The Culture Lane

Shared electric scooters and e-bikes aren’t a fad—they’re reshaping urban transportation. Veo reports that 35% of its trips replace car journeys and 72% of riders drive less, contributing to a 31% rise in shared micromobility trips in North America in 2024. In this episode of The Culture Lane, Alex Keating, Veo’s vice president of policy and partnerships, unpacks the company’s Shifting Gears report and what it reveals about the future of micromobility.

Navigating today’s U.S. auto market is no small feat—especially for a brand as iconic as Volkswagen. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we speak with Rachael Zaluzec, chief marketing officer and senior vice president at Volkswagen of America, about how VW is growing its U.S. customer base while staying true to its roots, from its storied heritage to a modern lineup that includes the all-electric ID. Buzz.

Car shopping today can mean endless calls, emails, and texts from dealers all promising the perfect deal, adding to the stress of finding the right vehicle at the right price. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore how digital car-buying platform CarEdge is using AI to reduce the anxiety of purchasing a vehicle. The guest is Zach Shefska, co-founder and CEO of CarEdge, who shares how the tech is reshaping dealer–customer interactions and empowering consumers in new ways.

Audio has always been at the heart of the driving experience—whether it’s catching the morning show on your commute or streaming playlists on a weekend road trip. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we dive into how in-car listening habits are changing, from emerging audio platforms to what’s coming next. Our guest is Laura Ivey, director of research at audio insights leader Edison Research.

A year after unveiling the Scout Motors Traveler SUV and Terra pickup concepts, the Scout team is deep into finalizing the production models slated to debut in 2027. In the Season 3 premiere of The Culture Lane, we sit down with Chris Benjamin, chief design officer at Scout Motors, to discuss how the team is approaching reigniting the brand nearly 45 years later. 

The electrification of Dodge has become one of the most buzzed-about evolutions in the auto industry, namely because of what the brand has represented as an American nameplate. In this episode of The Culture Lane (the final full episode in Season 2), we explore how Dodge plans to navigate its shift into electrification, with Matt McAlear, the newly appointed CEO of Dodge.  

Cultural relevance has become a key business strategy for many companies seeking to position their products or services in the market. However, knowing how to navigate culture can be challenging, especially when it comes to selling vehicles in today's market. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore some of those challenges with Angela Spencer Ford, executive vice president and managing partner of the Detroit-based marketing agency, BLVD Content. 

The Nissan R35 GT-R is currently in its last model year. However, as one of the most iconic vehicles in the world, the benchmark the Japanese supercar has set for performance will live on for years to come. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into what has made the GT-R so ionic. The guest is Kazutoshi Mizuno, known as the “Father” of the GTR, who shares some deeper insight on the supercar in his new collector’s book titled, The GT-R: My Philosophy and My Original Technologies.    

The tire industry is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolution of the automotive and mobility business, likely more than many realize. Be it EVs or motorsports, tires will help drive the future of vehicle transportation. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore the transformation of the tire business with Rob Williams, who is charged with navigating the future of Hankook Tire, North America, as president.