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. 

John Pelliccio, the global product marketing director for QNX, joins the “Shift” podcast to discuss how vehicle sound systems are becoming more customizable.

Pelliccio explains how QNX is streamlining audio systems to cut costs and give consumers the ability to personalize how they listen to music.

Audio could be the next differentiator between automakers as new sound systems transform consumer experience — but that requires moving audio onto the main chip in a software-defined vehicle. 

Andrew Garberson, the head of growth and electric vehicle research at Recurrent, joins Automotive News reporter Molly Boigon on the “Shift” podcast to discuss why EV prices are creeping up.

Garberson explains how EV price appreciation is not the result of a supply shortage, but seems to be a combination of affordability, high gas prices and incoming lease-return supply. 

Philipp Kampshoff, a senior partner at McKinsey, and Moritz Rittstieg, a partner at McKinsey, join Automotive News reporter Laurence Iliff on the “Shift” podcast to discuss the electric vehicle market and the stakes of range and charging anxiety. 

Kamshoff and Rittstieg also spoke about top consumer concerns when considering an EV and the benefits of the hybrids and extended-range EVs coming to the market.

Aseem Kapur, chief revenue officer at GM Energy, joins Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor of content, on the “Shift” podcast. 

Kapur describes GM Energy’s strategy for home and public electric vehicle charging. Kapur also explains how the General Motors subsidiary will capitalize on demand for energy that goes beyond driving a car. He discusses the energy opportunity from AI data centers and how GM EV owners can use their vehicles to power their homes.