Shows / Automotive Insiders
Automotive Insiders
Automotive Industry expert Jason Stein presents a podcast focused on the automotive industry. It launched in 2022 and covers various industry topics, trends, and projections that are impacting the future of automotive. Jason will interview some of the industry’s key thought leaders and industry insiders. The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Pandora with new episodes that will be featured weekly.
Episodes
- Automotive Insiders
When Good Parts Get Blamed: Why Replacement Isn’t Root Cause
The part got replaced, and the problem went away, but Warner Norcross + Judd attorney and partner Ashley Racette explains why that doesn’t prove it was the…
- Automotive Insiders
Just in Time Delivery — When it Really Matters
When a plant is hours from a line-down, ground freight isn’t an option, and a helicopter might be. Nick McMahon of McMahon Airborne Logistics joins Jason Stein…
- Automotive Insiders
Driving Continuous Improvement When Demand Stagnates
With growth stalled across the automotive supply chain, Redzone President Ken Fisher explains why suppliers can no longer count on rising OEM volume to protect…
- Automotive Insiders
Is the Car Itself Becoming 'The Driver' in Court?
Jennifer Dukarski of Butzel joins host Jason Stein to break down AI's legal landmines for automotive suppliers — and previews Butzel's September 17 "Ts & Cs…
- Automotive Insiders
Testing a Powertrain Mix That's in Flux
BEV market share has slid from 10% to 6% in just a few quarters; hybrids are picking up the slack, and the regulatory ground keeps shifting under everyone's…
- Automotive Insiders
How to Gain Leverage in Negotiations
On the latest Automotive Insiders, Matthew Smith, President and CEO of 3C Software, breaks down why suppliers who build their own bottom-up cost model — rather…
- Automotive Insiders
Unlocking What’s Next in Supplier M&A
On the latest Automotive Insiders, Greg Urban of Greenwich Capital breaks down the forces reshaping automotive M&A and what suppliers need to know to prepare…
- Automotive Insiders
Adapting to Automotive's New Production Reality
Recorded live at the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers Southern Supplier Summit in Greenville, S.C., Jason Stein sits down with Danielle Momany of MEMA OE and…
- Automotive Insiders
Tariffs, EV Delays and Risk: What Suppliers Need to Know Now
Tariffs. EV program delays. Contract disputes. Workforce shortages. For automotive suppliers, the challenges aren't arriving one at a time—they're colliding…
- Automotive Insiders
How Lucerne is Creating Opportunity in Chaos
Tariffs and supply chain disruption aren’t going away—but they can be leveraged. Mary Buchzeiger, CEO of Lucerne International, explains how suppliers can…
- Automotive Insiders
Moving from AI Theory to AI Execution
Forget AI hype—most suppliers don’t need smarter tools, they need better workflows. William Crane of OrbAid breaks down why “CLAW” may be the real key to…
- Automotive Insiders
Solving for Scale with AI
Automotive manufacturers are still managing billions in direct spend through email and spreadsheets. Spencer Penn, co-founder and CEO of Lightsource.ai…
- Automotive Insiders
Why Ireland is Full of Opportunity for Suppliers
The next competitive advantage for suppliers may come down to geography. Tony Hayes of IDA Ireland breaks down why Ireland is emerging as a strategic location…
- Automotive Insiders
How AI is Affecting Risk
Today’s vehicles are as much software platforms as they are machines — and that’s changing everything for suppliers. Partners Vanessa Miller and Nicholas Ellis…
- Automotive Insiders
Contracts for Today’s Reality
Automotive suppliers are facing rising costs, shifting tariffs, and contracts that weren’t built for today’s reality. Foley & Lardner LLP partners Nicholas…
- Automotive Insiders
The Real-World Impact of AI
AI in automotive is no longer a concept—it’s a competitive advantage, but only if you know where to apply it. On this episode of Automotive Insiders, Ajay…
- Automotive Insiders
An Inside View of Supplier M&A and Tariff Reimbursements
M&A activity among automotive suppliers is back—but the deals are more complex than ever. With tariff-driven risk and distressed transactions, Jennifer Dudley…
- Automotive Insiders
Inside the Rivian Story - Part 2
Rivian is in scale mode and, in part 2 of our interview, Chief Operations Officer Javier Varela joins Automotive Insiders to describe the landscape for the…
- Automotive Insiders
Inside the Rivian Story - Part 1
What does it take to scale an EV startup into a global manufacturer—without losing its DNA? Rivian Chief Operations Officer Javier Varela joins Automotive…
- Automotive Insiders
Finding Real Solutions in Cost Savings
Manufacturers have no shortage of cost-saving ideas — the real challenge is execution and proving the financial impact. On this episode of Automotive Insiders…
- Automotive Insiders
What’s Really Changing Inside Manufacturing?
Jonathan Lane, VP of Solutions at Redzone from QAD, joins Automotive Insiders to explain how technology isn’t replacing the workforce — it’s redefining it…
- Automotive Insiders
Analyzing a Recalibration of the Industry
David Oakley of GlobalData is our guest on Automotive Insiders as we break down the macro forces reshaping supplier strategy in 2026 -- from tariffs and…
- Automotive Insiders
Connecting Margin to Execution for Suppliers
In this episode of Automotive Insiders, host Jason Stein sits down with Jason Versical of Campfire Interactive and Joe McCarthy of Cover 4 PM to unpack how…
- Automotive Insiders
Using Machine Learning to Transform Production
Machine learning is transforming production — but culture determines whether transformation sticks. Martinrea CEO Pat D’Eramo reveals how people and technology…
- Automotive Insiders
PACE Awards: What Winning Automotive Innovation Looks Like Now
The Automotive News PACE Awards have long been a gold standard for supplier innovation—but what do judges really value most? Jason Stein sits down with Douglas…
- Automotive Insiders
Part 2: CES 2026 — How Bosch is transforming itself
From AI in the cockpit to autonomous trucking, from agentic AI in factories to the challenge of earning public trust in technology — in part two of this…
- Automotive Insiders
Part 1: CES 2026 — Inside Bosch’s vision for future mobility
At CES 2026, Bosch made a clear statement: the future of mobility isn’t just electric — it’s intelligent. In part one of this episode of Automotive Insiders…
- Automotive Insiders
Bill Long: A Legacy of Supplier Leadership
For more than 40 years, Bill Long has helped shape the voice and future of the supplier community. In this special episode, the retiring MEMA President and CEO…
- Automotive Insiders
AI-Driven Efficiency for the Modern Supplier
Suppliers are sitting on billions in stranded capital and AI is finally unlocking it. Infor’s Peter Maithel explains how smarter factories create a measurable…
- Automotive Insiders
Using AI to Get Smarter About Sourcing
Automotive procurement teams are stuck in endless firefighting and AI is offering a way out. Arkestro’s Head of Automotive, Ron Collman, reveals how smarter…
- Automotive Insiders
Arthur D. Little & MEMA OE Landmark Study: U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness
As a USMCA renegotiation looms, suppliers face critical choices about where future programs belong. Arthur D. Little reveals the factors that will determine…
- Automotive Insiders
Digitizing Supplier Intelligence: How Tohoom Enables Success
Suppliers are facing unprecedented complexity — and the old tools can’t keep up. Tohoom joins Automotive Insiders to explain how digitized commercial…
- Automotive Insiders
AI’s Hidden Cost-Savings Opportunity
AI has transformed automotive manufacturing — now it’s poised to reinvent how vehicles are sold. Jonas Wagner, partner and managing director, of AlixPartners…
- Automotive Insiders
How Sustainable is our Current Reporting Environment?
Sustainability reporting is becoming a maze for auto suppliers. With conflicting state laws, global standards, and unclear federal direction, where do you even…
- Automotive Insiders
Tariffs, Prices, and Performance: How Policy Is Shaping the Auto Market
Trade tensions, shifting tariffs, and rising costs are rewriting the rules for automakers in 2025. In this episode of Automotive Insiders, Jason Stein and…
- Automotive Insiders
Building a Sustainable Battery Future
Electrification is transforming the automotive landscape — and sustainability is now at the heart of every battery breakthrough. In this episode of Automotive…
- Automotive Insiders
Charging Ahead? The Shifting Landscape of EV Adoption
The EV transition hinges on the battery supply chain — but tariffs, trade policy, and shifting incentives are adding new complexities. In this episode of…
- Automotive Insiders
The Importance of Growing the Supply Base
As the industry reshapes around electrification, trade shifts and new technologies, a strong and diverse supplier base has never mattered more. MEMA’s Collin…
- Automotive Insiders
What the Industry Can Learn from Chassis 2.0
ZF’s Chassis 2.0 is redefining how braking, steering, and suspension systems work — replacing traditional mechanics with intelligent, software-driven…
- Automotive Insiders
U.S. Manufacturing at a Crossroads
In this episode of Automotive Insiders, Arthur D. Little Partners Jörn Buss and Frank McCleary preview a landmark study which is set to debut at the MEMA OE…
- Automotive Insiders
Tooling Under Pressure
Costs, labor, and global competition are reshaping the backbone of auto manufacturing. In this episode of Automotive Insiders, Wipfli’s Laurie Harbour breaks…
- Automotive Insiders
Trade tensions, tariffs & USMCA – what suppliers need to know
Global trade uncertainty continues to shape the automotive industry. In our latest Automotive Insiders episode, Jeffrey Richardson of Miller Canfield unpacks…
- Automotive Insiders
Navigating the Rising Tide of Supplier Litigation
Supplier disputes are on the rise — and the stakes have never been higher. In this episode of Automotive Insiders, Adam Ratliff of Warner Norcross + Judd…
- Automotive Insiders
Strategies to Solve Shifting Contract Terms
On this episode of Automotive Insiders, Butzel’s Mitch Zajac breaks down the legal implications in today’s supply chain — from volume fluctuations and tariffs…
- Automotive Insiders
A Look at the Future of Commercial Wheels
Accuride CEO Kent Jones joins Automotive Insiders to talk EVs, durability, smart coatings — and why the road ahead is built on lighter, tougher, more connected…
- Automotive Insiders
Charting the Course for the CV Future
What does the future of commercial vehicles look like in a world of electrification, AI, and shifting regulations? Allison Transmission’s John Coll and MEMA’s…
- Automotive Insiders
The Pitfalls of Uncertainty
Can North America stay competitive without long-term investment certainty? Michael Robinet of S&P Global joins Automotive Insiders to reveal what’s at stake…
- Automotive Insiders
What’s next for EVs?
Is the EV revolution hitting the brakes? Dykema Senior Counsel Jay Logel joins Automotive Insiders to break down what shifting policies mean for suppliers on…
- Automotive Insiders
What’s Changing the Game in Software?
Automotive Insiders host Jason Stein interviews Amarish Kapadia, Global Head of Sales & Product Strategy at MiNDCAN, to discuss how software can tackle cost…
- Automotive Insiders
Looking for Clarity Amid the Chaos
Automotive Insiders host Jason Stein talks to Mark Wakefield about AlixPartners’ 2025 Global Automotive Outlook, the consulting firm’s annual in-depth industry…
- Automotive Insiders
Finding Clarity Amid Supplier Disruption
From raw material shortages to labor strikes and global conflicts, suppliers are getting squeezed. What contract provisions are most critical right now to help…
- Automotive Insiders
South Carolina Regional III: The Impact of Cost Management for Suppliers
Matthew Smith, President and CEO of 3C Software, talks to Automotive Insider host Jason Stein about cost management strategies for suppliers, including the…
- Automotive Insiders
South Carolina Regional II: How CU-ICAR is Growing with the Industry
In part two of our three-part series from the MEMA OE South Carolina Regional Meeting, Automotive Insiders host Jason Stein interviews David Clayton, Executive…
- Automotive Insiders
South Carolina Regional I: JTEKT’s Continued Rise in the U.S. South
Automotive Insiders takes the podcast on the road this week to talk investment in South Carolina’s growing automotive ecosystem. In part one of a three-part…
- Automotive Insiders
The Opportunity of SDVs and Semiconductors
The semiconductor and software-defined vehicle space is changing at a lightning pace. Where are the next frontiers and what opportunities could emerge in the…
- Automotive Insiders
The Search for Certainty in Uncertain Times
Whether the issue is ICE vs. EVs, tariffs or the desire for more growth, the headwinds in the space are numerous for suppliers. What’s the best way to chart a…
- Automotive Insiders
An Earth Day Conversation About Sustainability
What are the goals and objectives on sustainability and where are the challenges. On this Earth Day, we take a closer look from the MEMA perspective and the…
- Automotive Insiders
The Real Cost of Tariffs
What are the trade tools being used in the tariff decisions and what is the planning that needs to occur in order to lower costs and reduce risk? Mark Ludwig…
- Automotive Insiders
Navigating Product Liability
Automotive Insiders host Jason Stein talks with Katie Crysler, associate attorney at Warner Norcross and Judd, about the implications of product liability and…
- Automotive Insiders
Spotlight Series: MEMA Board Member Jennifer Slater
Automotive Insiders launches a new program called “Spotlight Series” where host Jason Stein sits down with a MEMA Board Member to discuss the topics of the…