Automotive News Daily Drive

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July 15th, 2026 | Infiniti’s Eric Ledieu on the QX65; USMCA talks resume week of July 20 Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

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

July 14, 2026 | Peter Sigal talks Volkswagen’s tough decisions; EV range anxiety decreases Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

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

July 13th, 2026 | GM Energy’s Aseem Kapur talks bidirectional charging; Auto industry confidence index Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

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

July 11, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Toyota’s Texas-sized plant investment; market resilient so far in 2026 Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

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

July 10, 2026 | Cox Auto’s Erin Keating on the real affordability story; VW to cut half its lineup Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

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

July 9, 2026 | Borton Volvo's Kjell Bergh reacts to Polestar ban; USMCA limbo Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

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

July 8, 2026 | NASCAR champ Joey Logano’s dealership journey; Scout lawsuit spreads to Washington state Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

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

July 7, 2026 | Toyota’s $3.6B Texas expansion; Teradar CEO on new sensor tech Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

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

July 6, 2026 | Tesla launches longer three-row Model Y; Sonatus’ John Heinlein Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

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

July 3, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Mike and Larry’s top stories of the year so far Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

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

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