Auto Care ON AIR

What if vehicles could tell us exactly where congestion starts, which intersections are most dangerous, and how to shave days off fleet delivery timelines? Auto Care ON AIR host, Mike Chung, sits down with Eddie Nath from Stellantis Mobilisights to unpack how trusted, OEM-embedded telematics is powering safer roads, leaner fleets, and smoother trips for everyone from municipal operators to everyda...

Imagine starting your car and realizing the title says you own it, but the software doesn’t. That’s the reality too many drivers face as manufacturers tighten control over diagnostics, data, and tools. We break down what the Federal Trade Commission and the Government Accountability Office now make clear: independent repair is safe, restrictions lack solid evidence, and software locks are driving...

The repair you choose shouldn’t depend on a locked screen. We break down why Right to Repair is reaching a critical moment, how recent state wins in Massachusetts and Maine are reshaping access to vehicle data, and what it will take to secure a national standard that protects drivers, local shops, and fair competition. As vehicles become rolling computers, the question isn’t whether cars can be fi...

Ever feel the sting of “not good enough” right when you need to step up? In this episode we open up about insecurities that stall careers: fear of being judged, comparison traps, and the myth that leaders must know everything. With Stefan Feder of AUMOVIO and Dwayne Myers of Dynamic Automotive, we trade real stories from mentorship circles and shop floors... missed calls, sleepless nights, and the...

Big deals need the right room, the right timing, and the right people and Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) sets the stage. Host, Jacki Lutz, sat down with our Director of Trade Shows, Jessica Finnerty, and our Sr. Director of Meetings and Events, Leah Jones, to pull back the curtain on how HDAW actually works: a sold‑out show floor, targeted one‑on‑one meetings, and a smart schedule that helps y...

Engines came apart. Confidence came together. We brought a brand-new student engine rebuild competition to AAPEX and watched teams tear down and reassemble small block V8s in front of a live crowd, with instructors coaching from the sidelines and shop owners scouting future hires. The stakes were real, the pressure was high, and a high school team shocked the room by taking first place, trophies i...

Ever wondered who actually turns supplier strategy into real shelf space and steady sell-through? Host, Jacki Lutz, rides shotgun with two veteran manufacturer’s reps, Brad Baker, Senior Vice President at Bill Murray and Associates, and Darrell Wade, Senior Director of Organic Growth for N.A. Williams, who explain how agencies power growth across retailers and traditional distributors, why some br...

Hydrogen isn’t waiting for someday. It’s already moving freight, carrying riders through winter, and powering the equipment that keeps cities running. We sit down with Christa Harrison of BNG Clean Fuel Corporation to unpack where hydrogen works now, what’s changing fast, and how fleets can navigate costs, infrastructure, and performance with clear eyes. We start with the real-world signals: 50,00...

A year can change the ground under your feet. We sit down with AIA Canada’s President and CEO, JF Champagne and their VP of Government Relations, Emily Holtby to unpack how Canada moved from talk to traction on Right to Repair, why Quebec’s new consumer-backed law is a true milestone, and what it will take to scale those gains nationally with real enforcement and penalties. If you care about fair...

Back by popular demand, Jacki Lutz brings Zenata Perez and Andrew Steczo back together for an encore on small talk that actually leads somewhere: reading the room, using humor without crossing the line, and turning short chats at crowded events into focused follow-up that moves the relationship forward. They start with situational awareness and timing: how to scan energy, spot exit cues, and prote...

What does it take to stitch 100 years of history into a modern, culture-first powerhouse that most consumers will never recognize on a label? Behzad Rassuli sits down with Highline Warren CEO Darcy Curran to explore how a quiet partner can produce 200 million gallons a year, own a national distribution footprint, and still choose to let the customer’s brand be the hero. The answer isn’t a slogan,...

Engines keep evolving; our service model must evolve faster. From the AAPEX floor in Las Vegas, we sit down with leaders shaping the next decade of repair to unpack a simple truth: customers don’t care which channel fixes their vehicles—they care that someone skilled, trusted, and nearby can. That’s why collaboration between OEMs and the independent aftermarket is no longer optional. We dive into...

Curiosity isn’t a buzzword here; it’s the operating system. We start on the media side of the aftermarket with a candid look at how asking better questions... why, how, and so what... turns complex topics like AI, EVs, and ADAS into clear direction for shops, jobbers, and distributors. When leaders translate without jargon, trust grows. And in a world where institutional trust is shaky, that clari...

What if warranty approvals took hours instead of days, your bay handled most ADAS calibrations without a remodel, and market chaos actually expanded your margins? From the AAPEX show floor, Auto Care ON AIR hosts sit down with three leaders who are reshaping how shops work, sell, and keep drivers safe. First, Jill Trotta explains how OneGuard’s priority virtual inspections place an ASE Master Tech...

Recorded from the AAPEX show floor, this episode features Jonathan Larsen, VP of Digital Products & Standards at the Auto Care Association, and Eric Lough, VP of Catalog & Partner Integrations at NexaMotion Group. They broke into the Auto Care ON AIR studio to talk about the AAPEX Show, leadership, and progress over perfection. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about the Auto Care Association...

Ever wonder why a light box can cost like a cinder block to ship? We pull back the curtain on parcel pricing with freight and parcel expert Mike Mc Donagh , exploring the real mechanics behind “demand season,” dimensional weight, and the stack of surcharges that quietly erode margins. From residential and additional handling to oversize and unauthorized oversize fees, we map how costs spike across...

The media landscape is shifting fast, and the smartest brands aren’t just buying placements, they’re becoming broadcasters. We sit down with Simon Shelley, former BBC Studios leader and advisor to media and tech companies, to unpack how audience habits, platform formats, and funding models are changing what effective brand storytelling looks like. From MSNBC’s live events to Mattel launching a ful...

The studio glow-up set the mood: take something proven and make it feel new. That’s exactly where our conversation goes with Delaney and Andrew Kitching of GB Remanufacturing, two paths into the automotive aftermarket that prove this industry is more dynamic, tech-forward, and welcoming than most people expect. From a tech startup and influencer marketing world to finance and sales, they found a r...

What if your repair data actually told you what to do next? We sit down with Austin Ledgerwood, National Director of Sales and Insights at Motor Information Systems, to trace how messy service records become clean, standardized, decision-ready intelligence that changes pricing, warranty calls, stocking, and fleet strategy. From a Mountain Dew green Kia lesson at the auction to AI models that harmo...

Headlines about a federal shutdown can feel distant until your parts sit at a port, your product launch hits a certification queue, or your customers hit pause on upgrades. We take a clear-eyed look at what a funding lapse really means for the automotive aftermarket and why even a moderate delay can magnify existing pressures from tariffs, EPR, and the fast climb toward EV and ADAS service. Host,...

Tariffs shouldn’t be a guessing game, yet policy shifts are hitting faster than inventory can move. We sit down with Angela Chiang, our Director of International Affairs, to decode what’s real, what’s next, and how to protect your business when 232, 301, and IEPA collide. From the new “inclusion” process under Section 232, where products can be added into tariff coverage, to the tightening landsca...

Want to supercharge your career growth? The secret isn't working longer hours or waiting for someone to notice your hard work... it's about strategically creating your own opportunities. In this candid conversation with Matt Fowler of Pivotree and 2025 Auto Care Impact Award winner, Jon Clements of Experian Automotive, we dive deep into proven strategies for advancing your career in the...

A neutral ENSO pattern is about to disrupt your winter inventory planning. Are you ready? Former NASA meteorologist Rob Gutro joins Stacey Miller to explore how this winter's unique weather patterns will dramatically impact auto parts demand across different US regions. For the first time in 12 years, we're entering a neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation phase, creating distinct regional...

When you open that auto insurance renewal notice and see your premium has increased yet again, what factors are actually driving that change? In this eye-opening conversation, Michel Leonard, Chief Economist and Data Scientist at the Insurance Information Institute (III), takes us behind the scenes of how insurance rates are determined. Insurance might seem mysterious, but Leonard breaks down the...

What makes a customer choose your business over a competitor's? According to customer experience expert David Avrin, it's not just about quality or friendly service anymore, it's about being "ridiculously easy to do business with." The stakes have never been higher. As headlines show Salesforce cutting 4,000 customer service jobs in favor of AI and luxury restaurants focus...