Automotive News Daily Drive
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.
Oct. 3, 2026 | Weekend Drive: ‘D-Day’ warning on China and the industry’s hiring freeze pattern
Larry P. Vellequette and Michael Martinez break down the biggest moments from the 50th Automotive News Congress, including a stark warning from top executives on Chinese market access.
Oct. 2, 2026 | Toyota’s September surge; AI and the retail customer journey
Toyota posts a September sales jump while the Detroit 3 struggle in Q3. Volvo scraps its 2026 outlook. Plus, industry leaders discuss who really owns the customer relationship in the age of AI.
Oct. 1, 2026 | CEO Antonio Filosa on Stellantis “reset,” China at AN Congress
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa talks reset, turnaround and China with Publisher KC Crain at the Automotive News Congress in Detroit. Plus, Honda, Hyundai and Kia post September sales gains.
Sept. 30, 2026 | Ford’s Jim Farley talks reinvention, China threat at Automotive News Congress; Hyundai’s $500 million Alabama bet
Ford CEO Jim Farley talks quality, culture and China with Publisher KC Crain at the 50th Automotive News Congress in Detroit. Plus, Hyundai bets big on Alabama hybrids.
Sept. 29, 2026 | Volvo freezes hiring; GM’s Mark Reuss at Automotive News Congress
Volvo freezes white-collar hiring across the globe. Plus, live from Automotive News Congress in Detroit, General Motors President Mark Reuss talks tech, affordability and supplier partnerships with Publisher KC Crain.
Sept. 28, 2026 | Trump rolls back fuel economy rules; hacking the connected car
The Trump administration finalizes a major fuel economy rollback. Dealership buy-sell activity stays hot. Plus, a look at why hackers find the auto industry so easy to target.
Sept. 26, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Honda’s next U.S. plant; VW’s profit warning
Larry P. Vellequette and Michael Martinez break down Honda’s plans for a new U.S. plant, Volkswagen’s slashed profit forecast and why record diesel prices are rattling truck dealers heading into the third quarter.
Sept. 25, 2026 | Honda’s next U.S. plant plans take shape; 120-month auto loans on the rise
Urvaksh Karkaria discusses Honda’s new hybrid plant and its next flagship crossovers. Plus, Bobby Steenbergh of AutoPayPlus breaks down why 100- and even 120-month auto loans are on the rise.
Sept. 24, 2026 | Detroit running out of time to catch up on EVs, says Dale Hall of the International Council on Clean Transportation
Dale Hall of the International Council on Clean Transportation says Detroit is running out of time to compete on EVs. Plus, Honda reportedly eyes Ohio for an up to $2.5 billion assembly plant.
Sept. 23, 2026 | Volvo COO Erik Severinson on aging platforms; Honda eyes supersized Pilot
Volvo COO Erik Severinson explains why the automaker is repowering its oldest platforms instead of chasing new ones. Plus, Urvaksh Karkaria discusses Honda’s plans for a “Pilot XXL” and a new Acura flagship.
Sept. 22, 2026 | Canada’s tariff hit on U.S. car sales; Mercedes warns of German plant closures
Automotive News Canada’s David Kennedy breaks down why U.S.-made vehicle sales in Canada just hit a new low. Plus, Mercedes-Benz warns two German plants could close.
Sept. 21, 2026 | VW slashes profit forecast; HERE Technologies CEO
Volkswagen slashes its profit forecast. Toyota bets big on robots. Plus, HERE Technologies CEO Mike Nefkens explains how incumbent map companies are competing with big-tech upstarts Google and Apple.
Sept. 20, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Stellantis weighs bringing Ram production back to Michigan
A “From the Newsroom” report from Automotive News’ Rudy Schork on why Stellantis is studying a potential move of heavy-duty Ram pickup production from Mexico to Michigan and what’s standing in the way.
Sept. 19, 2026 | Weekend Drive: The V-8 comeback; Stellantis’ Brampton dilemma
Michael Martinez and Greg Layson break down the return of the V-8 at two Detroit automakers, Stellantis losing interest in its idled Brampton plant and Canada’s push toward a new partnership with the European Union.
Sept. 18, 2026 | Fed’s rate hike another hit to affordability; AI models show pedestrian bias
The Fed’s new rate hike further complicates efforts to address the vehicle affordability crisis. Hyundai’s CEO warns Washington about China. Plus, a new study finds self-driving artificial intelligence treats pedestrians unequally.
Sept. 17, 2026 | Stellantis: No business case to keep Brampton plant; Geely’s Zack Zhang
Stellantis says there’s no business case to keep its Brampton plant. The Fed raises interest rates for the first time in three years. Plus, Geely’s Zack Zhang on the E2’s European debut.
Sept. 16, 2026 | GM brings back Apple CarPlay; AN Rising Stars talk AI, EVs and affordability
General Motors brings back CarPlay to gasoline-powered pickups. The Federal Trade Commission releases new guidance on dealer price advertising. Plus, three Automotive News Rising Stars talk about artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Sept. 15, 2026 | Ford freshens F-150 for 2027; Toyota’s Kenta Kon (Part 2)
Ford refreshes the F-150 for 2027 with more V-8 availability and hands-free towing. Stellantis eyes a Ram production shift. Plus, part two of our exclusive interview with Toyota CEO Kenta Kon.
Sept. 14, 2026 | Toyota CEO Kenta Kon’s first international media interview (Part 1)
Toyota CEO Kenta Kon speaks with Automotive News in his first international media interview since taking the helm. Plus, Hyundai delays driver-assist software, Tesla teases the Roadster, and Chinese automakers eye North America.
Sept. 12, 2026 | Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant bet; VW eyes U.S. trucks
Ford counters Washington with a billion-dollar move. Plus, a look at Volkswagen’s truck ambitions and China’s opportunity amid the U.S.-Canada trade war.
Sept. 11, 2026 | Ford bets $1 billion on Kentucky Truck Plant; Bozard Ford’s Ed Roberts
Ford drops a billion dollars on its most profitable plant just days after a broadside from the Trump administration. Plus, Bozard Ford COO Ed Roberts talks about his mobile service success.
Sept. 10, 2026 | Range Rover’s Martin Limpert on EV ambitions; VW restructuring’s massive price tag
Range Rover Global Managing Director Martin Limpert talks about electric ambitions, a new model and the U.S. bespoke push. Plus, Volkswagen puts a staggering number on its overhaul.
Sept. 9, 2026 | Sonatus CEO on AI in the vehicle; Ford pushes back on Duffy’s security claims
Sonatus CEO Jeff Chou talks about the software challenge of fitting artificial intelligence inside today’s vehicles. Plus, Ford fires back after the U.S. Transportation Secretary calls out its CATL and Geely deals.
Sept. 8, 2026 | VW eyes U.S. pickup trucks; KPMG’s Lenny LaRocca on tariffs and adaptation
Volkswagen signals a major U.S. pivot toward pickups and SUVs while German labor pushes back on restructuring. Plus, KPMG’s Lenny LaRocca talks about why the tariff meltdown has not come.
Sept. 5, 2026 | Weekend Drive: VW’s Future Plan 2030; Ford’s quality surge
Volkswagen’s supervisory board has unanimously approved an ambitious restructuring plan but leaves the hardest decisions for later. Meanwhile, Ford plots a quality turnaround.
Sept. 4 2026, | Tesla’s Cybercab launches; the fraud threatening your showroom
Fraud is surging, and dealerships are vulnerable. Volkswagen Group’s restructuring takes a step forward. Plus, Tesla’s Cybercab officially launches, but it has a long way to catch up with Waymo.
Sept. 3, 2026 | Mazda’s Tom Donnelly Part II: “What does Mazda stand for?”
Mazda North America CEO Tom Donnelly on leasing, his 500,000 sales goal and surviving “Liberation Day.” Volkswagen Group gets a new U.S. chief. Plus, a look at Carvana’s threat to traditional dealers.
Sept. 2, 2026 | Mazda North America CEO Tom Donnelly on tariffs, hybrids; Uber slashes workforce
Mazda North America CEO Tom Donnelly talks tariffs and hybrids with Automotive News. Uber cuts 3,300 jobs. Plus, August sales results beat expectations.
Sept. 1, 2026 | Talk from the Top: Toyota’s Ted Ogawa on affordability, incentives and trade
Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America, talks about affordability, incentives and trade. Canada’s China electric vehicle quota resets. Plus, Nissan fast-tracks the Rogue hybrid again.
Aug. 31, 2026 | Unifor ratifies GM deal; how sodium ion batteries could reshape automotive
Unifor ratifies its General Motors Canada deal with 80 percent voting yes. Toyota and Honda face the steepest Canada tariff exposure. Plus, Emerald Battery Labs’ David Bell details sodium ion’s potential.
Aug. 30, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Mini borrows from sneaker culture; dealership techs hit the rally stage
Mini is borrowing from sneaker culture with limited-edition Icon Drops. Plus, the brand is sending dealership technicians to work pit service at rally events nationwide.
Aug. 29, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Trade war of nerves puts industry in a vice
The UAW and Honda both push back on the escalating U.S.-Canada trade war. Plus, Jeep heads back to China, and Lincoln revives the Corsair.
Aug. 28, 2026 | UAW: Tone it down, U.S. and Canada; how F&I fraud is evolving
The UAW wants the U.S. and Canada to stop escalating the trade war. Volkswagen may bypass its own board on restructuring. Plus, Informativ’s Teresa Bordenet talks about the rising threat of auto loan fraud.
Aug. 27, 2026 | APMA’s Flavio Volpe on trade war: ‘What the F are we doing?’
President Donald Trump doubles down on 50 percent Canada tariffs. China orders a massive electric vehicle recall. Plus, Flavio Volpe of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association on what the trade war is doing to the auto supply chain.
Aug. 26, 2026 | Honda: USMCA breakdown could mean no new plant; AlixPartners’ Soumya Sen Part 2
Honda says a new U.S. plant hinges on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Hyundai makes its biggest product bet yet. Plus, AlixPartners’ Soumya Sen on why the software-defined vehicle race is an execution problem.
Aug. 25. 2026 | Canada fires back on tariffs; AlixPartners’ Soumya Sen on Ford-Apple Maps
Canada retaliates with 50 percent countertariffs on U.S. goods. Jeep returns production to China. Plus, AlixPartners’ Soumya Sen on what Ford’s Apple Maps deal means for the software-defined vehicle race.
Aug. 24, 2026 | U.S.-Canada trade talks collapse; Trump threatens 50% auto tariffs
U.S.-Canada trade talks collapse and President Donald Trump escalates. Unifor and General Motors reach a deal in Ontario. Plus, the Mitsubishi Pajero is back.
Aug. 23, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Can Nissan turn incentive spending into lasting market share gains?
Nissan is spending big on incentives while the rest of the industry pulls back. On this bonus episode, Larry P. Vellequette and Michael Martinez break down whether that bet can stick and what Nissan needs to do next to make it count.
Aug. 22, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Ford's Bronco pickup, 4-door Mustang plans; Carvana's new-car premium
Ford plans a product blitz with a Bronco pickup, a four-door Mustang and a luxury off-roader for Lincoln. Plus, Carvana is charging thousands more for new cars than local competitors, and customers are paying it.
Aug. 21, 2026 | Nissan scraps U.S. bank plan; inside mobile service at a Chevy dealership
Nissan drops its plan to form an industrial bank. General Motors is selling its stake in a $3.5 billion Indiana battery plant. Plus, a Michigan Chevy service manager explains what mobile service actually looks like on the ground.