{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"March 7, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Iran conflict could spike oil prices; Ford plant’s pivot to energy storage","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/march-7-2026-weekend-drive-iran-conflict-could-spike-oil-prices-ford-plant-s-pivot-to-energy-storage","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2447022/episodes/18803971-march-7-2026-weekend-drive-iran-conflict-could-spike-oil-prices-ford-plant-s-pivot-to-energy-storage.mp3","description":"The Iran conflict threatens global automakers with rising oil prices the real risk. Ford pivots its Kentucky battery plant to energy storage. Hyundai invests $6 billion in robotics and hydrogen. Plus, wealthy shoppers keep auto sales afloat while lower-income buyers struggle with seven-year loans."},"annotations":[{"startTime":101.3,"endTime":105.4,"type":"term","title":"gas-dependent automakers","url":"/glossary/gas-dependent-automakers","quote":"shipments through the Strait of Hormuz that really could crash auto sales well beyond the Gulf, hitting gas-dependent automakers like Stellantis Hardist.","canonicalId":"term:gas-dependent-automakers","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Gas-dependent automakers primarily produce vehicles powered by gasoline internal combustion engines, making them more sensitive to fluctuations in fuel prices.","simplifiedExplanation":"Some car companies mostly make cars that run on gas. When gas prices go up, it can hurt how well they sell cars."}},{"startTime":107.1,"endTime":112.6,"type":"brand","title":"Toyota","url":"/glossary/toyota","quote":"You cover Toyota. It has the most exposure here of any major automaker with a presence in the US.","canonicalId":"brand:toyota","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Toyota is a major Japanese automaker known for its wide range of vehicles including hybrids and internal combustion engine cars. It has a significant global presence and is a leader in hybrid technology.","simplifiedExplanation":"Toyota is a big car company from Japan that makes many types of cars, including ones that use both gas and electricity. They sell cars all over the world."}},{"startTime":201.8,"endTime":213.5,"type":"concept","title":"hybrids","url":"/glossary/hybrid","quote":"That said though, Larry, I mean, the pivot to hybrids has been pretty significant and that could end up looking pretty smart, couldn't it?","canonicalId":"concept:hybrid","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Hybrids are vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. They can switch between or combine power sources to optimize performance.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hybrid cars use both gas and electricity to help save fuel and pollute less. They can use the electric power sometimes and gas other times."}},{"startTime":226.5,"endTime":232.6,"type":"term","title":"fuel economy","url":"/glossary/fuel-economy","quote":"I think fuel economy is going to become very, very, very important as this year goes on. If we don't have some resolution here within a couple weeks, it could get really dicey,","canonicalId":"term:fuel-economy","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Fuel economy refers to how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, usually measured in miles per gallon (MPG) or liters per 100 kilometers. Better fuel economy means the car can travel farther on less fuel, saving money and reducing emissions.","simplifiedExplanation":"Fuel economy means how far a car can go using a certain amount of gas. A car with good fuel economy uses less gas to drive the same distance."}},{"startTime":305.7,"endTime":311.0,"type":"concept","title":"liquid natural gas","url":"/glossary/liquid-natural-gas","quote":"Not only do you have 20 million barrels of crude oil going through every day, according to Alex Partners, you also have a whole bunch of liquid natural gas, you have aluminum, you have plastics components, you have steel inputs,","canonicalId":"concept:liquid-natural-gas","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Liquid natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for easier storage and transportation. It is used as a fuel and energy source worldwide.","simplifiedExplanation":"Liquid natural gas is regular natural gas that has been turned into a liquid to make it easier to move around. People use it for heating and energy."}},{"startTime":332.6,"endTime":337.88,"type":"concept","title":"gas-powered vehicles","url":"/glossary/gas-powered-vehicles","quote":"That could raise prices, and as Larry mentioned, suddenly you're going to have gas prices spiking at a time when most automakers are reinvesting in gas-powered vehicles and moving away from","canonicalId":"concept:gas-powered-vehicles","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Gas-powered vehicles are cars that run primarily on gasoline internal combustion engines, as opposed to electric or hybrid powertrains. Many automakers are currently reinvesting in these vehicles despite the rise of electric cars.","simplifiedExplanation":"Gas-powered vehicles are cars that use gasoline to run their engines, like most cars on the road today."}},{"startTime":337.9,"endTime":338.7,"type":"term","title":"EVs","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"EVs. So, in a roundabout way, this is the Trump administration promoting EV sales,","canonicalId":"term:ev","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"EVs stands for electric vehicles, which are cars powered entirely or primarily by electricity stored in batteries, rather than traditional internal combustion engines using gasoline or diesel.","simplifiedExplanation":"EVs are cars that run on electricity instead of gas. They use big batteries to store power and don't need to be filled up at gas stations."}},{"startTime":350.7,"endTime":355.5,"type":"concept","title":"Strait of Hormuz","url":"/glossary/strait-of-hormuz","quote":"if that doesn't stop, hopefully there will be some resolution to passage through the Strait of Hormuz, because that could have a lot of knock-on effects.","canonicalId":"concept:strait-of-hormuz","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, critical for global oil transportation. Disruptions here can affect global oil prices and supply.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage where a lot of the world's oil ships pass through. If there's trouble there, it can make gas prices go up everywhere."}},{"startTime":366.8,"endTime":371.6,"type":"term","title":"supply chain","url":"/glossary/supply-chain","quote":"You have the automakers and suppliers that are dealing with a strained supply chain anyway, so this just adds onto it.","canonicalId":"term:supply-chain","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The supply chain refers to the entire system of producing and delivering a product, including sourcing parts, manufacturing, and distribution. Disruptions can cause delays and shortages.","simplifiedExplanation":"A supply chain is how parts and materials get made and sent to build cars. If something breaks in this chain, it can slow down making cars."}},{"startTime":419.5,"endTime":428.8,"type":"term","title":"strategic petroleum reserve","url":"/glossary/strategic-petroleum-reserve","quote":"The answer is not to open drilling or maybe open the strategic petroleum reserve, which is certainly maybe an option, depending on where we go,","canonicalId":"term:strategic-petroleum-reserve","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a U.S. government stockpile of crude oil used to mitigate disruptions in oil supply and stabilize prices during emergencies.","simplifiedExplanation":"The strategic petroleum reserve is a big emergency stash of oil the U.S. keeps in case there is a problem getting oil from other places."}},{"startTime":462.4,"endTime":469.6,"type":"term","title":"EV batteries","url":"/glossary/ev-batteries","quote":"Basically, Ford's plan for what it wanted to do, building EV batteries in Kentucky, went up in smoke.","canonicalId":"term:ev-batteries","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"EV batteries are the rechargeable battery packs that power electric vehicles, typically lithium-ion based, and are critical to vehicle range and performance.","simplifiedExplanation":"EV batteries are the big batteries that give electric cars their power so they can drive without gas."}},{"startTime":474.04,"endTime":478.92,"type":"car","title":"Ford F150 Lightning","url":"/cars/ford/f-150-lightning","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/2022_Ford_F-150_Lightning_Rear.jpg","quote":"They've canceled the EV version of the F-150 Lightning, and I believe the Kentucky plant was supplying batteries to the Lightning specifically, so suddenly they don't have a product anymore.","canonicalId":"car:ford:f-150-lightning","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford F-150 Lightning is the all-electric version of Ford's popular F-150 pickup truck, representing a major step in the electrification of the traditional truck market.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup truck made by Ford. It's like the regular F-150 but runs on electricity instead of gas.","imageAttribution":"UltraTech66 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":513.7,"endTime":518.3,"type":"concept","title":"data centers","url":"/glossary/data-centers","quote":"We hear about data centers popping up across the country all the time with the rise of AI, and there's a big need to power those data centers with consistent, reliable electricity.","canonicalId":"concept:data-centers","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Data centers are facilities that house computer systems and associated components, requiring large amounts of reliable electrical power to operate continuously.","simplifiedExplanation":"Data centers are big buildings full of computers that store and process lots of information, and they need steady electricity to keep running."}},{"startTime":525.2,"endTime":536.6,"type":"concept","title":"energy storage units","url":"/glossary/energy-storage-units","quote":"Ford believes that instead of making batteries for EVs, it can make energy storage units that they can turn a profit on more easily because everybody will be wanting these things.","canonicalId":"concept:energy-storage-units","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Energy storage units are systems that store electrical energy for later use, often used to provide consistent power supply for commercial or industrial applications.","simplifiedExplanation":"Energy storage units are like big batteries that keep electricity saved so it can be used when needed, like for businesses or data centers."}},{"startTime":542.2,"endTime":546.3,"type":"company","title":"Ford Energy","url":"/glossary/ford-energy","quote":"Commercial businesses will be wanting these larger units in the future, so they created Ford Energy. It's a new business for them. It's adjacent to autos.","canonicalId":"company:ford-energy","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Ford Energy is Ford's new business division focused on energy storage solutions, leveraging their battery technology for applications beyond vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ford Energy is a new part of Ford that makes big batteries to store electricity for things other than cars."}},{"startTime":609.5,"endTime":631.3,"type":"concept","title":"diversification","url":"/glossary/diversification","quote":"Is this a moment where you guys think the industry has a opportunity to really diversify what these businesses do away from, maybe not away from, but so that it's not so focused just on autos and the auto sector? Larry, you want to take this one? Yeah, all I'll say is that while diversification is certainly valuable as a strategy in business,","canonicalId":"concept:diversification","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Diversification is a business strategy where companies expand into different industries or product lines to reduce risk and increase growth opportunities beyond their core business.","simplifiedExplanation":"Diversification means a company tries to do many different things instead of just one. This can help them not lose money if one thing doesn't work out."}},{"startTime":669.6,"endTime":677.0,"type":"term","title":"ADAS","url":"/glossary/adas","quote":"You're chasing the latest trend, so now we spent how many tens of billions of dollars chasing ADAS, maybe hundreds of billions of dollars, certainly it scores a billions of dollars chasing electrification and improving those technologies,","canonicalId":"term:adas","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"ADAS stands for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, which are electronic systems in vehicles designed to help the driver with driving and parking functions to increase safety and reduce human error.","simplifiedExplanation":"ADAS means special technology in cars that helps drivers by doing things like warning about dangers or helping park. It makes driving safer and easier."}},{"startTime":677.0,"endTime":684.3,"type":"term","title":"electrification","url":"/glossary/electrification","quote":"maybe hundreds of billions of dollars, certainly it scores a billions of dollars chasing electrification and improving those technologies, you can't just abandon them because something sexier comes along.","canonicalId":"term:electrification","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Electrification in the automotive industry refers to the process of replacing traditional internal combustion engines with electric powertrains, including battery electric vehicles and hybrid systems.","simplifiedExplanation":"Electrification means making cars run on electricity instead of gas. This helps reduce pollution and can make cars cheaper to run."}},{"startTime":730.7,"endTime":741.0,"type":"company","title":"CATL","url":"/glossary/catl","quote":"it believes it can credibly compete in this space because they're using technology from CATL, one of the biggest battery suppliers in the world who's based out of China.","canonicalId":"company:catl","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) is a leading Chinese company specializing in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.","simplifiedExplanation":"CATL is a big company from China that makes batteries used in electric cars and for storing energy."}},{"startTime":741.0,"endTime":748.6,"type":"brand","title":"LG","quote":"Their main competitors would be the LG's, Samsung's, SKN, even Tesla, Redwood materials,","canonicalId":"brand:lg","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"LG is a South Korean multinational company that produces a variety of electronics and components, including batteries for electric vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"LG is a company from South Korea that makes many electronic products, including batteries for electric cars."}},{"startTime":741.0,"endTime":748.6,"type":"brand","title":"Samsung","url":"/glossary/samsung","quote":"Their main competitors would be the LG's, Samsung's, SKN, even Tesla, Redwood materials,","canonicalId":"brand:samsung","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Samsung is a South Korean multinational conglomerate known for electronics and technology, including manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"Samsung is a big company from South Korea that makes phones, TVs, and also batteries for electric cars."}},{"startTime":748.6,"endTime":756.9,"type":"brand","title":"Tesla","url":"/glossary/tesla","quote":"Their main competitors would be the LG's, Samsung's, SKN, even Tesla, Redwood materials, and they believe with CATL's technology behind what they're building, they stack up with the best of them.","canonicalId":"brand:tesla","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company known for pioneering mass-market electric cars and energy storage solutions.","simplifiedExplanation":"Tesla is a company from the USA that makes electric cars and batteries to store energy."}},{"startTime":756.9,"endTime":764.6,"type":"term","title":"energy storage batteries","url":"/glossary/energy-storage-batteries","quote":"Two, there's a good test case that an automaker can be successful, and that is Tesla. It's been selling energy storage batteries for some time now.","canonicalId":"term:energy-storage-batteries","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Energy storage batteries are devices that store electrical energy for later use, commonly used in electric vehicles and stationary storage systems.","simplifiedExplanation":"Energy storage batteries are big batteries that save electricity so it can be used later, like in electric cars or to power buildings."}},{"startTime":806.06,"endTime":812.06,"type":"car","title":"Ford Mustang","url":"/cars/ford/mustang","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/1966_Ford_Mustang_coupe_white_001.jpg","quote":"if they can supplement selling Broncos and Mustangs with selling subscription services, with selling energy storage systems to commercial businesses,","canonicalId":"car:ford:mustang","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Mustang is an iconic American muscle car known for its performance and sporty design since the 1960s.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Mustang is a famous sporty car from the USA that is known for being fast and fun to drive.","imageAttribution":"Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)"}},{"startTime":806.1,"endTime":812.7,"type":"car","title":"Ford Bronco","url":"/cars/ford/bronco","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/2022_Ford_Bronco_2.jpg","quote":"if they can supplement selling Broncos and Mustangs with selling subscription services, with selling energy storage systems to commercial businesses,","canonicalId":"car:ford:bronco","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Bronco is a rugged SUV known for off-road capability and a strong heritage dating back to the 1960s.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Bronco is a type of SUV that is good for driving off-road and has been popular for many years.","imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":806.1,"endTime":812.7,"type":"term","title":"subscription services","url":"/glossary/subscription-services","quote":"if they can supplement selling Broncos and Mustangs with selling subscription services, with selling energy storage systems to commercial businesses,","canonicalId":"term:subscription-services","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Subscription services in the automotive context refer to recurring payment models where customers pay regularly to access vehicles or related services instead of traditional ownership.","simplifiedExplanation":"Subscription services let people pay every month to use a car or get special car-related services instead of buying the car outright."}},{"startTime":993.1,"endTime":1009.6,"type":"concept","title":"hydrogen fuel","url":"/glossary/hydrogen-fuel","quote":"Hydrogen is a, you know, makes sense. We talked about this off air a little bit. Hydrogen right now is a niche play. I don't know if it's a long-term strategy for passenger vehicles, given the amount of energy that it takes to produce the hydrogen fuel for vehicles right now.","canonicalId":"concept:hydrogen-fuel","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Hydrogen fuel is used in fuel cell vehicles where hydrogen gas is converted into electricity to power electric motors. It offers quick refueling and long range but currently faces challenges in production energy efficiency and infrastructure.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hydrogen fuel is a type of energy for cars that uses hydrogen gas to make electricity. It can fill up fast and go far, but making and using it is still tricky and not common."}},{"startTime":1024.1,"endTime":1037.9,"type":"brand","title":"Hyundai","url":"/glossary/hyundai","quote":"And I think what we have to remember here is that Hyundai, we are obviously familiar with Hyundai, the automaker, right? Hyundai is a giant conglomerate with many, many, many facets.","canonicalId":"brand:hyundai","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.98,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Hyundai is a South Korean automotive manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles from affordable cars to electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. It is part of a large conglomerate with diverse business interests.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hyundai is a big company from South Korea that makes many kinds of cars, including some that use new types of fuel like hydrogen."}},{"startTime":1086.3,"endTime":1091.5,"type":"car","title":"Ford Super Duty","url":"/cars/ford/super-duty-lariat-tremor","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/1928_Model_A_Ford.jpg","quote":"Ford CEO Jim Farley even remarked to Larry's point about larger trucks and towing and hauling that, you know, the super-duty would go hydrogen before it would ever go electric.","canonicalId":"car:ford:super-duty-lariat-tremor","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Super Duty is a line of heavy-duty pickup trucks designed for towing and hauling. It is popular in commercial and personal use where high payload and towing capacity are required.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Super Duty is a big, strong truck that can pull heavy trailers and carry heavy loads. People use it for work and big jobs.","imageAttribution":"Richard Smith (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":1253.2,"endTime":1263.1,"type":"concept","title":"affordability crisis in auto industry","url":"/glossary/affordability-crisis-in-auto-industry","quote":"We talk almost every week about the affordability crisis and how automakers need to be investing in a $30,000 or lower-priced vehicle,","canonicalId":"concept:affordability-crisis-in-auto-industry","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The affordability crisis in the auto industry refers to the increasing difficulty for average consumers to afford new vehicles due to rising prices and economic factors.","simplifiedExplanation":"Affordability crisis means many people find new cars too expensive to buy."}},{"startTime":1263.1,"endTime":1271.2,"type":"car","title":"Ford F-150 Platinum","url":"/cars/ford/f-150","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/2022_Ford_F-150_Lightning_Rear.jpg","quote":"If you're a bean counter seeing that data, you're going to keep pumping out $100,000 Platinum F-150s and other top-of-the-line trim vehicles because people are buying them.","canonicalId":"car:ford:f-150","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford F-150 Platinum is a high-end trim of the popular F-150 pickup truck, featuring luxury amenities and advanced technology, often priced significantly higher than base models.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford F-150 Platinum is a fancy version of a big pickup truck with lots of extra features and comforts.","imageAttribution":"UltraTech66 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1434.04,"endTime":1443.36,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Challenger","url":"/cars/dodge/challenger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Dodge_Challenger_%281970%29_Hirschaid-20220709-RM-115601.jpg","quote":"And Jake, this is exactly why my 2010 Dodge Challenger with 175,000 miles on it is still going strong. I'm going to make sure it keeps going strong.","canonicalId":"car:dodge:challenger","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Dodge Challenger is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful engine options and retro styling. The 2010 model belongs to the modern generation that revived the Challenger nameplate with updated performance and technology.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Dodge Challenger is a sporty car that looks like the old muscle cars from the 60s but made with modern parts. The 2010 version is a newer model that still has strong performance.","imageAttribution":"Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Automotive News","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/march-7-2026-weekend-drive-iran-conflict-could-spike-oil-prices-ford-plant-s-pivot-to-energy-storage/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}