Automotive News Daily Drive

Automotive News

Daily Drive is a daily podcast series hosted by Kellen Walker. We speak with industry experts, insiders and Automotive News reporters about events and trends impacting and reshaping the automotive industry. Automotive News is the leading source of news, data and understanding for the auto industry's decision-makers. Learn more at autonews.com.

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1,022 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes1022

Newest first

March 23 · 21 min
March 23, 2026 | VW cuts capacity despite backlog; Nvidia's Ali Kani
Volkswagen pushes ahead with factory cuts and job reductions despite a backlog of orders, while ZF hunts for asset buyers as debt mounts. Automotive News’ Urvaksh Karkaria breaks down Mercedes-Benz’s product push. Plus, Nvidia’s Ali Kani talks about the company’s modular automotive approach.
March 22 · 16 min
March 22, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Vinturas CEO on supply chain crisis; IMSA president on racing’s growth
Vinturas CEO Ronald Kleijwegt talks about why supply chain disruption has become structural rather than episodic, and what automotive executives need to do differently. Plus, Automotive News reporter Jack Walsworth concludes his conversation with John Doonan, president of the International Motor Sports Association, about record attendance at the Rolex 24, a groundbreaking NASA partnership, and what’s ahead for sports car racing in North America.
March 21 · 25 min
March 21, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Ford's casting gamble; China's route to U.S. via Canada
Ford is making what CEO Jim Farley calls “the most radical change” to assembly since the Model T, replacing hundreds of parts with giant aluminum castings. Automotive News staff reporters Larry P. Vellequette and Michael Martinez discuss that gamble and more of the week’s biggest stories from the auto industry, including how Chinese automakers could use Canada as a backdoor to the U.S. market.
March 20 · 14 min
March 20, 2026 | Ford bets on giant castings; Service Manager Micah Morton
Ford is planning to replace hundreds of parts with giant aluminum castings on its upcoming electric pickup. New data shows dealership pricing practices the FTC warned about are widespread. Plus, service manager Micah Morton talks about recruiting younger technicians and stepping up service marketing.
March 19 · 25 min
March 19, 2026 | Engineer used $25 AI tool to save $4,200 on car; Iran war threatens Japan’s supplies
Boston software engineer AJ Stuyvenberg describes how he built an AI agent for just $25 that negotiated with dealerships and saved him $4,200 on a Hyundai Palisade. Toyota warns the Iran war threatens Japan’s auto supply chain. Plus, John Doonan, president of the International Motor Sports Association, talks about record attendance and the future of sports car racing.
March 18 · 23 min
March 18, 2026 | NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says AV tech is 'solved'; Nissan's last laugh
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says autonomous driving tech is a “solved problem” and will become a multi-trillion dollar business. Gas prices have jumped 27 percent since the Iran conflict began and used electric vehicle dealers in some markets are suddenly swamped. Plus, Automotive News Asia Editor Hans Greimel discusses his column arguing Nissan gets the last laugh in its failed Honda merger.
March 17 · 17 min
March 17, 2026 | Nissan hops on reverse-import bandwagon; Venturis CEO on supply chain crisis
Nissan will export its Tennessee-built Muranos to Japan, joining other Japanese automakers now doing reverse imports from the U.S. VinFast slashes North Carolina factory plans by 80 percent. Plus, Vinturas CEO Ronald Kleijwegt talks about how the Iran war is disrupting automotive supply chains and what happens next.
March 16 · 19 min
March 16, 2026 | Trump tariffs cost automakers $35B; Bosch’s Mohammad Fatouraie
Tariffs have cost automakers at least $35 billion since 2025, with Toyota hit hardest. China positions itself as the world’s electric vehicle safety cop. Plus, Mohammad Fatouraie of Bosch talks about navigating financial pressures from changing EV projections.
March 15 · 12 min
March 15, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Plug CEO Jimmy Douglas’ 2026 used EV predictions; testing 2026 Dodge Charger in snow
Daily Drive Executive Producer Jake Neher concludes his conversation with Plug CEO Jimmy Douglas about what dealers should expect from the used electric vehicle market in 2026 as 1.1 million leased EVs come back over the next three years. Plus, Automotive News’ Rudy Schork shares his experience testing the 2026 Dodge Charger lineup in real winter conditions in Stowe, Vermont — including how the all-wheel-drive muscle car handles snow and ice.
March 14 · 22 min
March 14, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Automakers pay big to retreat on EVs, but could the market make a comeback?
Honda is scrapping three electric vehicles and booking up to $15.8 billion in losses as the auto industry’s EV restructuring bill approaches $70 billion. But could rising gas prices and a growing used EV market help revive demand? Michael Martinez and Lindsay VanHulle talk about those trends and more.
March 13 · 17 min
March 13, 2026 | EV registrations plunge 41%; Stellantis dealer upbeat on new products
EV registrations dropped 41 percent in January, according to new data from S&P Global Mobility. The auto industry’s EV retreat bill approaches $70 billion. Plus, Blake Helfman of Helfman River Oaks CDJR in Houston talks about Stellantis’ product refresh and how artificial intelligence is improving dealership operations.
March 12 · 19 min
March 12, 2026 | Diesel price spike squeezes North American suppliers; Honda cancels 3 EVs
The Iran conflict is causing diesel price spikes, squeezing supplier margins across North America. Honda cancels three electric vehicles planned for U.S. production, expecting up to $15.8 billion in losses. Plus, new rules from the Department of Motor Vehicles are creating friction at dealerships and threatening auto loan defaults.
March 11 · 19 min
March 11, 2026 | Plug CEO isn’t buying prediction of used EV price meltdown; Ran revives ProMaster City small van
Plug CEO Jimmy Douglas explains why he thinks the used electric vehicle “price meltdown” narrative is wrong. Ram jumps back into the small van segment it abandoned in 2022, betting on a four-billion-dollar opportunity. Plus, Porsche’s new CEO reviews the brand’s product lineup after a turbulent year.
March 10 · 19 min
March 10, 2026 | Edmunds’ Ivan Drury: Negative equity crisis here to stay; Nissan names new CFO
Edmunds’ Ivan Drury explains why the record negative equity problem isn’t going away. Nissan replaces CFO Jeremie Papin with George Leondis as the automaker braces for a massive operating loss. Plus, Infiniti fast-tracks a 600-hp QX80 Red Sport for 2027.
March 9 · 16 min
March 9, 2026 | Mercedes settles UAW union case; Lidar goes mainstream
Mercedes-Benz settles a National Labor Relations Board case over alleged anti-union conduct during 2024 Alabama organizing drive. Fourth-quarter dealership buy-sell activity rises, with Stellantis stores changing hands at the highest rate. Plus, Automotive News reporter Laurence Iliff discusses how lidar technology has evolved from expensive, specialized sensors to mass-market automotive components.
March 8 · 15 min
March 8, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Farewell to the Kia Soul, the quirky hatchback that defied the odds
After 17 years and 1.5 million units sold, Kia is ending production of the Soul, its all-time bestselling vehicle in the U.S. Reporter Richard Truett joins Jake Neher to discuss why the quirky, affordable hatchback earned such devoted fans across all demographics, what went wrong with competitors such as the Scion xB and Honda Element, and whether we’re losing the era of affordable, personality-driven cars as automakers move upmarket.
March 7 · 25 min
March 7, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Iran conflict could spike oil prices; Ford plant’s pivot to energy storage
The Iran conflict threatens global automakers with rising oil prices the real risk. Ford pivots its Kentucky battery plant to energy storage. Hyundai invests $6 billion in robotics and hydrogen. Plus, wealthy shoppers keep auto sales afloat while lower-income buyers struggle with seven-year loans.
March 6 · 21 min
March 6, 2026 | Cox Automotive’s Erin Keating on dealer outlook; Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell leaves Stellantis
Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating says dealers continue to face a cloudy outlook, but there’s reason to be optimistic heading into Spring 2026. Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell has left Stellantis for personal reasons. Plus, new research shows automakers face big risks related to the Iran conflict, especially Asian manufacturers.
March 5 · 23 min
March 5, 2026 | Pinewood.AI CEO on why Apax deal fell apart; buyers stretch loans to 7 years
Pinewood.AI CEO Bill Berman explains why private equity firm Apax Partners backed out of acquiring his company, and it has everything to do with AI disruption fears in the software market. More buyers are stretching auto loans to seven years or longer just to afford record vehicle prices. Plus, the Iran conflict forces automakers to delay Middle East shipments.
March 4 · 25 min
March 4, 2026 | Does Toyota need a sixth U.S. plant?; More VW dealers sue Scout
Automotive News’ Larry P. Vellequette explains why he thinks Toyota may be considering a sixth U.S. assembly plant to build a compact pickup and meet surging demand. Two more Volkswagen dealers are suing to block Scout Motors from direct sales, seeking class-action status. Plus, Hyundai invests $6 billion in robotics and AI in South Korea.

Automotive News Daily Drive

March 23, 2026 | VW cuts capacity despite backlog; Nvidia's Ali Kani

March 22, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Vinturas CEO on supply chain crisis; IMSA president on racing’s growth

March 21, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Ford's casting gamble; China's route to U.S. via Canada

March 20, 2026 | Ford bets on giant castings; Service Manager Micah Morton

March 19, 2026 | Engineer used $25 AI tool to save $4,200 on car; Iran war threatens Japan’s supplies

March 18, 2026 | NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says AV tech is 'solved'; Nissan's last laugh

March 17, 2026 | Nissan hops on reverse-import bandwagon; Venturis CEO on supply chain crisis

March 16, 2026 | Trump tariffs cost automakers $35B; Bosch’s Mohammad Fatouraie

March 15, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Plug CEO Jimmy Douglas’ 2026 used EV predictions; testing 2026 Dodge Charger in snow

March 14, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Automakers pay big to retreat on EVs, but could the market make a comeback?

March 13, 2026 | EV registrations plunge 41%; Stellantis dealer upbeat on new products

March 12, 2026 | Diesel price spike squeezes North American suppliers; Honda cancels 3 EVs

March 11, 2026 | Plug CEO isn’t buying prediction of used EV price meltdown; Ran revives ProMaster City small van

March 10, 2026 | Edmunds’ Ivan Drury: Negative equity crisis here to stay; Nissan names new CFO

March 9, 2026 | Mercedes settles UAW union case; Lidar goes mainstream

March 8, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Farewell to the Kia Soul, the quirky hatchback that defied the odds

March 7, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Iran conflict could spike oil prices; Ford plant’s pivot to energy storage

March 6, 2026 | Cox Automotive’s Erin Keating on dealer outlook; Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell leaves Stellantis

March 5, 2026 | Pinewood.AI CEO on why Apax deal fell apart; buyers stretch loans to 7 years

March 4, 2026 | Does Toyota need a sixth U.S. plant?; More VW dealers sue Scout