Automotive News Daily Drive

Automotive News reporter John Irwin walks through the biggest trends in this year’s top suppliers list, from the rise of Chinese suppliers to a North American supply chain just trying to get through 2025. A 7.1-magnitude earthquake disrupts Toyota and Nissan production in Japan. Plus, NHTSA moves to overhaul car door rules after deadly Tesla incidents.

Honda is eyeing a lifted Accord hatchback to take on the Subaru Outback, potentially launching in 2029. America’s Car-Mart warns it may not survive without new financing. And Andrew Garberson of Recurrent explains why used electric vehicle prices keep climbing even as off-lease supply surges.

Ford and Chinese automaker Geely have formed a joint venture to produce new electrified vehicles from both brands at Ford’s factory in Valencia, Spain.

Honda has its sights set on a new North American factory. President Donald Trump has ordered 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian goods. Plus, General Motors is raising its guidance for the second time this year after profits jumped in the second quarter. Michael Martinez and Larry Vellequette break it all down on this edition of Weekend Drive.

Lexus ranked highest among dealers in the National Automobile Dealers Association’s winter Dealer Attitude Survey. Volkswagen has cut back on its 2026 revenue forecast as U.S. tariffs and competition with China tighten the operating margin, and Porsche’s new production boss has big decisions to make around the future of electric vehicle production. Plus, Todd Lawrence and Jim Pernas from Subaru join the show to talk about maintaining a loyalty loop with customers and incorporating artificial intelligence in the service department. 

Lexus unveils the future of electrification in its product plans, balancing a slower approach to electric vehicles along with the return of an iconic nameplate. A Nissan dealership’s general manager faces backlash for retaliating against a negative review, and two dealership groups are combating fraud allegations from the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program. Plus, a social media expert explains why dealerships should ditch inventory-dump TikTok videos and embrace the influencer era. 

Toyota doubles down on its multipath electrification strategy with new electric vehicles and next-generation hybrids. Penske Corp. and Mitsui make a $3.8 billion bid to take Penske Automotive Group private. And American Honda reshuffles its top sales leadership. Plus, an automotive mentor who’s using the power of social media to help dealerships sell more vehicles and connect with today’s car buyers.

General Motors raised its guidance for the second time this year as North American profits jumped 43 percent from a year ago, even though net income has fallen in the second quarter with more electric vehicle write-downs. Finance and insurance managers are concerned about the number of customers with negative equity, and Canada’s counter tariffs are costing the U.S. $5 billion in vehicle exports. Plus, Automotive News Reporter Mark Hollmer discusses how dealers are adding TikTok to their arsenal of social media marketing.

The Department of Justice is investigating UAW President Shawn Fain for alleged favoritism toward his fiancée, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe is considering an eighth North American plant, and General Motors is trying to differentiate their new Chevrolet and GMC designs. Plus, McKinsey analysts discuss the firm’s 2026 mobility survey and the steady rise of electric vehicle adoption.

Toyota's Koji Sato wants parts standardization among Japanese automakers to combat China. UAW President Shawn Fain is under investigation by the Department of Justice. Plus, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume outlines up to 50,000 job cuts to hit savings goals. Michael Martinez and Larry Vellequette break it all down on this edition of Weekend Drive.

Subaru’s Todd Lawrence and Jim Pernas talk service department challenges. Honda will discontinue the electric Prologue next year. Foxconn postpones the U.S. release of a midsize EV crossover due to tariffs. Plus, tough competition in China derailed Volvo’s sales in the first half of the year.

Mazda’s Jennifer Morrison talks about the benefits of driver-monitoring cameras. The Chinese auto market is fast and furious, with around 650 new or refreshed cars in the first half of the year. Tesla is now China’s No. 6 exporter. Plus, Chevrolet’s Silverado 1500 light-duty pickup is getting a sweeping makeover.

Infiniti’s Eric Ledieu talks about the launch of the QX65. Top officials from the U.S. and Mexico will meet in Mexico City next week to likely discuss automotive rules of origin and tariff rates. General Motors is betting on a diverse lineup for the next five years. Plus, Volvo weighs a return to midsize vehicles with a pair of electric vehicles. 

Peter Sigal, news editor of Automotive News Europe, talks about Volkswagen’s tough decisions in order to regain profitability. Electric vehicle range anxiety decreased due to bigger batteries, but affordability remains a concern for buyers. Plus, Toyota’s Koji Sato looks to standardize commodity components among Japan’s seven automakers. 

Aseem Kapur, chief revenue officer of General Motors, talks the future of bidirectional charging and the country’s unprecedented demand on the grid. Automotive industry confidence is strong despite tariff and affordability concerns. Plus, Stellantis’ global shipments grew in the second quarter. 

Larry Vellequette and Michael Martinez break down Toyota’s $3.6 billion San Antonio expansion and what it signals for U.S. manufacturing strategy. Plus, the auto market has held up better than expected through the first half, but headwinds are building.

Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating pushes back on the conventional wisdom that new cars are unaffordable and makes the case for why fixed operations may be the most underutilized profit engine at dealerships right now. Volkswagen Group is planning to slash its 150-model lineup by up to half. Plus, a look at why the Infiniti QX65 might be the brand’s most important model in 2026.

Kjell Bergh, CEO of Borton Volvo in Minnesota, argues the Trump administration’s decision to bar Polestar from U.S. sales starting in 2027 raises questions the industry hasn’t fully reckoned with. U.S. inventories hold steady. Plus, Automotive News Canada’s Greg Layson talks about what the U.S. declining to renew the USMCA long term actually means for the industry.

A few months into his auto retail journey, NASCAR champion Joey Logano discusses the complexity of the business, the customization angle he’s leaning into, and what he says a dealership should feel like. Ram rescues Stellantis’ U.S. sales streak. Plus, Washington state dealers sue Scout Motors over its direct-to-consumer model.

Toyota’s board approved a $3.6 billion expansion of its San Antonio truck plant, nearly doubling its size and moving most Tacoma production back to the U.S. by 2030. A Chinese EV brand makes its first move in North America through Stellantis. Plus, Teradar CEO Matthew Carey talks about how his company’s new sensor type could change what’s possible for autonomy in bad weather.

Tesla just filled a gap in its lineup with a longer, three-row Model Y. The number of car buyers signing up for 84-month loans is now at a record share. Plus, Sonatus CMO John Heinlein explains where the transition to software-defined vehicles really stands and how automakers can use vehicle data to get ahead of recalls before they happen.

Michael Martinez and Larry P. Vellequette join Jake Neher for a special holiday “Weekend Drive.” Honda’s CR-V just knocked the F-150 off the top of the sales charts for the first half of 2026, and new-vehicle prices just hit a record high. Then Mike and Larry go head to head with their picks for the biggest auto industry story of the first half of 2026.

Honda’s CR-V dethrones the F-150 as America’s best-selling vehicle through the first half of 2026. Nissan’s CEO pushes back on Renault alliance fracture talk. Plus, SBD Automotive’s Alex Oyler joins Daily Drive to explain why the DRAM chip shortage is hitting the auto industry especially hard and why Tier 1 suppliers may be bearing the most pain.

BMW of North America CEO Sebastian Mackensen joins Daily Drive from Spartanburg, S.C., to talk about the redesigned X5 and why he’s aiming for a fourth consecutive U.S. retail sales record. New-vehicle prices hit a record high. Plus, General Motors rolls out a first-of-its-kind automation scorecard for its suppliers.

JD Power’s Tyson Jominy makes the case that the auto industry is more profitable today selling fewer vehicles than it was at its peak and why the biggest threat is the temptation to forget that lesson. USMCA review talks officially get underway Wednesday. Plus, Jeep maps out a China-assisted comeback in Europe.

Texas is quietly closing in on California as the country’s largest auto market. America’s publicly traded dealer groups are going all-in on artificial intelligence, and smaller rivals are starting to feel the pressure. Plus, Qualcomm’s Nakul Duggal explains why he believes the company is on track to become the auto industry’s top silicon supplier.

Kearney partner Kushal Fernandes breaks down which industries are best — and worst — positioned to survive the DRAM memory chip shortage, why the auto industry lands in a surprising middle ground and what structural advantages electric vehicle makers have over traditional automakers when it comes to securing supply.

Automotive News journalists Larry Vellequette and Michael Martinez discuss the past week’s biggest stories, including the state of the auto market at the halfway point of 2026, analyst John Murphy’s warning about a product pipeline slowdown, Polestar dealers reacting to the U.S. ban and how Ford pulled off one of the biggest initial quality turnarounds in recent memory.

Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jeremy Robb joins Daily Drive to break down the state of the auto market at the halfway point of 2026. A new report says the industry’s redesign rate has fallen to roughly half its normal pace, and the window to grab market share is now. Plus, Automotive News’ Urvaksh Karkaria talks about what Polestar dealers are saying now that the brand is blocked from the U.S. market.

The Trump administration forces Polestar out of the U.S. market, starting with the 2027 model year. Ford pulls off a stunning quality comeback, at least for one metric. Plus, Automotive News Asia Editor Hans Greimel breaks down the discontent at Nissan’s annual shareholder meeting — from a no-confidence vote against the CEO to a motion to reinstate Carlos Ghosn.

Honda plans to revive the Element as a hybrid crossover, targeting nearly 100,000 sales in its first full year. An industry group says California could see vehicle sales halt as soon as next week. Plus, Kearney partner Kushal Fernandes explains why the DRAM chip shortage hitting automakers isn’t a typical boom-and-bust cycle — and why relief is still years away.

Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella makes his case for the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement as a competitiveness platform — not just a trade deal — in the face of China’s growing automotive dominance. Nissan’s CEO survives a bruising shareholder meeting. Plus, a DRAM chip shortage is squeezing automakers.

Unifor and Ford kick off contract talks in Toronto today, the first of three negotiations with the Detroit 3 automakers this summer. Toyota’s RAV4 finds a new home in Kentucky. Plus, TomTom’s Senior Vice President Manuela Locarno Ajayi explains how artificial intelligence is delivering real-time, lane-level mapping and why it matters for the future of autonomous driving. 

UAW President Shawn Fain heads into a fall election facing five challengers and a federal monitor’s scrutiny. Toyota’s all-hybrid RAV4 is flying off lots faster than dealers can stock them. And Mike Stanton, CEO of the National Automobile Dealers Association, calls Carvana “part of the family.” Michael Martinez and Larry Vellequette break it all down on this edition of Weekend Drive.

Reporter Paige Hodder previews Automotive News’ upcoming list of the top 100 U.S. dealership groups ranked by F&I revenue. Attorneys Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso of Troutman Pepper Locke break down the Federal Trade Commission’s warning letters to 97 dealerships and what comes next. Plus, General Motors’ Oshawa plant is set to lose the light-duty Silverado. 

NADA CEO Mike Stanton joins Automotive News from the sidelines of the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Ypsilanti, Mich., to discuss the durability of the franchise system — whether it’s Chinese brands, direct-sales models such as Scout, or Carvana’s new-car push. Ram sets its sights on dethroning Jeep by 2030. Plus, Volkswagen’s CEO faces a shareholder revolt.

Mitsubishi previews a wave of new models for U.S. dealers. Chevrolet pulls the wraps off a redesigned Silverado 1500. Plus, AlixPartners Global Automotive Market Lead Mark Wakefield joins Automotive News from the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars to discuss how China is redefining the artificial intelligence-powered vehicle and what a renegotiated USMCA could mean for North America’s competitiveness.

Camouflaged prototypes of Ford’s $30,000 electric pickup are turning heads in California: Automotive News’ Michael Martinez breaks down what the footage tells us about Ford’s EV ambitions. A peace deal with Iran may be in the works, but don’t expect relief at the service counter anytime soon. Plus, RC Lacy Ford-Subaru Business Manager Nicole Lacy talks finance and insurance trends from the dealership floor.

U.S. electric vehicle registrations are showing signs of stabilization, but the recovery is uneven. The Dauch strike is officially over. Plus, Factorial Energy CEO Siyu Huang explains how geopolitical tensions are complicating the path to market.

Porsche rolled out three custom 911s themed after Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie for the red carpet premiere of Toy Story 5. Automotive News Staff Reporter Jack Walsworth joins Executive Producer Jake Neher to break down how the Porsche-Pixar relationship started, what went into building the cars and what it means for Porsche’s brand and bespoke business.

The UAW and Dauch Corp. reach a tentative deal after a 10-day strike that threatened General Motors’ most profitable trucks, and our panel breaks down what’s in it. Japan’s automakers are absorbing a historic tariff hit. Plus, Ford hopes orphaned Escape and Edge buyers are willing to step up to the Explorer.

An Automotive News analysis finds Japan’s automakers have absorbed $28 billion in combined costs from tariffs, electric vehicle write-downs and policy reversals — with more pain ahead. Two major auto suppliers are merging. Plus, Ducker Carlisle analyst Nate Chenenko breaks down data showing dealerships have been steadily losing service business to quick lubes and independent shops since 2022.

The UAW and Dauch Corp. have a tentative deal, likely ending a 10-day strike that threatened General Motors’ most profitable trucks. Volvo’s top U.S. manufacturing chief is out just months before the launch of its best-selling model on American soil. Plus, Automotive News Atlanta Bureau Chief Urvaksh Karkaria breaks down Honda’s strategy to take market share from Toyota with a heavily refreshed Accord and a more rugged Passport.

Swamy Kotagiri, CEO of Magna International, says uncertainty is the single biggest challenge complicating manufacturing decisions right now. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for Ford’s aluminum supply problem. Plus, General Motors is pivoting its battery business toward the electrical grid as artificial intelligence data centers strain power supply.

Edmunds Head of Insights Jessica Caldwell breaks down why auto sales are holding steady even as inflation hits a three-year high and consumer confidence slides. A major Jeep recall raises fresh questions about Stellantis’ quality trajectory. Plus, Honda’s CEO survives a revolt by retired executives.

Honda is refreshing the Accord and Passport, and American Honda’s product planning chief says customers will feel like they’re seeing new models. Auto executives met with President Donald Trump to discuss the right-to-repair bill. Plus, Chargenomics CEO Loren McDonald breaks down why the F-150 Lightning, Silverado electric vehicle and Cybertruck all underperformed.

The USMCA renegotiation has some players that aren’t at the table and a bridge that isn’t open yet. A panel of North American auto industry experts digs into how Chinese parts in the supply chain could reshape the new deal, whether the Gordie Howe Bridge is being used as a bargaining chip and where automotive tariffs realistically land if zero-tariff trade doesn’t survive the review.

The UAW’s strike against Dauch Corp. threatens General Motors’ best-selling pickups. The Trump administration floats a trade carve-out for the auto industry ahead of the USMCA review starting next month. Plus, Ford launches a premium Bronco with outdoor brand Filson, and the panel weighs in on what it could mean for Lincoln.

Auto loan delinquencies are ticking up and PayNearMe’s Steve Kramer says lenders are leaving money on the table by ignoring a strategy that e-commerce has used for years. Volkswagen could expand its Golf lineup in the U.S. if tariffs cooperate. Plus, Canada’s largest auto workers union is heading into contract talks with a message for the Detroit Three: don’t even think about concessions.

A new white paper warns that tariffs and renegotiations of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement could gut the supply of affordable vehicles in the U.S. A new study finds dealerships flagged by the Federal Trade Commission had twice the customer complaints about bait-and-switch behavior than the industry overall. Plus, Dutch chipmaker Nexperia is coming to the U.S. amid a messy ownership battle.