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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/

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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/

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

The next battle for customer loyalty won’t be won in the service drive… but in their driveway.

Recorded live at the LA Auto Show, this roundtable pulls together three very different perspectives with one shared problem: the customer has moved on, but most service departments haven’t. With Joe Castellino from a multi-store group, Eve Barcelo from a single-point Toyota dealership, and Cody Collins representing General Motors’ fleet and commercial arm, the conversation rips into how Amazon, DoorDash, and on-demand everything have completely rewritten expectations around convenience, timing, and control. The old “drag them to the dealership” model is colliding with a world where customers have 16 other places they can service their vehicle — and they’re taking those options.

What starts as a talk about mobile service turns into a masterclass on retention, infrastructure, and brand perception. The group breaks down how recalls and software flashes are being handled in customers’ driveways, how rental fleets are now demanding on-site service, and why some dealers went from one mobile unit to three in six months. They’re honest about the mistakes (like trying to DIY mobile service out of a random vehicle) and clear about the upside: you won’t get rich off mobile service alone, but it might be the single biggest lever for keeping customers loyal over the 13 years they hold onto a car.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Why Service Is Changing Faster Than Sales

0:08 Three Perspectives: A Dealer Group, a Single-Point Store & an OEM

2:23 The Consumer Has Changed… and Dealers Haven’t

3:14 The “16 Other Options” Problem No One Wants to Admit

4:54 Why Convenience Became the New Currency in Service

5:27 How Toyota’s First Mobile Dealer Made the Leap

6:06 Recalls at the Customer’s Doorstep: The Reality of 2025 Service

7:12 Fleet & Rental Demand: When Enterprise and Avis Start Calling You

9:37 When One Mobile Van Turns Into Three — in Six Months

11:24 The DIY Mobile Service Disaster Every Dealer Tries Once

13:01 OEM View: The Push to Modernize the Entire Service Experience

15:59 The Real ROI: Retention, Loyalty & Winning the Long Game

18:06 Mobile Service as Infrastructure — Not a Side Project

Connect with Joe Castelino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecastelino

Connect with Ephraim Barcelo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraim-barcelo-a464aa135

Connect with Cody Collins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-c-b31aa81b

Learn more about Curbee: https://www.curbee.com/

⭐️ 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!

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

LA28 is coming, and Honda plans to be at the center of it. Here’s how.

Recorded live at the LA Auto Show, this conversation dives into one of Honda’s biggest brand moments in decades: its multi-year partnership with the LA28 Olympics and Team USA. Assistant Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Symington reveals how Honda plans to merge its technology, mobility portfolio, and decades-long community relationships into a global stage moment—one designed not just to elevate the brand, but to serve athletes directly. From wind-tunnel testing bobsleds to preparing entire fleets of sustainable vehicles for the Games, she explains how Honda is building a presence that goes far beyond logos and commercials.

But this episode also steps back into the realities of the consumer marketplace. Jennifer talks candidly about Honda’s relationship with Gen Z, the shifting EV landscape, and how the company is adapting as incentives change and demand evolves. And for longtime Honda fans, she shares how one of the brand’s most iconic innovations—the humanoid robot ASIMO—lives on inside Honda’s next wave of EVs. It’s a rare look at how a legacy brand balances heritage, global culture, and an entirely new generation of buyers.

0:00 The Conversation Starts in the Heart of LA’s Future Olympic Stage

0:29 Why Honda Is Stepping Onto the World Stage With Team USA

1:24 How Honda Plans to Support Olympians Beyond Just Sponsorship

1:38 Inside Honda’s Wind-Tunnel Work Helping the U.S. Bobsled Team

2:48 The Real Reason Honda Wants to Power the LA28 Games

2:51 What Massive Activations Teach Honda About Community Influence

3:20 How Olympic Dreams Align With Honda’s Core Identity

4:14 Honda’s Wake-Up Call: Understanding Gen Z’s New Expectations

5:07 The EV Slowdown and How Honda Is Responding With Its Own Products

5:33 The RSX and Zero Series: Honda’s Next Big Bet on Electrification

5:54 The Surprising Legacy of ASIMO — And Its Rebirth Inside Honda’s EVs

6:46 Why Honda Believes Its Best Stories Are Still Ahead

Connect with Jennifer Symington: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwirthsymington/

Learn more about Honda’s Olympic plans: https://www.honda.com/teamusa

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

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

Car buyers are experiencing more than just stress. They’re panicking.

Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman joins us with a front-row view of the fear, confusion, and pressure buyers are carrying into showrooms today. She explains why auto shows have become one of the last places where consumers can reset, slow down, and get clarity by actually touching the thing they’re about to spend more money on than almost anything else in their lives.

But this isn’t just about shoppers — it’s about the industry waking up. Jenni shares how affordability has reshaped expectations, why tools like Cars.com’s new AI assistant matter right now, and what she learned driving global EVs the U.S. doesn’t even sell. From insurance shocks to BYD test drives, she makes one thing clear: understanding the modern car buyer requires empathy, transparency, and a willingness to face how much the world has changed.

Takeaways
0:00 Intro & Live From the LA Auto Show
0:57 Why Auto Shows Still Matter for Consumers
1:44 The Energy Auto Shows Bring to the Industry
2:16 How Hands-On EV Experiences Change Shopper Decisions
2:44 The 2025 Affordability Problem for Car Buyers
3:53 Payment Shock, Insurance Hikes, and Rising Anxiety
4:53 How Dealers Can Support Stressed-Out Shoppers
5:33 Carson: Cars.com’s New AI Shopping Assistant
6:22 The Shift Toward Conversational Car Shopping
7:03 Inside the World Car Awards Jury
7:39 What Jenni Learned Driving Global EVs (BYD and More)
10:16 Why Driving Feel Still Matters More Than Tech


Connect with Jenni Newman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennilnewman/
Our coverage of Automobility LA is brought to you by our friends at Cars Commerce: https://www.carscommerce.inc/

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Igor Skinder has seen every side of the car business—and he still believes people matter more than the metal.

Today’s guest is Igor “Iggy” Skinder, a self-proclaimed car guy who somehow manages to be both physically imposing and one of the sweetest, most grounded humans in the room. Born in former Yugoslavia, Igor grew up three hours from a VW plant, fell in love with the legendary Golf GTI, survived a brutal civil war, and arrived in small-town New Holland, Pennsylvania as a teenage refugee who didn’t speak English. Fast-forward a few years and he’s roaming local lots, hustling his way into a part-time gig at a tiny VW/Audi store, turning internet leads into a thing, and eventually becoming the CPO guy in his region.

From there, Igor moves into the franchise world and ultimately to Volkswagen of America, where he serves as National Operations & Strategy Manager for U.S. car operations and CPO. Paul digs into what that job actually looks like—residual values, incentive timing, production planning, red tape—and why incentives dropped mid-month can destroy trust at the retail level. They unpack the dealer–OEM tension, why most of us are definitely not in the same boat (just the same ocean), and Igor’s take on EVs, Scout, service capacity, and agency models. And in true Auto Collabs fashion, you’ll also hear how Igor once turned down “life-changing money” to buy a store because he refused to sacrifice time with his young daughters—proof that for him, this business isn’t just about units and margins, it’s about the humans in the middle of it all.

Takeaways

0:00 – “I Was Low-Key Afraid of Him”: First Impressions of a Giant Softie

1:45 – Why His Friends Call Him “Iggy” (and the 90s Euro Pop Star Behind It)

4:40 – Loving Cars vs. Loving People: The Line His Daughter Holds Him To

6:40 – Growing Up in a War Zone: How Yugoslavia’s Collapse Shaped His View of Conflict

8:13 – $20, One Suitcase, and a Horse & Buggy: Landing in Small-Town Pennsylvania

11:23 – The First VW Job: Washing His Own Car Turned Into a Career in Used Cars

13:53 – Becoming “The CPO Guy”: How a York, PA Store Beat Downtown LA

15:55 – Inside VW of America: What Running U.S. CPO Strategy Really Looks Like

20:38 – “We’re Not in the Same Boat”: The Real Gap Between OEMs and Dealers

25:04 – Why Mid-Month Incentives Destroy Customer Trust (and Dealership Morale)

29:27 – Igor’s Take on Scout, EV Anxiety, and the Risky Bet Dealers Are Being Asked to Make

34:37 – Fixed Ops, Tech Shortages & Absorption: The Bloodline No One Wants to Talk About

38:05 – Turning Down Life-Changing Money: Choosing His Daughters Over Owning a Store

Connect with Igor Skinder at https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorskinder/

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This former teacher used simple, repeatable hospitality—not buzzwords—to scale and auto group.

Today’s guest, Adam Gaedke helped steer a dealership group through hyper-growth, an ESOP transition, and a full-blown culture shift rooted in hospitality. Starting as a salesperson, Adam rode the wave from one store to 18 in 18 months, sat on the board during the employee-ownership transition, and learned what it really takes to make “guest experience” more than a poster on the wall.

Along the way, he swapped the industry’s old secrecy for radical transparency: ask customers how they want to buy, train for small touches that compound, and build processes that make great service the default.

In this conversation with Paul, Kyle, and Michael (with a cameo on Kazakhstani dealership hospitality), Adam breaks down the brass tacks: greeting standards, appointment confirmations that feel like a welcome, feedback loops that actually get used, and the uncomfortable—but loving—discipline of exiting non-fits fast.

His thesis is simple: most guests intend to buy when they walk in; your job is to remove the friction and honor their time. Guest experience isn’t just a metric, it’s a mindset you can operationalize—one touchpoint at a time.

Takeaways

0:00 The $0 Habit That Signals Hospitality

1:43 LinkedIn ‘Swipe Right’: How Real Collabs Start

2:54 From Six Months Teaching to Record Month Selling

4:52 “That’s Cute… But What Will You Do?”

9:26 Stop Gaming CSI, Start Earning It

11:39 The Ritz-Level Appointment Confirmation

13:11 Why We’re Not Saying ‘Digital Retailing’

15:12 Assume Intent to Buy, Then Remove Friction

16:39 “How Would You Like to Purchase Today?”

17:02 Operationalizing Care: Scripts, Follow-Up, and Video

21:18 Scaling to 18 Stores Without Losing the Plot

23:00 The Kindest Hard Thing: Fast Non-Fit Exits

Connect with Adam Gaedke on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgaedke/

⭐️ 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!

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