Nov. 23, 2025 | Bonus Episode: VW Microbus fire survivor; Amazon Web Services’ Stefano Marzani
About this episode
A restored VW Microbus, famously known as 'Zool', is showcased at the LA Auto Show after surviving the devastating Palisades Fire. Volkswagen's Rachel Zalusik discusses the emotional journey of restoring the vehicle, highlighting its significance as a symbol of hope for the community. Additionally, Amazon Web Services' Stefano Marzani shares insights on the challenges of connectivity for connected vehicles, exploring potential solutions and the need for industry collaboration. This episode blends a heartwarming story with cutting-edge automotive technology discussions.
Rachael Zaluzec, senior vice president of brand marketing and customer experience at Volkswagen of America, talks about the automaker’s restored microbus that survived the Palisades fire in January, which VW showed off at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Plus, the second and final part of an interview with Stefano Marzani of Amazon Web Services about connected vehicles’ dependence on strong cellular service and possible solutions.
VW microbus
"Volkswagen used this week's LA Auto Show to show off its restored VW microbus."
The VW microbus is a small van made by Volkswagen. It’s known for its simple, boxy design and was very popular in the 70s and 80s. Many people still use it for fun trips or as a classic car.
The VW microbus, also known as the Volkswagen Bus or Transporter, is a classic van that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. It’s famous for its boxy shape, rear engine layout, and cultural significance as a symbol of counterculture and family travel.
Amazon Web Services
"Molly Boygan spoke with Stefano Marzani of Amazon Web Services. He talked about one big issue for connected vehicles."
Amazon Web Services is a big cloud company that lets people and businesses store data online and run software over the internet. Cars can use AWS to send information to the cloud for things like navigation or updates.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments. In automotive contexts, AWS offers services for data storage, analytics, and machine learning that can be used by connected vehicles.
CV to X
"Maybe that's direct CV to X or something like that. What does that look like?"
CV to X is a way for cars to talk directly to the internet or cloud services, instead of using regular phone networks. This could make car features faster and more reliable.
CV to X stands for Connected Vehicle to eXternal services, a concept where vehicles communicate directly with cloud-based services without relying on traditional cellular networks. It aims to reduce latency and improve reliability for vehicle-to-infrastructure applications.
5G
"Right now, the standard is 5G for what concerns connectivity."
5G is the newest type of mobile network, like Wi‑Fi but for phones and cars. It’s faster and can send data more quickly, which helps self‑driving cars talk to the world.
5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology, offering higher speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity than previous generations. In automotive contexts, 5G enables real-time data exchange for autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems.
LTE
"We still see a lot of LTE, personally, that's still what's going on."
LTE is a type of mobile network that’s faster than older 3G networks. Many cars still use it to stay connected when 5G isn’t available.
LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a 4G mobile communication standard that provides high-speed data transmission. Many vehicles still rely on LTE for connectivity, especially where 5G coverage is limited.
6G
"There's a prom user of 6G, so very recently I started to talk about more and more about 6G."
6G is a future mobile network that will be even faster than 5G. It’s still being worked on and isn’t available yet, but it could make cars even more connected.
6G is the next generation of mobile network technology, expected to offer even higher speeds and lower latency than 5G. It is still in research and early development stages, with commercial deployment anticipated in the late 2020s.
CalStar
"To talk about how CalStar is helping retailers reach more customers and move EVs off their lots."
CalStar makes parts that help cars run on electricity, like the batteries and controllers in electric vehicles.
CalStar is a manufacturer of automotive electronic components, including power electronics for electric vehicles and hybrid systems.
Volkswagen of America
"Volkswagen of America fixed up the blue and white bus made famous by an associated press photograph..."
Volkswagen of America is the company that sells and takes care of Volkswagen cars in the U.S. They run the dealerships, help with repairs, and promote VW products here.
Volkswagen of America is the U.S. subsidiary that sells, services, and supports Volkswagen vehicles in North America. It handles marketing, dealer networks, and customer service for the brand within the United States.
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