Joining us today from Hawaii is Ryan Yamauchi, Co-founder of Keyvo, owner of the vehicle subscription consultancy VYCL, and the guy who’s making it possible to subscribe to a car in paradise. He’s teamed up with returning co-host John Possumato, CEO of DriveItAway, to geek out on one of my favorite topics: truly affordable vehicle access for everyone. In this episode, Ryan gives a masterclass where he describes his "Six Pillars of Vehicle Subscription" which helped an independent Hawaiian dealership quietly turn vehicle subscription into an 800 vehicle success story. Thanks to some creative financing, Ryan shares his method for making monthly wheels affordable for everyone. Instead of trying to torch the traditional dealer model, Ryan's philosophy is to partner with it, giving showrooms a new recurring-revenue program that actually works while saving them from the slow death of aging inventory. Are EV subscriptions the rare business idea that's a true win-win for everyone? We think so. Also, tune in for some seasonal banter where I quiz Ryan and John on their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. And yes, for the record... I make an *awesome* fried turkey. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

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Connect with Ryan: [email protected] | LinkedIn

Connect with John: [email protected] | LinkedIn

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This episode is sponsored by DriveItAway. If you’re a franchise dealer, you can now launch a profitable (and scalable) micro-lease to own program with zero upfront costs, to transform your unsold inventory into monthly revenue, effortlessly. And if you want to support DriveItAway’s mission directly, check out their stock on the OTC markets, "DWAY." Learn more at driveitway.com/dealers

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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JT Taylor returns to the show after nearly two years, joined this time by co-host John Possumato, CEO of DriveItAway, as we dive into a range of timely topics shaping the automotive industry. “JT” Taylor is a Managing Partner at Accrual Equity Partners (AEP), where he brings nearly 40 years of leadership experience across the automotive, retail, and investment banking sectors. With a career rooted in a deep passion for the automotive industry, JT has built a national reputation as a trusted advisor, operator, and connector across dealership networks, technology ventures, and mobility-related enterprises. As you'll hear in this episode, JT is known for his people-first approach and his ability to bring deep industry insight to both operational and financial decision-making. Press play to hear JT's thoughts on everything from Elon's $878 billion comp package at Tesla, Ford's potential discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning and how used electric vehicles currently represent one of the most cost-effective transportation options in the United States, linking affordable mobility directly to enhanced employment opportunities. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn from one of the best!

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Press release: Automotive Retail & Investment Banking Leader James "JT" Taylor Joins DriveItAway Holdings Board of Advisors

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This episode is sponsored by DriveItAway. If you’re a franchise dealer, you can now launch a profitable (and scalable) micro-lease to own program with zero upfront costs, to transform your unsold inventory into monthly revenue, effortlessly. And if you want to support DriveItAway’s mission directly, check out their stock on the OTC markets, "DWAY." Learn more at driveitway.com/dealers

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Connect with JT Taylor on LinkedIn

Connect with John Possumato at [email protected] or on LinkedIn

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Kirsten Von Busch, Director of Product Marketing at Experian Automotive is back on the show today to talk about the latest EV data from 2025. Battery electrics (BEVs) have skidded to a mere 9.2% overall market share, while hybrids gained 3.1% bringing it to 18.9% of the market. 87% of EV households are secretly hedging bets with an ICE vehicle in the garage, proving even the most loyal BEV drivers still want a Plan B. Shoutout to Miami (a top volume DMA and one of the fastest-growing DMAs for electric registrations), alongside Fort Lauderdale, Denver, and Colorado Springs, where EVs are multiplying faster than parking tickets. Overall, the full electrified squad, hybrids, plug-ins, and BEVs claims nearly 30% market share, with loyalty fiercer than the Teslarati. 67% of hybrid fans and 74% of BEV drivers stick to electric. As rebates fade and Ford tweaks its F-150 Lightning playbook, consumers are definitely flirting with hybrids before they take the full BEV plunge. All signs point to turbulence ahead, but electrification's grip on the wheel is only tightening.

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Access the latest trends in the automotive market with reports on auto financing, vehicle registration, and consumer preferences. Experian's data scientists compile trend data into quarterly reports to provide you with expert analysis and insights. Once you submit the form to access a report, you will be notified each time a new quarterly trends report is available. 

Sign up here

https://www.experian.com/automotive/auto-quarterly-trends

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Check out Experian's EV Resource Page for all things electric vehicle data

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This episode is sponsored by Experian. Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. Experian helps to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using their unique combination of data, analytics and software. Learn more here

https://www.experian.com/automotive/ev-resource-center?cmpid=EVS_for_Everyone

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Connect with Kirsten on LinkedIn

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Dan Krassner, electric vehicle policy expert by day and stand-up comedian by night, joins the show today to discuss the challenges of EV charging in multi-family housing, which poses a significant barrier for nearly one-third of U.S. households. The research from "EVs for All America" indicates that 70% of renters and 65% of condo owners would drive an EV if they had access to reliable overnight charging. In light of this research, Dan outlines a plan for California featuring grants for building owners to install Level 2 chargers without upfront costs, offset by tenant monthly fees, and supplemented by state tax credits to facilitate nationwide scalability in dense urban areas. But wait, there's more! Of course we had to keep the conversation fun because this is technically a WATT'S SO FUNNY episode, so you'll also hear some anecdotes about Dan's blind Shih Tzu, Toby Keith, and his one time encounter with wrestler John Cena. This is a can't miss episode if you're currently working in the multi-family charging space.

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Connect with Dan Krassner: [email protected]

EVs for All America is a nonprofit public education group working to ensure the benefits of electric vehicles reach every community. We conduct independent research, highlight solutions to the toughest barriers (“pinch points”) in electrification, and share practical tools that help consumers, dealers, and policymakers make informed choices. Our mission is simple: break down the partisan divide over EVs and accelerate an equitable, durable transition to clean transportation. Learn more at https://www.evsforallamerica.org/

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POLITICO Highlights EVs for All America’s Research to Solve California’s Apartment Charging Gap

Read the full article here

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Imagine a world where China doesn't just compete in the auto industry—they conquer it. Their master plan? "Scale up, flood in, starve out": Ramp up production to flood global markets with affordable EVs, then squeeze out rivals through sheer volume and cost advantages. And guess what? The stakes couldn't be higher for U.S. innovation, jobs, and national security. Joining me once again to decode this high-stakes game is Michael Dunne, CEO of Dunne Insights and a leading expert on Asian automotive trends, he's back to reveal what's really at risk.

China's playbook is ruthless and effective. They've turbocharged factories across the country, churning out twice as many vehicles as their domestic market demands. The surplus? It's pouring into export markets worldwide, fueling explosive growth for brands like BYD, which skyrocketed 880% year-over-year in the UK alone. Don't take our word for it: Peter Fleet, former Group Vice President at Ford Motor Company, warns that Chinese automakers could seize a staggering 30% of the UK market within just two years. That's not gradual disruption, it's a tidal wave.

And here's the kicker: China doesn't stop at scale. They control a near-monopoly on rare earth minerals and magnets, essential ingredients for EV batteries and motors, giving them an unbreakable edge in the electric revolution. Without these, Western manufacturers are left scrambling.

The fallout for America? We're exposed. Detroit's legacy giants are bogged down by outdated strategies, fumbling the shift to EVs amid surging consumer demand for sustainable rides. As Michael puts it, we need a "Sputnik moment," that urgent, all-hands-on-deck wake-up call from the Space Race era, to supercharge our own battery and EV supply chains. Why? Because a secure domestic ecosystem isn't just smart business; it's vital for energy independence, technological leadership, and safeguarding our future against foreign dominance. Tune in now to grasp the full force of China's automotive juggernaut and arm yourself with the insights to fight back.

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PUBLISHING NOTE: This episode was recorded on October 24th 2025.

As of October 30th 2025, following Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, China committed to pausing new export restrictions on five key rare earth metals announced on October 9, 2025, and agreed not to tighten controls on rare earth exports or related processing equipment. (Restrictions on seven other rare earths, imposed in April 2025, remain in place.) This directly addressed U.S. threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs and other goods if Beijing weaponized its dominance in rare earths. The truce provides immediate breathing room. By halting new restrictions, it averts an acute supply crunch that could have halted EV assembly lines or inflated prices amid booming U.S. demand (EV sales hit 1.2 million units in 2025 so far). This stabilizes costs for U.S. automakers, supporting Biden-era incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act's $7,500 EV tax credit, which ties eligibility to North American sourcing—but still leans on Chinese-processed materials.

In essence, the meeting bought time but no transformation— a tactical win for Trump, but a reminder that U.S. EV ambitions hinge on outmaneuvering China's mineral monopoly.

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Read Michael's full article here and subscribe to his newsletter here.

Connect with Michael on X and on LinkedIn

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Recorded on-site at the Auto Finance Summit in Las Vegas this month, Mitch Fadel, former Upbound / Rent-A-Center CEO and John Possumato, DriveItAway's CEO join me for an exciting episode that will change the auto industry forever. Mitch Fadel's proven track record at Rent-A-Center—scaling from 50 stores to over 2,000—demonstrates his unmatched ability to drive exponential growth and redefine access to essential goods for underserved consumers. Under his leadership, the company evolved into the Upbound Group, introducing Acima, a cutting-edge virtual leasing platform that empowers customers with limited credit to acquire furniture and appliances from trusted partners like Ashley Furniture, bypassing traditional barriers. Now, Mitch is strategically pivoting into the automotive sector, advising DriveItAway on their initiative to target used electric vehicles returning from leases to address a critical gap in sustainable transportation for lower-middle-income families. Why? Because the dusty old buy-here-pay-here car scene hasn't evolved since the flip phones ruled. More specifically, the stagnant buy-here-pay-here market, unchanged for 35 years, leaves millions behind, but DriveItAway's lease-to-own approach promises to revolutionize it through targeted partnerships with dealerships, delivering mobility that's both aspirational and attainable. With the potential to capture 5-10% of car sales, this initiative creates enduring value for consumers, dealers, and manufacturers alike, (a triple win!) positioning DriveItAway as the indispensable force for equitable progress in the EV era. Tune in for something truly disruptive!

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This episode is sponsored by DriveItAway. If you’re a franchise dealer, you can now launch a profitable (and scalable) micro-lease to own program with zero upfront costs, to transform your unsold inventory into monthly revenue, effortlessly. And if you want to support DriveItAway’s mission directly, check out their stock on the OTC markets, "DWAY." Learn more at driveitway.com/dealers

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Connect with Mitch Fadel on LinkedIn

Connect with John Possumato at [email protected] or on LinkedIn

________________________________

Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Melinda Zabritski, Head of Automotive Financial Insights at Experian joined me at the Auto Finance Summit in Las Vegas last week and highlighted her recent report: Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market Report: Q2 2025. Buyers are going old-school with cold hard cash. 67% of used vehicle deals closed all-cash in Q2, thanks to sky-high affordability hurdles. But don't hit the panic button, credit scores are skyrocketing, showing consumers are still nailing that money game amid economic speed bumps. EVs took a slight detour, dipping below 9% market share. The fix? Leasing's the hero here, dishing out low payments that make going electric like a joyride steal.

New car payments are soaring to approximately $770 a month, fueled by tariffs and beefier loans. Meanwhile, the used market's owning the track with 40 million transactions (vs. just 12 million new). But there's good news from the lender lane: Loan-to-value (LTV) ratios are dropping smartly to around 90% for top players, new and used alike. And EVs? Lenders are ditching the doubt on residuals and batteries, finally cruising with some confidence. Don't miss this episode for everything you need to know about the current state of the automotive finance market!

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Experian Automotive's exclusive quarterly report on the latest trends and analysis of the U.S. automotive finance market, presented by Melinda Zabritski, Head of Automotive Financial Insights at Experian.

Gain insights into:

• New and used financing
• Lender market share shifts
• Credit scores and risk distribution
• Changes to loan amounts, terms, rates, and payments

Download here

https://www.experian.com/automotive/auto-credit-webinar-form

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Check out Experian's EV Resource Page for all things electric vehicle data

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This episode is sponsored by Experian. Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. Experian helps to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using their unique combination of data, analytics and software. Learn more here

https://www.experian.com/automotive/ev-resource-center?cmpid=EVS_for_Everyone

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Connect with Melinda on LinkedIn

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Comedian Blake Wexler joins the show today as Tesla unveils a no-frills Model Y that's cheaper than a fake Labubu but roasted harder than a cup of overcooked ramen. Elon asks, "does your mom have a question?" on X and Aubrey Strobel's mom scores a SpaceX launch invite—hmm, was it waste of a Q&A? OpenAI's Sora 2 unleashes physics-perfect deepfake video creation. From Bob Ross painting a Cybertruck to Tupac chatting up Mr. Rogers, the lines are now even blurrier between what's real and what's not. And finally, Tesla's Optimus appeared out of nowhere last week and drop-kicked the world with some Kung Fu flair before narrating a vote-hype video for the Nov 6th shareholder bash, dangling a trillion-dollar CEO carrot for Elon. Reality is stranger than fiction but hey, I'm here for it!

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Blake Wexler is a New York-based comedian who started doing stand-up at the age of 15 as a high school student in Philadelphia. In addition to writing for and appearing on Comedy Central & ABC, Blake also has been a featured performer in (too) many comedy festivals and can be regularly heard on The Cracked, Daily Zeitgeist & The Todd Glass Show podcasts. He is also the host of the gameshow LIES! for the Philadelphia Eagles. All four of Blake’s critically acclaimed stand-up comedy records debuted at #1 on the iTunes & Amazon comedy charts, and his album 12 Years of Voicemails from Todd Glass to Blake Wexler charted on Billboard.

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Follow Blake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakewexler

https://x.com/blakewexler

Website: https://www.blakewexler.com/

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Tour Dates!

​October 24-25: Wits End Comedy Club w/ Cy Amundson – Charleston, SC.

November 7: The Hideout – Boston, MA.

December 7: Lincoln Lodge – Chicago, IL.

January 16: Littlefield – Brooklyn, NY

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This episode is sponsored by The Merlin Group, your go-to partner for B2B success. We help companies tackle complex challenges quickly by connecting you with hard-to-reach decision makers, accessing exclusive resources, and boosting demand like nobody else. Our mission? To make your business growth simple by linking you with the key players who can take it to the next level. Learn more here: https://www.themerlingroup.co/

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Tesla's most "affordable vehicle" yet? Nah. I scoured the internet this afternoon for everything you need to know about the brand new Model Y Standard and Model 3 Standard announcement. I gotta be honest, I feel a bit let down with this one. Tune in to hear why. BBQ ribs not included : )

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Tell me what's on your mind! Email me at [email protected]

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Holy Q3 Batman. According to Automotive News, EVs floored it with a 21% sales surge to 410,000 units, snagging 10% market share last quarter. Buyers dashed like caffeinated squirrels to hoard $7,500 tax credits before Uncle Sam yanked the cord. Meanwhile, Tesla's still the boss with 463,000 global deliveries, but growth seems to be idling like a Cybertruck in traffic. Enter GM's glow-up: 66,000 EVs sold—double last year—with the Equinox EV dethroning all non-Tesla vehicles. Ford's Mustang Mach-E revved up 50% to 20,000 sales and Rivian's cranking deliveries toward 15,000 vehicles, though tariff threats from China and expired tax credits might zap the momentum. But hold the phone. Dealers and execs braced for a sales cliff, but here's the plot twist: GM and Ford are flipping the script with slick leasing programs that stretch the credit's life. Their financing arms are fronting down payments on EVs to snag the $7,500 subsidy upfront, then passing the savings to lessees through lower monthly rates – keeping the party going for months. Ford's aiming to hold competitive leases via Ford Credit through December 31, while GM Financial is doing the same, buying vehicles in bulk to qualify before matching them with customers. It's a loophole love letter to EV adoption, potentially softening the post-credit hangover.

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Today's guest outro is "Surprise Me" by Zach Zimmerman

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3J60D-JPSM

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Automotive News "GM sets record for EVs in Q3 as total U.S. sales rise 8%"

"GM, Ford work around EV tax credit expiration with Q4 lease programs"

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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