Automotive News Daily Drive

Mark Templin, Toyota Motor North America COO, talks about how the automaker is navigating rising tariff costs and global unrest. Sony and Honda cancel their Afeela electric vehicles. Plus, what dealers need to know about how workers’ social media posts could violate FTC advertising rules.

A new wave of startups is betting that artificial intelligence can replace third-party vehicle listings sites entirely, saving money for dealers and customers alike. Amazon’s Zoox is bringing its robotaxis to Austin and Miami while expanding coverage in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Plus, Toyota invests $1 billion in Kentucky and Indiana plants for electric vehicle production. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.