July 16, 2026 | Mazda’s Jennifer Morrison on driver-monitoring cameras; Tesla becomes No. 6 China exporter

July 16, 2026 | Mazda’s Jennifer Morrison on driver-monitoring cameras; Tesla becomes No. 6 China exporter Automotive News Daily Drive · Jul 16, 2026

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Car

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a popular full-size truck in the U.S. The hosts say it’s being redesigned with updated engines and other powertrain options, which is important because lots of people buy this model.

Term

V8 engine

A V8 engine is a type of engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. It’s often used in bigger vehicles because it can provide strong pulling power.

Term

EV

Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity stored in batteries. Instead of using gasoline, they use an electric motor to move the car.

Term

tariff expenses

Tariff expenses are extra costs caused by taxes on imported products. If car parts come from overseas, tariffs can make them more expensive to buy.

Term

TurboMax engine

TurboMax is a name for a turbocharged engine. A turbo helps the engine make more power without needing a bigger engine size.

Term

Duramax 3.0 liter turbo diesel

Duramax is GM’s diesel engine line. This one is a 3.0-liter diesel with a turbo, which typically helps it pull well and can be efficient for a truck.

Term

10-speed transmission

A 10-speed transmission is an automatic gear system with ten different gear ratios. More gears can help the car feel smoother and use fuel more efficiently.

Car

Volvo

Volvo is the brand being discussed. The hosts say Volvo moved toward all-electric crossovers in the U.S., but it may bring back other types of cars like an electric sedan and a station wagon.

Term

station wagon

A station wagon is a body style with an extended roofline and a rear cargo area that’s open to the passenger compartment. It’s often chosen for practicality—more usable space than a sedan—while still using a car-like driving feel.

Term

homologation

Homologation is the paperwork-and-testing process a car has to pass to be allowed to be sold in a particular country. It ensures the car meets that place’s rules for things like safety and emissions.

Concept

all-electric lineup

An all-electric lineup is when a brand plans to sell only electric cars. If they change course, it usually means they’re adding other types of electrified cars, like hybrids, instead of going fully electric right away.

Term

extended range hybrid (ERA)

Extended range hybrids are hybrid vehicles designed to run on the electric motor for longer than a typical mild hybrid, often using a larger battery and/or an engine that can generate electricity when the battery is depleted. They sit between full EVs and conventional hybrids, aiming to reduce fuel use while keeping longer real-world range.

Person

Hogan Samuelson

Hogan Samuelson is the CEO of Volvo. In this segment, he’s saying Volvo believes the world will keep shifting toward electric vehicles.

Term

driver monitoring camera

Driver monitoring cameras are cameras inside the car that watch whether the driver is paying attention. If they notice distraction or signs the driver isn’t alert, they can help trigger warnings or safety responses.

Concept

zero fatalities by 2040

“Zero fatalities by 2040” is a long-term safety goal that frames future vehicle design around preventing deaths. In this episode, it’s tied to driver monitoring cameras and broader safety systems intended to reduce both crash risk and harm to vulnerable road users.

Term

adaptive cruise control

Adaptive cruise control is cruise control that can slow down or speed up to keep a safe distance from the car in front. It helps reduce the need for constant pedal work in traffic.

Term

lane centering technology

Lane centering technology helps the car stay in the middle of the lane. It uses sensors to “guide” steering so you’re less likely to drift.

Term

advanced driver assistance systems

Advanced driver assistance systems are features that help the driver avoid problems. They use sensors to “see” what’s around the car and can assist with things like staying in the lane or slowing down.

Term

air bags

Airbags are safety cushions that deploy quickly in a crash. They help protect you by reducing how hard your body hits inside the car.

Term

occupant protection

Occupant protection is how well the car keeps people inside safer in a crash. It includes things like crash structure and airbags, and sometimes systems that help prevent the crash.

Term

radars

Radars are sensors that use signals to detect objects and how fast they’re moving. They help driver-assist systems track cars and obstacles.

Term

sensors

In driver-assist cars, sensors are the “eyes and ears” that collect information. They help the car understand what’s around it so safety features can react.

Term

cameras

Cameras are sensors that “see” the road. They help the car recognize lanes, other vehicles, and pedestrians so safety features can respond.

Term

SAE level two technology

SAE Level 2 is a category for semi-automated driving. The car can help with steering and speed, but the driver still has to watch the road and be ready to take over.

Term

hazard lights

Hazard lights are the blinking emergency lights you turn on when there’s danger or you’re stopped unexpectedly.

Car

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is a sports car made by Porsche. Newer versions can include safety features that help in emergencies. The podcast is talking about functions like turning on hazard lights and contacting emergency services.

Term

hot car aspect

The “hot car” issue is when kids are accidentally left in a parked car and the inside gets dangerously hot. Cameras can help catch the situation earlier.

Term

driver impairment

Driver impairment means the driver isn’t able to drive safely—like being too tired, distracted, or affected by alcohol or drugs. Mazda is working on camera algorithms to help detect that.

Car

All New CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is a popular crossover. In this episode, Mazda says the “All New CX-5” uses a camera that watches the driver to help with safety, like spotting when someone isn’t paying attention or may be impaired.

Company

Smart Eye

Smart Eye is a company that makes technology used to monitor drivers with cameras. Mazda says it’s using Smart Eye software in the new CX-5’s driver-monitoring system.

Term

pedestrian protection protocol

A pedestrian protection protocol is the part of safety testing that checks how a car’s front end behaves if it hits a person. Mazda says it designs the front to be more forgiving in those tests.

Term

NCAP

NCAP is a safety testing program that rates how well cars protect people in crashes. Mazda says it designs parts of the car to do well in the pedestrian safety tests.

Term

automatic emergency braking

Automatic emergency braking is a safety feature that can brake by itself if it thinks a crash is about to happen. It’s meant to help avoid the collision or lessen how hard it is.

Term

centralised electrical architecture

An electrical architecture is the car’s main electronic system that connects computers and sensors. Mazda says the new CX-5 has an updated one so it can support newer safety technology.

Term

independent crash test

An independent crash test is done by a group that isn’t the car company. It’s meant to be a more objective way to see how safe a car is in a crash.

Term

safety cage

The safety cage is the part of the car that’s meant to keep the passenger area protected in a crash. It’s designed to stay strong while the rest of the car crumples to absorb impact.

Term

ultra high tensile steel structure

Ultra high tensile steel (UHSS) is a type of very strong steel used in a vehicle’s body structure. The speaker claims it’s lighter yet can bend and deform more in a crash, which helps manage forces and protect occupants.

Concept

vision for zero fatalities

“Zero fatalities” is a big safety goal: preventing deaths in crashes. It usually involves both better car design and better understanding of how crashes happen.

Term

risky driving behaviors

Risky driving behaviors are things drivers do that make crashes more likely or more dangerous—like speeding, looking away from the road, or driving while impaired.

Term

driver behavior

Driver behavior means how people drive—things like speeding or drinking and driving. The host says it plays a bigger role in some places than others.

Term

ESC

ESC is a stability system that helps the car not slide out of control. If the car starts to skid, it can brake individual wheels and reduce power to help you regain control.

Term

ABS

ABS is a safety feature that helps your brakes not lock up. When wheels lock, you lose steering—ABS helps you brake hard while still being able to steer.

Car

Mazda MX-5 / Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small two-seat sports car. It’s designed to be fun to drive and easy to maneuver. The podcast is noting that it can include automatic emergency braking, which helps reduce the chance of a collision.

Term

blind spot monitoring

Blind spot monitoring watches for cars you can’t see in your mirrors. It warns you when it’s not safe to change lanes.

LIVE

Welcome to Daily Drive.

For Thursday, July 16, 2026, I'm Kellan Walker in Las Vegas.

Today on the show, around 650 new or refreshed cars were introduced to the Chinese auto market

during the first half of the year.

Tesla is now China's number six exporter.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 light duty pickup is getting a sweeping makeover.

Plus, Mazda's Jennifer Morrison explains the safety benefits of driver monitoring cameras.

Let's run through all the news you need to know to keep up in the auto industry.

China's auto market is being flooded after around 650 new or refreshed cars were introduced

in the first half of the year.

That's a rate of almost four per day.

Comparing that to the U.S., the Bank of America Securities annual car war study for 2025 projected

just 159 new model launches over the following four years.

U.S. models hit a decade low of 29 in 2024.

The price war and high EV adoption rates have forced Chinese automakers into a fast moving

tech race where brands must constantly churn out new models to avoid being forgotten.

Tesla is now China's number six exporter as its Chinese factory transforms into a global

export hub.

In June, the hub's overseas shipments more than tripled as sales in the local market fell.

Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory saw 36,000 international deliveries and accounted for 40% of the plant's

total shipments.

According to the China Passenger Car Association, Tesla also powered a 24% increase in overall

output to 89,000 in the month.

Chinese domestic demand is deteriorating and international and Chinese brands are focused

on exports from China plants.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 light duty pickup is getting bolder exterior styling, a higher

tech interior and new V8 engines as part of a sweeping makeover.

The model is General Motors' top seller in the U.S. and a key profit driver.

The company is navigating the complexities of tariff expenses, costly investment in

electric vehicles and battery technology, and a challenging U.S. auto market.

The revamped full-size Silverado will be sold with four powertrain options, a new 5.7 liter

and 6.6 liter V8s, an enhanced 2.7 liter TurboMax engine and Duramax 3.0 liter turbo diesel all

paired with a 10-speed transmission.

And those are today's headlines.

You can find more details on all those stories at AutoNews.com.

Volvo may be bringing back a familiar body style to the U.S. after shifting to an all-crossover

lineup.

The automaker is now studying a return to mid-sized cars with a new electric sedan and

station wagon that could arrive in 2028.

The move could mark a notable change in strategy as Volvo looks to broaden its lineup while

continuing to grow its SUV business.

Automotive news reporter Urbash Krakaria joins us to discuss what's behind the potential

comeback, who these vehicles are aimed at, and what it could mean for Volvo's future in the U.S.

Welcome back to Daily Drive.

You're like a regular now.

Yes, thank you.

I should get a co-host title.

There we go.

Well, Urbash, you had a very interesting story on AutoNews.com about Volvo.

And Volvo has spent the last year moving to an all-electric crossover lineup in the U.S.

So why is the automaker now considering bringing back a mid-sized sedan and wagon,

especially when SUVs continue to dominate the U.S. market?

Yeah, it's a bit of a contrarian play on multiple fronts.

These are a mid-sized sedan and a wagon.

It's expected to launch in 2028, arrive in 2028.

It's still under consideration for the U.S. market.

And from what I understand, it's already been greenlit for Europe.

So from Volvo's perspective, if they're already bringing, they've already been developing these

vehicles for the European market, it's not going to be that much of a stretch in terms of investment,

in terms of homologation, to make it suitable for the U.S. market.

So they see the U.S. market as being incremental in terms of volume for two new products

that were already coming to the European market.

Now, these proposed EVs would target relatively modest sales volumes.

Why EVs at a time when the U.S. market is moving away from that technology?

Yeah, that's again, again, it ties back to the fact that these models are being developed for

the European market. They will be built in Europe, either in Torslanda, Sweden,

which is just outside of their headquarters Gothenburg, or in Slovakia.

And again, so it's less about the U.S. market, it's more about can we get some additional

volume in the European market, I mean in the U.S. market. From what I understand,

they expect about 10,000 units of sale combined for the sedan and the wagon in the U.S.

Also, Volvo has, from the beginning, Volvo has sort of pushed towards having an all-electric lineup

and only recently did they kind of walk back some of those plans

and are now launching more extended range hybrids in 2029. In fact, the U.S. will get an extended

range large three-row SUV in 2029. However, Volvo CEO, Hogan Samuelson,

is confident that essentially the world is going to move towards EVs and he wants to push

Volvo towards having an all-electric lineup sooner rather than later. So, this is Volvo

basically making a bet on EVs, thinking that long-term EVs are where the future is, so they are

putting their resources, human as well as financial, into developing as many EVs as they can.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when these EVs launch in 2028, that's still a few years out.

There'll be a new election cycle, there'll be maybe a new administration in the U.S.,

maybe that administration may be more open to electric vehicles and so we could again,

once again, start seeing more government support for EVs, which could make the economics

of these two new models make more sense in 2028.

Ervash, always with the good scoops. Thank you so much for joining me.

Thank you, Kil.

Driver monitoring cameras work to help children in hot cars and improve pedestrian

and bicycle safety, and is part of Mazda's plan for zero fatalities by 2040.

Mazda has already launched driver monitoring cameras for adaptive cruise control and lane

centering technology, but has bigger plans coming. Jennifer Morrison is the director

of vehicle safety strategy at Mazda North America Operations. She sat down with our own David Phillips.

Here's a piece of that conversation.

We've come a long way with safety from ABS and airbags and now advanced

prior assistance systems. What's the next frontier, Jennifer?

We have done so much when it comes to occupant protection. We saw the crash test, the first

independent crash test of the all new CX-5 today, that all of that occupant protection,

all of that advanced driver assistance systems, sensors, radars, cameras on these vehicles.

The next frontier I think is going to be in the cab. Driver monitoring cameras that can do

many things. They have more than just one job. Driver monitoring cameras that can help us

detect risky driving behaviors like using your cell phone, speeding, maybe even impairments.

That's the next frontier. How soon are we going to see some of this stuff?

Driver monitoring cameras are in some vehicles now. Now Mazda's deployed them mostly as a safety

assurance for our adaptive cruise control and lane centering technology. We refer to that as

the SAE level two technology. For those systems equipped with that, we put a driver monitoring

camera in because it can detect if a driver becomes fully unresponsive or is inattentive

when driving that type of technology. In that case, we find it very important to have a safety

assurance that could even bring the vehicle to a stop and turn on the hazard lights and even call

911. So that's where we're putting in driver monitoring cameras now, but we see a lot more

for them in the future. There's a lot of big problems that need big solutions that we think

that they can solve. The hot car aspect of leaving children in the backseat, we're going into the

summer months. Every year we have a number of children that are left in cars unintentionally.

Cameras can get at that problem. They can get again at the cell phone issue that we see a lot

and they can also eventually address things like driver impairment. The new driver monitoring

camera that we have in the All New CX-5 is powered by some software from a company called Smart Eye

and they're working on algorithms now that can look into the impairment feature. So a lot to come

there. What about pedestrian and bicycle safety? Also very important. So the vehicles, when we

design them, especially the front end of the vehicle, we are taking into consideration

occupants, pedestrians that could come and contact those vehicles. So we're designing the hood of

our vehicle for the new, the NCAP, the new car assessment program. They have a pedestrian protection

protocol now. So we've been testing our vehicles to that and making sure that we do have

softer areas for them to contact. But really what we want to do is avoid that contact

altogether. So we're equipping all of our vehicles with standard automatic emergency

braking. Pedestrian automatic emergency braking is also able to see cyclists. And for the new CX-5

we're really excited that the all new enhanced electrical architecture, we got an all new

sensor suite. So new hardware, new software, the latest technology. So we just saw the CX-5 crash

test. Talk a little more about what you guys did to engineer that to improve your scores.

So this is the, the new CX-5 crash test is the first one, the independent one that we've done

here at IHS. We had already received a good, the top good rating in that predecessor vehicle,

so in the previous model year. So we really needed to do it again. But of course we wanted to

outdo ourselves, right? So this vehicle has even a more robust safety cage. We did some more

engineering, some fun engineering with metals. So we have an ultra high tensile steel structure

that's even more robust. It, it's actually lighter, but is able to bend and deform more

instead of brake. So that's been really important for us to consider that, not just for ratings,

but we also want to future proof the vehicle, right? So this, this is a new model where we hope

it's on the road for a decade or more to come. So whatever ratings or research and really address

our vision for zero fatalities and new Mazda vehicles with all of that robust engineering.

Mazda's on the record of going with zero fatalities by 2040. Can you tell us where you

guys are on that game plan? We are seeing some progress, especially in Japan. We're looking

at our vehicles that have been deployed there and seeing that the newer model vehicles are getting

in very few accidents to begin with. And then so far, no fatal accidents, but we need more

exposure. We need some more time to study that and we need to study it here in the United States

as well. We know that newer cars are safer cars, but still it's that risky driving behaviors,

these excessive speeds, the distraction, the impairment. Those are still bringing us the

biggest numbers and fatalities and injuries on the road, especially in the United States.

So we need to address those if we're truly going to get to zero fatalities.

Excuse me. So in Japan, it's more of a driver behavior thing. Yeah, that's where it's a very

different environment there. They have a different infrastructure, a different culture,

speeding, drinking and driving. Some of those things are not nearly as prevalent as they are

here in the US. They still have other issues and they still experience fatalities and injuries on

the road. And we're moving a lot of our studies from just pan only to also starting studying

roadway fatalities here in the United States and making sure that we're addressing and designing

our vehicles to cover them all. How are you leveraging AI to advance auto safety?

The term AI, automated intelligence or artificial intelligence, that automated

piece in there, that is an interesting term because we've been doing things like that.

You mentioned ABS, ESC, all of those things like whether it's artificial intelligence or just some

levels of automation, they've been built into vehicles for decades. The rise of AI in us using

that word is new, but we've been allowing the vehicle sensors and sensors and intelligence

to make decisions for our vehicles and help support our vehicles since the advent of the ABS.

So we're continuing on that road and making our systems smarter, being able to see the roadway

better, be able to perceive pedestrians and cyclists better. Yeah, machine learning helps with that.

Last question. Masa has a reputation of being fun to drive, joy to drive,

broom, broom. How do you balance that with the need for safety and, you know,

driver misuse of some of these systems? Right. Safe and fun can go hand in hand.

I think we saw that today. I love to give the example of the MX-5, the MX-5 Miata. Even that

vehicle has automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring and airbags, so you can have safety

and you can have fun and safety can come in all sizes. That's daily drive for today. I'm Kellen

Walker. Thanks to Francis Clem as well as our own Jan Jan and Jan Irwin for their reporting for

today's podcast. You can get the latest news on Tesla and the Chinese market, GM and everything

happening in the auto industry at AutoNews.com. We'd love to hear from you. Let us know to think

of the show and the topics we covered today. Send us an email at daily drive at autonews.com

or leave us a voicemail at 313-444-2774. And if you enjoy the podcast, remember to like,

leave a review and subscribe, so you never miss an episode.

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Volvo

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