Auto Ethnographer with John Stech

What does it feel like to return home for a visit after years of living abroad? In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, John Jörn Stech prepares to board a plane back to the United States — his home country — and discovers something unexpected: he is approaching the trip the way he would approach a country he has never visited before. With research, anticipation, and a degree of hesitation he did not expect to feel."Returning home is not that simple, comfortable event that everyone around you expects it to be. It's one of the more quietly demanding experiences in the life of a global professional. And almost nobody talks about it."Drawing on the W-curve model of intercultural adjustment (Gullahorn & Gullahorn, 1963), this episode explores reverse culture shock — why coming home can be as disorienting as moving abroad, and why almost nobody prepares for it. When your mental image of home freezes at the moment you leave, and you spend years absorbing a different cultural logic, you return not as the person who left — but as someone genuinely changed."You're not bringing your old self back to an unchanged place. You're bringing a changed self back to a changed place. And the collision of those two changes is what creates reverse culture shock."Three anticipations shape this episode: the physical scale of the United States after years in Bangkok, the warmth and openness of American social interaction seen through recalibrated eyes, and the challenge of stepping back into a country in the middle of a deeply public conversation about its own values — without falling into nostalgia or reflexive rejection."The stereotypes that are the most difficult to resist are not the ones about unfamiliar cultures. They are the ones about the culture that formed you — the ones you carry without even knowing that you are carrying them."John Jörn Stech also shares the deeply personal dimensions of this homecoming: attending the New Orleans Jazz Festival for the first time, celebrating his daughter's graduation from medical school, and visiting his son and future daughter-in-law in their first home together.The Auto Ethnographer will pause for 2 to 3 weeks. New episodes return in the second half of May.🎓 Ready to make the move abroad? Your Ticket Abroad — the complete guide for global professionals: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course🌐 The Auto Ethnographer: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/🔗 Connect with the Auto Ethnographer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer🔗 Connect with John Jörn Stech on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stech-drive-electric/

Fifty episodes in, and the conversation that matters most is still the simplest one: people are not their governments. Nations are not monoliths.Thank you to every guest who shared their story, every listener who kept showing up, and to my wife, Bernie, whose support made this channel possible from the very beginning.Episode 50 of The Auto Ethnographer returns to the idea that drives everything here. In a media environment that routinely collapses entire cultures into headlines and soundbites, it is worth slowing down to ask what we lose when we do that. We lose individual human beings. We lose nuance. And we lose the kind of truth that genuine cross-cultural understanding depends on.Through two personal stories, including a candid exchange with a Russian friend named Oleg and a sidewalk dinner with a Vietnamese family in Hanoi, this episode examines the psychology behind cultural stereotyping, the role media and physical distance play in flattening human complexity, and the universal human values that connect people across borders, regardless of the governments that claim to represent them.Most expats and global professionals already sense this. When you sit at someone's kitchen table in a foreign country, politics fades quickly. What remains is shared humanity: parents who want their children to thrive, elders who want peace, young people who want opportunity. These are not Western values. They are not tied to any religion, ideology, or passport. They are human values.This episode is for expats living and working abroad, third culture kids, global professionals, and anyone who believes that lived cross-cultural experience reveals truths that headlines simply cannot. If intercultural communication, cultural intelligence, and understanding the world beyond your own borders matter to you, this conversation belongs on your list.Governments act. People live. The more we hold onto that distinction, the harder it becomes to hate, and the easier it becomes to hope.🌐 The Auto Ethnographer homepage: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/✈️ Your Ticket Abroad — Moving Overseas Course: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course💼 The Auto Ethnographer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

What if the cultural frameworks your organization relies on are actually reinforcing the very stereotypes they were designed to eliminate? In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jerome Dumetz, cross-cultural management expert and author of 199 Cross Cultural Case Studies, we explore why real-life case studies offer something no theoretical model can: the full, messy, human context of intercultural work.Dr. Dumetz makes a bold argument. Widely used models such as Hofstede, Trompenaars, and the Lewis Triangle, while historically significant, risk generating stereotypes when applied without context. His answer is a carefully curated collection of 199 one-page, real-world case studies documenting cultural misunderstandings, adaptation moments, and professional breakthroughs from around the globe. Developed in collaboration with Fons Trompenaars and Craig Storti, the book bridges academic intercultural theory with the lived experience of expats and global professionals.One of the most thought-provoking ideas in this episode is the concept of multiple cultural identities. Your nationality, what Dumetz calls your "passport culture," is just one layer of who you are professionally. Where you studied, which industry you entered, and the department where your career began can shape your professional worldview far more deeply than the country on your ID. For expats, international managers, and cross-cultural trainers, this reframing changes how intercultural work gets done.We also explore the growing role of AI in cross-cultural management. Dumetz acknowledges AI's usefulness in translation and language support, but raises critical questions about the cultural bias embedded in AI models and their inability to replicate the nuanced, questioning mindset that genuine intercultural competence requires.His most memorable advice for anyone stepping into a new cultural environment? Slow down. Pause before reacting. And instead of asking "What should I do?", turn to the people around you and ask: "What would you do?" This small shift in framing opens the door to genuine cultural learning and more authentic integration abroad.Whether you are an expat navigating life in a new country, a manager leading a cross-cultural team, or an HR specialist building intercultural training programs, this conversation offers both intellectual depth and practical, grounded insight.🔗 Connect with Dr. Jerome Dumetz:🌐 Website: JEROME DUMETZ WEBSITE📚 Get the Book, 199 Cross Cultural Case Studies: LINK TO AMAZON US BOOKSTORE  (Also available on other Amazon international sites)▶️ YouTube:  JEROME DUMETZ YOUTUBE CHANNEL💼 LinkedIn:  JEROME DUMETZ LINKEDIN PROFILE📩 Free Case Study Excerpt (comment on his LinkedIn post): LINK TO LINKEDIN POSTLearn more about the Auto Ethnographer:  https://www.auto-ethnographer.comWant to move abroad but the process seems to imposing? Visit the Auto Ethnographer's Your Ticket Abroad on-line course. The course offers 28 videos and a 54-page checklist guide for tacking the challenge of moving abroad, whether alone, with a partner, or with an entire family. Visit the course page here: Course: "Your Ticket Abroad" — The Auto Ethnographer

Have you ever moved to a new country, convinced you'd adapted perfectly — only to discover the cultural gap was hiding in plain sight? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, The Auto Ethnographer sits down with Dr. Jerome Dumetz, one of the world's most respected voices in intercultural management and cross-cultural communication.A self-described "consulting professor," Jerome Dumetz has spent decades bridging the gap between academic theory and the real-world management challenges faced by international professionals. As Vice Rector for International Affairs at a leading Czech university, and having lectured at approximately 25 universities across Europe, Russia, North America, and Asia, he brings rare front-line insight into what it truly means to work, lead, and live across cultures.🔑 IN THIS EPISODE (Part 1): What it means to be a "consulting professor" — blending academic rigor with hands-on corporate consulting Why cultural adaptation comes down to two factors: individual cultural competence and the cultural gap between your home and host country The dangerous "Illusion of Blending In" — why moving to a similar culture can produce greater culture shock than relocating somewhere radically different The "elephant in the room full of mice" — how senior expat executives are often shielded from authentic cultural friction by their position and status Why many cross-cultural trainers are still using models from the 1980s — and why that's a problem for today's global professionals False cognates and cross-cultural miscommunication: real-world examples from French, Spanish, German, and Russian contexts Dr. Dumetz's own expat journey: France → Netherlands → USA → Canada → Russia📚 CONNECT WITH DR. JEROME DUMETZ:Post a comment on Jerome’s LinkedIn post and receive a FREE copy of sample cases: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7442114253852921856/🌐 Website: www.crossculturalstudies.org📖 His book on Amazon US (also available in other Amazon country sites): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPDJCKXJ🌐 LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-dumetz/🌐 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jdumetz-consultingprofessor🎙️ ABOUT THE AUTO ETHNOGRAPHER: The Auto Ethnographer explores the human stories of expats and global professionals navigating life and work across cultures. From boardrooms to back alleys, these conversations uncover universally applicable lessons that span borders, oceans, and cultures. Whether you're planning your first move abroad or you're a seasoned global citizen, there's something here for you.Learn more about how to move overseas by taking the Your Ticket Abroad class by the Auto Ethnographer. More information can be found here:  Course: "Your Ticket Abroad" — The Auto Ethnographer🔔 Subscribe and don't miss Part 2 of this conversation with Dr. Jerome Dumetz — coming soon!

🌍 Your first impression of a new country isn't just incomplete — it might be completely wrong.In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Jörn Stech breaks down the 6 powerful psychological dynamics that distort your early perceptions when you move abroad — and why most expats don't realize it's happening until they've already made costly misinterpretations.Moving overseas is one of the most transformative decisions you'll ever make. But those first few weeks? Your brain is misleading you. The thrill of a new city, the warmth of strangers, the beauty of everything unfamiliar — all of it is filtered through a cultural lens you didn't even know you were wearing. What feels like clarity is often bias in disguise.Whether you're planning a move abroad, already living the expat life, or fascinated by cross-cultural psychology and intercultural communication, this episode will change how you read your early experiences in any foreign country.🔍 6 DYNAMICS THAT DISTORT YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS ABROAD✔️ The Honeymoon Phase — Why everything feels like paradise at first, and why that's the danger✔️ Cultural Filters — How your home country's values color everything you observe in a new culture✔️ Surface vs. Deep Culture — Why expat life only exposes the tip of the cultural iceberg✔️ The Outlier Problem — Why one encounter does not represent an entire nation or its people✔️ The Hidden "Why" — The cultural values behind behaviors that seem offensive or strange✔️ Self-Fulfilling Prophecies — How a first impression hardens into a belief that blocks real connection🌐 REAL EXAMPLES FROM 5 COUNTRIES🇷🇺 Russia: Why serious faces don't mean unfriendly people🇹🇭 Thailand: The hidden social pressure beneath the famous Thai smile🇺🇸 United States: Why American friendliness confuses the world🇩🇪 Germany: How blunt feedback is actually a sign of deep respect🇪🇬 Egypt: Why "chaotic" streets are rooted in hospitality and human connection📚 RESOURCES🎓 Your Ticket Abroad Course — Visas, logistics, housing, AND how to decode cultural behavior so you can build a meaningful, sustainable life overseas from day one: 👉 https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course🌐 The Auto Ethnographer — Homepage: 👉 https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364📌 New episodes every week on expat psychology, cultural intelligence, and the reality of building a life abroad. Subscribe so you never miss one.#ExpatLife #MovingAbroad #CultureShock #LivingOverseas #CrossCulturalPsychology #FirstImpressions #ExpatTips #MoveOverseas #CulturalDifferences #AutoEthnographer #InterculturalCommunication #ExpatCommunity #RelocationTips #CulturalIntelligence #CultureShockRecovery

Melissa Rodway left Toronto at 35 for a months-long backpacking trip across Southeast Asia — and came home a different person. Fifteen years later, those raw, unfiltered emails she sent from the road became her travel memoir, The People You Meet. In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Jörn Stech sits down with Melissa to unpack the life-changing friendships, cultural shocks, and hard-won lessons from her journey through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China.Melissa didn't plan to write a book. For over a decade, those emails sat untouched — a time capsule from her younger self. It took a series of personal losses, including the passing of her mother, to push her to finally turn those vivid travel memories into something lasting. The result is a deeply personal memoir that captures the beauty of temporary friendships formed on the road, the kind of connections that burn bright and then disappear, yet somehow stay with you forever.In this conversation, Melissa opens up about the tension between being a travel observer and a true participant. She explores the ethical dilemmas of animal tourism in Thailand, the discomfort of photographing strangers, and what it felt like to become "the human zoo" as a foreigner in rural China — where entire villages had never seen a Western face. She shares a moving story about a family in Battambang, Cambodia, who invited her into their home for a meal despite having almost nothing, and how that moment of radical generosity reshaped her understanding of privilege back in Canada.We also dive into the lasting emotional impact of visiting Cambodia's Killing Fields, and how confronting the history of the Khmer Rouge gave Melissa a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the Cambodian people. From a spontaneous dinner with strangers in Hanoi to navigating a Chinese queueing cultre with nothing but hand gestures, this episode is packed with the kind of unscripted human moments that no guidebook can prepare you for.Melissa's advice for travelers of any age: slow down, say hello, and let go of the itinerary. The best experiences abroad don't come from ticking off landmarks — they come from the people you meet along the way.Whether you're an expat navigating life in a foreign country, a backpacker planning your first solo trip, or simply someone who craves stories about cross-cultural connection and living abroad — this episode will inspire you to travel with more purpose, more curiosity, and more kindness.📖 Get Melissa's Book — The People You Meet: https://www.amazon.ca/People-You-Meet-Interesting-Characters/dp/106904430X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1S1BKT0SGLCI8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TlZrHy0V02MWPGcybuwtIZ36r168mkudXDX-0BnO-PY.RMq3iGOHHwk_fUKjKAbvOpOHqcoGuXa_ytyCwKSY9wE&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+people+you+meet+melissa+rodway&qid=1751586775&sprefix=the+people+you+meet%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1🌐 Learn More About Melissa Rodway: https://flyrodway.com/2025/07/03/travel-memoir-the-people-you-meet/🎓 Ready to Move Abroad? Take the Course: Your Ticket Abroad — The Complete Expat Video Course https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course🎙️ More from The Auto Ethnographer: https://www.auto-ethnographer.comSubscribe now! 

Are you dreaming of living abroad but feel completely overwhelmed by where to start? Whether you are trying to figure out exactly how to move abroad or you are desperately searching for the ultimate  moving abroad checklist , we have some incredibly exciting news for you!Welcome to the official launch of "Your Ticket Abroad" – the ultimate, comprehensive online course designed to turn your dream of an expat life into reality! ✈️🌍👉 ENROLL IN "YOUR TICKET ABROAD" HERE: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-courseFor over a year on The Auto Ethnographer, we have shared the fascinating, human stories of people who have decided to work abroad as an expat in a foreign land. But the number one question we consistently get from our viewers is: "How do I actually do it?"That is exactly why John Jörn Stech has poured his extensive international experience into creating this extensive course. Relocating overseas is a massive challenge, but John has structured his universal lessons learned into a simple, actionable blueprint.📚 WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COURSE? "Your Ticket Abroad" is a complete A-Z guide for anyone ready to make the leap. It includes: ✅ 28 In-Depth Video Modules: Step-by-step guidance covering everything from your initial decision-making process to the complex logistics of international relocation. ✅The Ultimate 54-Page Checklist Guide: You will never have to guess what comes next. This massive guide covers all the vital moving abroad tips you need so nothing falls through the cracks!🎯 WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?• Anyone moving abroad for the first time who wants to avoid costly beginner mistakes.• Professionals wondering how to move abroad from the us or moving abroad from america to advance their careers.• Adventurers looking to move to europe or anywhere else across the globe!• Individuals asking themselves, "Is moving abroad worth it?" and needing help making that final decision.• Future expats figuring out how to move abroad with family, or those bravely  moving abroad alone .• Young explorers moving abroad in your 20s, or those looking to comfortably retire abroad .🌟 COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:1️⃣ Decision Making: How to mentally prepare for the transition and ensure a life abroad is truly the right path for you.2️⃣ Logistics & Planning: From visa requirements to packing up your life, we provide the ultimate living abroad tips to streamline your journey.3️⃣ Cultural Adaptation: Learn how to overcome culture shock, navigate the intersection of culture and business, and thrive outside of your home culture.If you enjoy a good moving abroad vlog but are ready to stop watching and start doing, this course is your first step.Don't let the fear of the unknown hold you back from the greatest adventure of your life. Click the link above to grab "Your Ticket Abroad" today and let John Jörn Stech guide you across borders and oceans!🔔 Enjoying The Auto Ethnographer? If you love learning about global cultures and the realities of living overseas, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel for more interviews, stories, and essential living abroad tips!Learn more about the Auto Ethnographer channel at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/

Learning a new language is one of the most humbling, hilarious, and deeply human experiences we can have. In this light‑hearted episode, I explore the universal journey from sounding like a broken GPS to finally communicating like an actual human being.I start with my own early bilingual beginnings, from growing up speaking German before moving to the United States and absorbing English on playgrounds and in classrooms. From there, we jump to Moscow, where I spent years learning Russian the only way my budget allowed: a 99‑lesson CD course played on repeat while stuck in legendary two‑hour traffic jams. If you’ve ever practiced foreign phrases alone in your car while other drivers stare, this one’s for you.Fast‑forward to today, where I’m living in Thailand and wrestling with the five tones of the Thai language. One wrong tone and you can accidentally insult someone, order the wrong dish, or simply confuse everyone within earshot. It’s a full return to the “robot phase,” and I’m embracing it.Along the way, we talk about why learning one language makes the next easier, how accents are actually beautiful, and why mistakes are not just inevitable — they’re essential. Every mispronunciation, every awkward pause, every accidental insult is a step toward connection.This episode is a reminder that everyone who speaks YOUR language with an accent is exactly how YOU sound in theirs. And that’s not something to be embarrassed about — it’s something to celebrate.Be sure to visit the Auto Ethnographer's homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comAnd follow on social media...FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

In this episode, host John Jörn Stech explores how contracts reveal the deeper cultural logic behind global business. Drawing on real experiences from the United States, Germany, Russia, China, Brazil, and Egypt, it uncovers how written agreements reflect national attitudes toward trust, risk, negotiation, and long‑term partnership. Whether you work in international business, cross‑cultural management, global mobility, or multinational leadership, this conversation offers a vivid look at why contracts are never as universal as they appear.You’ll hear stories from automotive industry negotiations, dealer agreements, joint ventures, and high‑stakes cross‑border partnerships. These examples highlight how contract interpretation shifts dramatically across cultures: from system‑trust environments like the U.S. and Germany to relationship‑trust cultures such as China, Brazil, and Russia, and finally to hybrid bureaucratic‑relational systems like Egypt. The episode breaks down how legal frameworks, institutional reliability, and interpersonal networks shape everything from timelines to renegotiations.Listeners will gain insight into why American contracts emphasize legal protection, why German agreements prioritize precision, why Russian and Chinese negotiations rely heavily on relationships, and why Brazilian and Egyptian business cultures blend formal documentation with human connection. These contrasts illuminate the hidden cultural DNA behind global contracting, compliance, and business communication.If you’re navigating international deals, leading multicultural teams, or preparing for global expansion, this episode offers practical context for understanding how different societies view obligations, flexibility, and the written word. It’s a guide to avoiding misunderstandings, strengthening partnerships, and reading the cultural signals embedded in every clause and signature.By the end, you’ll see contracts not just as legal documents but as cultural artifacts that reveal how people build trust, manage uncertainty, and define professional integrity across borders. This is essential listening for anyone working in global strategy, international negotiations, or cross‑cultural leadership.To learn more about the Auto Ethnographer, be sure to visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

Welcome to the first episode of the new year — and the beginning of a major new chapter for The Auto Ethnographer. In this episode, host John Stech shares the story behind his five international relocations, the overwhelm that nearly stopped him, and the lessons that shaped his new mission: helping you turn your dream of living overseas into a real, actionable plan.For years, listeners have written in with the same struggle: “I want to move abroad… but I’m completely overwhelmed.” Today, John lifts the curtain on the solution he’s been building behind the scenes, and which will be available in the coming weeks.In This Episode- John’s first international move to Cairo: the excitement, the fear, and the avalanche of logistics that nearly derailed everything- The universal mental roadblocks that stop people from pursuing life abroad- Why the channel is expanding beyond automotive culture into deeper, broader conversations about global living- A preview of upcoming guests, including a renowned culture trainer and author- The reveal of John’s biggest project yet: a comprehensive 29‑video relocation course designed to guide you from “someday” to “I’m ready”- A breakdown of the course modules, covering mindset, country selection, visas, finances, logistics, settling in, community‑building, and more- How this new direction will bring more depth, more variety, and more practical value to every episodeWhy This Episode MattersIf you’ve ever dreamed of living overseas but felt paralyzed by the complexity (visas, money, logistics, culture shock, loneliness), this episode is your turning point. John shares the systems he built over five relocations and explains how they’ve evolved into a complete roadmap for anyone ready to make a bold change.What’s Coming NextThe channel’s expanded focus begins now, with richer cultural insights, more diverse guests, and content tailored to a wider range of careers and global paths. The relocation course launches soon, just in time for those ready to turn a New Year’s resolution into a real plan.Join the ConversationComment with the one country you’re dreaming of — let’s build a community of people ready to take action, support each other, and make global living a shared reality.Thanks for being part of this journey. This year, we stop saying “someday.”Let’s get started.Homepage:  https://www.auto-ethnographer.comFB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQ

Living as an #expat outside of your home culture is the ultimate challenge. In this 2025 year-end special, I’ve distilled the most powerful insights from 41 episodes of The Auto Ethnographer into one essential guide.Join me as I revisit the most impactful moments from every featured guest this year—professionals who have navigated the complexities of the automotive industry and beyond in foreign lands. Whether you are facing early culture shock , looking to improve your cross cultural management skills, or simply curious about the reality of working abroad, these stories prove that the lessons learned are universally applicable.From the excitement of the "honeymoon phase" to the hard realities of cultural adaptation, this video compiles the real human stories behind the job titles.In this video, we cover:• Real-world advice: Practical tips for surviving the transition to a new country.• Professional growth: How to handle cross-cultural communication in the workplace.• The Human Side: Honest reflections from unique guests on what it truly means to live as an expat, work with expats, and to be a global citizen.Resources & Links:• Subscribe for more expat stories: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQConnect with The Auto Ethnographer:  https://www.auto-ethnographer.comFB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQ#ExpatLife #CulturalAdaptation #WorkingAbroad #CrossCulturalManagement #2025Recap #AutomotiveIndustry #CultureShock

What happens when a single career stretches across continents, cultures, and some of the most storied automotive brands on earth? In this episode of Auto Ethnographer, we dive into the remarkable global journey of Toscan Bennett, a man whose life has been shaped by movement, adaptation, and an uncanny ability to bridge worlds that rarely understand one another.Host John Stech welcomes Toscan for a wide‑ranging conversation that begins with his unusual upbringing as a third‑culture kid born in Vietnam, raised across Asia and Latin America, and eventually thrust into a career that would take him deep inside the automotive industry’s most complex cultural intersections. Toscan’s story is not just about cars, it’s about identity, belonging, and the unique fluency that comes from never fully fitting into one place.Across the episode, Toscan walks us through his extraordinary professional arc, spanning 11 automotive brands and multiple continents. In this conversation alone, he reflects on his time with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Volvo, Ceer, and VinFast—each one offering a different lens into how global companies think, operate, and sometimes collide. From Italian passion to Japanese humility, from German precision to Vietnamese speed, Toscan reveals how culture shapes products, decisions, and the very rhythm of corporate life.Listeners will hear vivid stories of American engineers experiencing European roads for the first time, the chaos and brilliance of cross‑cultural product development teams, and the surprising realities of working inside Swedish consensus culture. Toscan also shares candid insights into the limits of centralized thinking—especially when headquarters assumes the world looks just like home—and the moments when only firsthand experience can break through corporate assumptions.As promised during the episode, John and Toscan also acknowledge the three brands they didn’t get to—Lotus Motorcars, Opel, and Vauxhall—a reminder of just how expansive Toscan’s career has been. Even with an hour of conversation, there simply wasn’t enough time to cover all eleven.Whether you’re fascinated by global business, automotive history, or the human side of cross‑cultural leadership, this episode offers a rare inside look at what it truly means to build a career across borders. Toscan Bennett’s journey is a lesson in adaptability, curiosity, and the power of seeing the world through more than one lens.You can learn more about The Auto Ethnographer at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comYou can also follow on social media:FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

Do Thai citizens love cars? And what attracts them to different brands? Those are the questions that John Jörn Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, set out to answer at a large motorshow in Bangkok, Thailand.This week the 42nd Thailand International Motor Expo is bringing car fans and curious consumers from around the country to the IMPACT Challenger show hall. A wide range of brands hail from Europe, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and increasingly, from China.John speaks with representatives from eight different brands – European, Japanese, American, and Chinese – to understand what attracts their customers to their brands. These are Volvo, Toyota, Audi, BMW, Chery, Ford, Great Wall Motors, and Zeekr. Listeners may be surprised what the brands think the consumers find attractive.John speaks with Auteneo founder, Krzysztof Tokarz, about his company’s foray into social listening. This involves using AI-driven tools that “listen” to thousands of social media conversations about the automotive industry and specific brands. Using this social listening technology, automakers can learn what consumers are saying about their products and address the concerns, either tactically or with strategic product changes. To learn more about Autoneo’s capabilities, visit their website at https://www.auteneo.comand be sure to follow them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/auteneo.John also speaks about the increasing number of Chinese competitors in the market, with special focus on Changan’s luxury Avatr brand, whose show stand is directly adjacent to Mercedes-Benz. Is this a threat to the vaunted German luxury brand?Auto shows are exciting, full of energy, and able to answer questions for inquisitive consumers. There is no doubt that Thailand’s show is in its prime and set to grow each year with new brands entering the market.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit our website at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com.You can also follow on social media:FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

Alexandra Strassburger joins John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer podcast, with a story that transcends borders, industries, and expectations. Her 11 years living and working in China as a German citizen shaped not only her worldview but also her leadership style, family life, and strategic contributions to one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. In this episode, Alexandra shares how deep cultural immersion—from language learning to Chinese cooking clubs—became the foundation for both personal growth and professional innovation.Currently Head of IT for Global Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, Alexandra leads diverse teams across Stuttgart and beyond in shaping the future of digitized, standardized automotive sales. Her career at Mercedes-Benz spans over two decades, with pivotal roles in sales, marketing, R&D, and strategy. But it’s her intercultural fluency—honed through years of on-the-ground experience in China—that sets her apart as a global leader.On the personal side, Alexandra recounts how her early exposure to Chinese culture began at age five, when her father hosted Chinese business partners at their family home. Later, she and her husband made the bold decision to raise their children in a fully local Chinese environment, complete with traditional medicine, Mandarin-speaking caregivers, and dumpling-filled Chinese New Year celebrations. “If you ask me where my home is,” she says, “it’s in Chaoyang, Beilu in Beijing.”Professionally, Alexandra’s time in China was transformative. She helped establish product management in Beijing, built the China Insights division, and led teams through the complexities of a rapidly evolving market. Her leadership journey began with a steep learning curve - “I was very German and very controlling,” she admits - but evolved into a hybrid approach that blended German thoroughness with Chinese pragmatism. “That was the magic key,” she reflects.The episode also explores how Alexandra’s return to Germany revealed a more international and diverse workplace than the one she had left. She brought back a new mindset - one that values closeness with team members and embraces cultural overlap. “All the fears I brought from Germany were completely useless,” she says. “I could just avoid them and learned a lot. I grew a lot there.”Whether you’re curious about cross-cultural leadership, global mobility, or the human side of automotive strategy, this conversation offers rich insights and heartfelt reflections. As Alexandra puts it, “We didn’t just live in China—we became part of it.”To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com . Also follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page:  https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer podcast, host John Stech welcomes back Chinese culture trend forecaster and brand strategist Grace Mou for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation. Fresh from her first-ever trip to Europe - visiting France and Italy - Grace shares her candid impressions of Western culture, technology, and branding through the eyes of a Chinese professional immersed in global consumer trends.What she discovered surprised her. “I never expected that Europe is living in the past while China is living in the future,” Grace reflects. From the absence of mobile payment systems to the analog pace of daily life, she found herself transported not forward, but backward in time. Yet rather than dismissing the slower rhythm, she came to admire it. “Europeans don’t live on their smartphones. They can have more time to enjoy their life.”The conversation dives into the rituals of Italian coffee culture, the emotional resonance of European branding, and the contrast between Shanghai’s innovation-driven consumerism and Europe’s reverence for tradition. “In China, we obsess over usefulness. But in Europe, beauty and heritage come first,” Grace explains. Her insights challenge assumptions about progress and offer a nuanced view of what it means to live and nurture brands well.As a branding strategist, Grace found herself rethinking the very foundations of value. “Sometimes, the useless is the most powerful,” she says, pointing to the rise of emotional economy brands like PopMart in China. Her reflections suggest a cultural shift on the horizon, one where aesthetics, storytelling, and emotional connection may begin to rival functionality in Chinese consumer expectations.Grace also touches on sustainability, noting Europe’s embrace of the circular economy through vintage shops and secondhand fashion. “In China, people jump to the newest things. But in Europe, they appreciate what has already lived,” she observes. This reverence for the past, she argues, could offer valuable lessons for China’s fast-moving consumer culture.To accompany this episode, Grace has published two Substack essays: one exploring Milan’s coffee culture compared to Shanghai’s, and another on discovering authentic French cuisine outside Paris. Tune in for a rich, cross-cultural dialogue that will leave you rethinking technology, branding, and the art of living. You can find those here on Grace’s Substack page: https://substack.com/@trendculturebrand. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss her weekly insightful articles on brand and culture trends.You can learn more about The Auto Ethnographer on the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comYou can also follow onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer#chinaculture #chinarising #eastmeetswest #milano #paris #coffeeculture #focaccia #progress

In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Stech explores the cultural and diplomatic shockwaves following a U.S. immigration raid at a Korean-run EV battery plant in Georgia. Nearly 500 Korean nationals - engineers, technicians, and students - were detained despite holding valid visas. The raid triggered not only legal action but also a deep rupture in trust between South Korea and the United States.John examines the human toll, the Korean cultural concept of chemyeon (face), and how public humiliation abroad reverberates through Korean society. He connects the incident to South Korea’s escape from an authoritarian past and highlights how the raid was framed as a moral and diplomatic crisis. With Korean firms reevaluating U.S. investments and a class-action lawsuit now underway, this episode asks: What happens when dignity is violated in a global business partnership?This is not just a story about immigration enforcement—it’s about cultural diplomacy, strategic clarity, and the fragile nature of trust between allies. Tune in for a sobering look at how global mobility intersects culture and politics, and why symbolic repair may be the only path forward.Subscribe, rate, and share The Auto Ethnographer wherever you listen.Visit https://auto-ethnographer.com  for more insights and updates.Follow us onInstagramFacebookLinkedIn

Today’s episode is a bit of a back-to-school episode. Until now you have heard truly insightful stories from automotive executives that have navigated different cultures. Today we break out the chalkboard and try to fit a simple, yet complex, framework around those conversations. That framework was developed by Geert Hofstede.Let’s have a short introduction to Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions. Based on research that he conducted in the 1970’s, Hofstede constructed six cultural dimensions by which different countries or cultures could be compared on a relative basis. These help to create context and understanding for differences that one could see or feel but not really explain.The six dimensions are the Individualism vs. Collectivism Dimension, the Power Distance Dimension, the Uncertainty Avoidance Dimension, the Masculinity vs. Femininity Dimension, the Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation, and the Indulgence vs. Restraint Dimension. The names already hint at what each may be about.Host John Stech provides a brief tour of Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions. He provides short examples from his automotive career for each dimension, helping to understand each. As a German immigrant to the United States, he had always felt a bit out of sync with peers. The “ah-ha” moment came when he first read Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. The light bulb came on.This is just a short introduction to Hofstede’s work. Volumes have been written about it and other works are based on it. For more information, it is recommended to visit the website. There you can find the maps visible in the video version of this podcast. You can also find other resources, such as a tool where you can pick several countries and see how they line up on the six dimensions. This can be fascinating if you have a specific culture in mind. You can find these at https://www.geerthofstede.com .For more information about The Auto Ethnographer, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com.You can also follow on social media.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

The news media are continuously reporting on the declining fortunes of foreign automakers in China. But what are the manufacturers doing to turn that story around? In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Jörn Stech takes a look into Volkswagen’s efforts to stem the decline and fuel a future rise.Despite decades in China as one of the first automakers, and a commanding market share for most of those years, the market has shifted and Volkswagen has been struggling. The massive shift into EVs in the Chinese market seemed perfectly matched to VW’s own aspirations as an EV-focused brand. But something went wrong.Volkswagen’s cars seemed to miss the mark with consumer tastes in terms of styling, electronics and digital functionality, and price. Pushed back on its heels, VW is now working to close the gap. They have formed several partnerships with local Chinese companies, such as Xpeng Motors and Contemporary Amperex Technologies Limited (CATL).As important as the partnerships is the adaptation to working with the Chinese culture and adapting its strengths in rapid automotive development.The Auto Ethnographer explores the situation, the solutions, and the direction that things are taking for Volkswagen. The jury is still out on the long term but the results of deep cultural changes and ways of working seem to be bearing fruit.For more information on The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comBe sure to follow on social media as well for more frequent updates and “Unusual cars in unusual places”, featured on Instagram and LinkedIn.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographerSee also the related site of Shiftgate Consulting LLC, the consulting arm of The Auto Ethnographer at https://www.shiftgate.consulting#volkswagen #vw #chinarising #expatliving #cultureshock

Two weeks ago John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, traveled from Bangkok to the Philippines to visit his wife’s family. Together with them, we traveled from Manila to the center of Luzon and then to La Union on the northwest corner of the island. There was much to see but one thing was a constant: the hard working Jeepney. This episode focuses on that Filipino icon.Jeepney’s are unique to the Philippines. They originated from the Willys military Jeep, thousands of which were left behind by the United States Army at the end of World War 2. These vehicles were modified by lengthening their wheelbase, adding long benches in the bed, covering the seating with a roof, and then customizing them by the owner.The result is the wildly colorful Jeepney, a rolling mural, a cultural icon on Filipino roads. Each is unique in style, in color, and in expression. Emblazoned with the owner’s name over the windshield, and the route and destination under the windshield, riders know immediately which Jeepney to take.Passengers are wide-ranging from students to office workers to laborers, and even tourists. Whether passengers sit inside, or stand on the rear bumper platform, there is always space for one more. Luggage? On the roof. These versatile vehicles get everyone and everything where they need to go.The Auto Ethnographer shares what he saw, his impressions, and what he learned about the humble, yet mighty, Jeepney during his five days on the island.The Auto Ethnographer features a daily post of Unusual Cars in Unusual Places on the podcast’s Instagram and Facebook. Links below.https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364For further information on the Auto Ethnographer, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comAlso follow on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographerKeep on driving!#jeepney #philippines #cultureshock #expatlife #workabroad #jeep

In Part 3 of a 4-part series, Grace Mou, Chinese trend forecaster and brand strategist, explains why Chinese consumers are flocking to Chinese automotive brands, especially electric vehicles. Together with Auto Ethnographer host, John Stech, she discusses consumer mindset.Chinese consumers compare styling, technology, price, and features to arrive at a purchase decision. Grace clarifies what does and does not drive their decision-making process.She explains her own experience with a family member’s Changan Avatr 11 EV, a car which was purchased to replace previous Fords that the family owned. Her impressions mirror those of many other Chinese consumers.Grace also addresses vehicle charging, its availability and the advancements of technology towards charging speed. All factors point towards ever greater EV adoption in China where sales already exceed 50% share.As fast as the Chinese automotive and EV brands are rising, Grace identifies one soft spot. The relentless investment in technology, engineering, and in the current price war in China has diverted budget and attention from brand building. How will this impact these brands in their home market and abroad? Grace addresses this topic.You can read Grace Mou’s weekly blog with further Chinese culture and branding insights here https://www.grace-creativity.com/blog.You can also follow Grace Mou on Substack at https://substack.com/@trendculturebrandTo learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comYou can also follow on Instagram or Facebook for a daily “Unusual Cars in Unusual Places” post. For Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/For Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364

In Part 2 of a 4-part series, Grace Mou, Chinese trend forecaster and brand strategist, explains how China has emerged from its past of copycatting foreign goods and brands, and is now rapidly advancing its own innovation. Together with Auto Ethnographer host, John Stech, she discusses the so-called soft power of Chinese brands and the increase in their global export.Grace explores the rise of the Labubu brand under PopMart, saying clearly that it is not a toy company but an intellectual property (IP) company. The nine-toothed creatures have taken over collectors’ hearts around the world thanks to sightings of many celebrities sporting them on their backpacks and handbags.Next, she shines light on the internationally popular vertical dramas. These short 5-6 minute videos are part of a 50-60 part series watched on the phone in portrait position, hence the “vertical drama” name. Developed during the pandemic period as a form of advertisement, they quickly developed into an entertainment medium of their own.Lastly, we cover the “instant commerce war”, a name given to Chinese hyper-advanced on-line shopping where convenience is the master. A consumer sees something, clicks, and thirty minutes later there is a knock on the door by the delivery person. This convenience does bring a danger of overspending, something that budget-wary Chinese consumers must keep in mind.These are just three examples where China’s innovation is leading the world and is driving demand beyond its borders. This thirty-minute episode scratches the surface of this development but promises to open eyes about the speed and direction of innovation.You can read Grace Mou’s weekly blog with further culture insights here https://www.grace-creativity.com/blog.You can also follow Grace Mou on Substack at https://substack.com/@trendculturebrandTo learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comYou can also follow on Instagram or Facebook for a daily “Unusual Cars in Unusual Places” post. For Instagram click here.For Facebook click here. 

Grace Mou joins host John Stech on this week’s Auto Ethnographer Podcast for the first of a four-part series on the Chinese market, marketing, branding, and trend forecasting. She helps to unravel the current consumer sentiment in China, the world’s largest consumer market.With a background in marketing and branding as a strategist and researcher, Grace Mou has honed her forecasting skills to determine which trends lie ahead in the Chinese consumer market. Currently working as an independent brand strategy consultant, she has worked at several marketing and branding agencies including Dongdao Brand Design & Consulting, Yang Design, Cowan, Kantar Millward Brown, and Agility Research & Strategy.In this episode we address the following: Which sectors of goods will prevail? Are consumers prepared to pay for quality goods? Will future market develop remain in mega-cities or transition to rural China? These are questions that Grace studies and she shares her thoughts on today’s episode.She explains the current hesitancy of consumers to spend money, favoring instead to save their earnings during uncertain times. Grace also identifies a trend of consumers shifting preference to services and experiences, as opposed to physical goods. Travel is currently a hot ticket item for the consumer.Grace also explains the “religion of money” which she compares to being “money gene” in Chinese consumers. There is a focus on wealth and prosperity, something which has helped fuel the rapid rise of the Chinese consumer economy over the past twenty years.But something is different now. Grace dives into these topics and more during the conversation.You can read Grace Mou’s weekly blog with further culture insights here https://www.grace-creativity.com/blog.You can also follow Grace Mou on Substack at https://substack.com/@trendculturebrandTo learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comFollow on Instagram for a daily dose of unusual cars in unusual places at https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/

Philipp Schiemer is equally comfortable leading a dealer meeting at Mercedes-Benz Brasil or driving a cutting-edge performance car around the track at Mercedes-AMG. And it’s no wonder because he has been CEO of both companies.This week’s Auto Ethnographer podcast, with host John Stech, features Philipp Schiemer, a highly adaptable German automotive executive. Philipp spent a combined twenty years in Brazil over the course of three separate work assignments, the final 7-year stint as CEO of Mercedes-Benz Brasil.With a base in the Spanish language, Philipp quickly mastered Portuguese, a skill that would allow him to connect to employees and business partners alike. Beyond the language, Philipp understood the nuances of the Brazilian culture – taking decisions, negotiations, time culture, and the importance of selecting a futbol team!Over the course of his three assignments in Brazil, he faced numerous challenges from economic turbulence to the carveout of Chrysler from the DaimlerChrysler organization to the implementation of strict compliance rules (driven by Sarbanes-Oxley) on a continent that was known for questionable adherence to corruption rules. Each challenge brought learnings.The final pinnacle of Philipp’s career, prior to recent retirement, was to sit at the helm of the legendary Mercedes-AMG GmbH. This vaunted producer of high-performance cars for road and track demanded a fast-moving, decisive, and flexible leader. His experience in Brazil had trained Philipp well for this role and he excelled in the role despite starting the job at the peak of Covid shutdowns.Join us today in the discussion and learn some insights on what it takes to lead in Brazil and what it means to lead one of the most aspired-to automotive brands in the world.For additional information on The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.Auto-ethnographer.comFollow the channel on Youtube here. Get your daily dose of unusual cars in unusual places on Instagram or Facebook. 

Tim Bravo, Director of Communications at Automobili Lamborghini, joins John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, to discuss how his mixed German-Spanish heritage boosted his career opportunities. Tim has worked with an enviable list of automotive brands from SEAT to Porsche to Bugatti and, ultimately, to Lamborghini.He was born in Germany but he moved with his family to Barcelona at an early age. Although his father is of Spanish descent, Spanish was not spoken in the household. Tim took things into his own hands and learned both Spanish and Catalan on the streets of Barcelona through his friends even as he attended a German school.Sixteen years after having returned to Germany to finish his primary school education and university, fate brought him back to Barcelona. A fortuitous connection to the SEAT Communications Department led to a job offer and several years working with the iconic Spanish brand owned by the Volkswagen Group.Fate took another twist that brought Tim to Porsche’s communications group in the brand’s Stuttgart home. But soon thereafter, the company leveraged Tim’s communications expertise and language skills in Porsche Cars Latin America, based in Miami. From here he would manage brand communications across South and Central America plus the Caribbean.Still in the Volkswagen Group’s orbit, Tim’s next stop was in France with the super-premium Bugatti brand which then led directly to Sant’ Agata, Italy and his current role with Lamborghini.Through all of this Tim approached life with humility and authenticity, never diverging from his own upbringing and persona. He views life and fate in a clear, open-eyed manner, always knowing that curveballs will be thrown. And he is ready for them.In this podcast Tim shares the story of his upbringing in two countries, his heritage, his career, and his approach to life lived in cultures not his own. It is informative and deeply inspiring.To learn more about the Auto Ethnographer and for links to all podcast platforms, follow the link to the homepage. https://www.auto-ethnographer.comCheck out our Instagram here. Check out our YouTube Channel here. 

Six Months. 27 Episodes. Listeners from 38 Countries.The Auto Ethnographer podcast is officially six months old and what a global journey it’s been.From Mercedes-Benz to McLaren, Toyota to VinFast, our guests have shared stories from Mexico to Malaysia, Sweden to Saudi Arabia, exploring how culture shapes the way we move, market, and make meaning.We’ve featured voices from inside Porsche, Volvo, Aston Martin, Land Rover, and more with each one revealing what it’s like to work across borders, brands, and belief systems.And we’re just getting started. Coming soon: Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and a deep dive into Chinese branding and cultural trends.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads for daily snapshots of unusual cars in unusual places.🎧 Listen. Reflect. Drive differently. But keep on driving!Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

On this week’s episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Stech speaks with Jess Bala, Managing Director of General Motors Australia & New Zealand. The native Australian speaks about her experiences working for GM in both Australia and at the company’s headquarters in Detroit, half a world away.Jess is currently launching the Cadillac brand as an EV-only brand Down Under. And she is uniquely qualified to do this. She has 13 years of product planning experience with GM, starting with the Australian Holden brand and ending as Director of Cadillac Product Planning & Product Marketing in Detroit prior to her return to Australia. She truly knows the brand, the product, and its targeted consumers.Rounding out her product planning experience, Jess also served as Chief of Staff in GM CEO Mary Barra’s office. Here she learned global lessons about the company and the auto industry as a whole, lessons she would take back and leverage in her current role as Australia & New Zealand’s Managing Director.She shares some keen insights on Australians and Americans, their similarities and differences. Though fairly similar, not only in language, there are key differences that set them apart.Learn more about the Auto Ethnographer podcast at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comFollow on Instagram for a daily dose of unusual vehicles spotted in unusual places – the intersection of cars and culture.  https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/

Raise your hand if you have ever gone through the visa process for either travel or moving abroad. Then you know how it feels to fill in endless forms, sit in soul-draining beige waiting rooms, wait for your number to be called, and finally, finally receive your visa. This week the Auto Ethnographer does a humorous take on the visa process. Hopefully you chuckle, because the other option is crying.John Stech, host of the Auto Ethnographer summarizes his experiences into a humorous account of visa obtainment based on experience in Egypt, Russia, Brazil, Thailand, and many others.As diverse as countries and cultures are, it seems that visa agents worldwide conspired to align themselves and make a bureaucratic slog of it across the planet.Here’s a 10 minute summary. Perhaps you will learn something. Perhaps you will laugh. Or perhaps you will put your head back in your hands while you listen to this in a consular office.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer podcast you can visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comFollow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364

Time. Most of us would argue that we do not have enough of it. We want more. Yet every culture uses available time in a completely different way.This week, John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, speaks about the meaning of time across different cultures. He looks at the “time is money” philosophy of the Americans, the “punctuality is a virtue” culture of northern Europe, the “espresso culture” of southern Europe, the “mañana means maybe” culture of Latin America, and dives into a comparison of “zen versus zoom” when comparing the time cultures of Southeast and East Asian countries. He also looks at the Russian time culture, often held captive by the endless flow of stopped traffic in Moscow.John blends personal insights from his work and living experiences together with some humor to portray how each culture uses and prioritizes its time.He ultimately concludes that it boils down to prioritizing four points: efficiency, relationships, harmony, or spontaneity. Each culture will be identified by which of these it chooses to pursue as Priority #1. And how we must understand and appreciate that others will see time in a different way as we.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comYou can also follow on Instagram and Facebook:FB page:   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364IG page:   https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/

John Stech draws on his experience working with Germans, Swedes, Thais, Americans, and Vietnamese to examine the summer holiday sun culture of each.Every culture has a different attitude towards taking vacation. Stay connected or completely disconnect? One week or six? Sit in the sun or stay in the shade? John will take a humorous approach to the Thai, German, American, Vietnamese, and Swedish attitudes to taking it easy.In a fun twist, John hosts a “parade”, an examination of summertime stereotypes just to find humor in how each spend their summertime in the sun (or out of it). With stereotypes having a kernel of truth to them, this is a lighthearted look at the summer vacationer.Whether you listen to this on a beach, in the sun, under an umbrella, or in the cool sanctuary of an air-conditioned shopping mall, The Auto Ethnographer wishes you a wonderful summer and restful days.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer podcast, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

This week on The Auto Ethnographer podcast, host John Stech ruminates on the homecoming phase for expats. You may think the hardest part of a foreign assignment is moving overseas and getting to learn a new culture and new language. John argues that the most challenging part is coming back to your home country.John lived overseas with his family for eight years, starting when his children were quite young. By the time they returned home, the children barely remembered having lived in the United States. John relives some of his adventures in Egypt and Russia, setting the stage for examining the difficulties of settling back into his home culture.While living overseas with family you are immersed in learning, in challenge, in adaptation. You have to learn about a new culture which is all around you in your host country if you want to have a well-rounded overseas experience. Every day brings learnings, challenges, and adventures.In the meantime, back in your home country, in your hometown, life goes on like normal. People have adapted to you being gone. And they continue their lives with focus on their everyday activities.Once the overseas assignment or living concludes and you pack your belongings and head home, you may be surprised at the indifference that people display towards the wonderful adventures you’ve just had. You’ve also adjusted to living in a different culture that may then require readjustment to living back home.This episode examines those feelings and emotions. John also shares how his family coped with the return to the United States and what they did to remain connected in some way with their international experience.If you find the conversation riveting, and perhaps even a bit reminiscent of what you have gone through, please leave your comments on the homepage at www.auto-ethnographer.comIf you give permission to The Auto Ethnographer to talk about your feedback, using only First Name and Country, on a future podcast, your feedback will be included in a future conversation.Or leave your comments on the YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQ

This episode tackles ageism a growing issue across the globe. Along with two distinguished human resources experts, Auto Ethnographer host John Stech takes on the topic of age discrimination in the context of the American and Vietnamese cultures.Discussing that today are Tamica Sears, The Corporate Fixer and Founder of Sears Coaching, a human resources consulting agency. She has built her vast experience working with Fortune 500 companies including Raytheon and Gannett, among others. Tamica is also the author of management book, How to tell if you’re an A**hole Boss. Learn more about the book here: https://a.co/d/93hOqnUJoining Tamica is Kelvin Nguyen, an experienced corporate recruiter, member of VinGroup’s (Vietnam’s largest private company) talent team, and Co-Founder of Pharaon, a premier lifestyle management service that helps high-performing individuals and executives reclaim their time and enhance their day-to-day lives.We start the conversation by defining what ageism means within each nation’s culture. Thanks to Hollywood, the fashion industry, and social media, American culture has an obsession with youth. Stereotypes lead to considering grey-haired people as dinosaurs and of less value in the workplace. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, a combination of Buddhist and Confucian influences combine to place veneration on age and experience.But mindsets are changing rapidly as technology evolves. In America the situation is rapidly becoming more ominous for workers of age. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, long-held cultural values are under pressure from fast-evolving technology.Tamica, Kelvin, and John explore these mindsets, the current situation in each nation, and future expectations in a 45-minute conversation.You can learn more about Tamica Sears and Sears Consulting at http://www.thecorporatefixers.com/You can learn more about Kelvin Nguyen’s Pharaon at https://pharaon.vnFollow The Auto Ethnographer’s homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

This China-focused episode was born when pulling on the red thread connecting four prior episodes with elements of that nation’s automotive rise. This time, host John Stech stitches together the story of China’s rise in the automotive industry from the humble beginning to the current achievement of largest automotive market and biggest net exporter of cars using the words of experts that have worked there. .Drawing on insights previously shared by Dr. Susanne Lehmann (Volkswagen Malaysia), Dr. Helmut Grösser (Mercedes-Benz), Benny Oeyen (Automobility, previously GM Shanghai), and Gianfranco Pizzuto, CEO Automobili Estrema, the individual elements of their stories were woven together into a flowing tale.It begins with an auto industry that was in an infant stage, starved for manufacturing, logistics, and technology knowledge. It follows through to explore how traditional automakers were forced to adapt their products for Chinese consumers. The tale takes a twist when the alarm was sounded a decade ago that the Chinese automakers would eventually rise up as a threat.The episode also examines the culture in China and what makes it so able to learn and move quickly in adaptation. Finally, there is a word of advice shared by one of the experts, Gianfranco Pizzuto, one which may surprise some.There is no question about the rise of China in the automotive industry. This podcast episode just scratches the surface on the many issues and factors that led to this point. However, it is a great starting point to continue learning about the greatest competitor the automotive industry has faced to date.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer please visit the website at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comDr. Susanne Lehmann. Volkswagen Malaysia  https://www.volkswagen.com.my/Dr. Helmut Grösser. Mercedes Benz AG   https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/Benny Oeyen. Automobility Ltd.  https://automobility.io/Gianfranco Pizzuto. Automobili Estrema  https://fulminea.com/

This week’s guest on The Auto Ethnographer Podcast is Adi Bathla, CEO and Co-Founder of Revv, a company that merges car repair with artificial intelligence. Together with host John Stech they trace Adi’s origin story from humble beginnings in India to the current success of an entrepreneur recognized on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.Born and raised in Northern India Adi excelled in school and harbored an intense curiosity that led him to learn at a speed outpacing other students his age. He eventually participated in an American NASA space tech competition, which he and his team ended up winning.The NASA competition victory connected Adi to Brown University which offered him a spot in its student body. Young, straight off the plane from India with a one-way ticket, Adi plugged into the university community and beyond. He created and built software solutions for various organizations while simultaneously studying for his degree.On graduating, Adi worked in a series of high-growth start-ups putting him in close proximity to visionary CEOs and other leaders. We one foot rooted in his humble origins and the other planted in raw ambition, Adi soaked in all the learnings he could, both from successes and failures.But it was only when he visited his extended family’s automotive workshop business that inspiration truly struck. What he found was a business built on paper and workflows that contained a lot of walking around with that paper. The lightbulb ignited and Adi had a vision for digitizing an old-school business, bringing it up to the most modern standard. He visited many other workshops to understand the pain points and problems then set off developing the basis of what would become Revv.Revv offers an AI product which allows independent workshops, those that often fix many different brands, to repair even the most complex new vehicles, bristling with sensors and cameras, in an effective and safe way. Revv developed a system that served up repair information, calibration settings, and manufacturer instructions for hundreds of car models. What used to take days, weeks, or even months, or was simply overlooked, was now at the fingertips of small workshops. Even the smallest shop could now repair and recalibrate the Automated Driver Assistance System (ADAS) sensors that are found on 94% of vehicles on American roads.Throughout this journey, Adi kept his cultural heritage derived from his parental upbringing “on the passenger seat”. He never let go of the cultural guidance instilled in him and leverages the wise words his parents said to him while working with the diverse Revv team.This episode traces that story and uncovers the culture that made Adi Bathla, how he leveraged it while pursuing his passions, and where it will continue to take him.If you are interested in learning more about Revv and its AI products, please visit https://www.revvhq.comTo learn more about The Auto Ethnographer Podcast, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

Last week the Auto Ethnographer, John Jörn Stech, attended the 10th International Electric Vehicle Technology Conference & Exhibition combined with MobilityTech Asia 2025. The conference happened to be aligned in the same week that the American Houses of Congress passed legislation that effectively killed public funding and support for electric vehicles and renewable energy initiatives. The stark contrast between Thailand’s push on the accelerator and America’s stomp on the brake pedal are in focus today.But the lens through which the topic will be dressed is not so much political as it is society and culture. The Thai and American cultures are extremely different. While Thailand is rooted deeply in Buddhism, and to a lesser degree Confucianism, which promotes a communal approach to addressing societal problems, American culture is individualistic, “everyone out for themselves”.The Auto Ethnographer takes a look into Buddhism’s teachings and how they apply to renewable energy, electric vehicles, and the daunting task of combatting climate change. How do Thais employ those teachings to live a more harmonious communal life in Thai society?Meanwhile, in the United States, individualism rules the day on electric vehicle adoption, the shift towards renewable energy, and on climate change, a topic that stirs debate on its very existence to this day.John also discusses how past victories against pollution in the USA have rendered relatively clean air and water in the current day. This is in stark comparison to the 1960s and 1970s when environmental regulation was just getting started. With the air “looking” clean and carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming being invisible, it is easy to fall into the trap that there is no problem. Can’t see it? No problem then.Contrast that to Thailand which continues to struggle with urban air and water quality. The problem is literally visible. So while Thais unite to conquer the pollution particulates, the PM 2.5 matter, they can simultaneously fight carbon dioxide through use of cleaner vehicles and energy production.The iEVTech 2025 conference & exhibition was the impetus for this comparison. It was a show highlighted by two dozen speakers and dozens of international companies highlighting their EV, solar, energy storage, and related products. China, South Korea, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, and other nations were represented in technology clusters. The United States was absent, a point not missed by the Auto Ethnographer and the cause for much contemplation of this topic for today’s podcast.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

In this episode, host John Stech discusses his observations on the Thai and American car cultures. Having lived in Thailand for nearly two years, he compares what he has observed on the streets, at motorshows, and at car meets. While some like to people-watch, John always has his eyes on the cars he encounters everywhere.Says John, “Cars move us—but in wildly different ways. In America, a chrome grill might gleam with ambition and showy opulence. In Thailand, a dusty pickup truck or sprightly hatchback says: this is life—difficult, communal, and moving forward towards a bright future.”John compares the two on their cultural bases, with independence being a main theme in American car culture, while interdependence plays a greater role in Thailand.He briefly explores the impact of popular culture, manufacturing presence, cultural traits that reach back years, as well as changes that are pushing in on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.Buckle your seatbelt, relax, and enjoy the insights and shared experiences from John’s automotive life.For more information on The Auto Ethnographer you can visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

This week John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, was traveling in Taiwan. He was there to see his wife’s nephew graduate from high school. The five days on the ground were very busy, a packed schedule planned in advance. While there he was inspired to think about the pride that nations and their people feel about locally developed and produced automotive brands.The visit started and ended in Taipei but much of the time was spent further south in the towns of Nantou, Puli, and Taichung, as well as at the stunningly beautiful Sun Moon Lake area in the Taiwanese mountains.Urban and intercity transportation was primarily on rail, either the underground MRT or the incredibly fast HSR system (high speed rail). But the Nantou County was more spread out and required rented cars for the extended family. One of those cars was a LUXGEN n7 EV, a vehicle locally developed and produced by Yulon Motors with development cooperation by Foxtron (a part of FoxConn, known for producing Apple iPhones).It became clear that the family member renting the LUXGEN was proud of the local brand. Well built, stylish, reliable, and packed with technology and a great battery range, the vehicle was certainly worthy of admiration.John Stech speaks about LUXGEN, the perceived pride in the local automotive player, and the comparative experiences he had with local brands in Vietnam and Russia.Join in for a short but thoughtful episode on the impact of national pride on a nation’s auto industry.For more information about LUXGEN, visit the company’s site here (Mandarin Chinese): https://www.luxgen-motor.com.tw/Learn more about Sun Moon Lake at their homepage: https://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/en/To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

Dr. Deb Mukherji joins The Auto Ethnographer from Gurugram, India, a city near New Delhi. In today’s episode he helps to unravel the success factors for entering the Indian market as a foreign company, automotive or otherwise.There are success stories and failures on the Indian market. These are woven into the conversation as we explore the main drivers for success: navigating regulations, technology adapted to local consumers, economics, and the human aspect including culture.Dr. Mukherji has over 35 years of experience in the Indian automotive industry having worked for several vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. Well-known brands he served directly or indirectly include Hyundai, Maruti (India’s market leader), Honda, Hindustan, and Omega Seiki Mobility.His most recent challenge had been the development and launch of Omega Seiki Mobility as the company’s Managing Director between 2018 and 2023. OSM is a startup company focused on electrifying transportation in India primarily in the 3-wheeler and 2-wheeler sectors. In this role he set up several manufacturing sites as well as a 200 dealer distribution network across India.Between 2010 and 2018 Dr. Mukherji founded and let ADM Technologies, a company that provided business and technical consulting services to both domestic and foreign companies in India. During this time he advised and participated in the building of several manufacturing facilities and businesses.Prior to 2010 he worked in a variety of manufacturing and supply chain positions within the automotive industry. These included but are not limited to Bestex Marujun India P Ltd. (Honda group company), Caparo Engineering India P Ltd. (an engineering company that set up major projects for clients), and Hongo India Pvt. Ltd. (a JV with Honda Cars India and Honga Japan), and Hindustan Motors. In all cases he focused heavily on setting up manufacturing operations.Currently, Dr. Mukherji is the Founder and Managing Director of ADM Prime Consulting Pvt. Ltd. a consulting company with focus on clean energy, electric mobility and connectivity businesses, developing strategies, alliances and JVs. ADM Prime have offices in Japan and South Korea offering services to enter the Indian market successfully.To learn more about ADM Prime Consulting or to contact them please visit the homepage at https://www.admprime.co.in/The Auto Ethnographer releases weekly podcasts with focus on international cultures and how they impact the automotive industry, although the lessons learned can universally be applied to international business. John Stech, the host of The Auto Ethnographer podcast, has 30 years of experience in the automotive industry with work and living experiences in North America, Latin America, Europe, Egypt, Russia, and Southeast Asia. He loves to explore cultural differences and what makes people who they are around the world.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer visit the home page at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

During this second in a two-part episode, The Auto Ethnographer’s host John Stech speaks with Benny Oeyen, a Belgian who is passionate about building bridges between cultures. With automotive experience on four continents and with four distinctly different automakers, he is well-prepared to speak on cultural impacts in the industry. Benny is in the unique position of having worked for automakers in or from three major Asian countries, Mazda, Kia, and GM China. He is energetic and tells his story in a candid, compelling way weaving together the cultural aspects to the product strategy.This week Benny tells of his challenges working with Kia Motors Europe as Vice President of Marketing & Product Planning. In 2009 he was one of the first non-Koreans to attain this level within the company and it was a critical time. Kia was on the cusp of transitioning from a maker of cheap, relatively unstylish cars to the Kia we know today, the purveyor of highly-styled, fully-equipped quality vehicles. Benny would play a crucial role in helping Kia achieve that transition with European consumers.One critical point he discussed was trust in the Kia brand. Benny was a proponent of expanding Kia’s vehicle warranty from 2 years (the European minimum) to 7 years. He recounts in detail how that happened and mentioned a television advertisement he developed to help sell the concept to consumers. The advertisement can be found here at “7 is better than 2”: https://youtu.be/HEdMmP7jbBQ?si=gGhlI2RhO3CwnH2jFollowing his five year stint with Kia, Benny joined in the rush for China. He explained that the largest automotive market on the planet was a must-have checkmark on the CV for any C-suite executive. General Motors China afforded him the opportunity as Vice President Product Planning & Strategy in the Chinese market. He spent three years in Shanghai learning the intricacies of the Chinese market and fickle consumer. He also observed trends on the rise of the Chinese auto industry a decade ago, long before the alarm bells began to ring for traditional automakers.Benny rounds out the episode with some sound advice for people considering moving out of their home country and into a new culture. Listen in on the conversation to learn more about his insights.Benny is now leveraging his experience in the global automotive industry as the European Managing Partner of Automobility Ltd, a consultancy focused on global mobility initiatives. You can learn more about Automobility Ltd at their website: https://automobility.io/For more information on The Auto Ethnographer, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

During this two-part episode, The Auto Ethnographer’s host John Stech speaks with Benny Oeyen, a Belgian who is passionate about building bridges between cultures. With automotive experience on four continents and with four distinctly different automakers, he is well-prepared to speak on cultural impacts in the industry. Benny is in the unique position of having worked for automakers in or from three major Asian countries, Mazda, Kia, and GM China. He is energetic and tells his story in a candid, compelling way weaving together the cultural aspects to the product strategy.In Episode 14 the conversation focuses on Benny being Mazda Europe’s first non-Japanese employee, a Product Manager. It was a learning process from both sides with Benny learning his employer’s culture and Mazda learning about European customer requirements.Long enamored with American culture and cars, Benny shifts over to Chrysler Europe in its upstart European office in Brussels. Here he helps define customer needs for American engineers that know exclusively how to engineer large-engined vehicles for American tastes. Indeed, the opening seconds of the podcast highlights Benny’s challenge of asking engineers for Europe-specific content and specifications on Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles. He would go on to working for Chrysler Corp (later DaimlerChrysler) in the World Headquarters in Michigan as well as in Switzerland in senior roles.Episode 15 next week continues Benny's story at Kia Motors Europe and General Motors China in Shanghai. For more information about The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

This week Dr. Edwin Pang, a noted automobile tire expert, joins The Auto Ethnographer to discuss his journey from student in Malaysia and England to tire development engineer in Germany.Born and raised in Malaysia, Edwin opted to study with the University of Nottingham both on their Southeast Asian as well as UK campuses. It was his first time living outside of Malaysia and a big step in gaining personal independence in his life and career.On graduating with a Ph.D. in Engineering he took a role in Malaysia with Bosch, the world’s largest automotive supplier. Here he had first close exposure to the German culture through experiences with German upper management as well as interns coming in from Germany. He recounts some of his observations, including the impact of German expats eating spicy Malaysian dishes! He even recalls the emotional challenge of sundowning an acquired factory in the United States and migrating the product’s production to Malaysia.Although the product he supported in a manufacturing environment was not automotive-related, the experience led him to the next step in his career, and something that would become a passion, automotive tires.Edwin’s career truly gained traction at Continental Tire. He worked 8 years for Conti with 2.5 years spent in Malaysia and 5.5 years worked in Hannover at Conti’s engineering headquarters. During these years he mastered both the manufacturing, design, and testing of automotive tires.After deciding to return to Malaysia as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Edwin opted to turn passion into entrepreneurial career. He started TopTireReview.com, a tire testing and review service targeted at Malaysian customers that did not have a good understanding of the importance of tires on their vehicles. He performs annual tests on the newest tires then rates and compares them for consumers. In addition, he works with dealers and wholesalers to educate consumers in on-site workshops and seminars.From student to professional to entrepreneur. From Malaysia to the UK to Germany and back to Malaysia. Join in to hear Edwin tell his story and the observations he made along the way. Ultimately, he recommends others to do the same, to see the world and experience new cultures when provided the opportunity.For more information on The Auto Ethnographer, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.comPlease rate the podcast and leave comments on the homepage, on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.

In today’s Auto Ethnographer episode, the second of two parts, host John Stech dives deeper into his experience at DaimlerChrysler, covering his stay at the Chrysler side of the family.John’s assignment at Chrysler International, a division of the company responsible for 120 non-NAFTA markets, was to revamp the volume planning system in time for a major new product offensive. In doing so he had to gain trust with an experienced Chrysler team and get their support in building a modernized approach to sales and production planning. This effort ended up impacting not only the International markets, but also caused the American, Canadian, and Mexican markets to change their approach to forecasting and vehicle ordering.In the closing days of the merger, John had moved to Egypt (the topic of Episode 11) where he first strove to harmonize the frayed working relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler. This effort stopped short once DaimlerChrysler’s CEO, Dr. Dieter Zetsche announced the sale of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management. Later John would have to begin the sales company wind-down process to separate the company into two new subsidiaries, Mercedes-Benz Egypt and Chrysler Egypt.This is the second half of John’s personal story through nine years of experiences at DaimlerChrysler, as seen from the front row on both sides of the merged entity. He understands that his experience was different than that of others. While some viewed the merger positively, many derided one or the other merged partner.Please share your thoughts or opinions with The Auto Ethnographer by visiting the website at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com or by leaving comments on the social media sites at LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

In today’s Auto Ethnographer episode, host John Stech dives deep into his experience at DaimlerChrysler. He worked within both halves of the merged companies for the duration of the company’s nine year existence. Did its end stem from irreconcilable intercultural differences? The Auto Ethnographer dives in to answer the question and the conclusion may surprise you.On the day of the merger announcement in May 1998, John Stech was driving to work at Mercedes-Benz USA. He was so shocked by the news announcement that he pulled over on the side of the road to hear the report.As head of Product Management for SUVs, John was responsible for the M-Class SUV and was involved in a Mercedes-Benz minivan project. It turns out that these two vehicles would be the only overlaps between the merging partners. Would the status quo remain or would the vehicles be cancelled as competing duplicates? John traces the story of the M-Class and Jeep Grand Cherokee overlap and the meetings that occurred to decide their fate.After leaving Product Management at Mercedes-Benz and shifting into Strategic Volume Planning, little did he know that this move would prepare him for a transition to the Chrysler side of DaimlerChrysler at its headquarters in Auburn Hills, a suburb of Detroit, in 2002.John’s assignment at Chrysler International, a division of the company responsible for 120 non-NAFTA markets, was to revamp the volume planning system in time for a major new product offensive. In doing so he had to gain trust with an experienced Chrysler team and get their support in building a modernized approach to sales and production planning. This effort ended up impacting not only the International markets, but also caused the American, Canadian, and Mexican markets to change their approach to forecasting and vehicle ordering.In the closing days of the merger, John had moved to Egypt (the topic of Episode 11) where he first strove to harmonize the frayed working relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler. Later he would have to begin the sales company wind-down process to separate the companies.This is John’s personal story through nine years of experiences at DaimlerChrysler, as seen from the front row on both sides of the merged entity. He understands that his experience was different than that of others. While some viewed the merger positively, many derided one or the other merger partner.Please share your thoughts or opinions with The Auto Ethnographer by visiting the website at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com or by leaving comments on the social media sites at LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

On this week’s Auto Ethnographer episode, host John Stech tells his own story. He had spent his life preparing for a dream of working and living abroad. Suddenly the opportunity sprung up and he had only three months to prepare for a transfer with family to Egypt. Here he would be Managing Director of DaimlerChrysler Egypt (now separated into Mercedes-Benz Egypt and Stellantis Egypt).John Stech was born Jörn Stech in Germany. His family emigrated to the United States in the 1970s but he spent many summers living with his grandparents in Germany, thereby retaining his connection to his birth country.Since an early age he perceived the cultural differences between himself and his American friends. This led to a lifelong curiosity about international cultures as well as a deep desire to see the world, both on visits and through an international career.He had spent thirteen years in his automotive career, most of those working with international markets but from a base in North America. Then, in 2006 his first international assignment would appear on the horizon. He accepted the offer to become the Managing Director of DaimlerChrysler Egypt in Cairo.This opportunity threw many challenges at John. Although he had some familiarity with the Middle East – his parents had lived in Saudi Arabia – he knew that Egypt was very specific. He felt compelled to understand the market and the culture even before leaving DaimlerChrysler’s US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan outside of Detroit.The Managing Director role was also a large step in terms of responsibility. John had been leading a 35-person department in charge of volume planning, inventory management, and order intake for Chrysler's 120 non-NAFTA markets. Now he would have nearly 100 Egyptian employees and be responsible for all aspects of the local business for Mercedes-Benz and Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge brands. This included sales, marketing, dealer networks, customer service and even two CKD assembly plants, one for Mercedes-Benz and one for Jeep respectively.Now he tells the story how he shaped his life, his education and career in the direction of an international career. He identifies the steps he took to move to a new country and a new job, taking along a family with young children.For those of you considering moving abroad, this episode shares insights on how to prepare, both before departing the home country and after arrival in the host country.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

On this week’s episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Stech is joined by Dr. Susanne Lehmann, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia. During the conversation they “visit” Malaysia, Mexico, China, and the United States and discuss how each location’s culture required different work styles.Dr. Lehmann studied economic sciences and later earned her PhD in global automotive supply chains. Alongside she studied the impact of culture on the workplace, a topic that would serve her well on her journey.Her first stop on her career was Volkswagen de México in a logistics role. After adapting to a culture vastly different from her own German upbringing, she would later have a second stint in Mexico as the Senior Director of Production for the Volkswagen brand in North America.She later moved halfway around the planet to participate in the early days of expanding automotive manufacturing in China. She recounts stories from these days in the early 2000s and then juxtaposes them to a second stint she did in China in 2021-2023 as Senior Director of Logistics for a 1.6 million vehicle operation. The lightning speed of China’s auto sector development is a key part of the conversation.Susanne also spent time in North America, as a member of the ramp-up team in Volkswagen’s new Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility. Here, employee individualism required significantly different management tools than in the collectivist cultures of China and Mexico.Her current assignment as Managing Director of Volkswagen Group’s Malaysian operation added an addition dimension beyond culture. For the first time she was also responsible for the more qualitative topics of Sales & Marketing, Customer Service, and the dealer network. She discusses how she has worked to master this area during a career previously focused on logistics and manufacturing.During the conversation, Susanne shares fascinating insights on how she navigated cultures and the challenges they presented in each assignment.For more information on The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

In this week's episode of The Auto Ethnographer podcast, host John Stech speaks with Andreas Schlegel on working in Germany, the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Andreas recounts his journey through a number of premium and performance brands including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Aston Martin, Lotus Motorcars, and Volvo. He even did a stint with F1 team Williams Racing.Growing up in the Stuttgart, Germany area, Andreas started his career with Mercedes-Benz in their Nachwuchsgruppe management trainee program. This took him to the US and South Africa for early intercultural work experience.Andreas then found an opportunity with Porsche where he focused on dealer network management as well as directly supporting the company's Head of Sales & Marketing during an exciting growth period for the brand - the first-generation Cayenne was in the pipeline at the time.His time at Porsche was then parlayed into several roles at Aston Martin including APAC Region Sales as well as leading the companies Dealer Network efforts. He would leave but later return to Aston Martin in the role of Global Marketing Director.As Lotus Motorcars set about to reinvent itself with a slew of new products, Andreas joined the team as Director of Marketing. He would be the one to organize the introduction of five new Lotus concepts at the Paris Motorshow in 2010.Shortly afterwards, Volvo cars would also set out on a path of reinvention. Andreas moved to Sweden to help guide the company's global dealer network strategy, a sweeping effort to modernize hundreds of dealers around the globe.Perhaps most exciting, he joined the team at Williams Racing to build a heritage business, retrofitting and refurbishing old Williams F1 cars for well-heeled customers. This brought him to the heart of one of the most storied F1 teams on the circuit.You can find links to all major podcast apps at The Auto Ethnographer homepage by clicking on https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

The Auto Ethnographer, John Stech, has a conversation with Jorge Mussi, the General Manager of Aftersales and the Customer Services Division at Toyota do Brasil about his journey from his native Brazil to Sweden and the United States and back to Brazil. He tells his story that begins with Volvo and is currently evolving at Toyota. Jorge’s automotive journey started with Volvo Truck & Bus in the early 1990s. For his love of cars, he moved over to Volvo’s passenger car division where he experienced several historical shifts of Brazilian trade policy regarding car imports. He recounts how this impacted the company and how Brazilian and Swedish management styles worked together in these challenging periods.Taking an opportunity to live and work in Sweden at Volvo’s headquarters, he relocated to Gothenburg, eventually becoming a Swedish citizen. Jorge discusses how he had to adapt to local culture, even learning proficient Swedish after only four months. He discusses the Swedish decision-making process and how it actually takes place.Jorge returned to Brazil as Volvo Car Brazil’s Director of Aftersales and Head of Government Affairs. He realized his advantages in running these operations having learned the inner workings of the headquarters in Sweden.Another opportunity lay around the corner as Jorge joined Volvo Car Americas team in the United States as Director of Aftersales and Customer Services overseeing over 20 markets in Latin America, plus Canada. Here he was faced with the many nuanced differences across Latin American countries. They have one common language (or do they?) but many different cultural attributes.Upon his return to Brazil, Jorge joined Toyota do Brasil during a restructuring and realignment of the company’s strategy. However, it was his first time working within a Japanese management philosophy. He discusses how he learned and adapted to this new style of business.https://www.toyota.com.br/For more information on The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

The Auto Ethnographer is joined by Greg Clark who expounds on his experiences working with Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, American Honda, and INEOS Automotive. Four distinctly different brands, each with its own culture.  During the conversation we "visit" the UK, Germany, Japan, and United States and the unique working cultures of each. Greg, a native of the United Kingdom, moved to the United States for his studies. He parlayed that stay into the beginnings of an automotive career with Mercedes-Benz and Honda in the US. He worked in product management at both companies but each functioned much differently on the same topic.After expanding the Mercedes-AMG centers in the US, he took over the overall AMG brand in the United States. Following successful growth of the brand and its sales, he transferred to Mercedes-AMG headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany. It took some time to sort out how to work with the German culture but Greg persevered.He then transitioned to Jaguar Land Rover to lead an engineering department. This was a major shift in culture, company, and corporate function. He then slid over into JLR Brand Management and steered marketing over markets in the Overseas Region.These experiences culminated in a preparedness a new challenge. He launched the INEOS Grenadier in the Americas as he took over as head of the region. This vehicle was born of English roots, German engineering, and French-based manufacturing. His task was to successfully introduce it to the United States and other markets in the Americas.Greg introspectively discusses the challenges at each company and with each national culture that he encountered. He highlights some of the pitfalls that leaders can avoid due to cultural differences in the workplace.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

This week on The Auto Ethnographer podcast, host John Stech speaks with Stavros Paraskevaides, located near Athens, Greece. Stavros recounts the challenging eight years he spent in the Middle East and how he managed a wide array of cultures within a distributor operation. He now puts those learnings to use for clients at SP4A Advisory, a consultancy he founded in 2021.Stavros led BMW and Rolls-Royce at the brands’ largest distributor in Saudi Arabia, a large company with multiple locations and over 1,500 employees. These employees stemmed from the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, bringing with them many traditions, work ethics, and cultural differences.He also worked for another distributor in Qatar, responsible for the Hyundai, Genesis, and Chevrolet brands. Here, the challenges were similar.Prior to his Middle East journey, Stavros worked for Mercedes-Benz in several countries including his native Greece where he rose to Managing Director of the brand. He also led Sales Operations for the brand in the United States where he found Mercedes-Benz USA to be a vastly different scale than what had known in Greece. He speaks about his experiences during his first overseas working experience during the podcast.His career originally started with Toyota Motor Company in Greece before making the move to Mercedes-Benz.SP4A Advisory:  https://www.sp4advisory.com/MotorWerks Garage:  http://www.MotorWerks.gr

In this week's episode John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, has a conversation with with Gianfranco Pizzuto, Founder and CEO of Automobili Estrema, a company designing and preparing the Fulminea e-hypercar for launch. He also reveals plans for a new, as-yet, unannounced project.Born and raised in northern Italy where the borders of Austria and Switzerland converge with his native country, Gianfranco was raised bi-lingual Italian and German. He attributes his upbringing to his success in navigating across cultures in the business world.Long before his dream of building a car came to be, Gianfranco was a co-founder and Vice President at FAE Group, a manufacturer of agriculture and forestry attachments for tractors.He went on to become Fisker Automotive’s first investor in 2007, working together with founder Henrik Fisker in realizing a hybrid-electric premium sports car. Gianfranco was not only an investor in Fisker but also a distributor in several European countries.Following the bankruptcy and demise of Fisker, Gianfranco continued to innovate in the electric vehicle arena. He founded Scuderia-e, a company which would convert American specification Fiat 500e vehicles to European specification. But that was not all. The company redeveloped the battery, battery management system, and charging capability to improve the vehicle beyond the original that had left a Fiat factory.With the onset of Covid, Gianfranco’s engineering team convened virtually to discuss the dream of building an electric hypercar. Weekly meetings solidified the dream into reality, resulting in first a small scale model being built but ultimately a full-size vehicle. The Fulminea is still under development but launch plans are in place.  To learn more about Automobili Estrema and the Fulminea, you can visit the website athttps://fulminea.com/Returning from a recent trip to China, where he visited Xiaomi’s automobile factory, Gianfranco recalls his impressions and issues a caution to Western competitors about the competitiveness of China’s technology and the national spirit for success.Visit The Auto Ethnographer's homepage for more information about the podcast series at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

In this week's episode John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, has a conversation with Gareth Dunsmore. With an appreciation of different cultures going back to his childhood, thanks to his family, Gareth talks about his experiences working overseas with Nissan and VinFast. He also speaks about McLaren and how to convey its Britishness around the world.Gareth started his marketing career with Nissan Motors UK but had an opportunity earlier in his career to move to Nissan’s regional office based in Paris. He spent 11 years living in France and Switzerland working with Nissan marketing departments across the AMIEO Region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania).He returned to England with a new challenge and adventure, working as Chief Marketing Officer at McLaren, maker of renowned supercars. Here he faced an unexpected challenge – working with British colleagues following his stint abroad. Gareth discusses that challenge as well as how to market a brand like McLaren to consumers outside of the UK.After McLaren, Gareth set out on a big adventure, taking on the role of Deputy CEO of Sales & Marketing at VinFast Automotive, an upstart electric vehicle producer based near Hanoi, Vietnam. This would be the most daunting challenge yet but Gareth found the way to succeed and to gain respect from his Vietnamese colleagues, who had predisposed notions about Westerners.Gareth has since returned to Nissan Motors where he is Managing Director for e-Micro Mobility Nissan for the AMIEO region. This includes the Silence Eco Urban Mobility range.Visit The Auto Ethnographer's homepage for more information about the podcast series at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com