{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":" Dec. 22, 2025 | Automaker Year-In Review: Stellantis and Ford’s tumultuous 2025","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/dec-22-2025-automaker-year-in-review-stellantis-and-ford-s-tumultuous-2025","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2447022/episodes/18383001-dec-22-2025-automaker-year-in-review-stellantis-and-ford-s-tumultuous-2025.mp3","description":"Daily Drive’s year-end series kicks off with a deep dive into how the Detroit automakers navigated 2025. In this first installment, the Automotive News Automaker team breaks down the biggest stories of the year. Today’s focus: Stellantis and Ford’s challenging 2025, with insights from the reporters who covered them closest. "},"annotations":[{"startTime":227.0,"endTime":229.0,"type":"car","title":"Buick Envision","url":"/cars/buick/envision","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/BUICK_ENVISION_PLUS_China.jpg","quote":"The Buick Envision comes from China. There's a pretty big impact, but one of the things that they haven't really done is stop production of any of those.","canonicalId":"car:buick:envision","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Buick Envision is a compact crossover SUV produced by General Motors under the Buick brand. It was first introduced in 2014 and is known for its spacious interior and affordable price point.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Buick Envision is a small SUV that many people buy for its roomy inside and low cost. It’s made by the American company Buick, which is part of General Motors.","imageAttribution":"Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":237.0,"endTime":240.0,"type":"car","title":"Chevy Trax","url":"/cars/chevrolet/trax","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/2021_Chevrolet_Trax_LT%2C_Windsor%2C_Ontario%2C_2025-07-01.jpg","quote":"They've said they're continuing to ship the Chevy Tracks and the Buick Envista, the lowest of their portfolio, the most affordable subcompacts that they have...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:trax","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Chevy Trax is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand. It debuted in 2013 and is popular for its compact size, fuel efficiency, and low price.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevy Trax is a tiny SUV that’s easy to park and gets good gas mileage. It’s made by Chevrolet, part of General Motors.","imageAttribution":"Crisco 1492 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":268.0,"endTime":270.0,"type":"company","title":"Stellantis","url":"/glossary/stellantis","quote":"Vince, how about Stellantis? They had a wave of investments announced this year what's going on over there and how were they affected by tariffs?","canonicalId":"company:stellantis","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturing company formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A. It owns brands like Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and more.","simplifiedExplanation":"Stellantis is a big car company that owns many different brands, like Dodge and Jeep. It was created when two large companies joined together."}},{"startTime":276.0,"endTime":279.0,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Hornet","url":"/cars/dodge/hornet","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/2024_Dodge_Hornet_RT_PHEV_in_Acapulco_Gold%2C_Front_Left%2C_10-29-2023.jpg","quote":"First off, they had to drop the Italian build Dodge Hornet, the small crossover they had just put out two years ago.","canonicalId":"car:dodge:hornet","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.93,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Dodge Hornet is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). It was introduced in 2022 and is known for its compact size, modern styling, and affordable price.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Dodge Hornet is a small SUV that’s cheap and stylish. It’s made by Dodge, which is part of the big car company Stellantis.","imageAttribution":"Elise240SX (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":301.0,"endTime":313.0,"type":"car","title":"Charger Daytona RT","url":"/cars/dodge/charger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/1970_Dodge_Charger_R-T_Hirschaid_22-20220709-RM-120204.jpg","quote":"That model is no longer being produced right now. Then following that, they had to drop the base trim of the Charger Daytona RT.","canonicalId":"car:dodge:charger","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Dodge Charger Daytona RT is a high‑performance trim of the Dodge Charger, featuring upgraded powertrain and styling cues inspired by the classic 1960s Daytona race car.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Charger Daytona RT is a special version of Dodge’s big‑sized sedan that gets extra power and sporty looks, like a modern sports car built on the Charger platform.","imageAttribution":"Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":457.0,"endTime":463.0,"type":"brand","title":"Audi","url":"/glossary/audi","quote":"One big brand was Audi. They do have a factory in Mexico, but besides that, all their vehicles are imported.","canonicalId":"brand:audi","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Audi is a German automotive manufacturer known for its quattro all-wheel-drive system and modern design. The brand produces a range of vehicles from compact cars to luxury sedans and SUVs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Audi is a German car company that makes many different kinds of cars, from small family cars to big luxury ones. They are famous for their smooth driving and good technology."}},{"startTime":470.0,"endTime":478.0,"type":"brand","title":"Lamborghini","url":"/glossary/lamborghini","quote":"But even on the high end and the ultra luxury space, like Bentley's Lamborghini's Ferrari, those are vehicles that are only made in certain factories.","canonicalId":"brand:lamborghini","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Lamborghini is an Italian manufacturer of high‑performance sports cars, famous for their aggressive styling and powerful engines.","simplifiedExplanation":"Lamborghini makes very fast, eye‑catching sports cars that come from Italy. They’re known for their sharp looks and strong engines."}},{"startTime":470.0,"endTime":478.0,"type":"brand","title":"Bentley","url":"/glossary/bentley","quote":"But even on the high end and the ultra luxury space, like Bentley's Lamborghini's Ferrari, those are vehicles that are only made in certain factories.","canonicalId":"brand:bentley","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Bentley is a British luxury car manufacturer known for hand‑built, high‑performance vehicles that emphasize comfort and prestige.","simplifiedExplanation":"Bentley makes very fancy cars that are built by hand in the UK. They’re known for being super comfortable and looking very luxurious."}},{"startTime":470.0,"endTime":478.0,"type":"brand","title":"Ferrari","url":"/glossary/ferrari","quote":"But even on the high end and the ultra luxury space, like Bentley's Lamborghini's Ferrari, those are vehicles that are only made in certain factories.","canonicalId":"brand:ferrari","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer renowned for its racing heritage and iconic design.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ferrari makes very fast, stylish cars that come from Italy. They’re famous for racing and their classic red color."}},{"startTime":536.0,"endTime":540.0,"type":"brand","title":"Volkswagen Group","url":"/glossary/volkswagen-group","quote":"[536.0s] Volkswagen Group is considering an Audi plant that hasn't been finalized or announced.","canonicalId":"brand:volkswagen-group","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Volkswagen Group is a German automotive conglomerate that owns several car brands, including Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, Porsche, and others. It is one of the world’s largest car manufacturers.","simplifiedExplanation":"Volkswagen Group is a big company from Germany that makes many different cars, like VW and Audi. It’s one of the biggest car makers in the world."}},{"startTime":558.0,"endTime":566.0,"type":"concept","title":"electric vehicle plans","url":"/glossary/electric-vehicle-plans","quote":"[558.0s] you could look at some of the changes around emissions that have had ripple effects on electric vehicle plans.","canonicalId":"concept:electric-vehicle-plans","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.86,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Electric vehicle plans refer to a manufacturer’s strategy for developing and launching electric cars, often influenced by regulatory pressures and market demand.","simplifiedExplanation":"Electric vehicle plans are the ideas a car company has about making and selling electric cars. They decide how many models to build and when."}},{"startTime":558.0,"endTime":564.0,"type":"concept","title":"emissions regulations","url":"/glossary/emissions-regulations","quote":"[558.0s] you could look at some of the changes around emissions that have had ripple effects on electric vehicle plans.","canonicalId":"concept:emissions-regulations","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Emissions regulations are government rules that limit the amount of pollutants cars can emit. They drive manufacturers to develop cleaner engines and electric vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"Emissions regulations are rules that say how much pollution a car can produce. They push car makers to make cleaner cars, like electric ones."}},{"startTime":582.0,"endTime":586.0,"type":"term","title":"electric vehicles","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"[582.0s] A lot of that's just a lot more murky with uncertainty that's out there around trade policy and not knowing necessarily what deals were going to be reached and how much and when and changes to some of the things like the tax credit for electric vehicles, for instance.","canonicalId":"term:ev","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.92,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars powered entirely or partially by electric motors using energy stored in batteries, offering zero tailpipe emissions and often benefiting from government incentives like tax credits.","simplifiedExplanation":"Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline. They have batteries and electric motors, so they don’t produce exhaust fumes."}},{"startTime":610.0,"endTime":615.0,"type":"brand","title":"Ford","url":"/glossary/ford","quote":"[610.0s] Coming up, Vince and Mike detail the years that Stellantis and Ford had in 2025.","canonicalId":"brand:ford","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. It produces a wide range of vehicles from compact cars to heavy-duty trucks and is known for models like the Ford Mustang, F‑Series pickups, and the EcoSport SUV.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ford is a big car company from America that makes many kinds of cars and trucks, including the popular Mustang sports car and the F‑Series pickup trucks."}},{"startTime":686.0,"endTime":689.0,"type":"term","title":"hippie engine","url":"/glossary/hippie-engine","quote":"So one of the big things in North America is the hippie engine.","canonicalId":"term:hippie-engine","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A colloquial term for large, naturally aspirated V8 engines that were popular in American muscle cars of the 1970s and early 1980s.","simplifiedExplanation":"‘Hippie engine’ is a nickname for big, powerful V8 engines that were common in old American muscle cars. They’re known for their loud exhaust and strong performance."}},{"startTime":689.0,"endTime":695.0,"type":"car","title":"Ram 1500","url":"/cars/ram/1500","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/2025_RAM_1500_REV%2C_front_NYIAS_2023.jpg","quote":"And so that is coming back to the Ram 1500, you know, pick up truck at 5.7 him.","canonicalId":"car:ram:1500","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Ram 1500 is a full‑size pickup truck produced by Stellantis (formerly FCA). It’s known for its towing capability and strong V8 engine options.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ram 1500 is a big pickup truck that can haul heavy loads. It’s popular in the U.S. for work and family use.","imageAttribution":"Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":742.0,"endTime":745.0,"type":"term","title":"Hemi engine","url":"/glossary/hemi-engine","quote":"[742.0s] So one, the hippie, that is something that dealers wanted.","canonicalId":"term:hemi-engine","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A Hemi engine is a type of internal combustion engine with a hemispherical combustion chamber, known for high power output and efficient airflow. The term is often associated with Chrysler’s V8 engines.","simplifiedExplanation":"A Hemi engine is a powerful type of car engine that makes the vehicle go fast. It’s famous for its shape and performance."}},{"startTime":754.0,"endTime":757.0,"type":"car","title":"Jeep","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/GPW_%28Jeep%29_9502.jpg","quote":"[754.0s] So we'll see a lot more jeeps with him.","canonicalId":"car:jeep","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Jeep is a brand of American off‑road vehicles known for models like the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, and Compass. The brand emphasizes ruggedness and 4‑wheel drive capability.","simplifiedExplanation":"Jeep cars are built to handle rough terrain and off‑road adventures. They’re famous for their boxy shape and 4‑wheel drive.","imageAttribution":"Chris Light (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":856.0,"endTime":860.0,"type":"term","title":"over the air update","url":"/glossary/over-the-air-update","quote":"And Ford saying at least around half of these recalls over 100 at this point are software related that can be fixed relatively easily with an over the air update versus bringing it into a dealer and having them need to wrench on your car for a week.","canonicalId":"term:over-the-air-update","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.92,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"An over-the-air (OTA) update is a wireless software download that allows vehicle manufacturers to patch or improve the car’s electronic systems without requiring a physical visit to a service center.","simplifiedExplanation":"An OTA update is like getting a new version of an app on your phone, but for the car’s computer. It lets the maker fix problems or add features by sending data over Wi‑Fi, so you don’t have to go to a dealership."}},{"startTime":908.0,"endTime":912.0,"type":"concept","title":"testing to failure","url":"/glossary/testing-to-failure","quote":"And I had mentioned earlier additional testing and we've seen situations where now instead of testing a certain part to a certain timeframe, they're now testing to failure.","canonicalId":"concept:testing-to-failure","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Testing to failure is a quality assurance approach where components are run until they break, rather than stopping at a predetermined endurance limit. This method helps identify the true limits of parts and improve reliability.","simplifiedExplanation":"Instead of stopping a test when the part has worked for a set time, engineers keep running it until it actually breaks. This way they know exactly how strong the part is and can make sure it lasts longer."}},{"startTime":924.0,"endTime":928.0,"type":"term","title":"recalls","url":"/glossary/recall","quote":"We saw that with the super duty redesign a few years ago, but ultimately Ford says it's going to lead to fewer recalls on those vehicles once they get out there.","canonicalId":"term:recall","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A recall is a manufacturer’s official notice that a vehicle or component has a defect and must be repaired or replaced at no cost to the owner. Recalls are issued when safety or regulatory issues are found.","simplifiedExplanation":"If a car has a recall, it means the company says something might be wrong and they’ll fix it for free."}},{"startTime":934.0,"endTime":936.0,"type":"term","title":"artificial intelligence","url":"/glossary/artificial-intelligence","quote":"We did a story earlier this year about how they've implemented artificial intelligence on the assembly line to scan vehicles as they're going through and catch defects sooner.","canonicalId":"term:artificial-intelligence","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can learn, recognize patterns, and make decisions. In manufacturing, AI is used to analyze data from sensors on the assembly line to detect defects early.","simplifiedExplanation":"AI is like a smart computer that can spot problems in cars while they’re being built, so workers don’t have to wait until the car is finished to fix them."}},{"startTime":952.0,"endTime":956.0,"type":"concept","title":"JD Power quality survey","url":"/glossary/jd-power-quality-survey","quote":"Well, we saw them receive the best positioning and a recent JD power quality survey that they've had in a really long time to be fair, they were number 11.","canonicalId":"concept:jd-power-quality-survey","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"JD Power is an independent research firm that conducts consumer satisfaction surveys on vehicles. Their quality survey ranks cars based on reported problems and owner experiences during the first few months of ownership.","simplifiedExplanation":"JD Power surveys ask people who own cars how happy they are with their vehicle. The results help show which cars have fewer problems early on."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Automotive News","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/dec-22-2025-automaker-year-in-review-stellantis-and-ford-s-tumultuous-2025/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}