{"version":"1.1.0","producer":"fm.getcarcurious","layer":"official","episode":{"title":"July 1, 2026 | BMW's Sebastian Mackensen on the new X5; new vehicle prices hit record high","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/july-1-2026-bmw-s-sebastian-mackensen-on-the-new-x5-new-vehicle-prices-hit-record-high","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2447022/episodes/19432017-july-1-2026-bmw-s-sebastian-mackensen-on-the-new-x5-new-vehicle-prices-hit-record-high.mp3","description":"BMW of North America CEO Sebastian Mackensen joins Daily Drive from Spartanburg, S.C., to talk about the redesigned X5 and why he’s aiming for a fourth consecutive U.S. retail sales record. New-vehicle prices hit a record high. Plus, General Motors rolls out a first-of-its-kind automation scorecard for its suppliers."},"annotations":[{"id":456939,"startTime":44.4,"endTime":55.7,"type":"person","title":"Sebastian Mackensen","url":"/glossary/sebastian-mackensen","quote":"Plus, BMW of North America CEO Sebastian Mackensen joins the show to talk about the redesigned X5 and how he's chasing a fourth straight U.S. sales record.","canonicalId":"person:sebastian-mackensen","priority":0.8,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"Sebastian Mackensen is the President and CEO of BMW of North America, having assumed the role in 2021. Under his leadership, BMW has achieved consecutive record-breaking sales years in the highly competitive U.S. luxury automotive market.","simplifiedExplanation":"Sebastian Mackensen is the top boss of BMW in North America. He is responsible for managing all of BMW's sales, marketing, and dealer relations in the United States.","sourceStartTime":44.4,"sourceEndTime":55.7}},{"id":456940,"startTime":87.22,"endTime":89.62,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Tracker","url":"/cars/chevrolet/tracker","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Anderson_Bowen_Chevrolet_Richmond_2013_DHSTS.jpg","quote":"... News and Catalyst IQ vehicle price and inventory tracker. Compact sedan saw the biggest jump, up 12% year ...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:tracker","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Tracker is a subcompact crossover SUV that has existed in various forms, originally starting as a rugged, small off-roader developed with Suzuki, and later evolving into a modern front-wheel-drive city crossover for international markets. It is designed to offer affordable, efficient, and practical urban transportation.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevrolet Tracker is a small, budget-friendly SUV made by Chevrolet. It is designed for city driving and everyday commuting, offering a higher seating position than a standard car without being too large to park.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anderson_Bowen_Chevrolet_Richmond_2013_DHSTS.jpg","sourceStartTime":87.22,"sourceEndTime":89.62}},{"id":456941,"startTime":100.1,"endTime":108.2,"type":"term","title":"turn rates","url":"/glossary/turn-rates","quote":"But Rick Wainschel, Vice President of Analytics at Catalyst IQ, says buyers aren't flinching, turn rates are up, and vehicles are selling faster despite the price hikes.","canonicalId":"term:turn-rates","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"In automotive retail, turn rate (or inventory turnover) measures how quickly a dealership sells its vehicles once they arrive on the lot. A high turn rate indicates strong consumer demand and efficient inventory management, reducing the time cars sit depreciating.","simplifiedExplanation":"Turn rate is a measure of how fast cars are sold after they arrive at a dealership. If a dealer has a high turn rate, it means cars are selling almost as soon as they get delivered, rather than sitting around waiting for a buyer.","sourceStartTime":100.1,"sourceEndTime":108.2}},{"id":456942,"startTime":124.4,"endTime":130.2,"type":"car","title":"Honda CR-V","url":"/cars/honda/cr-v","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/2017-2022_Honda_CR-V_Facelift_%28Back%29.jpg","quote":"Honda was also up 17% on strong Accord and CR-V demand.","canonicalId":"car:honda:cr-v","priority":0.3,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Honda CR-V is a compact crossover SUV that has consistently ranked as one of the best-selling vehicles in North America. It offers a spacious cabin, excellent safety ratings, and a highly efficient hybrid option that represents a massive portion of its sales.","simplifiedExplanation":"The CR-V is Honda's incredibly popular compact SUV. Families love it because it has lots of room inside, gets great gas mileage, and lasts a very long time.","imageAttribution":"Sebsoare2511 (CC0)","imageLicense":"CC0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2017-2022_Honda_CR-V_Facelift_(Back).jpg","sourceStartTime":124.4,"sourceEndTime":130.2}},{"id":456943,"startTime":124.44,"endTime":129.56,"type":"car","title":"Honda Accord","url":"/cars/honda/accord","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/1981_Honda_Accord_%2829891730173%29.jpg","quote":"Honda was also up 17% on strong Accord and CR-V demand.","canonicalId":"car:honda:accord","priority":0.3,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Honda Accord is a staple mid-size sedan known for its reliability, practical packaging, and refined driving dynamics. In its eleventh generation, the Accord heavily emphasizes its hybrid powertrain, which has become the dominant sales volume leader for the model.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Accord is Honda's famous mid-sized family sedan. It is widely known for being extremely reliable, fuel-efficient, and easy to drive.","imageAttribution":"Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand (CC BY 2.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1981_Honda_Accord_(29891730173).jpg","sourceStartTime":124.44,"sourceEndTime":129.56}},{"id":456944,"startTime":147.3,"endTime":154.1,"type":"concept","title":"EV tax credits","url":"/glossary/ev-tax-credits","quote":"...while EV share softened to 7.4% after federal tax credits expired.","canonicalId":"concept:ev-tax-credits","priority":0.6,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"Federal EV tax credits are government incentives designed to lower the purchase price of qualifying electric vehicles for consumers. These credits are highly influential in driving EV adoption, and their expiration or modification can lead to immediate drops in retail sales volume.","simplifiedExplanation":"These are government discounts given to people who buy electric cars to encourage cleaner driving. When these discounts go away, electric cars become more expensive, and fewer people buy them.","sourceStartTime":147.3,"sourceEndTime":154.1}},{"id":456945,"startTime":472.0,"endTime":511.3,"type":"car","title":"BMW X5","url":"/cars/bmw/x5","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/HK_%E4%B8%8A%E7%92%B0%E6%96%B0%E8%A1%97_Sheung_Wan_New_Street_August_2018_SSG_sidewalk_carpark_BMW_X5.jpg","quote":"The redesigned BMW X5 just made its debut in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it's been built since the very first generation. It's one of BMW's top sellers in the U.S., accounting for roughly 20% of the brand's total volume. And this fifth generation model arrives with five powertrain options for the first time...","canonicalId":"car:bmw:x5","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury SUV that pioneered the brand's 'Sports Activity Vehicle' lineup when it debuted in 1999. The fifth-generation model (chassis code G65) introduces a highly versatile platform supporting five different powertrain options, including internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric variants.","simplifiedExplanation":"The X5 is BMW's highly popular luxury SUV. This newest version is special because it can be bought as a regular gas car, a plug-in hybrid, or a fully electric vehicle, all using the same basic design.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HK_%E4%B8%8A%E7%92%B0%E6%96%B0%E8%A1%97_Sheung_Wan_New_Street_August_2018_SSG_sidewalk_carpark_BMW_X5.jpg","sourceStartTime":472.0,"sourceEndTime":511.3}},{"id":456946,"startTime":472.0,"endTime":481.1,"type":"place","title":"Spartanburg","url":"/glossary/spartanburg","quote":"The redesigned BMW X5 just made its debut in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it's been built since the very first generation.","canonicalId":"place:spartanburg","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, located in South Carolina, is the brand's largest production facility globally. It serves as the primary global hub for BMW's 'X' family of crossovers and SUVs, exporting vehicles to over 120 markets worldwide.","simplifiedExplanation":"Spartanburg is a city in South Carolina home to BMW's biggest factory in the world. Almost all of BMW's popular SUVs are built here and shipped to drivers across the globe.","sourceStartTime":472.0,"sourceEndTime":481.1}},{"id":456947,"startTime":537.1,"endTime":548.4,"type":"term","title":"SAV","url":"/glossary/sav","quote":"I mean, the X5 being our first SUV ever, or SAV, Sports Activity Vehicle, now in its fifth generation, coming out from Spartanburg once again...","canonicalId":"term:sav","priority":0.4,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"SAV stands for 'Sports Activity Vehicle,' a marketing term coined by BMW to differentiate its X-series vehicles from traditional SUVs. The designation emphasizes on-road driving dynamics and sporty handling over rugged, off-road utility.","simplifiedExplanation":"SAV is BMW's special name for an SUV. They call it a 'Sports Activity Vehicle' to highlight that it drives more like a sporty car than a heavy, clunky truck.","sourceStartTime":537.1,"sourceEndTime":548.4}},{"id":456948,"startTime":848.2,"endTime":854.5,"type":"car","title":"BMW iX3","url":"/cars/bmw/ix3-g08","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/BMW_iX3_001.jpg","quote":"So you got the IX3 launching in September, X5 will launch in October, more variants next year.","canonicalId":"car:bmw:ix3","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The BMW iX3 is an all-electric version of the popular X3 compact luxury crossover. It utilizes BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology to deliver electric efficiency while maintaining the practical packaging and premium interior of the standard gas-powered X3.","simplifiedExplanation":"The iX3 is a fully electric version of BMW's popular small SUV, the X3. It looks and feels like a normal luxury SUV but runs entirely on battery power.","imageAttribution":"Jengtingchen (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMW_iX3_001.jpg","sourceStartTime":848.2,"sourceEndTime":854.5}},{"id":456950,"startTime":954.6,"endTime":959.6,"type":"term","title":"NADA","url":"/glossary/nada","quote":"We just met at NADA, which is only, I guess, three and a half, four months back.","canonicalId":"term:nada","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"NADA stands for the National Automobile Dealers Association. It is a powerful trade group representing franchised new-car and truck dealerships in the United States, hosting major industry conventions and advocating for dealer interests.","simplifiedExplanation":"NADA is a big national group that represents car dealerships in America. They help dealers work with car manufacturers and the government.","sourceStartTime":954.6,"sourceEndTime":959.6}},{"id":456951,"startTime":1104.4,"endTime":1109.5,"type":"place","title":"San Luis Potosí","url":"/glossary/san-luis-potosi-6c1a1ed2-8aca-46e2-9c13-52963656cdf0","quote":"...where I would have liked to see something else than stability is with imports coming from Mexico, because they are still north of 25%. And we have a plant in San Luis, Q2C, so that's not helpful for us.","canonicalId":"place:san-luis-potos","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí is a highly advanced manufacturing facility in Mexico that produces the 3 Series Sedan, 2 Series Coupé, and M2. It plays a critical role in BMW's North American supply chain, though its exports to the U.S. are subject to trade tariffs.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a major BMW factory located in Mexico. It builds popular cars like the BMW 3 Series, but shipping these cars into the U.S. can sometimes be complicated by import taxes (tariffs).","sourceStartTime":1104.4,"sourceEndTime":1109.5}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Jamie Butters","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"Kellen Walker","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/july-1-2026-bmw-s-sebastian-mackensen-on-the-new-x5-new-vehicle-prices-hit-record-high/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}],"alignmentMode":"scalar","fallbackOffset":0.0}