Under The Hood: A Toyota Policy Driver’s Podcast

Q: "How is Toyota positioned based on the election results?" A: I'll sum it up by saying that I would rather be us than any other auto company." In this episode of Under the Hood, Stephen Ciccone, Group Vice President of Government Affairs, discusses the implications of the election for Toyota. Joined by your new host, Emily Festa, from Toyota’s Government Affairs team, Stephen...

Buckle up, Under the Hood listeners! Get ready for an exclusive, front-row seat to the future of the auto industry with one of our top Toyota/Lexus dealers, Mickey Anderson, President and CEO of Baxter Auto Group. With 20 dealerships and eight brands spanning four states, Mickey has been instrumental in amplifying the voice of the customer in Washington, D.C.  In this exclusive episode, Mickey div...

2024 is a pivotal year for global democracy with 65 countries representing nearly half the world's population holding national elections. The stakes have never been higher. In our latest Under the Hood podcast episode, Leila Aridi Afas, Toyota’s Director of Global Public Policy , dives into the impact of election results in Europe, India and Mexico and their potential influence on U.S. politi...

The race for the White House is ON , and the big question is... what does a Biden vs. Trump rematch mean for our country, Congress and our company? Join us for a thrilling ride as we drive into the unexpected twists and turns of the presidential campaign with Washington’s acclaimed lobbyists and longtime Toyota consultants Ralph Hellmann and Mary Beth Stanton . " The dynamic duo"   retur...

A lot has changed in Washington, but one thing hasn’t – we haven’t stopped talking about electrification.  What's Toyota's position on EV policy?  Will anything be different around the electrification debate now that the Republicans are in the majority in the House?  What could change in 2024 if there’s a new Administration? Stephen Ciccone, Group Vice President of Government Affairs , b...

The control of Congress is on the ballot this November 8.  The stakes for both parties have never been higher, and the Biden-Trump rematch in many ways has already begun in these crucial and unprecedented Midterm elections. Can the Democrats hold on to their razor-thin majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, or will the Republicans take one or both chambers of Congress? In this episode of Under t...

Who’s got the power?   Right now, change is on the horizon for Congress and for policy on electric vehicles (EVs) that may impact the future of the automotive industry forever. In this podcast episode of Under the Hood , Toyota’s head of Government Affairs Stephen Ciccone , known for his candor, talks about President Biden’s push for EVs and the political divide in Washington, and just for our Pol...

Get ready to be inspired!   We are lucky enough to have three award-winning women in manufacturing at Toyota join us on our latest podcast. In this episode of Under the Hood , hear how Toyota’s very own Jenny Bartley, Earnee Gilling and Haley Antoine are smashing the auto industry’s glass ceiling and closing the gender gap in manufacturing . Jenny, Earnee and Haley share their personal journeys, a...

Get ready to be inspired in this episode of Under The Hood – Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Women in Manufacturing  with our very own Sandy Nott. Sandy began her remarkable journey at Toyota over 30 years ago as a production team member responsible for testing engines, knowing very little about the auto industry.  Today this Vice President of Administration at Toyota Motor Manufacturing...

In this episode of Under The Hood -- a Toyota Policy Driver's Podcast, Toyota’s Head of Government Affairs, Stephen Ciccone , gets up-close and personal as he gives his take on the Biden Administration’s first 100 days, the Trump to Biden transition and the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Tune in to hear his candid perspective on the midterm elections, a bipartisan...

We are excited to introduce Under the Hood:  A Toyota Policy Driver's Podcast where we take a look under the hood of the policies and politics that drive our nation and the auto industry. Hosted by our very own, Donna Rhudy, this pilot episode features Toyota lobbying consultants Ralph Hellmann and Mary Beth Stanton as they discuss internal divisions in the Democratic and Republican parties a...

In this episode of Drive Time Talks, TMMI President Leah Curry hosts Dr. Larry Bucshon, U.S. Representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district. Congressman Bucshon, a practicing physician and cardiothoracic surgeon prior to coming to Congress, gives our listeners a unique perspective on the Coronavirus.  As a lawmaker and a doctor, he shares his views on how the State of Indiana and the...

In this episode of Drive Time Talks, Group Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer Sandra Phillips Rogers hosts U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) at a live Toyota virtual town hall. Congressman Clyburn talks passionately about fighting for America's children and ensuring that government funding is being spent efficiently, effectively and equitabl...

Welcome to Drive Time Talks.  In this episode, Chris Reynolds, Chief Administrative Officer, Manufacturing and Corporate Resources hosts a virtual town hall with U.S. Senator John Cornyn for Texas. Senator Cornyn talks about serving on President Trump's Task Force and his work to get Texas through the pandemic, Congress' most recent Coronavirus response efforts, and gives our listeners a...

This episode of Drive Time Talks goes to the Lone Star State where Chris Nielsen, Executive Vice President for Product Support and Chief Quality Officer, hosts Texas Governor Greg Abbott. In this virtual town hall, Governor Abbott talks about how perseverance has helped him lead Texas through turbulent times as well as overcome a personal tragedy in his life.  He gives you a glimpse into the day o...

In this episode of Drive Time Talks, we head for the State of Alabama to bring you our very first Governor virtual town hall where Toyota's Alabama Plant President Dave Finch hosts Governor Kay Ivey.  Even though there are signs that the spread of the Coronavirus is slowing down in the State, Governor Ivey asks Alabamians to remain patient for a little bit longer, and shares her hope that thi...

Policy Drivers, thanks for joining this special episode of Drive Time Talks.   Presidential elections have taken place during times of war and times of recession, but this is a very different time.  COVID-19 has caused so much uncertainty, and the presidential campaign has not been spared.  In this special episode of Drive Time Talks, Stephen Ciccone, Group Vice President of Government Affairs, ta...

In this episode of Drive Time Talks, TMMK President Susan Elkington hosts a virtual town hall with Kentucky's Senator Rand Paul.  A former physician, Senator Paul, who tested positive for the Coronavirus and is now negative, talks about his experience and stresses the need for better and more testing.  He shares his concerns about the national debt and the importance of getting the American p...

Thank you for joining Drive Time Talks, the exclusive podcast for Toyota’s Policy Drivers. In this episode of Drive Time Talks, we continue our virtual town hall series by going to the State of Michigan to see how government is responding to the COVID-19 crisis. SVP Bob Young hosts Congresswoman Debbie Dingell who is known as the “car girl” representing the hub of the American auto industry.  Cong...

In this time of uncertainty, we wanted to inform you on how policymakers are responding to the COVID-19 crisis, so Drive Time Talks is bringing you a series of important virtual town hall meetings in our upcoming episodes where questions from our team members can be answered. In our first virtual town hall, Indiana's Senator Todd Young talks with TMMI President Leah Curry about helping Hoosie...

Toyota Policy Drivers, even though the nation’s capital continues to be under lock down, the Government Affairs Team is working hard to keep you informed.  Thanks for joining TMMWV President Srini Matam's virtual town hall with West Virginia's Senator Shelley Moore Capito.   In this episode, Senator Capito talks about how Washington rose up as a nation in the time of crisis and threw par...

Welcome to Drive Time Talks, Toyota’s exclusive podcast for our Policy Drivers, the team members driving policy decisions for Toyota. In the rearview mirror, 2019 did not look promising. It did, however, bring out the best in us. Thanks to Toyota’s Policy Drivers, together we made it through the storm, and the road ahead looks clear. What can we expect in our first episode of the year? Chris Reyno...

Welcome to Drive Time Talks, an exclusive podcast for Toyota’s Policy Drivers, the team members driving policy decisions for Toyota. Did you know that there are more than 3,000 military veterans who work for Toyota? In this special episode, join us on this proud day in Washington when nearly 100 Toyota veterans came together to share personal stories with policy makers on how their service in the...

Welcome to Drive Time Talks , an exclusive podcast for Toyota’s Policy Drivers, the team members driving policy decisions for Toyota. In this episode of Drive Time Talks:  Executive Vice President Chris Nielsen explains how Toyota's Advanced Manufacturing Technician Program will expand nationwide, which was announced with Presidential Advisor Ivanka Trump in Alabama. When it comes to R&D,...