The Culture Lane

What happens when one of the most powerful car-shopping tools isn’t a website or a TV spot—but TikTok? With 1.9 billion users globally and more than 135 million in the U.S., millennials and young adults are spending nearly an hour a day on the platform—and many are using that time to discover and research their next vehicle. In this episode of The Culture Lane , K.C. Boyce, VP of Automotive, Mobil...

In a moment when many companies are cooling on diversity, Kimatni Rawlins remains committed to steering The Driving Force Internship, a program that exposes HBCU students to a wealth of opportunities across the automotive industry. In this episode of The Culture Lane , the Automotive Rhythms founder talks about what it takes to keep the program moving forward amid a shifting—and often uncertain—la...

Auto insurance has become the biggest speed bump in the car-buying journey—Polly’s latest study shows buyers are spending hours comparing policies, with many delaying their purchase altogether as premiums climb, especially younger shoppers. In this episode of The Culture Lane , Polly’s vice president of distribution, Christopher Pres, breaks down what’s driving the crunch, how dealers and embedded...

Car buyers are rewriting the rules—rethinking what they’ll pay, how loyal they feel to brands, what they expect from in-car tech, and which powertrains they’ll consider next. Deloitte’s 2026 Global Automotive Consumer Study brings those shifts into focus. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we talk with Lisa Walker, vice chair and U.S. automotive sector leader at Deloitte, about how changing con...

ChargePoint has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of EV charging, powering billions of electric miles through a vast network of public and private ports and a growing ecosystem of software, hardware, and services. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we talk with Rob Newton, senior director of marketing at ChargePoint, about how the shifting EV landscape is shaping the company’s business—...

 In a market obsessed with luxury models, performance cars, and pickup trucks, the Toyota Corolla has remained one of the world’s best-selling nameplates, with more than 50 million sold and continued strength even in the crossover era. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we talk with Blake Williams, marketing planner at Toyota, to explore how the Corolla has managed to stay so consistently popul...

Culture keeps revealing new layers—especially when technology enters the mix. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we talk with Lawrence Edmondson, founder of Eat Big Digital and veteran of Barbarian, VaynerMedia, and Squarespace, about how companies often miss the mark at the intersection of culture and tech—and what that means for automakers, dealerships, agencies experimenting with AI, and any...

More drivers are treating their vehicles as a personal escape—using time in the car to unwind, recharge, and tune out daily stress—which is reshaping what the in-cabin experience looks and feels like. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we talk with Lincoln Harmony Engineer Justine Nestorowich about Rejuvenate, the brand’s multi-sensory “spa on wheels” experience, and how it’s helping define the...

Kia may be an 80-year-old brand, but its story in North America is still actively unfolding. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we sit down with James Bell, head of corporate communications at Kia America, to explore how the company is shaping its message amid major wins and some challenges. James also shares how his team is sharpening Kia’s positioning in the U.S. market as the brand looks to...

Collecting cars has long been at the heart of automotive culture, from first dream cars to the hard-won keys of a classic finally parked in the driveway. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we sit down with Dan Stoner, creative director at Hemmings—a cornerstone of the collector community for more than 70 years—to explore how car collecting is evolving and connecting with a new generation of ent...

Shared electric scooters and e-bikes aren’t a fad—they’re reshaping urban transportation. Veo reports that 35% of its trips replace car journeys and 72% of riders drive less, contributing to a 31% rise in shared micromobility trips in North America in 2024. In this episode of The Culture Lane , Alex Keating, Veo’s vice president of policy and partnerships, unpacks the company’s Shifting Gears repo...

Navigating today’s U.S. auto market is no small feat—especially for a brand as iconic as Volkswagen. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we speak with Rachael Zaluzec, chief marketing officer and senior vice president at Volkswagen of America, about how VW is growing its U.S. customer base while staying true to its roots, from its storied heritage to a modern lineup that includes the all-electri...

Car shopping today can mean endless calls, emails, and texts from dealers all promising the perfect deal, adding to the stress of finding the right vehicle at the right price. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we explore how digital car-buying platform CarEdge is using AI to reduce the anxiety of purchasing a vehicle. The guest is Zach Shefska, co-founder and CEO of CarEdge, who shares how the...

Audio has always been at the heart of the driving experience—whether it’s catching the morning show on your commute or streaming playlists on a weekend road trip. In this episode of The Culture Lane , we dive into how in-car listening habits are changing, from emerging audio platforms to what’s coming next. Our guest is Laura Ivey, director of research at audio insights leader Edison Research.

A year after unveiling the Scout Motors Traveler SUV and Terra pickup concepts, the Scout team is deep into finalizing the production models slated to debut in 2027. In the Season 3 premiere of The Culture Lane, we sit down with Chris Benjamin, chief design officer at Scout Motors, to discuss how the team is approaching reigniting the brand nearly 45 years later. 

The electrification of Dodge has become one of the most buzzed-about evolutions in the auto industry, namely because of what the brand has represented as an American nameplate. In this episode of The Culture Lane (the final full episode in Season 2), we explore how Dodge plans to navigate its shift into electrification, with Matt McAlear, the newly appointed CEO of Dodge.  

Cultural relevance has become a key business strategy for many companies seeking to position their products or services in the market. However, knowing how to navigate culture can be challenging, especially when it comes to selling vehicles in today's market. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore some of those challenges with Angela Spencer Ford, executive vice president and managin...

The Nissan R35 GT-R is currently in its last model year. However, as one of the most iconic vehicles in the world, the benchmark the Japanese supercar has set for performance will live on for years to come. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into what has made the GT-R so ionic. The guest is Kazutoshi Mizuno, known as the “Father” of the GTR, who shares some deeper insight on the superc...

The tire industry is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolution of the automotive and mobility business, likely more than many realize. Be it EVs or motorsports, tires will help drive the future of vehicle transportation. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore the transformation of the tire business with Rob Williams, who is charged with navigating the future of Hankook Tire, North Am...

Consumer car purchases are arguably the heartbeat of automotive, given that every facet of the industry is predicated on that continuing pulse of the business. However, understanding what drives those purchases can be challenging, to say the least, especially in today’s market. To get a better understanding of the factors that influence car purchases, The Culture Lane elicited the insight of Rebec...

The new 2025 Infiniti QX80 seeks to usher in a new era for the luxury brand by building on several of the Japanese automaker's core tenets. From its new design elements to its new tech features, the 2025 QX80 is being touted by Infiniti as an evolution of the previous model. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore how Infiniti is leveraging the new SUV to reposition the luxury brand....

Digital platforms and services have become an integral part of the automotive dealership business. However, as the auto retail market continues to evolve, it begs the question: how does a company ensure that its digital service continues to meet the needs of dealers and consumers? In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into this question and more with Randy Modos, co-founder and president o...

The renovation of the historic Michigan Central train station in Detroit has helped to reposition the city as an epicenter in the evolving world of mobility. The station now anchors a technology hub that will help drive a range of innovations, spanning next-gen delivery robots to the future of autonomous vehicles. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve deeper into Michigan Central and what...

Digital gaming now ranks as one of the most popular pastimes in the world, with more than 70 percent of adults in the U.S. indicating they have played a video game on some platform, according to Statista . VRAL Games is looking to solidify its lane in the space, with VRIDER SBK, a new virtual reality (VR) motorcycle racing experience. In this episode of The Culture Lane, VRAL CEO Rodolfo Saccoman...