The Culture Lane

Consumer car purchases are arguably the heartbeat of automotive, given that every facet of the industry is predicated on that continuing pulse of the business. However, understanding what drives those purchases can be challenging, to say the least, especially in today’s market. To get a better understanding of the factors that influence car purchases, The Culture Lane elicited the insight of Rebecca Lindland, senior director of industry data and insights at Cars.com, as the featured guest on this week’s episode. 

The new 2025 Infiniti QX80 seeks to usher in a new era for the luxury brand by building on several of the Japanese automaker's core tenets. From its new design elements to its new tech features, the 2025 QX80 is being touted by Infiniti as an evolution of the previous model. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore how Infiniti is leveraging the new SUV to reposition the luxury brand. The guest is Craig Keeys, group vice president of Infiniti Americas.

Digital platforms and services have become an integral part of the automotive dealership business. However, as the auto retail market continues to evolve, it begs the question: how does a company ensure that its digital service continues to meet the needs of dealers and consumers? In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into this question and more with Randy Modos, co-founder and president of PayJunction, an auto dealer payment processing platform. 

The renovation of the historic Michigan Central train station in Detroit has helped to reposition the city as an epicenter in the evolving world of mobility. The station now anchors a technology hub that will help drive a range of innovations, spanning next-gen delivery robots to the future of autonomous vehicles. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve deeper into Michigan Central and what it signifies culturally for Detroit, with Carolina Pluszczynski, chief operating officer and head of innovation services at Michigan Central.

Digital gaming now ranks as one of the most popular pastimes in the world, with more than 70 percent of adults in the U.S. indicating they have played a video game on some platform, according to Statista. VRAL Games is looking to solidify its lane in the space, with VRIDER SBK, a new virtual reality (VR) motorcycle racing experience. In this episode of The Culture Lane, VRAL CEO Rodolfo Saccoman discusses how he sees VR-based games helping brands connect to consumers in exciting, new ways.    

Fiat has developed quite a legacy over its 125-year history. In recent years, the Italian brand’s global appeal has been rooted in the all-electric Fiat 500. Now, the Italian automaker is looking to leverage the vehicle's popularity in North America, with the launch of the new all-electric Fiat 500e in the market. In this episode of The Culture Lane, Aamir Ahmed, the newly appointed head of Fiat North America, shares some insight on the brand’s strategy for positioning the new all-electric hatchback beyond Europe. 

Social media has become a pivotal part of automotive marketing strategies. However, when it comes to influencers and content creators, social is arguably one of the most challenging areas of marketing to navigate. In this episode of The Culture Lane, Joe Gagliese, founder and CEO of Viral Nation, a company rooted in the power of influencers, discusses how automakers can successfully navigate those challenges.     

Genesis is arguably one of the most interesting brands in the automotive sector. Launched in 2016 in the U.S., the South Korean automaker has quickly become a major competitor in the luxury segment. And technology has been an intricate part of the company's success. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore the key tenets of Genesis’ approach to tech, with Ricky Lao, who has played a pivotal role in shaping the luxury brand’s tech strategy, as director of product planning for Hyundai Motor America.      

The transformative impact of artificial intelligence in the automotive and mobility industry is well underway. And one of the companies breaking new ground in the space is SoundHound AI. Leveraging its relationship with Nvidia, the company is redefining the idea of in-vehicle communications, with its conversational intelligence technology. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into the tech, with SoundHound AI COO Michael Zagorsek.     

Every business sector is poised to be impacted by the deprecation or phasing out of third-party cookies. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into the implications of the shift away from cross-site web-tracking on automakers, dealers, and other affiliated businesses – as well as other changes redefining the digital marketing landscape. Our guest is marketing thought-leader, Ken Nelson, who serves as a managing director at the insights company, Deloitte.