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The Drivecast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Drive
The Drivecast gives you an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the biggest stories, controversies, and people shaping the car industry from one of the top automotive news sites in the country. Each week, The Drive's editor-in-chief Kyle Cheromcha, director of content Joel Feder, and a rotating cast of expert staffers will break down how automakers are navigating a transformative time. Massive shifts in technology, manufacturing, and consumer demands are changing the ways cars are built and sold quicker than ever, and the way car companies are navigating this moment will shape the way our roads look for the next century. It doesn’t matter if you’re an enthusiast since birth or just curious about why cars are the way they are today—we’ll give you the inside line with our exclusive reporting and break it all down for you.
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- 4 days ago46 min
The man trying to fix EV charging in America
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago28 min
What everyone is getting wrong about Leno's Law
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago25 min
Honda doesn't want to be the next Toyota
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago30 min
The luxury car market is crashing
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 2, 202628 min
Diesel prices are climbing and everyone's about to pay for it
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 12, 202659 min
The man trying to save Goodyear
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 5, 202645 min
America's getting modern headlights
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jul 29, 202640 min
Flock's CEO faced me
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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About The Drivecast
The Drivecast gives you an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the biggest stories, controversies, and people shaping the car industry from one of the top automotive news sites in the country. Each week, The Drive's editor-in-chief Kyle Cheromcha, director of content Joel Feder, and a rotating cast of expert staffers will break down how automakers are navigating a transformative time. Massive shifts in technology, manufacturing, and consumer demands are changing the ways cars are built and sold quicker than ever, and the way car companies are navigating this moment will shape the way our roads look for the next century. It doesn’t matter if you’re an enthusiast since birth or just curious about why cars are the way they are today—we’ll give you the inside line with our exclusive reporting and break it all down for you.
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