Shift: A podcast about mobility

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon talks to Gary Cygan Jr., director of vehicle software and electronics engineering at GM; Steffen Fuchs, senior partner at McKinsey & Co.; Andrei Iordache, global senior director of automotive presales at HERE Technologies; and Christopher Prediger, regional president for the Americas in Bosch’s Cross-Domain Computing Solutions division as a part of an Automotive News Congress panel on software-defined vehicles.

They discussed whether artificial intelligence is an enabler of more advanced SDV technology — or whether it’s still just hype.

Doug Bolduc, managing editor of Automotive News Europe, also joins Boigon to talk about how Chinese automakers’ growing presence at the Paris auto show put the pressure on Western automakers to show up with impressive new offerings.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon talks to the Zero Emission Transportation Association’s Albert Gore about how the Trump administration’s actions on fuel economy and emissions standards may impact battery and other technology investment in the U.S.

Larry P. Vellequette, who covers Toyota, Subaru and Mazda for Automotive News, also joins Boigon to talk about how gas guzzlers are driving up new-vehicle inventories while consumers shop for more fuel-efficient vehicles. His reporting suggests that the war in Iran is hitting the dealer lot.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon talks to PwC’s U.S. automotive leader C.J. Finn about how automakers should keep an eye on technologies from startups and universities to keep costs down while managing multiple powertrains.

Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor at Automotive News, also joins Boigon to discuss the robotics and software-defined vehicles panels at the 2026 Automotive News Congress in Detroit.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon gets help from Vanessa Lyon, global lead for cyber and digital risk at Boston Consulting Group, to explain how hackers access information from auto industry companies.

Jake Neher, the executive producer of audio at Automotive News, also joins Boigon to discuss attackers who target vehicles themselves and why it may be easier for them to take control of braking than steering. 

And Boigon speaks with Doug Bolduc, managing editor of Automotive News Europe, about why Europe’s recycling capacity is outpacing its supply of electric vehicle batteries.

Mike Nefkens, CEO of HERE Technologies, joins Molly Boigon, tech and innovation reporter at Automotive News, on the “Shift” podcast.

Nefkens explains how incumbent map companies such as HERE are competing with big-tech upstarts Google and Apple.

Boigon also speaks to Laurence Iliff, who covers Tesla, about what Tesla will have to do to catch up with Waymo in the robotaxi race. 

Lenny LaRocca, KPMG’s U.S. automotive industry leader, joins Molly Boigon, Automotive News tech and innovation reporter, on the “Shift” podcast.

LaRocca talks about why early predictions of a tariff-driven industrywide meltdown never materialized, and how auto companies adapted to avoid catastrophe.

Boigon and Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor of content at Automotive News, also discuss BYD’s fast-charging rollout and a recent study that found that consumers have a better experience with a lower level of automated driving than expected.

David Bell, co-founder of Emerald Battery Labs, joins Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor of content at Automotive News, on the “Shift” podcast.

Bell talks about how sodium ion batteries rely on a plentiful feedstock available in the U.S., but their weight is an impediment to widespread adoption for vehicles. They are a natural fit, however, for another use case: energy storage.

Lutz and Molly Boigon, tech and innovation reporter, also discuss why liberal states outside of California are resisting the robotaxi rollout.

Bob Lee, LG Energy Solution’s president of North America, joins Jerry Hirsch, managing editor, content, on the “Shift” podcast from the company’s plant in Lansing, Mich.

Lee describes how U.S. policy shifts and slower electric vehicle adoption pushed LG Energy Solution toward batteries for energy storage systems, including those that power artificial intelligence data centers.

He also explains why, despite policy changes, he believes EVs will win in the long run.

Frank Hanley, senior director of automotive benchmarking for JD Power, joins Molly Boigon, Automotive News tech and innovation reporter, on the “Shift” podcast to discuss the latest APEAL study, which shows how consumers feel about their vehicles after 90 days of ownership.

Hanley explains how overall customer satisfaction is up for the third year in a row, why consumers prefer battery-electric vehicles in many categories, and why complicated infotainment systems are leading more car buyers to mass-market vehicles over premium options. 

Adam Barowy, the principal research engineer for the UL Research Institute’s Fire Safety Research Institute, joins Molly Boigon, Automotive News tech and innovation reporter, on the “Shift” podcast to discuss how automakers can reduce risks surrounding electric vehicle fires by changing how battery packs are manufactured.

Barowy explains how electric vehicles don’t burn all that differently from internal combustion engine vehicles. But, even though fires behave similarly in both powertrains, EV fires are difficult for firefighters to put out because the battery pack is hermetically sealed.

Automakers have the opportunity to get ahead of the problem by redesigning battery packs to make EVs safer, and just using fire blankets isn’t going to cut it.