2026 Working Relations Index — The First Time in 26 Years All Six OEMs Moved Up

For the first time in 26 years of the Working Relations Index, every single North American OEM moved up the chart. Ford, Toyota, Stellantis, Honda, GM, and Nissan all scored higher than the year before. That has never happened. Not once.In this special episode, Jan sits down with Dr. Angela Johnson, principal at Plante Moran responsible for the WRI, along with Sig Huber, Chief Commercial Officer of Elm Analytics and former supplier risk leader at Toyota and Fiat Chrysler. Three sharp voices. One story the industry needs to hear.Tariffs. EV cost recovery. Permacrisis fatigue. Return-to-office mandates. Four undercurrents shaped this year's results, and they all point to the same place. When OEMs can't control the macro, they lean into what they can control. Communication. Accessibility. Buyer responsiveness. Taking the meeting. Listening. Acting. That's what moved the needle, and the suppliers noticed.Ford's 32-point jump is the second-largest gain in WRI history, and Liz Door led that charge from the top. Stellantis is showing the early signs of a real turnaround under Filosa. GM's still working through cultural inertia, but the relationship side keeps moving in the right direction. And Toyota and Honda aren't slowing down.Angela also unpacks her new 6C framework. It's the bridge between transactional and relational. Commercial fairness, consistency, clear expectations, communication, continuity, and collaboration. It's the structure the industry's been missing.But here's the harder truth. The next 18 to 24 months will test every relationship in this industry. Cost of goods sold is climbing. Supplier financial distress is creeping back. Cross-functional alignment inside the OEMs is slipping. The playbook's changing. The question isn't whether we can do this together. It's whether we will.Here's the link to the WRI 2026 StudyThemes Discussed in this EpisodeFirst-time-ever WRI result: all six OEMs scored upPermacrisis fatigue and the shift toward collaborationTariffs, EV cost recovery, and commercial fairnessThe 6C framework: bridging transactional and relationalFord's record-setting jump and Liz Door's leadershipStellantis's rebound under FilosaGM's ongoing culture changeTop 50 suppliers, organizational memory, and cultural inertiaReturn-to-office mandates and buyer performanceCross-functional decline inside the OEMsFrom cost reduction to resilience: the playbook is changing🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@jangriffithsautomotiveleadersThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn moreFeatured Guest: Dr. Angela Johnson – Principal, Plante MoranDr. Angela Johnson leads Plante Moran's supplier relations analytics and oversees the team that runs the annual Working Relations Index (WRI) Study. She brings more than 30 years of automotive experience at General Motors across multiple functions, paired with a doctorate in Industrial Engineering from Wayne State University.Angela helps organizations understand how trust, governance, and day-to-day commercial behaviors shape performance across large manufacturing ecosystems. She is also the architect of the 6C framework introduced in the 2026 WRI Study.Featured Guest: Sig Huber – Chief Commercial Officer, Elm AnalyticsSig is the Chief Commercial Officer of Elm Analytics, a leading source of supplier financial health and risk data. Before Elm, Sig ran supplier risk management for Toyota and global supplier risk management for Fiat Chrysler, giving him a rare view from both the top and the bottom of the WRI scale.He is a frequent voice on the show when the conversation turns to supplier resiliency, financial distress, and the operational realities of managing risk across a global supply network.About Your Host – Jan GriffithsJan Griffiths is the champion for culture change and the host of the Automotive Leaders Podcast. A former automotive executive with a rebellious spirit, Jan is known for challenging outdated norms and inspiring leaders to ditch command and control. She brings honesty, energy, and courage to every conversation, proving that authentic, human-centered leadership is the future of the automotive industry.Mentioned in this Episode:Plante Moran 2026 OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index (WRI) StudyKumar Galhotra (COO, Ford) – John McElroy interview on the Ford reorganization [Autoline AfterHours]Episode Highlights[01:21] A first in 26 years: Every single North American OEM moved up the WRI chart this year. That's never happened before. Jan sets the table for why this result matters.[03:43] 10,000 supplier comments and a real tone shift: Angela describes more than three times as many comments as in prior years, with less frustration and finger-pointing. Suppliers are putting real thought into it because they believe the OEMs are listening.[06:21] The four undercurrents: EV, tariffs, return-to-office, and permacrisis fatigue. Angela breaks down the forces driving this year's results and why suppliers are ...