Analysts predicted a tariff-driven autos apocalypse. Why didn’t that happen?

Torc Robotics aims to put driverless trucks on public roads by the end of the year. Nick Elder, the company’s vice president of commercialization, joins “Shift” host Molly Boigon to discuss the plan.Elder said that the goal is important, but it is not the finish line. Next, Torc must prepare the technology for commercial scale.Michael Martinez, an Automotive News reporter who covers Ford and the UAW, also joins Boigon to discuss how automakers approach drivers’ data privacy.

“Shift” host Molly Boigon moderates an Automotive News Congress panel on how policy, regulation and the midterm elections will affect the auto industry. Her guests are John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Pat D’Eramo, CEO of Martinrea International; Kate Kalutkiewicz, senior managing director of McLarty Associates; and Mike Murphy, founder of EVs for All America.Murphy also joins Boigon to talk about the current state of the electric vehicle market, specifically how the U.S. compares to China and Europe.

Plug-in hybrids emit nearly as much carbon dioxide as combustion vehicles, raising questions about emissions targets for the European Union, Lucien Mathieu, cars director at Transport & Environment, tells “Shift” host Molly Boigon.Hans Greimel, Asia Editor for Automotive News, also joins Boigon to talk about Toyota and Honda’s humanoid robots on factory floors in Japan, and Subaru’s new electric vehicle prototype.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon talks to Gary Cygan Jr., director of vehicle software and electronics engineering at GM; Steffen Fuchs, senior partner at McKinsey & Co.; Andrei Iordache, global senior director of automotive presales at HERE Technologies; and Christopher Prediger, regional president for the Americas in Bosch’s Cross-Domain Computing Solutions division as a part of an Automotive News Congress panel on software-defined vehicles.They discussed whether artificial intelligence is an enabler of more advanced SDV technology — or whether it’s still just hype.Doug Bolduc, managing editor of Automotive News Europe, also joins Boigon to talk about how Chinese automakers’ growing presence at the Paris auto show put the pressure on Western automakers to show up with impressive new offerings.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon talks to the Zero Emission Transportation Association’s Albert Gore about how the Trump administration’s actions on fuel economy and emissions standards may impact battery and other technology investment in the U.S.Larry P. Vellequette, who covers Toyota, Subaru and Mazda for Automotive News, also joins Boigon to talk about how gas guzzlers are driving up new-vehicle inventories while consumers shop for more fuel-efficient vehicles. His reporting suggests that the war in Iran is hitting the dealer lot.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon talks to PwC’s U.S. automotive leader C.J. Finn about how automakers should keep an eye on technologies from startups and universities to keep costs down while managing multiple powertrains.Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor at Automotive News, also joins Boigon to discuss the robotics and software-defined vehicles panels at the 2026 Automotive News Congress in Detroit.

“Shift” podcast host Molly Boigon gets help from Vanessa Lyon, global lead for cyber and digital risk at Boston Consulting Group, to explain how hackers access information from auto industry companies.Jake Neher, the executive producer of audio at Automotive News, also joins Boigon to discuss attackers who target vehicles themselves and why it may be easier for them to take control of braking than steering. And Boigon speaks with Doug Bolduc, managing editor of Automotive News Europe, about why Europe’s recycling capacity is outpacing its supply of electric vehicle batteries.

Mike Nefkens, CEO of HERE Technologies, joins Molly Boigon, tech and innovation reporter at Automotive News, on the “Shift” podcast.Nefkens explains how incumbent map companies such as HERE are competing with big-tech upstarts Google and Apple.Boigon also speaks to Laurence Iliff, who covers Tesla, about what Tesla will have to do to catch up with Waymo in the robotaxi race. 

Lenny LaRocca, KPMG’s U.S. automotive industry leader, joins Molly Boigon, Automotive News tech and innovation reporter, on the “Shift” podcast.LaRocca talks about why early predictions of a tariff-driven industrywide meltdown never materialized, and how auto companies adapted to avoid catastrophe.Boigon and Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor of content at Automotive News, also discuss BYD’s fast-charging rollout and a recent study that found that consumers have a better experience with a lower level of automated driving than expected.

David Bell, co-founder of Emerald Battery Labs, joins Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor of content at Automotive News, on the “Shift” podcast.Bell talks about how sodium ion batteries rely on a plentiful feedstock available in the U.S., but their weight is an impediment to widespread adoption for vehicles. They are a natural fit, however, for another use case: energy storage.Lutz and Molly Boigon, tech and innovation reporter, also discuss why liberal states outside of California are resisting the robotaxi rollout.