Shift: A podcast about mobility

By Automotive News

What's Shift: A podcast about mobility about?

On Shift: A podcast about mobility, Automotive News tech and innovation team leader Pete Bigelow takes an optimistic yet skeptical eye at the new tech and business models planned for the auto industry.

Shift is a production of Automotive News, the leading publication covering the auto industry. Check out our reporting online at autonews.com/shift and follow us on Twitter @Automotive_News.

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Shift: A podcast about mobility episodes:

04.21.2024
Megan Kimble probes the high price of America’s highways
The author of “City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality and The Future of America’s Highways” examines the financial, environmental and human costs of highway expansions, explains the way interstates are funded, and details prospects of highway removal.
04.14.2024
Greg McGuire explores Mcity’s next chapter
The managing director of the connected-and-autonomous vehicle test track details the facility’s evolution into a makerspace for mobility innovation that encompasses a data engine and mixed-reality tech development.
04.07.2024
Shay Natarajan on confident mobility investing through uncertain times
The partner at investment firm Mobility Impact Partners explains how she looks beyond transportation-tech hype when investing and details a viable path for electrification through charging and infrastructure uncertainty.
03.31.2024
Jay Joseph sketches out Honda’s hydrogen strategy
The vice president of sustainability and business development at American Honda Motor Inc. details the automaker’s new CR-V fuel-cell variant, an H2-focused joint venture with General Motors, and the state of hydrogen infrastructure.
03.24.2024
Justine Johnson touts Michigan as a hub for mobility
Michigan’s chief mobility officer shares the state's efforts to ensure that transportation is equitable, clean and innovative across land, air and waterways.
03.17.2024
Energy Department’s Chelsea Sexton finances transportation’s future
The program officer in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office explains how EV and energy policy gets implemented through billions in federal loans, and how that work underpins a clean-energy economy.
03.10.2024
Impact of the DARPA Grand Challenge reverberates 20 years later
March 13 marks the 20-year anniversary of the inaugural DARPA Grand Challenge race which catalyzed interest in self-driving technology. DARPA director Tony Tether, Carnegie Mellon University’s Red Whittaker, Waymo’s Melissa Dumas Grimm and Pronto’s Anthony Levandowski offer reflections on that...
03.03.2024
BCG’s Augustin Wegscheider explores the nuances in AV, EV forecasts
The co-leader of Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Mobility Innovation discusses complications in deploying automated-driving technology and points to limited EV offerings a contributing factor behind a sales slowdown.
02.25.2024
Larry Burns identifies the biggest threat to the automotive future
The retired General Motors vice president of R&D and adviser to Google and Waymo believes the way digital technology is reshaping our lives will impact both vehicle development and whether we need vehicles at all.
02.18.2024
Union of Concerned Scientists’ David Reichmuth unpacks the plug-in hybrid revival
Reichmuth, a senior engineer in the organization’s Clean Transportation Program, examines if plug-in hybrids will lead to reduced emissions amid renewed interest and calls out automakers with inefficient PHEV offerings.
02.11.2024
Morningstar and Pitchbook experts on what VC investment says about the mobility sector
Sanjay Arya, the head of innovation for index product at Morningstar, and Jonathan Geurkink, a senior research analyst for mobility and supply chain tech at Pitchbook, explain what venture capital investment says about mobility tech and why there is optimism...
02.04.2024
Panasonic’s Andrew Poliak on automotive’s seismic software push
The chief technology officer at Panasonic Automotive details advances on software-defined vehicles and what they mean for consumers.
01.28.2024
McKinsey’s Russell Hensley confronts the ‘permacrisis’ roiling the auto industry
The partner and co-leader of the consulting firm’s Center for Future Mobility advises automakers on navigating software, autonomy and electrification transitions amid profound changes in technology, workforce and the global world order.
01.21.2024
Anthony Levandowski marks 2024 as the ‘year of the robot’
The Pronto CEO and co-founder details the merits of pursuing off-road autonomy, provides a status report on self-driving technology and explains why he founded the Way Of The Future church as a framework for harnessing artificial intelligence.
01.14.2024
Software-defined vehicle tech takes driver’s seat at CES
“Software-defined vehicle” was much more than a buzzwordy catchphrase at CES. From Las Vegas, Elektrobit CEO Maria Anhalt and Qualcomm VP and head of software product management detail rapid advances and growing importance in auto software.
01.07.2024
Michael Dunne charts China’s automotive ascendance
The expert on Asia’s automakers and CEO of Dunne Insights warns that traditional automakers not named Tesla should be “terrified” of BYD across the globe. Further, he explains how China came to dominate battery materials and technology in the burgeoning...
12.31.2023
Clarios CEO Mark Wallace on the enduring role of low-voltage batteries in an EV era
The Clarios CEO examines the growing importance of low-voltage batteries in fully electric vehicles, how recycling may ease geopolitical tensions the promise and realities of new battery chemistries.
12.24.2023
Matt Markel wrings new innovation from an old technology
The Spartan Radar CEO details how his company’s software serves as “eyeglasses” for conventional radar, vastly improving performance in the real world. Plus, he offers up an ideal holiday gift suggestion for budding engineers.
12.17.2023
Gabe Klein explains the government's role as an EV charging catalyst
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, argues that there is no electric vehicle sales slowdown. The segment is growing, and the charging infrastructure to support it will be “private sector-led and government-enabled,” he said.
12.10.2023
Katelyn Foley rethinks the way transportation startups come to life
The UP.Labs president details the thinking behind a “venture lab,” which custom-develops startups for companies like Porsche and Alaska Airlines. Further, she warns automakers and suppliers of fragility within their supply chains.
12.03.2023
Phil Koopman outlines next steps for Cruise and the self-driving industry
The Carnegie Mellon University professor and embedded systems expert makes recommendations on how GM subsidiary Cruise can improve its transparency and trust. Further, he says it’s time the entire industry develops a new safety message.
11.26.2023
Mobileye’s Amnon Shashua eyes profits on road to full autonomy
The CEO of the Israeli auto-tech company explains how driver-assist technology provides a financial bridge toward a self-driving future. He further details the rollout of SuperVision in China and assesses the state of the robotaxi industry.
11.19.2023
Daimler Truck North America’s Rakesh Aneja
The head of eMobility at Daimler discussed why the company is developing battery electric and hydrogen solutions at the same time, and how hydrogen combustion engine technology is a zero-emission solution with a lower barrier to entry for many fleets.
11.12.2023
Plus CEO David Liu on the long haul toward fully automated trucks
The CEO and founder of Plus describes his company’s evolutionary approach toward developing automated-driving technology. Further, he provides updates on work with partners like Amazon, Bosch, Cummings and more, and what’s ahead for Plus in 2024.
11.05.2023
SAFE’s Allanté Whitmore: electric AVs can take a big bite out of pollution
The director of the Autonomous Vehicles Initiative at thinktank Securing America’s Future Energy outlines findings of a new case study that shows how electric AVs could dramatically reduce air and noise pollution in San Francisco.
10.29.2023
Bryant Walker Smith on Cruise’s suspension and what it means for the self-driving industry
University of South Carolina law professor Bryant Walker Smith, an expert on legalities of automated driving, dissects the California DMV’s suspension of Cruise’s driverless permits and details the best ways to build a transparent and trustworthy safety culture.
10.22.2023
EV slowdown fears mount, Hydrogen Hubs winners revealed and Cruise sets sights on Tokyo
Automotive News reporters Pete Bigelow and Hannah Lutz dissect a busy week of news on the electrification and autonomous-vehicle frontiers. Plus, they discuss Pete’s visit with the Toyota Research Institute and Hannah’s takeaways from the GlobalData Automotive Outlook Conference.
10.15.2023
Greg Winfree explains how Texas became a transportation technology hotbed
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute director details autonomous-vehicle deployments in the Lone Star State, examines how new technology can reach users in an equitable way, and sheds light on the fragility of GPS.
10.08.2023
Nth Cycle’s Megan O’Connor uses new tech to boost EV metals supply
The co-founder and CEO of the refining technology startup details the supply squeeze for nickel and cobalt. She describes how her company can pioneer domestic production while decarbonizing dirty recycling and mining processes.
10.01.2023
Tony Posawatz plugs EVs into grid resilience blueprints
The Fermata Energy CEO explains how car owners can reap financial rewards from vehicle-to-grid technology while bolstering the electric grid. Further, the former General Motors executive recounts his time developing the Chevy Volt.
09.24.2023
David Zipper on the problems with 'vehicular obesity'
The writer and visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School details the financial, safety and climate-related costs associated with pickups and SUVs and the potential of minicars and micromobility to change transportation.
09.17.2023
Legal landscape around automated driving remains murky
Automakers are introducing more sophisticated driving systems that complicate determining who or what may be held liable in the event of incidents. ZF board member Martin Fischer, Butzel attorney Jennifer Dukarski and Carnegie Mellon professor Phil Koopman scrutinize the details...
09.10.2023
Margo Oge underscores the urgency behind reducing emissions
The chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation discusses her role in spurring change at Volkswagen following the company’s emissions-cheating scandal and says 2023 marks a critical juncture in a shift toward green mobility.
09.03.2023
BlueSpace.ai’s Christine Moon forges a fresh approach to autonomy
The president and co-founder of BlueSpace.ai offers an alternate path to developing self-driving software, shares lessons learned from her first startup experience, and details the state of driverless deployments in San Francisco.
08.27.2023
How technology could change the makeup of the auto industry
Thilo Koslowski, board member for Arbe and a longtime industry advisor, says traditional automakers must change their cultures and attitudes now to keep their status in the future. He predicts that 10 percent of legacy automakers will be redefined or...
08.20.2023
Reporter roundtable: San Francisco braces for robotaxi rollout and EV charging disappoints drivers
Automotive News reporters Hannah Lutz, Molly Boigon, and Pete Bigelow discuss the latest stories in the mobility realm, including Waymo and Cruise increasing their San Francisco robotaxi businesses and the EV charging problems revealed by a recent J.D. Power customer...
08.14.2023
SBD Automotive’s Robert Fisher on why EV range anxiety might be overstated
SBD Automotive’s domain principal for EV discusses to what extent vehicle owners view their brands as leaders in sustainability, why software is a stronger motivator for EV purchases in China, and how increasing awareness about the environmental costs of battery...
08.07.2023
Jeff Farrah on the “immense challenge” facing the self-driving industry
The executive director of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association discusses the anti-AV sentiment brewing in California, efforts to revive federal legislation, and what self-driving tech’s rollout says about American competitiveness.
07.30.2023
General Motors’ Charlie Freese on the potential for hydrogen fuel cells
The executive director of GM’s hydrogen fuel cell business highlights the automaker’s decades-long history with fuel cell technology, explains when to use fuel cells vs. electric vehicle batteries and shares how GM is taking the technology to other industries. The...
07.23.2023
Motional’s Balajee Kannan on what it takes to run a robotaxi business
The vice president of autonomy at Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv, breaks down the company’s “measured” approach to using self-driving technology to underpin a revenue-generating business.
07.17.2023
Qmerit’s Tracy Price says EV charger electrician shortage could complicate rollout
The convergence of “megawatts and megabytes” requires a new skillset for electricians who will install and maintain the nation’s emerging network of EV chargers, says Price, CEO of Qmerit. Price highlights the challenges to recruiting and quickly training EV charger...
07.09.2023
Reporter roundtable: Vigilantes thwart San Francisco AVs, Lordstown's beef with Foxconn
Automotive News reporters Pete Bigelow and Molly Boigon discuss robotaxi problems in San Francisco, Volkswagen’s return to Austin, Texas, Lordstown’s Chapter 11 filing and progress along the Energy Department’s hydrogen roadmap.
07.02.2023
Navier’s Sampriti Bhattacharyya says waterways are the new highways
The CEO and co-founder of the electric, hydrofoiling boat startup Navier explores the quiet potential of e-boats in marine transportation and how better utilized waterways can carry both passengers and goods, alleviating on-road traffic.
06.25.2023
Dawn Project’s Dan O’Dowd takes on Tesla
The Green Hills Software CEO and The Dawn Project founder catalogs his concerns about the safety of Tesla’s Autopilot and “Full Self Driving” driver-assistance systems. He further scrutinizes the problems associated with software in safety-critical systems.
06.18.2023
TeraWatt’s Neha Palmer plans to charge EV fleets across America
The CEO and co-founder of TeraWatt infrastructure discusses the upcoming launch of a fleet-focused charging network, working with utility companies to meet power needs, and raising $1.1 billion to accelerate electrification efforts.
06.11.2023
Department of Energy’s Michael Berube on the push toward decarbonizing transportation
The deputy assistant secretary provides a status report on the DOE’s Hydrogen Hub initiative, the role of the national laboratories in researching new battery technology and progress toward electrification across America.
06.04.2023
Joby Aviation’s Eric Allison foresees air mobility taking off in 2025
The head of product at the eVTOL startup breaks down the FAA certification process, discusses the company’s partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber, and explains how Toyota, a key investor, has imprinted its culture onto Joby’s plans to scale.
05.28.2023
Zoox’s Amanda Prescott on the regulatory road ahead for robotaxis
The vice president of homologation, vehicle safety and feature integration at Zoox describes the process the company used for self-certifying that its robotaxi conforms with federal standards and the status of the company’s self-driving deployments.
05.21.2023
Beth Osborne explains how U.S. roads became 'Dangerous By Design'
The vice president of transportation at Smart Growth America explores the role car-centric infrastructure plays in a growing traffic-fatality crisis, and how drivers are often blamed for errors that would be prevented by better design.
05.14.2023
Blink Charging’s Brendan Jones on building a reliable charger network
The president and CEO of Blink Charging discusses his company’s new contract with the U.S. Postal Service, his time spent launching the Nissan Leaf and global charging needs in an age of electrification.

What's Shift: A podcast about mobility about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Shift: A podcast about mobility episodes:

Megan Kimble probes the high price of America’s highways

Greg McGuire explores Mcity’s next chapter

Shay Natarajan on confident mobility investing through uncertain times

Jay Joseph sketches out Honda’s hydrogen strategy

Justine Johnson touts Michigan as a hub for mobility

Energy Department’s Chelsea Sexton finances transportation’s future

Impact of the DARPA Grand Challenge reverberates 20 years later

BCG’s Augustin Wegscheider explores the nuances in AV, EV forecasts

Larry Burns identifies the biggest threat to the automotive future

Union of Concerned Scientists’ David Reichmuth unpacks the plug-in hybrid revival

Morningstar and Pitchbook experts on what VC investment says about the mobility sector

Panasonic’s Andrew Poliak on automotive’s seismic software push

McKinsey’s Russell Hensley confronts the ‘permacrisis’ roiling the auto industry

Anthony Levandowski marks 2024 as the ‘year of the robot’

Software-defined vehicle tech takes driver’s seat at CES

Michael Dunne charts China’s automotive ascendance

Clarios CEO Mark Wallace on the enduring role of low-voltage batteries in an EV era

Matt Markel wrings new innovation from an old technology

Gabe Klein explains the government's role as an EV charging catalyst

Katelyn Foley rethinks the way transportation startups come to life

Phil Koopman outlines next steps for Cruise and the self-driving industry

Mobileye’s Amnon Shashua eyes profits on road to full autonomy

Daimler Truck North America’s Rakesh Aneja

Plus CEO David Liu on the long haul toward fully automated trucks

SAFE’s Allanté Whitmore: electric AVs can take a big bite out of pollution

Bryant Walker Smith on Cruise’s suspension and what it means for the self-driving industry

EV slowdown fears mount, Hydrogen Hubs winners revealed and Cruise sets sights on Tokyo

Greg Winfree explains how Texas became a transportation technology hotbed

Nth Cycle’s Megan O’Connor uses new tech to boost EV metals supply

Tony Posawatz plugs EVs into grid resilience blueprints

David Zipper on the problems with 'vehicular obesity'

Legal landscape around automated driving remains murky

Margo Oge underscores the urgency behind reducing emissions

BlueSpace.ai’s Christine Moon forges a fresh approach to autonomy

How technology could change the makeup of the auto industry

Reporter roundtable: San Francisco braces for robotaxi rollout and EV charging disappoints drivers

SBD Automotive’s Robert Fisher on why EV range anxiety might be overstated

Jeff Farrah on the “immense challenge” facing the self-driving industry

General Motors’ Charlie Freese on the potential for hydrogen fuel cells

Motional’s Balajee Kannan on what it takes to run a robotaxi business

Qmerit’s Tracy Price says EV charger electrician shortage could complicate rollout

Reporter roundtable: Vigilantes thwart San Francisco AVs, Lordstown's beef with Foxconn

Navier’s Sampriti Bhattacharyya says waterways are the new highways

Dawn Project’s Dan O’Dowd takes on Tesla

TeraWatt’s Neha Palmer plans to charge EV fleets across America

Department of Energy’s Michael Berube on the push toward decarbonizing transportation

Joby Aviation’s Eric Allison foresees air mobility taking off in 2025

Zoox’s Amanda Prescott on the regulatory road ahead for robotaxis

Beth Osborne explains how U.S. roads became 'Dangerous By Design'

Blink Charging’s Brendan Jones on building a reliable charger network