Drake, Ford’s vice president of electric vehicle programs and energy supply chain, shares her outlook on the EV future amid a slowdown in sales growth and explains why systemic change is necessary to create more opportunities for women in the industry. Drake was a keynote speaker at Automotive News Leading Women conference May 21. She spoke with reporter Hannah Lutz.

The CEO and co-founder of the U.K. automated-driving startup details a fundraising round that includes investment from SoftBank, Nvidia and Microsoft. Further, he explains the company’s ChatGPT-like approach to utilizing AI in the traffic realm.

The founder and general partner of the venture-capital firm details a new $300 million infusion from its namesake automaker, separates hype from reality in the AI boom, and discussions automotive’s convergence toward the energy realm.

The vice president of automotive, transportation and cross-manufacturing at research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. breaks down the disbanding of Tesla’s EV charging team, Elon Musk’s latest robotaxi promises and the company’s fresh “AI and robotics” focus.

The vice president of automotive and manufacturing at Amazon Web Services (AWS) talks about the proliferation of generative AI advances across different areas of the auto industry. Further, she details efforts to ensure women thrive in auto-tech careers.

The author of “City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality and The Future of America’s Highways” examines the financial, environmental and human costs of highway expansions, explains the way interstates are funded, and details prospects of highway removal.

Greg McGuire, managing director of a connected-and-autonomous vehicle test track, discusses MCity's transformation into a makerspace for mobility innovation. Topics include the rise of hybrid vehicles in the automotive industry, China's lead in the hydrogen market, and MCity's role in shaping the future of transportation with AI and innovation.

The partner at investment firm Mobility Impact Partners explains how she looks beyond transportation-tech hype when investing and details a viable path for electrification through charging and infrastructure uncertainty.

Jay Joseph, VP at Honda, discusses Honda's hydrogen strategy with a focus on the new CR-V fuel-cell variant and a joint venture with GM. They explore the state of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in California, the need for infrastructure expansion, misconceptions about hydrogen safety, and Honda's global strategy for achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050.

The podcast discusses consumer demands and safety concerns in the EV market, Michigan's role in driving mobility innovation, advancements in aerial mobility and sustainable transportation, and reflections on Michigan's mobility and natural resources.