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Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Kyle Mountsier and Paul J Daly sit down with Drew Ferguson, Head of the Office of Policy and Government Affairs at Hyundai Motor Group, to unpack how automakers navigate uncertainty without losing focus. As policy shifts, geopolitical pressure builds, and affordability dominates the conversation, Ferguson explains why Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis have stayed steady—by doubling down on value, innovation, and long-term investment in the U.S. market.

Drawing on his experience as a former member of Congress, Ferguson offers a rare inside look at how automotive policy actually gets made—and why education matters more than lobbying theatrics. He breaks down how government affairs can advocate for consumers by helping lawmakers understand the real-world impact of regulation on choice, pricing, and the entire automotive ecosystem. From affordable innovation like the Hyundai Ioniq lineup to the $1.5 trillion economic footprint of the auto industry, the message is clear: when policy ignores the consumer, the ripple effects hit everyone—from factory floors to dealership showrooms.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 – Live From the DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026

0:11 – How This Quarter Exposed the State of the Auto Industry

0:50 – Why Hyundai Hasn’t Lost Focus Despite Policy Shifts

1:37 – What Hyundai’s Value Leadership Says About the Market

1:58 – Meeting Customers Where They Are Through Innovation

2:51 – What Government Affairs Really Does for Consumers

3:22 – Why Most Policymakers Don’t Understand Auto Manufacturing

4:01 – How Policy Decisions Ripple Through the Entire Economy

5:34 – Why Education Is the Real Purpose of Policy Day

6:00 – The Auto Industry’s $1.5 Trillion Economic Impact

6:40 – Why Consumer Choice Must Stay at the Center of Policy

7:13 – How One Policy Decision Sends Shockwaves Everywhere

Connect with Drew Ferguson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hon-drew-ferguson/

Learn more about Hyundai's North American Manufacturing: https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/why-hyundai/hyundai-in-america

Public Policy Day 2026 is brought to you by Saferide. Learn more at Saferide.ai: https://www.saferide.ai/

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Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Erin Keating, Executive Analyst at Cox Automotive, to challenge one of the most repeated headlines in the industry: the $50,000 new car. Keating breaks down why average transaction price is often misunderstood, how it reflects buying behavior rather than availability, and why affordability isn’t as broken as many believe. With data from Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive, she explains what’s actually happening on dealer lots—and why there are still plenty of vehicles under $35,000 moving at scale.

The conversation goes deeper into the downstream effects of affordability on the used market, including a major shift that’s just beginning: used EVs as the next affordable alternative. Keating explains why battery degradation fears haven’t materialized, how data from Manheim auctions is changing consumer confidence, and why dealers who invested early in EV education are now ahead of the curve. While consumer sentiment remains cautious, the data tells a calmer story—one where choice still exists, technology is improving, and the sky isn’t falling if you know how to read the numbers.

0:00 – Live From the DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026

0:47 – Why the $50,000 Average Price Is Misunderstood

1:52 – Average Transaction Price vs What’s Actually on Dealer Lots

2:18 – Why Affordable Vehicles Are Still Selling at Scale

3:05 – How Affordability Is Changing Used-Car Buying Behavior

3:33 – Used Vehicle Supply Is Finally Starting to Recover

4:10 – Why Used EVs May Become the Next Affordable Option

4:58 – Dealers Who Leaned Into EVs Are Now Ahead

5:35 – Why Consumer Sentiment Feels Worse Than Reality

6:08 – Battery Degradation Fears Didn’t Come True

6:35 – What EV Battery Health Data Is Actually Showing

7:19 – Why EVs Are Just Another Powertrain Now

Connect with Erin Keating at https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinfkeating/

Learn more about Cox Auto at https://www.coxautoinc.com/

Public Policy Day 2026 is brought to you by Saferide. Learn more at Saferide.ai: https://www.saferide.ai/

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As auto loans stretch longer and negative equity piles up, one former prosecutor explains why transparency—not pressure—might be the most profitable move dealers can make.

Robert Steenbergh didn’t come up through the showroom—he came from the courtroom. After years as a prosecutor and later representing dealers as an attorney, Robert saw both sides of the auto industry’s biggest tension point: compliance versus profitability. What surprised him most wasn’t dealer intent, but how over-regulation, fear-based selling, and rushed F&I processes quietly eroded trust with customers.

In this conversation, Robert breaks down why today’s affordability crisis isn’t just about higher prices—it’s about longer loan terms, growing negative equity, and decisions that feel “possible” today but hurt both dealers and customers tomorrow. From bi-weekly payment acceleration to why fully compliant dealers actually see higher penetration, this episode challenges some of the most common assumptions in modern F&I—and offers a practical path forward that benefits everyone in the deal.

Timestamped Takeaways

00:00 – You Were There, But You Weren’t There

01:44 – From Prosecutor to the Car Business

03:26 – Why Compliance Feels Impossible for Dealers

04:10 – Transparency Is More Profitable Than Fear-Based Selling

05:56 – Training, Tracking, and Firing to Protect Trust

06:45 – Customers Don’t Say No Because of Information

08:06 – Why F&I Feels Like a Timeshare Experience

10:07 – The Case for Putting F&I Education on Dealer Websites

12:18 – The Real Risk of 84- and 96-Month Auto Loans

13:38 – The $6,500 Negative Equity Wake-Up Call

14:00 – How Bi-Weekly Payments Accelerate Equity Without Pain

17:49 – Using AI to Design the Next Product, Not Just the Next Feature

18:49 – Turning Affordability Into a Retention Strategy

22:10 – Trust Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a System

Connect with Robert Steenbergh, Esq. at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsteenbergh/

Learn more about AutoPayPlus at https://autopayplus.com/partners/

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Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show during Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Will Bright of SafeRide AI to unpack what autonomy really means—and what consumers actually want from it. After experiencing SafeRide’s technology firsthand in a Toyota Corolla, the conversation cuts through the hype around full self-driving and focuses on a simpler truth: people don’t want robot cars, they want safer and more convenient driving. Bright clearly explains the five levels of autonomy and why Level 2 driver assistance is where real, scalable impact happens today.

Drawing on his background as the founder of Drop.com, Bright explains how community-centered design—not tech obsession—led to SafeRide’s product strategy. Instead of building futuristic features for luxury vehicles, SafeRide brings advanced safety and driver-assist capabilities to everyday new and used cars through dealerships. The episode explores affordability, dealer adoption, insurance savings, and why reducing driver fatigue may be just as important as preventing accidents. The result is a grounded, practical vision for autonomy that meets consumers where they already are.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 – Live From the DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026

0:28 – Experiencing SafeRide AI in a Real-World Drive

1:14 – The Five Levels of Autonomy Explained Simply

2:05 – Why the Line Between Level 2 and Level 3 Matters

2:35 – People Don’t Want Robot Cars, They Want Safer Driving

3:17 – Why 90% of Consumer Products Fail

4:10 – How Community-Centered Design Shaped SafeRide

5:30 – Safety and Convenience Beat Full Autonomy

6:31 – Who Will Adopt Driver Assist Technology the Fastest

7:23 – Bringing Level 2 Safety to Any New or Used Vehicle

8:40 – Why There Are No New Buttons or Learning Curves

9:30 – How Advanced Safety Can Lower Insurance Costs

Connect with Will Bright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wbrght/

Public Policy Day 2026 is brought to you by Saferide. Learn more at Saferide.ai: https://www.saferide.ai/

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Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly sits down with John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, to unpack the rapidly shifting landscape of U.S. auto policy. With fuel economy rules under revision, autonomous technology advancing, and affordability under pressure, Bozzella shares what he’s most focused on ahead of an upcoming conversation with Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy—and why the stakes for consumers, dealers, and manufacturers have never been higher.

The conversation expands into global competitiveness, with a sharp focus on China, tariffs, and the ripple effects of Canada opening its market to Chinese vehicles at dramatically lower rates. Bozzella offers context on why a “6% tariff” now sounds shockingly low, how this move could influence USMCA negotiations, and why election-year politics complicate long-term auto policy decisions. The episode closes with a look ahead to the NADA Show, where collaboration—not surprises—remains the guiding principle between policymakers, OEMs, and dealers.

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 – Live From the DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026

0:34 – What John Bozzella Wants to Ask the Secretary of Transportation

1:20 – Fuel Economy Rules and Their Impact on Price and Choice

1:51 – What the Alliance’s Merge Conference Set in Motion

2:15 – Why Competitiveness Became the Core Auto Policy Theme

3:29 – Chinese Vehicles Enter Canada at Low Tariff Rates

3:57 – Why a 6% Tariff Now Sounds “Ridiculously Low”

4:35 – Is Canada Testing the Waters Ahead of USMCA Review?

5:30 – How This Could Affect U.S. Negotiating Leverage

5:50 – What Bozzella Focuses On at the NADA Show

6:20 – Coordinating With Dealers, OEMs, and State Associations

6:52 – Why Better Questions Lead to Better Auto Policy

Connect with John Bozzella: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-bozzella/

Learn more about the Alliance for Automotive Innovation: https://www.autosinnovate.org/

Public Policy Day 2026 is brought to you by Saferide. Learn more at Saferide.ai: https://www.saferide.ai/

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At Public Policy Day 2026, Kyle Mountsier and Paul J Daly sit down with Jamie Darvish, owner of Darcars, to unpack the growing affordability crisis facing the automotive industry. With the average new car price now hovering around $50,000, Darvish delivers a sobering reality: roughly one-third of Americans are effectively locked out of the new car market. He explains why car shows still matter more than ever, how they spark real showroom traffic, and why dealers increasingly sit at the crossroads between OEM strategy, consumer reality, and public policy.

The conversation digs deep into the long-term consequences of lost new-car production during COVID, revealing a looming shortage that will hit the used-car market for years to come. Darvish challenges automakers and lawmakers alike—calling for simpler, more affordable vehicles and cautioning that well-intentioned safety mandates quietly inflate prices. Looking ahead to NADA, he shares why AI is his biggest focus, not as a buzzword, but as a way to finally deliver truly personalized, full-lifecycle customer communication—if the industry can secure the data and use it responsibly.

0:12 – Why Affordability Is the Auto Industry’s Biggest Threat

0:46 – Why Car Shows Still Drive Real Sales Traffic

1:52 – Seeing New Cars Triggers Buying Intent (Even If You’re Not Shopping)

2:59 – The $50,000 New Car Reality No One Wants to Admit

3:32 – Used Cars Became the Affordability Solution—But Supply Is Drying Up

4:07 – How COVID-Era Lost Sales Will Hurt the Market for Years

5:08 – The Next 36 Months Will Separate Prepared Dealers From the Rest

5:32 – OEMs Need to Build Simpler, Cheaper Cars Again

6:07 – How Safety Mandates Quietly Inflate Vehicle Prices

7:08 – Why Used-Car Inspection Standards Are Stuck in the Past

8:13 – Why AI Is the Biggest Focus Heading Into NADA

8:52 – AI’s Real Power: One Continuous Customer Relationship

Public Policy Day 2026 is brought to you by Saferide. Learn more at Saferide.ai: https://www.saferide.ai/

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Behind every car is a chain of decisions — made by lawmakers, regulators, and executives long before the vehicle hits the road.

Joe Koch from the Washington D.C. Auto Show joins us to unpack how politics, pricing, and technology collide to shape the future of driving. We talk affordability, electric innovation, and why the showroom experience still beats the online checkout.

0:00 Intro: A New Look at the D.C. Auto Show0:30 Where Cars and Policy Collide in Washington1:32 Inside the Power Room: Decision Makers and Industry Voices2:08 The $50,000 Wake-Up Call on Car Affordability2:46 Fuel, Safety & the Future of Regulation3:04 Why Auto Shows Still Matter in a Digital World3:52 The Truth About Buying Online vs. In Person4:21 Turning Browsers into Believers with Real Experiences5:01 The Cars That Steal the Spotlight This Year5:37 Beyond Luxury: The Return of Practical Cars6:28 The Spirit and Story Behind the Auto ShowConnect with Joe Koch Learn more about the 2026 Washington D.C. Auto Show: https://www.washingtonautoshow.com

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Jay Ku says the next wave of AI in automotive won’t win by automating people out—it’ll win by making average teams deliver a top-tier human experience every single time.

Jay’s path into automotive is the kind you don’t storyboard—he left home at 14, found cycling in New Hampshire, rode a bike across America at 17, turned pro while at Harvard, and eventually landed in auto through OEM work and his time leading at TrueCar. But the throughline isn’t prestige or titles—it’s obsession with human interaction: what people feel, what they carry into a dealership, and why trust is so hard to earn in a business that lives and dies on it.

In this conversation, Jay breaks down the two pain points he thinks quietly poison dealership growth: massive sales turnover and how anonymous digital leads feel the moment they hit a CRM. Then he shares what he’s building at Hey Greenlight—a pair of products designed to add context and confidence at the exact moment reps need it: Signal, which enriches leads with key insights, and Wingman, a real-time AI teleprompter built to help reps say the right thing (without stealing the human moment). The takeaway is simple—and spicy: AI isn’t the closer. The person is. The tech just helps them show up like a pro.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 — The unexpected confession that sets the tone

1:09 — “He gets it.” Why Jay Ku stands out in automotive

3:37 — The two dealership problems nobody has truly fixed

5:31 — Leaving home at 14: how adversity shaped his edge

7:23 — Riding across America at 17 changed how he reads people

9:26 — Why car dealerships are pillars of every community

12:01 — Cars aren’t transactions—they’re upward mobility

14:13 — Customers arrive armored. Here’s why trust is so hard

16:11 — AI skipped the human—and that’s the real mistake

20:36 — Signal + Wingman: AI built to support, not replace

24:06 — The confidence gap killing sales conversations

29:06 — The follow-up text that quietly loses the deal

31:23 — How AI can scale empathy without feeling fake

34:44 — The hidden cost of burning leads and turnover

35:16 — Why the future of dealerships is more human, not less

Connect with Jay Ku at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayku/

Learn more about Hey Greenlight at https://www.heygreenlight.com/

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Since we'll be at Public Policy Day on January 21, we're releasing one of the best conversations we had at last year's event.

In this episode, we sit down with Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, a former car dealer turned policymaker, to discuss the future of the automotive industry and American manufacturing. Moreno shares his strong belief in the franchise model, highlighting how car dealers serve as a crucial link between automakers and consumers. He emphasizes the importance of listening to dealers who interact with customers daily, using Toyota as an example of a brand that successfully integrates dealer feedback. Moreno also discusses the significance of car ownership in American culture, calling it a symbol of freedom and opportunity.

As a senator, Moreno is committed to supporting policies that strengthen U.S. manufacturing and prevent automakers from moving production overseas. He delves into the long-term impact of manufacturing incentives, tariffs, and economic policies that affect workers, dealers, and consumers alike. With a deep passion for cars and a personal connection to the industry—his son is set to become a Mercedes dealer—Moreno is determined to be a strong advocate for the automotive sector in Washington.

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 – Intro

0:25 – The franchise model is crucial for the auto industry's success.

1:34 – Listening to dealers is key to understanding consumer demand.

2:39 – Car ownership represents freedom and independence in America.

3:37 – Manufacturing incentives can strengthen the middle class.

4:07 – Buying American-made cars supports jobs and local economies.

6:16 – Automakers should focus on producing what consumers actually want.

6:50 – Government policies should enable, not dictate, market demand.

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New episodes release Thursday.

This episode was originally released in August 2023, when we had the opportunity to interview the one and only Jesse Cole.

Just imagine having a dream so powerful that you'd risk everything, even mortgage your home and live on a shoestring budget to make it a reality.This episode's guest, Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, took that bold leap and is now reaping the rewards with a waitlist for tickets nearly hitting 900,000! Tune in to hear his inspiring journey of grit, determination, and a love for Banana Ball that overcame naysayers and doubts.But it's not all about baseball. Jesse's retail acumen shines as he shares the process of creating a memorable retail experience. Drawing inspiration from Walt Disney, he has managed to create an engaging and unique entertainment experience for all age groups.We tackle the importance of retail, how to smoothen out friction points, and eliminate frustrations to enhance customer experience. We also explore how his innovative thinking and transformative strategies can be applied to other industries like automotive retail. Get ready to be inspired, enlightened and challenged to rethink the way you approach your business and your dreams.

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