The Great Rebalancing Act with Elizabeth Krear (Center for Automotive Research)
Episode 259
Friend of the show Elizabeth Krear, President & CEO of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), is back again (for a third time!) to unpack why working in the auto industry in 2026 feels a lot like joining the circus, plus a smorgasbord of other hot topics. In this episode, Elizabeth and I cover how tariffs and a reshuffled USMCA landscape are squeezing margins for automakers, the reality behind why “cars are so expensive now” vs. what prices look like in real 10‑year dollars, the rise of the K‑shaped auto economy (SUVs and trucks for the haves and shrinking options for entry‑level buyers), why hybrids are having a slow‑burn glow‑up while full BEVs settle into a 5–6% groove, and finally, how China’s EV machine and North American policy choices are one big competitive showdown. Plus, Elizabeth previews CAR’s Management Briefing Seminars where the industry will dig deep into affordability, the EV transition, China, supply‑chain resilience, and policy. If you’ve ever wondered how tariffs, geopolitics, and battery materials end up in your monthly payment, this one’s for you.
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