The Culture Lane
There is arguably no business sector undergoing a transformation as intriguing as the automotive and mobility industry. The Culture Lane with Marcus Amick provides listeners with deeper insight into the rapidly changing world of transportation, with a focus on the products, people, and services driving the shift. Topics include everything, from new EV technology to key position changes in the automotive and mobility space, and how it all affects consumers and the business of transportation.
Episodes
Shared electric scooters and e-bikes aren’t a fad—they’re reshaping urban transportation. Veo reports that 35% of its trips replace car journeys and 72% of riders drive less, contributing to a 31% rise in shared micromobility trips in North America in 2024. In this episode of The Culture Lane, Alex Keating, Veo’s vice president of policy and partnerships, unpacks the company’s Shifting Gears report and what it reveals about the fut...
Navigating today’s U.S. auto market is no small feat—especially for a brand as iconic as Volkswagen. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we speak with Rachael Zaluzec, chief marketing officer and senior vice president at Volkswagen of America, about how VW is growing its U.S. customer base while staying true to its roots, from its storied heritage to a modern lineup that includes the all-electric ID. Buzz.
Car shopping today can mean endless calls, emails, and texts from dealers all promising the perfect deal, adding to the stress of finding the right vehicle at the right price. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore how digital car-buying platform CarEdge is using AI to reduce the anxiety of purchasing a vehicle. The guest is Zach Shefska, co-founder and CEO of CarEdge, who shares how the tech is reshaping dealer–customer i...
Audio has always been at the heart of the driving experience—whether it’s catching the morning show on your commute or streaming playlists on a weekend road trip. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we dive into how in-car listening habits are changing, from emerging audio platforms to what’s coming next. Our guest is Laura Ivey, director of research at audio insights leader Edison Research.
A year after unveiling the Scout Motors Traveler SUV and Terra pickup concepts, the Scout team is deep into finalizing the production models slated to debut in 2027. In the Season 3 premiere of The Culture Lane, we sit down with Chris Benjamin, chief design officer at Scout Motors, to discuss how the team is approaching reigniting the brand nearly 45 years later.
The electrification of Dodge has become one of the most buzzed-about evolutions in the auto industry, namely because of what the brand has represented as an American nameplate. In this episode of The Culture Lane (the final full episode in Season 2), we explore how Dodge plans to navigate its shift into electrification, with Matt McAlear, the newly appointed CEO of Dodge.
Cultural relevance has become a key business strategy for many companies seeking to position their products or services in the market. However, knowing how to navigate culture can be challenging, especially when it comes to selling vehicles in today's market. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore some of those challenges with Angela Spencer Ford, executive vice president and managing partner of the Detroit-based mark...
The Nissan R35 GT-R is currently in its last model year. However, as one of the most iconic vehicles in the world, the benchmark the Japanese supercar has set for performance will live on for years to come. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into what has made the GT-R so ionic. The guest is Kazutoshi Mizuno, known as the “Father” of the GTR, who shares some deeper insight on the supercar in his new collector’s book titl...
The tire industry is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolution of the automotive and mobility business, likely more than many realize. Be it EVs or motorsports, tires will help drive the future of vehicle transportation. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore the transformation of the tire business with Rob Williams, who is charged with navigating the future of Hankook Tire, North America, as president.
Consumer car purchases are arguably the heartbeat of automotive, given that every facet of the industry is predicated on that continuing pulse of the business. However, understanding what drives those purchases can be challenging, to say the least, especially in today’s market. To get a better understanding of the factors that influence car purchases, The Culture Lane elicited the insight of Rebecca Lindland, senior director of ind...
The new 2025 Infiniti QX80 seeks to usher in a new era for the luxury brand by building on several of the Japanese automaker's core tenets. From its new design elements to its new tech features, the 2025 QX80 is being touted by Infiniti as an evolution of the previous model. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore how Infiniti is leveraging the new SUV to reposition the luxury brand. The guest is Craig Keeys, group vic...
Digital platforms and services have become an integral part of the automotive dealership business. However, as the auto retail market continues to evolve, it begs the question: how does a company ensure that its digital service continues to meet the needs of dealers and consumers? In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into this question and more with Randy Modos, co-founder and president of PayJunction, an auto dealer payme...
The renovation of the historic Michigan Central train station in Detroit has helped to reposition the city as an epicenter in the evolving world of mobility. The station now anchors a technology hub that will help drive a range of innovations, spanning next-gen delivery robots to the future of autonomous vehicles. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve deeper into Michigan Central and what it signifies culturally for Detroit...
Digital gaming now ranks as one of the most popular pastimes in the world, with more than 70 percent of adults in the U.S. indicating they have played a video game on some platform, according to Statista. VRAL Games is looking to solidify its lane in the space, with VRIDER SBK, a new virtual reality (VR) motorcycle racing experience. In this episode of The Culture Lane, VRAL CEO Rodolfo Saccoman discusses how he sees VR-based games...
Fiat has developed quite a legacy over its 125-year history. In recent years, the Italian brand’s global appeal has been rooted in the all-electric Fiat 500. Now, the Italian automaker is looking to leverage the vehicle's popularity in North America, with the launch of the new all-electric Fiat 500e in the market. In this episode of The Culture Lane, Aamir Ahmed, the newly appointed head of Fiat North America, shares some insi...
Social media has become a pivotal part of automotive marketing strategies. However, when it comes to influencers and content creators, social is arguably one of the most challenging areas of marketing to navigate. In this episode of The Culture Lane, Joe Gagliese, founder and CEO of Viral Nation, a company rooted in the power of influencers, discusses how automakers can successfully navigate those challenges.
Genesis is arguably one of the most interesting brands in the automotive sector. Launched in 2016 in the U.S., the South Korean automaker has quickly become a major competitor in the luxury segment. And technology has been an intricate part of the company's success. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we explore the key tenets of Genesis’ approach to tech, with Ricky Lao, who has played a pivotal role in shaping the luxury br...
The transformative impact of artificial intelligence in the automotive and mobility industry is well underway. And one of the companies breaking new ground in the space is SoundHound AI. Leveraging its relationship with Nvidia, the company is redefining the idea of in-vehicle communications, with its conversational intelligence technology. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into the tech, with SoundHound AI COO Michael Z...
Every business sector is poised to be impacted by the deprecation or phasing out of third-party cookies. In this episode of The Culture Lane, we delve into the implications of the shift away from cross-site web-tracking on automakers, dealers, and other affiliated businesses – as well as other changes redefining the digital marketing landscape. Our guest is marketing thought-leader, Ken Nelson, who serves as a managing director at ...
Popular Podcasts
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com