First Brands founder Patrick James has stepped down as the auto parts maker advances its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Price hikes loom as tariffs erode profits. Plus, Shmuel De-Leon, CEO of Israeli battery consulting firm De-Leon Energy, talks about the safety and performance benefits of solid-state batteries in electric vehicles.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says he believes software-defined vehicle architectures will be critical for automakers’ survival in a decade’s time, and legacy manufacturers are falling behind. On this bonus episode, Scaringe talks during an Automotive Press Association fireside chat with Axios’ Joann Muller.

Automotive News Staff Reporters Larry P. Vellequette and Molly Boigon talk about the week’s biggest news stories, including an aluminum plant fire that has caused major disruptions for Ford and others, automakers canceling their electric vehicle tax credit extension programs and more.

Ford joins General Motors in canceling its electric vehicle lease tax credit extension. The Chevy Bolt EV returns for a “limited run.” Plus, David Prusinski, co-CEO of Vehicle Management Systems, joins the show to talk about how artificial intelligence is transforming fleet management.

General Motors slips major new terms into supplier contracts. Ford’s F-150 Lightning plant will go idle in the wake of an aluminum plant fire. Plus, Neal Ganguli, AlixPartners managing director, talks about what new tariffs on robotics would mean for automakers and suppliers. 

General Motors cancels its electric vehicle tax credit extension and will offer its own discount instead. Ford faces a $1 billion hit from an aluminum plant fire. Plus, Hyundai Motor’s Genesis brand turns 10 and now aims to make a splash in the luxury high performance segment.

Nissan is in talks with multiple automakers to supply an electrified vehicle based on its top-selling Rogue crossover. A fire at an aluminum supplier could disrupt business at automakers for months. Plus, a panel of experts weighs in on how automakers and retailers can diversify their businesses with new revenue streams.

Stellantis is reportedly planning to invest about $10 billion in the U.S. Automakers are putting pressure on suppliers to use AI tech in their factories to be more efficient. Plus, Magna International’s Todd Deaville talks about how the supplier is implementing AI and machine learning in its factories.

Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox Automotive’s director of industry insights, talks about what electric vehicle makers will need to accomplish to hit 25 percent of the light-vehicle market by the end of the decade. Plus, Edmunds Head of Insights Jessica Caldwell weighs in on how tariffs are affecting 2026 model year vehicle pricing so far.

Automotive News Staff Reporter Michael Martinez and Greg Layson, digital and mobile editor for Automotive News Canada, talk about the week’s biggest news stories, including the rush to snap up electric vehicles before the Sept. 30 end of U.S. EV tax credits and what the government shutdown could mean for the auto market.