Regular listeners of Decoder know car CEOs love coming on the show. There is a lot of change in the car industry, a lot of big ideas about how to manage that change, and a lot of big problems to solve: the transition to electric vehicles, the fact that cars are basically turning into rolling smartphones, how to make self-driving work safely, and more. And, of course, we always end up talking about Tesla — because how can you not?Links:Listen to the full interviews hereLuminar CEO Austin RussellFord CEO Jim FarleyArgo AI CEO Brian SaleskiPolestar CEO Thomas IngenlathWaymo CEO Tekedra MawakanaJeep CEO Christian MeunierSecretary of Transportation Pete ButtigiegVolkswagen CEO Herbert Diess Transcript of this episodeCredits:Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.Today’s episode was produced by Creighton DeSimone, and Jackie McDermott with and it was edited by Callie Wright.The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Sr Audio Director is Andrew Marino and our Executive Producer is Eleanor Donovan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we are talking to Jeep CEO Christian Meunier – and there’s a lot to talk about. Jeep just announced its second hybrid electric vehicle in the US, the Grand Cherokee 4xe. It also announced a plan for its first electric car in 2023, and to have EVs across the line by 2025, which is very soon. And it’s now part of a huge global car company called Stellantis.So I wanted to know: why start with hybrids, instead of jumping straight to EVs? What does it mean to be the CEO of a brand like Jeep inside of of a huge international company like Stellantis? How does the Jeep team make decisions about features and technology, and how much do they have to defer to a larger parent company? And what does it mean for Jeep, one of the most iconic American car brands, to be part of a huge global company now?Christian and I talked about all of that, as well as how the chip shortage is affecting Jeep, what cars will look like in 2040, and Jeep’s use of the name “Cherokee” in 2021.Yeah, this interview goes places.Links:The first plug-in hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee is hereTested: 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Complicates a Simple Machine2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4xe: A Hybrid That Comes Up ShortThe electric Mustang Mach-E takes Ford in a whole new directionJeep Badge of Honor AppJeep EV Day videoEpisode TranscriptCredits:Today’s episode was produced by Creighton DeSimone, Alexander Charles Adams, and Andrew Marino. And we are edited by Callie Wright. Our music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices