Doors for a Chevy Sonic hang on the assembly line at General Motors' Orion Assembly Plant in Lake Orion, Michigan, in 2011. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images hide caption
Detroit's abandoned Packard car plant, seen here in a 2010 photo, could eventually sell for $21,000 if a development deal falls through, a Wayne County official says. Carlos Osorio/AP hide caption
Models abound at this week's Shanghai auto show. This one, in a latex cat suit, was drawing attention to an SUV by Landwind, a Chinese company that sells about 10,000 vehicles a year. Frank Langfitt/NPR hide caption
The 2013 Bentley Mulsanne features drop-down iPad workstations. More cars are being outfitted to operate as mobile offices. Bentley Motors hide caption
A worker inspects auto parts at a factory in Chengdu, China. (2005 file photo.) China Photos/Getty Images hide caption
President Obama at a campaign event at the Wolcott House Museum Complex in Maumee, Ohio. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Landov hide caption
Scott Horsley On 'All Things Considered'
Lincoln's staking its future on this car. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption
Lincoln's staking its future on this car. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption
Pop your tire in a new car and you might have to hitch home. pspechtenhauser/Flickr hide caption