The Drivecast

Cars are more complicated, connected, and software driven than ever. The tuning industry is growing, but awash in shady characters promising big power gains if you yank out your car's brain and send it to them to modify. AutoTuner aims to show you can run a legitimate business in this space, but this is at odds with what automakers want.

AutoTuner is building its business by primarily offering the tools and services to jailbreak ECUs, not the actual codes. But this all crosses into the battle over right-to-repair, not to mention automakers themselves wanting to sell you more performance via upgraded software for a cost.

The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by AutoTuner USA CEO Arin Ahnell for a frank discussion about the state of and future of software tuning, the right-to-repair movement, and modification culture in a timeline of complex powertrains and EVs.

Stories referenced in today's episode:

⁠Why Drivers and Mechanics Are United Against Automakers: ‘Right To Repair’ Explained⁠

Ford’s CEO Doesn’t Want You Fixing Your New Bronco. He Says It’s About Safety

The Feds Are Coming for Diesel Truck Owners. They’re Starting With Your Phone

DOJ Orders Apple, Google to Hand Over OBDII App User Data in Emissions Probe

John Deere to Pay $99 Million in Monumental Right-to-Repair Settlement

Ford CEO Jim Farley’s Right To Repair Comment Should Make Every Car Owner Uncomfortable

Rivian’s RAD Tuner Is Like An Equalizer For Your EV’s Powertrain

00:00 - Intro

05:13 - What is the state of chip tuning in 2026?

07:14 - What does it take to unlock ECUs at scale?

08:09 - Automakers getting into the tuning game

09:30 - Warranties and tuning

11:18 - OEM collaboration

12:48 - Right-to-repair

15:51 - How do you know when an ECU's unlocked

16:50 - Getting around security protocols

19:37 - Difference between different types of cars from different countries

20:45 - Subscription model

22:05 - AutoTuner One app

24:05 - Legal issues

31:28 - Stories of people sending in their ECUs

32:33 - EVs and tuning

36:22 - Vertical stack integrations

38:53 - Tractors, agricultural market

42:32 - Accessibility and business growth

43:37 - The next cracking goal

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America's EV charging situation is a mess. So much so that eight automakers banded together to create a joint venture, dubbed Ionna, and try to fix the situation. It's an unprecedented move on multiple levels that shows the gravity of the situation, how seriously automakers take the future of electric vehicles, and an entirely new business venture that diversifies these companies beyond just building and selling vehicles: now they are selling the fuel too.

Ionna has a big goal: build a reliable, high-powered electric vehicle fast-charging network across North America with at least 30,000 chargers and 2,000 stations in the U.S. by 2030 followed by Canada.

The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by Ionna CEO Seth Cutler to discuss the where the landscape sites today, why chargers are placed where they are and look like they look, and future of EV charging in America.

Stories referenced in today's episode:

New Automaker Super-Alliance Plans to Nearly Double EV Chargers Across America

Rivian’s Charging Network Is 4% of Tesla’s. Here’s RJ Scaringe’s Plan to Change That

Unreliable Charging Networks Plagued 1 in 5 EV Owners Last Year: Study

00:00 - Intro

04:48 - Why is America's charging situation a hot mess?

05:41 - What's taking so long to get EV charging stations up and running?

09:14 - How many Ionna stations exist today? Status report

10:42 - The business model

19:44 - How are charging station sites chosen?

23:46 - Partnerships

27:25 - Software, reliability, broken chargers

34:20 - Eight automakers own Ionna

37:31 - Charging speeds, how fast is fast enough?

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A new law in California relaxing emissions tests for classic cars is being hailed as a “landmark” victory for the car community and common sense. But it’s not what it seems. 

California has the toughest emissions standards in the country, requiring any car made after 1975 to pass a biennial smog test in order to be registered. By design, the system forces thousands of old cars off the road every year as the cost of compliance rises—even if the vehicle runs just fine, a stubborn check engine light will cause it to fail.

Now, a group backed by industry lobbyists and Jay Leno has succeeded in changing the law to make it easier for owners to keep their classics. It’s being celebrated as an unprecedented win—but in reality, it's not going to do much at all to fix the state’s broken approach to emissions tests, or help the people who are affected the most.

This week The Drive's Editor-in-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder separate fact from fiction and break down why Leno's Law isn't the solution everyone is claiming.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

‘Leno’s Law’ Finally Passes: Here’s What That Really Means for Classic Car Owners

Video: The Problem with US Emissions testing (YouTube)

00:00 Intro

04:34 The fight over smog testing

8:54 How the system works

12:25 Devil's in the details

14:51 Long walk to Leno's Law

17:14 Missed opportunity

20:30 Where do we go from here?

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Honda's top executives have watched Toyota's reliability crisis play out with the Japanese competitor's new turbocharged engines, and it keeps them up at night.

Honda Motor Executive Vice President Noriya Kaihara and American Honda President and CEO Eiji Fujimura told The Drive how the automaker's quality control systems are evolving as the automaker prepares a new wave of next-gen powertrains. The goal? Avoid the nightmare that is currently playing out with Toyota and its turbocharged V6 engines in the Tundra.

This week The Drive's Director of Content and Product Joel Feder and Deputy Editor Jerry Perez go behind the scenes with Honda's top executives and discuss how the automaker's making sure its engines don't grenade themselves.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

Honda’s Top Bosses Explain How They’re Avoiding Toyota’s Engine Nightmare

Toyota Built Its Reputation on Reliability. The Tundra Is Threatening to Undo It

Honda’s New V6 Hybrid Will Have More Power and Better Fuel Economy Than Competitors Turbo-Four Hybrids

Next-Gen Honda Civic Hybrid Prototype Drive: A Fuel Sipper That Feels Like An Automatic Si

2026 Honda Prelude Long-Term Test Begins: Living With Honda’s Most Controversial Car

00:00 - Intro

03:57 - Toyota's nightmare recap

05:34 - Honda execs can't sleep over Toyota's issues

07:10 - Evolving quality control systems

07:36 - Speed to market

08:37 - Three words

12:04 - Who is Honda? How can Honda compete?

13:16 - Honda turbocharged path

14:13 - Honda's next-gen V6 hybrid

21:02 - No one is perfect

21:45 - Quick action

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You would not know it from the posts on Instagram during Monterey Car Week last month or the barrage of expensive debuts that have been touted, but the luxury segment is in trouble.

While Bugatti and Ferrari are doing just fine the story isn't the same for other luxury automakers. Bentley is spiraling, Aston Martin is a mess, Maserati is a train wreck, and Porsche is in trouble and it's not clear that the Macan and Cayenne SUVs can save the iconic automaker this time.

This week The Drive's Director of Content and Product Joel Feder and Editor Byron Hurd break down the situation, go behind the scenes on the luxury market crumbling, why it's happening, and what comes next.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

The Luxury Car Market Is Crumbling from the Top Down

00:00 - Intro

05:41 - How did we get to this story?

06:11 - What's happening?

09:18 - Facts and figures

11:26 - Depreciation

12:30 - Second-hand market

17:59 - The blurry line of "luxury features"

26:00 - Pricing and stealth wealth

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One year ago, the average cost of a gallon of diesel fuel in America was $3.70. Today, at the time of this recording, it’s $5.60. That’s 50% higher, and some forecasts have it touching a record $6 a gallon by the end of the year. Not good.

America, and arguably the world, runs on diesel. So when prices go up by 50%... well, that pain can only be contained for so long. From multiple wars to oil refineries going offline there’s no easy fix. Everyone's about to feel the pain.

The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder break the situation down with Senior Editor Caleb Jacobs.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

Diesel Prices Are About to Break Records. Here’s Why They Keep Rising

The Government Is Still Messing With Fuel Formulas to Try to Curb Gas Prices

The Feds Say Cutting Fuel With Ethanol Will Bring Down Gas Prices. We’re Not Buying It

The Feds Plan To Start Diluting Gasoline This May: Explained

00:00 Intro

0:55 - Current diesel pricing reality

5:18 - Why has diesel gotten so expensive?

6:37 - This is a global issue

8:54 - Goldman Sachs prediction

10:27 - Modern realities

11:38 - Napkin math

15:42- Who's talking about this?

17:35 - Not at record levels, yet

18:56 - The new normal?

19:17 - Ripple affects on schools

22:05 - The holidays are coming

22:36 - This affects everyone

23:49 - There's no diluting like with gas

25:08 - There's no backstop

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While most people could not care less about tires they are in fact one of the most important aspects of a car's performance and safety. Goodyear is one of the most iconic tire manufacturers in the world, but its name, legacy, and blimps haven't kept it insulated from the turmoil the auto industry is going through.

Goodyear recorded a net loss of $1.7 billion in 2025 and $249 million in the first quarter of 2026. The company brought in a new CEO, Mark Stewart, in 2024 to "transform the company." Stewart's been swift and decisive in a bid to turnaround Goodyear's business.

The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by Goodyear CEO Mark Stewart to discuss whether the company can actually grow its business by selling more expensive tires to fewer people, the company's support of tariffs, and the competition. And yes, there's blimp talk.

00:00 Intro

07:23 How did Goodyear get into trouble?

10:33 Are we done with layoffs?

13:36 Stewart's background isn't tires

16:42 Tariffs

21:54 OEM supplier business

30:52 Chasing those whales

33:13 Are expensive tires actually better than cheaper tires?

37:31 Should Goodyear be more involved in cultural events?

42:04 The Goodyear blimps -- Blimp talk!

48:20 Goodyear in motorsports

52:38 Smart tires

55:44 Airless tires

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The U.S. is laughably behind the rest of the world when it comes to headlight technology. It’s not because the technology didn’t exist, but rather because outdated U.S. laws have prevented automakers from bringing these modern technological marvels to U.S. roads. Until now.

New laws that were finally enacted years ago are finally allowing automakers to bring adaptive headlights to the U.S. with a handful of automakers now launching the modern tech in America.

The Drive's Director Of Content And Product Joel Feder, Head of Exterior Lighting for Audi AG, Michael Kruppa, and vehicle lighting and regulation subject matter expert Daniel Stern break down the differences in these upcoming modern headlight technologies and why it took so long for the U.S. to catch up to the rest of the world.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

Audi’s Matrix LED Headlights Are Finally Coming to America

Audi’s New Q9 Will Project Your Turn Signals Onto the Road

Here’s Why Modern Headlights Are So Unbelievably Annoying

It’s Not Just You: Six of 10 Drivers Say Headlight Glare Is a Problem

See Audi’s New Micro LED Digital Matrix Headlights in Action. Yes, They’re Still Illegal in America

Adaptive Headlights Will Finally Come to the US, Thanks to the Infrastructure Bill

00:00 Intro

04:58 Laws had to change to enable modern headlight tech

09:21 Addressing headlight glare

13:48 Adding communication to lighting

15:06 Rivian's adaptive lighting system vs. Audi's

21:56 Retrofitting adaptive lighting to cars on the road

25:22 One lighting regulation for the world

28:12 What took so long for America to get into this century?

28:40 One world headlight

30:42 Different implementations of the tech

33:26 Safety, light pollution, and blinding people

36:58 Audi vs. Rivian's system

38:35 Lighting tunnels: U.S. vs. The World

40:40 Is this a safety item?

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Millions of people have read Joel's report and seen the body cam footage after he was mistakenly tracked, and then ambushed, by police for what was believed to be grand theft auto after Flock license plate readers flagged the car he was driving for days.

The story, and topic of Flock and automatic license plate readers, is a lightning rod and at the heart of a national debate and various discussions in America. People's concerns about warrantless tracking, their 4th amendment rights, their privacy, and the constant stories surfacing of cops misusing the technology to stalk people can't be overlooked.

The Drive's Director Of Content And Product Joel Feder and Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley sat down for a candid conversation about what happened, what's happening in America, and the future.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

⁠How Flock Cameras Wrongly Tracked Me for Days Over ‘Stolen’ Plates and Sent Police After Me⁠

⁠Flock Says Its Cameras Worked ‘Correctly’ When Police Tracked and Ambushed Me for No Reason⁠

I Reported on Flock’s Cameras. Now I’m One of the System’s Mistakes

⁠Cops Are Already Using License Plate Readers to Stalk People⁠

⁠License Plate Cameras Are Tracking Your Life Without a Warrant⁠

⁠License Plate Cameras Will Soon Track Phones, Wearables, Infotainment, and Even Your Pets

00:00 Intro

03:55 - What happened?

06:16 - What's changing and what did Flock learn from this?

14:02 - Addressing the hundreds of millions of misreads a month

18:00 - What's the future look like?

21:21 - The 4th amendment and privacy concerns

24:28 - Congress members threatening anti-Flock bills

27:00 - Publish pushback on Flock

31:52 - Police misuse and abuse of Flock

35:26 - Addressing Garrett calling people "domestic terrorists"

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Sometimes we report the news, and sometimes we ARE the news. That’s exactly what happened two weeks ago when Joel published his report about being mistakenly tracked by police via Flock license plate cameras and ambushed by the police in a strip mall parking lot. We can't make this stuff up.

This story hit so hard is because it landed in the middle of a heated debate around the country about Flock Safety’s growing network of AI-powered surveillance cameras, which police can use to track a lot more than just license plates. Every week, there are more headlines about one city entering a new partnership with Flock, another city ending theirs after residents pushed back, or people running around and cutting down every Flock camera they can find. 

What happened? What have we learned since? And answers to people's questions that go beyond the stories we've published so far. The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director Of Content And Product Joel Feder break it all down.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

⁠How Flock Cameras Wrongly Tracked Me for Days Over ‘Stolen’ Plates and Sent Police After Me⁠

⁠Flock Says Its Cameras Worked ‘Correctly’ When Police Tracked and Ambushed Me for No Reason⁠

⁠Cops Are Already Using License Plate Readers to Stalk People⁠

⁠License Plate Cameras Are Tracking Your Life Without a Warrant⁠

⁠License Plate Cameras Will Soon Track Phones, Wearables, Infotainment, and Even Your Pets⁠

00:00 Intro

04:23 - What happened?

07:31 - Flock cameras tracked me

14:11 - Flock reached out

16:27 - What did we learn? How did this happen?

34:12 - Why four squad cars and four cops?

36:22 - Now what? Where do we go from here? What comes next?

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