Intersection: Everything That Moves

Anne Hidalgo recently left office after 12 years as the mayor of Paris. In this podcast episode, Micki Maynard looks at her accomplishments and her legacy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

Ever since the raid on the Hyundai electric vehicle battery venture, I’ve been researching South Korean auto companies’ performance. I was surprised to learn just how big Hyundai and Kia have become world wide. In this podcast episode, I walk you through their growth and why they may be perceived as a threat. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acc...

Here are my thoughts on Ford’s decision to leave its headquarters, and move to a new innovation center. For many of us, the Glass House holds vivid memories. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Boston Globe , I contend that the worst thing for Tesla would be for Elon Musk to run it again. His White House and social media activity has damaged the brand, some might say beyond repair. I think Tesla is worth saving, to keep America competitive with China and other nations that have embraced electric vehicles. In my column and this podcast, I explain why. This is a public episode....

Pope Francis was known for his simple lifestyle, and that includes his cars. He was seen in a succession of affordable vehicles, including the Ford Focus, the Fiat 500L and the smaller Fiat 500. Interestingly, Ford will be discontinuing the Focus in Europe in November. It is the end of an era for that vehicle, as the Vatican era of Pope Francis ends. With his downscale lifestyle, the Pope has set...

On Wednesday, the Trump Administration announced 25% tariffs on vehicles imported from outside the United States, to take effect April 2. It’s a head scratcher, as I explain in this breaking news podcast. Nobody in Detroit asked for this. It will raise prices at a time when consumer confidence is plummeting. It also broadens the trade war to Japan, South Korea and the E.U. Listen and please share...

On Friday afternoon, I watched several hundred people march in front of the Tesla dealership in Ann Arbor, Mich. It was one of many protests taking place at dealerships around the world. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

It’s only been a few days since Donald Trump took office, but news has been coming fast and furiously. In this podcast episode, I offer some context on what he’s ordered concerning energy and electric vehicles. Here’s a link to the Boston Globe column that I mention in the podcast. Feel free to share your thoughts, either online or by replying to this email. Support Intersection with a paid subscr...

Earlier this year, I visited the site of Ford’s Blue Oval EV battery plant in Marshall, Michigan. Marshall officials were excited to get the project, hoping it could provide good paying jobs to area residents. But the plant has shrunk and now the state is pulling back on incentives. Listen to the latest update on this project, which could have implications elsewhere in the country. This is a publi...

It might not be on the radar of American car buyers, but Toyota is embroiled in another safety scandal in Japan . This is the second big situation to envelop the company in the past 15 years. It’s prompted an investigation by the Japanese government and a deep apology from chairman Akio Toyoda, a member of Toyota’s founding family. Intersection editor Micki Maynard looks at Toyota’s latest problem...

There is a debate underway in Detroit over whether to save the Renaissance Center. Meanwhile, the Michigan Central Station is about to re-open after a spectacular renovation. I know which one beats symbolizes Detroit in 2024. Listen to my thoughts on this pair of symbolic buildings. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi...

A few weeks ago, I came out in favor of selling Chinese vehicles, and especially electric vehicles in the United States. Obviously, the Biden Administration disagreed, since they slapped a 100 percent tariff on Chinese vehicles. But a new survey from AutoPacific shows that a number of consumers, especially younger ones, would be open to buying Chinese vehicles. In this podcast episode, you’ll hear...

I’ve spent the past few weeks researching the wave of EV battery plants that are being built across the U.S. and in Canada. I was stunned at how big the investments have become — an estimated $100 billion (with a b), potentially creating thousands of jobs. I wrote about this for the Boston Globe and I talk about it more in this podcast episode. In my research, I visited Marshall, Mich., a historic...

There's been a lot of news lately about Tesla and it's raising the question of how people will charge their EVs. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

Toyota is making a massive new investment in its Carolina battery complex. It also gave workers a raise. How do they relate to the U.A.W.? Listen to my explanation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

This was a historic week in the UAW strike. Joe Biden came to town. The UAW expanded its walkout. And the CEO of Ford shared some frustrations. I provide some context. Note: since the U.A.W. Has been making its announcements on Fridays, I’ll post my audio postcards on Saturdays for the foreseeable future. See you Tuesday with the next chapter. By the way, thanks for buying The End of Detroit - it...

Hello, everyone. Some thoughts on President Biden’s plan to visit the UAW picket line. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

I drove over to Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. Here’s my report after chatting with some workers. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

Intersection creator Micki Maynard welcomes you to her new Substack and explains what it's about. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe

Our editor Micki Maynard has a welcome message for you, a review of what we’ve been covering and some thoughts on what Curbing Cars plans to do next. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intermove.substack.com/subscribe