{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Nov. 26, 2025 | Kia America’s Eric Watson on 2026 optimism; Audi price hikes","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/nov-26-2025-kia-america-s-eric-watson-on-2026-optimism-audi-price-hikes","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2447022/episodes/18259365-nov-26-2025-kia-america-s-eric-watson-on-2026-optimism-audi-price-hikes.mp3","description":"Eric Watson, Kia America’s vice president of sales operations, joins the show to talk about the automaker’s affordability strategy and why he’s optimistic about 2026. Audi’s pared down U.S. compact crossover lineup comes with big price hikes. Plus, 2025 has been the year artificial intelligence has started making a big mark on both carmaking and sales."},"annotations":[{"startTime":70.6,"endTime":82.7,"type":"car","title":"Audi Q3","url":"/cars/audi/q3","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Audi_Q3_1Y7A4914.jpg","quote":"Audi is simplifying its Q3 compact crossover lineup for 2026, but raising prices significantly.","canonicalId":"car:audi:q3","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Audi Q3 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the German automaker Audi. It sits between the smaller Q2 and larger Q5 in Audi’s crossover lineup.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Audi Q3 is a small SUV that looks like a mix between a car and a truck. It’s popular for its style, safety features, and good fuel economy.","imageAttribution":"Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":116.7,"endTime":127.7,"type":"concept","title":"2035 combustion engine band","url":"/glossary/2035-combustion-engine-band","quote":"Automakers are pushing Brussels to weaken its 2035 combustion engine band.","canonicalId":"concept:2035-combustion-engine-band","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The 2035 combustion engine band refers to the European Union’s target year by which it aims to phase out new sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, encouraging a shift toward electrified powertrains.","simplifiedExplanation":"The 2035 combustion engine band is a rule that says cars with gasoline or diesel engines should stop being sold after 2035. This pushes automakers to make electric cars."}},{"startTime":127.7,"endTime":136.7,"type":"concept","title":"CO2 neutral fuels","url":"/glossary/co2-neutral-fuels","quote":"Auto companies want regulators to allow CO2 neutral fuels, plug-and-hybrid and range extenders beyond 2035.","canonicalId":"concept:co2-neutral-fuels","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"CO2 neutral fuels are energy sources that, when burned or used in a vehicle, emit no net increase of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere—examples include biofuels and synthetic fuels made from captured CO2.","simplifiedExplanation":"CO2 neutral fuels are special kinds of fuel that don’t add more carbon dioxide to the air when you drive. They’re made from plants or recycled CO2."}},{"startTime":127.7,"endTime":136.7,"type":"concept","title":"range extender","url":"/glossary/range-extender","quote":"Auto companies want regulators to allow CO2 neutral fuels, plug-and-hybrid and range extenders beyond 2035.","canonicalId":"concept:range-extender","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A range extender is an additional power source—usually a small gasoline engine—that charges the battery of a plug‑in hybrid or electric vehicle when the battery depletes, extending its driving range.","simplifiedExplanation":"A range extender is like a backup generator in a hybrid car. When the battery runs low, it turns on a small engine to keep you moving."}},{"startTime":147.7,"endTime":152.0,"type":"concept","title":"charging infrastructure gaps","url":"/glossary/charging-infrastructure-gaps","quote":"Slower than expected demand, charging infrastructure gaps, plus fierce Chinese competition.","canonicalId":"concept:charging-infrastructure-gaps","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Refers to the lack of sufficient electric charging stations needed to support widespread use of battery electric vehicles, limiting their practicality for many consumers.","simplifiedExplanation":"There aren’t enough places to plug in electric cars, so people worry they won’t be able to charge when they need to."}},{"startTime":153.7,"endTime":158.0,"type":"term","title":"battery electric vehicles","url":"/glossary/battery-electric-vehicles","quote":"Battery electric vehicles hold just 16% of Europe's market through October, far below projections.","canonicalId":"term:battery-electric-vehicles","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Cars that run entirely on electric batteries instead of gasoline or diesel engines.","simplifiedExplanation":"These are cars that use batteries for power, so they don’t need gas stations."}},{"startTime":161.7,"endTime":166.0,"type":"concept","title":"artificial intelligence in the auto industry","url":"/glossary/artificial-intelligence-in-the-auto-industry","quote":"An artificial intelligence made major inroads in the auto industry this year, but experts say it's still in the early stages of its potential.","canonicalId":"concept:artificial-intelligence-in-the-auto-industry","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The use of computer systems that can learn and make decisions to improve automotive processes, from manufacturing to sales.","simplifiedExplanation":"AI is like a smart computer that helps car companies do things faster and better."}},{"startTime":181.7,"endTime":186.0,"type":"concept","title":"data gaps between dealers and automakers","url":"/glossary/data-gaps-between-dealers-and-automakers","quote":"But data gaps between dealers and automakers remain a barrier to maximizing the technology's impact.","canonicalId":"concept:data-gaps-between-dealers-and-automakers","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Differences in the information shared by car manufacturers and dealerships, which can hinder efficient operations and AI adoption.","simplifiedExplanation":"Dealers and car makers don’t always share the same data, which makes it hard to work together smoothly."}},{"startTime":209.7,"endTime":214.0,"type":"term","title":"inventory management","url":"/glossary/inventory-management","quote":"It helps dealerships, stock vehicles, some manufacturers are using it for quality control.","canonicalId":"term:inventory-management","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The process of tracking and controlling the stock of vehicles available for sale at dealerships.","simplifiedExplanation":"It’s how dealers keep track of which cars they have in the lot and order more when needed."}},{"startTime":220.7,"endTime":225.0,"type":"term","title":"phone answering AI agents","url":"/glossary/phone-answering-ai-agents","quote":"Dealerships are out in their phone systems with intelligent AI agents.","canonicalId":"term:phone-answering-ai-agents","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Computer programs that use AI to answer customer calls, providing information or routing the call to a human rep.","simplifiedExplanation":"These are smart phone systems that can talk to you and help with questions before a person answers."}},{"startTime":296.7,"endTime":300.0,"type":"term","title":"EV","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"Public charging can make or break a road trip for EV drivers.","canonicalId":"term:ev","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.92,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"EV stands for electric vehicle, a car powered entirely or partially by electricity stored in batteries.","simplifiedExplanation":"EV means a car that runs on electric power instead of gasoline. It plugs into a charger to get energy."}},{"startTime":300.7,"endTime":306.0,"type":"company","title":"Charger Health","url":"/glossary/charger-health","quote":"Camille Terry is CEO and co-founder of Charger Health. She joins us on the Automotive News Shift Podcast this week to talk about why nearly one in three charging attempts still fail, even as Charger Uptime improves.","canonicalId":"company:charger-health","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Charger Health is a company that provides software and services to monitor and improve the reliability of electric vehicle charging stations.","simplifiedExplanation":"Charger Health is a business that helps keep electric car chargers working properly by watching them and fixing problems before they happen."}},{"startTime":348.7,"endTime":356.0,"type":"company","title":"Route One Fusion","url":"/glossary/route-one-fusion","quote":"Consider route one fusion. Fusion is built to streamline vehicle sales and meet modern customer expectations.","canonicalId":"company:route-one-fusion","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Route One Fusion is a software platform that streamlines vehicle sales, providing tools for digital retailing and financing.","simplifiedExplanation":"Route One Fusion is a program that helps car dealers sell cars online and manage payments, making the buying process easier for customers."}},{"startTime":348.7,"endTime":356.0,"type":"concept","title":"digital retailing tools","url":"/glossary/digital-retailing-tools","quote":"Many customers expect a fast online friendly experience. 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We've grown from 60,000 sales a year when we launched it to over 120,000.","canonicalId":"car:hyundai-telluride","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The Hyundai Telluride is a midsize crossover SUV produced by South Korean automaker Hyundai. It has been popular for its spacious interior, upscale features, and strong safety ratings.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Telluride is a large SUV made by Hyundai. It’s known for having lots of room inside, good safety, and a nice look."}},{"startTime":568.7,"endTime":576.7,"type":"term","title":"hybrid engine","url":"/glossary/hybrid-engine","quote":"in the New Telluride we're coming with a hybrid engine. 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So it's going to be a great product.","canonicalId":"concept:fuel-economy-up-to-35-miles-per-gallon","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Fuel economy refers to how many miles a vehicle can travel per gallon of fuel. 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The U.S. federal credit has been phased out for many manufacturers, affecting sales and pricing strategies.","simplifiedExplanation":"EV tax credits are discounts from the government that lower how much you pay for an electric car. Many cars no longer get this discount, so they cost more."}},{"startTime":721.7,"endTime":723.0,"type":"car","title":"Sportage","url":"/cars/kia/sportage","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/2018_Kia_Sportage_GT-Line_ISG_1.6.jpg","quote":"But hybrids are going to be an important piece of that. 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