Drop me a text and let me know what you think of this episode!

Want a clear view of where mobility and money intersect right now? We dive into how Chinese carmakers are lining up to enter the U.S. through joint ventures, Canadian quotas, and Mexican assembly—and why that strategy echoes the Japanese and Korean playbook that reshaped the market decades ago. The core story is affordability: a massive gap below $25K that Chinese brands are ready to fill with high-quality, feature-rich EVs, potentially under familiar badges. We unpack what that means for IP sharing, tariffs, and whether legacy automakers can turn this wave into a two-way learning advantage.

Then we strap into the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona EV to separate hype from hardware. With dual motors, 630 hp, and a 670-hp power shot, the Daytona blends muscle with a grand-touring vibe, delivering tight build quality, confident handling, and a surprisingly practical hatch. We talk tech, comfort, and the few misses—most notably a 270-mile range—so you know exactly who this car serves today and what upgrades might matter tomorrow.

Price pressure also reshapes the used market. We explain why some dealers now sell branded or salvage-title vehicles as insurers total cars for electronics-heavy repairs, not just big crashes. You’ll hear about the risks a test drive won’t reveal, how inconsistent state standards magnify uncertainty, and what questions to ask before you chase a “deal” that could turn into cascading sensor and safety issues. Finally, we connect the dots to housing: the rise in underwater mortgages across Sun Belt cities, how thin down payments and post-frenzy price shifts lock owners in place, and practical steps if you’re stuck—keep paying, don’t rush to sell, and protect liquidity.

If you care about where value, safety, and performance meet, this conversation gives you the context to buy smarter—whether that’s your next EV, a used car under $15K, or the decision to ride out a choppy housing market. Enjoy the ride, share this with someone shopping right now, and subscribe for more straight talk on mobility insights. Got a take or a question we should tackle next? Text 872-222-9793 or email talk@techmobility.show. Leave us a review to help more listeners find our show.

Support the show

Be sure to tell your friends to tune in to The TechMobility Podcast!

Drop me a text and let me know what you think of this episode!

A city goes dark, and the smartest cars on the road freeze in place. We unpack the San Francisco blackout that stalled multiple Waymo robotaxis, asking the hard questions about fail‑safes, four‑way stops without signals, and how urban autonomy should behave when infrastructure collapses. We contrast tech stacks and claims across Waymo and Tesla, and we get specific about what accountability, transparent incident data, and municipal standards should look like if driverless fleets are to share streets with ambulances and school buses.

More than three years ago, we asked a difficult question: Can AI fight an “ethical” war? A 2023 white paper from the Future of Life Institute brings that question back with urgency, examining how artificial intelligence is beginning to intersect with nuclear weapons systems and decision-making.

In this episode, we break down the risks of faster, automated warning systems, compressed human decision time, and the potential for AI-driven errors or escalation. We also explore the paper’s policy recommendations and explain why global safeguards may need to move faster than the technology itself.

This isn’t science fiction—it’s a real policy debate happening now.

Next, we shift to another kind of resilience: the Buy It For Life mindset. Remember when a fridge lasted 25 years and a wrench came with a no‑questions lifetime swap? We explore why durability beats disposable upgrades, how right‑to‑repair and parts availability affect the total cost of ownership, and which design choices—modularity, service manuals, standardized components—turn products into heirlooms rather than e‑waste. If you’ve ever paid more and gotten less, this is your playbook for flipping the equation and investing once to save for years.

Finally, we head to Pescadero, California, where a 100% solar community microgrid with battery storage is being built to keep critical services online during storms and line failures. Schools, a fire station, and essential nonprofits serve as resilience hubs for residents, medications, and communication when the main grid fails. We discuss sizing, storage limits, and why community‑wide resilience is both a climate strategy and a public safety mandate. The throughline is clear: smarter defaults, longer‑lasting goods, and local energy can turn bad days into manageable ones.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who cares about tech that works on the worst day, and leave a review with your take on AV fail‑safes and Buy It For Life must‑haves. Your feedback shapes what we dig into next.

Support the show

Be sure to tell your friends to tune in to The TechMobility Podcast!

Drop me a text and let me know what you think of this episode!

Shoppers are speaking with their wallets, and the data speaks loudly. We kick off with a clear-eyed look at why Hyundai and Kia just posted record January sales, driven by hybrids and value-forward crossovers—and how Chevy’s layered lineup keeps affordable options on the lot.

Then we take the 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition into focus: what its Baja-tuned suspension, GOAT modes, and 315-hp EcoBoost deliver off-road, and where price, fuel economy, seat design, and daily usability fall short. If you’re weighing a base Bronco build against a near-$80K special, we’ve got the context you need.

Mid-show, we pivot to a different kind of traction problem: warm winters and thin snowpack across the West. When snow turns to rain, reservoirs don’t refill; water rushes off, flooding and leaving little for summer. We break down how mid-elevation snowpack drives most runoff, why ski towns and resort jobs feel the pain first, and how agriculture—winter wheat, sugar beets, and more—pushes the impact to your grocery bill. From the Pacific Northwest’s atmospheric rivers to Utah’s snow-dependent water supply, the stakes reach far beyond the slopes.

We close by examining Ford’s Escape exit and the affordability gap it creates. Dealers want an entry-level vehicle that keeps shoppers in the brand; buyers want sensible payments, not just passion projects. Maverick and Bronco Sport help, but they won’t fit everyone who doesn’t want a truck-like look or a premium price. Across cars, crossovers, and climate, the throughline is the same: meet real-world needs with practical choices. If that’s your lens, you’ll love this one.

Subscribe to The TechMobility Podcast, share it with a friend who’s car shopping, and leave a review with your take on value versus hype—we’ll feature the best replies next week.

Support the show

Be sure to tell your friends to tune in to The TechMobility Podcast!