the North Pole (imagination required).
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On Thursday, Ford will unveil the new generation of its iconic pony car in the U.S. and cities around the world. The Mustang is eagerly awaited in Europe, where it hasn't been sold since 1979.
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The EPA's decision not to force oil companies to replace E10, gasoline mixed with 10 percent ethanol, with E15, had a big impact on a lot of businesses. For manufacturers of motorcycles, motor boats and outdoor power equipment, it was good news. But for gas station owners who invested in expensive blender pumps, the decision hurt.
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A Michigan aviation museum has until Oct. 1 to save a historic factory from the wrecking ball. The Yankee Air Museum still needs to raise more than $3 million to rebuild part of the huge Willow Run bomber plant, where Rosie the Riveter worked during World War II. (This piece initially aired on Aug, 4. 2013, on All Things Considered)
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On Thursday, Ford issued a statement lowering the vehicle's stated performance for combined city and highway to 43 miles per gallon. The car had been advertised at 47 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, but tests reportedly showed the figure to be inflated.
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For auto companies, that Environmental Protection Agency-approved MPG sticker on a new car is a high stakes and expensive process. These days it can be damaging to a company's image if customers can't achieve that great fuel economy in their own commutes.