Shift: A podcast about mobility

The CEO of the Israeli auto-tech company explains how driver-assist technology provides a financial bridge toward a self-driving future. He further details the rollout of SuperVision in China and assesses the state of the robotaxi industry.

The head of eMobility at Daimler discussed why the company is developing battery electric and hydrogen solutions at the same time, and how hydrogen combustion engine technology is a zero-emission solution with a lower barrier to entry for many fleets.

The CEO and founder of Plus describes his company’s evolutionary approach toward developing automated-driving technology. Further, he provides updates on work with partners like Amazon, Bosch, Cummings and more, and what’s ahead for Plus in 2024.

The director of the Autonomous Vehicles Initiative at thinktank Securing America’s Future Energy outlines findings of a new case study that shows how electric AVs could dramatically reduce air and noise pollution in San Francisco.

University of South Carolina law professor Bryant Walker Smith, an expert on legalities of automated driving, dissects the California DMV’s suspension of Cruise’s driverless permits and details the best ways to build a transparent and trustworthy safety culture.

Automotive News reporters Pete Bigelow and Hannah Lutz dissect a busy week of news on the electrification and autonomous-vehicle frontiers. Plus, they discuss Pete’s visit with the Toyota Research Institute and Hannah’s takeaways from the GlobalData Automotive Outlook Conference.

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute director details autonomous-vehicle deployments in the Lone Star State, examines how new technology can reach users in an equitable way, and sheds light on the fragility of GPS.

The co-founder and CEO of the refining technology startup details the supply squeeze for nickel and cobalt. She describes how her company can pioneer domestic production while decarbonizing dirty recycling and mining processes.

The Fermata Energy CEO explains how car owners can reap financial rewards from vehicle-to-grid technology while bolstering the electric grid. Further, the former General Motors executive recounts his time developing the Chevy Volt.

The writer and visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School details the financial, safety and climate-related costs associated with pickups and SUVs and the potential of minicars and micromobility to change transportation.

Automakers are introducing more sophisticated driving systems that complicate determining who or what may be held liable in the event of incidents. ZF board member Martin Fischer, Butzel attorney Jennifer Dukarski and Carnegie Mellon professor Phil Koopman scrutinize the details in a discussion pulled from last week’s Automotive News Congress in Detroit.

The chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation discusses her role in spurring change at Volkswagen following the company’s emissions-cheating scandal and says 2023 marks a critical juncture in a shift toward green mobility.

The president and co-founder of BlueSpace.ai offers an alternate path to developing self-driving software, shares lessons learned from her first startup experience, and details the state of driverless deployments in San Francisco.

Thilo Koslowski, board member for Arbe and a longtime industry advisor, says traditional automakers must change their cultures and attitudes now to keep their status in the future. He predicts that 10 percent of legacy automakers will be redefined or defunct because they failed to embrace the digital transformation.

Automotive News reporters Hannah Lutz, Molly Boigon, and Pete Bigelow discuss the latest stories in the mobility realm, including Waymo and Cruise increasing their San Francisco robotaxi businesses and the EV charging problems revealed by a recent J.D. Power customer survey.

SBD Automotive’s domain principal for EV discusses to what extent vehicle owners view their brands as leaders in sustainability, why software is a stronger motivator for EV purchases in China, and how increasing awareness about the environmental costs of battery production might impact adoption.

The executive director of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association discusses the anti-AV sentiment brewing in California, efforts to revive federal legislation, and what self-driving tech’s rollout says about American competitiveness.

The executive director of GM’s hydrogen fuel cell business highlights the automaker’s decades-long history with fuel cell technology, explains when to use fuel cells vs. electric vehicle batteries and shares how GM is taking the technology to other industries. The episode is part of an Automotive News project on hydrogen fuel cell technology.

The vice president of autonomy at Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv, breaks down the company’s “measured” approach to using self-driving technology to underpin a revenue-generating business.

The convergence of “megawatts and megabytes” requires a new skillset for electricians who will install and maintain the nation’s emerging network of EV chargers, says Price, CEO of Qmerit. Price highlights the challenges to recruiting and quickly training EV charger technicians, identifies charging differences in urban, suburban, and rural areas, and explains why some automakers likely felt like t...

Automotive News reporters Pete Bigelow and Molly Boigon discuss robotaxi problems in San Francisco, Volkswagen’s return to Austin, Texas, Lordstown’s Chapter 11 filing and progress along the Energy Department’s hydrogen roadmap.

The CEO and co-founder of the electric, hydrofoiling boat startup Navier explores the quiet potential of e-boats in marine transportation and how better utilized waterways can carry both passengers and goods, alleviating on-road traffic.

The Green Hills Software CEO and The Dawn Project founder catalogs his concerns about the safety of Tesla’s Autopilot and “Full Self Driving” driver-assistance systems. He further scrutinizes the problems associated with software in safety-critical systems.

The CEO and co-founder of TeraWatt infrastructure discusses the upcoming launch of a fleet-focused charging network, working with utility companies to meet power needs, and raising $1.1 billion to accelerate electrification efforts.

The deputy assistant secretary provides a status report on the DOE’s Hydrogen Hub initiative, the role of the national laboratories in researching new battery technology and progress toward electrification across America.