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This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

Everyone talks about EV adoption — but almost no one understands the brutal reality of actually powering the fleets that need to drive it.

In this episode from the LA Auto Show, we sit down with Brett Hauser, Chairman & CEO of Voltera, to unpack one of the biggest bottlenecks in the EV transition: the infrastructure required to power commercial and autonomous fleets. Brett breaks down why electrification isn’t a charging problem — it’s a real estate, entitlement, zoning, and utility problem. From 14-agency approval processes to landlords who won’t modify their properties, he explains the invisible obstacles fleets only discover two months before vehicles arrive… when it’s far too late.

Voltera has built 10 depots across major U.S. cities, powering 400+ stalls and nearly 40 megawatts — yet Brett is blunt: at the current pace, cities like LA won’t be able to build the charging infrastructure needed for events like the LA28 Olympics. He reveals why an “infrastructure tiger team” is critical, why autonomous fleets are accelerating faster than expected, and why natural gas generators are becoming a temporary inevitability. It’s a rare look at the real, unfiltered challenges of EV transformation, from the person solving them on the ground.

0:00 Intro — Live at the LA Auto Show

0:35 What Voltera Actually Does (And Why It Had to Exist)

1:17 10 Depots, 400 Stalls, 39 Megawatts — The Scale So Far

1:57 Why Commercial Electrification Is Happening Faster Than Retail

2:20 The “Oh Wait… Charging!” Problem Fleets Discover Too Late

2:31 Why Charging Isn’t Hard… But Everything Before It Is

3:14 Real Estate Control: The Hidden Key to Electrifying Fleets

4:18 Who Voltera Serves: Robo Taxis, Rideshare & AV Fleets

5:06 The Bigger Vision: Vehicles That Drop You Off and Run Your Errands

5:30 The Real Roadblocks: Entitlements, Permitting & 14 Agencies

7:13 The Power Crisis: Utilities, Delays & Temporary Generators

7:35 LA28 Olympics: 3,000 Fast Chargers Needed… and We’re Behind

8:21 Why Brett Wants a Citywide “Infrastructure Tiger Team”

9:06 What the Next 24 Months Look Like for Voltera

Connect with Brett Hauser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretthauser/

Learn more about Voltera: https://www.volterapower.com/

Our coverage of Automobility LA is brought to you by our friends at Cars Commerce: https://www.carscommerce.inc/

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This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

Everyone talks about electrification — but very few understand the data, speed, and intelligence driving it. JATO sits right at the center.

Recorded live at Automobility LA, this episode features Luis Brizuela, Director of the Americas at JATO, one of the auto industry’s most trusted sources of competitive intelligence. Luis reveals how JATO aggregates specifications, prices, incentives, and fast-changing product data to help OEMs, retailers, and dealers make smarter decisions in a market moving faster than ever. From battery materials to charging technologies to the rise of “batteries as a service,” he breaks down the global trends shaping EV adoption — and what U.S. manufacturers should be paying closer attention to.

But the conversation goes deeper into global competitive pressure, especially from Chinese automakers whose R&D cycles are now 12–18 months instead of three to four years. Luis explains why their durability, reliability, and speed to market are forcing other OEMs to rethink development timelines. He also shares how dealers are using structured data to build stronger sales arguments, personalize customer conversations, and understand what truly differentiates a vehicle beyond its exterior. It’s a rare inside look at the intelligence layer powering modern automotive strategy.

Timestamped Takeaways0:00 Intro — Live at Automobility LA

0:31 What JATO Actually Does & Why the Industry Relies on It

1:23 The Data Overload Problem: How OEMs Use Competitive Intelligence

1:50 Trends in Electrification: Battery Materials & Charging Innovation

2:27 Charging Roads & On-the-Go Efficiency Improvements

3:13 Batteries-as-a-Service: The Model Emerging Globally

3:23 What the World Can Learn From the Chinese EV Market

4:28 The R&D Gap: 3–4 Years vs. 12–18 Months

5:02 Why Fast, Accurate Data Is Now the Backbone of Product Planning

6:19 How Dealers Use JATO Data to Strengthen Sales Conversations

7:00 Understanding the “Why” Behind Vehicle Features & Buyer Profiles

8:14 Closing Thoughts: Why Better Data = Better Decisions Across the Industry

Connect with Luis Brizuela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisbrizuela/

Learn more about JATO: https://www.jato.com/

Our coverage of Automobility LA is brought to you by our friends at Cars Commerce: https://www.carscommerce.inc/

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

We have a daily email!

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✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts:

1. Automotive State of the Union
2. ASOTU CON Sessions

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This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

Auto shows aren’t dying — they’re evolving. And according to someone who runs LA’s, they may be more important to the industry now than at any point in the last decade.

Recorded live at the LA Auto Show, this episode goes behind the curtain with the person responsible for building one of the most influential automotive events in the world. Andy Steinhauser, Director of Business Development, explains how a 118-year-old show is reinventing itself for a new generation of buyers, media, and industry leaders. From food trucks to multi-track thought leadership sessions, Andy shares how LA has shifted from a traditional OEM exhibit to a full automotive culture experience — one designed to spark curiosity, influence decisions, and get consumers into the “car-buying ether.”

But this isn’t nostalgia for auto shows. Andy lays out a sharp, honest case for why manufacturers should still show up, how conquesting happens in ways the industry underestimates, and why the two fastest-growing segments — huge adventure vehicles and small affordable EVs — reflect the psychology and economics of America today. Whether you’re an OEM, dealer, analyst, or just someone who loves car culture, this conversation reframes how auto shows fit into the future of automotive retail, branding, and decision-making.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro — Live at LA Auto Show

0:18 How a “Small and Mighty” Team Builds a Massive Auto Event

0:59 Why LA Uses Food Trucks and Culture to Redefine the Auto Show Experience

2:15 Who Actually Comes to Automobility LA (And Why It Matters)

3:34 The Truth About OEM Pullback — And Why Shows Still Work

3:58 118 Years of Auto Shows: Reinvention vs. Relevance

4:49 “People Pay to See Your Car — You Should Probably Be There”

5:40 How Auto Shows Shortcut the Entire Car-Shopping Experience

6:46 The Conquesting Power of Auto Shows (You Can’t Replicate This Online)

7:59 Two Automotive Trends Running Side-by-Side: Big Adventure vs. Small EVs

9:06 Why Industry People Need to Attend Automobility LA

10:10 Andy on the Rise of New Media at Auto Shows

10:24 Closing Thoughts & Invitation for 2026

Connect with Andy Steinhauser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysteinhauser/

Learn more about the LA Auto Show: https://laautoshow.com/

Our coverage of Automobility LA is brought to you by our friends at Cars Commerce: https://www.carscommerce.inc/

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

We have a daily email!

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts:

1. Automotive State of the Union
2. ASOTU CON Sessions