Nov. 6, 2025 | CarMax’s CEO fired amid financial weakness; S&P Global Mobility’s Stephanie Brinley on hybrid vehicle tech
About this episode
CarMax's CEO has been fired amid financial struggles, prompting a leadership shakeup aimed at improving sales and profitability. Nissan is closing its joint venture factory with Mercedes-Benz as part of a global cost-cutting strategy. The SEMA show showcases innovative vehicle concepts, including Ford's Maverick 300T and Toyota's hydrogen-powered Tacoma. S&P Global Mobility's Stephanie Brinley discusses the growing appeal of hybrid vehicles, highlighting their balance of performance and efficiency, and their potential as a long-term solution rather than just a bridge to full electrification.
CarMax ousts longtime CEO Bill Nash in a surprise leadership shake-up aimed at strengthening sales and cutting costs. Meanwhile, Nissan continues its global restructuring, confirming plans to end production at its joint factory with Mercedes-Benz in Mexico. Plus, S&P Global Mobility’s Stephanie Brinley joins the show to discuss how hybrids are reaching hitting a sweet spot with consumers looking for both performance and efficiency.
Nissan
"Nissan has now closed six of its seven factories"
Nissan makes cars that many people drive, like the Altima and the Leaf electric car.
Nissan is a Japanese automaker known for models like the Altima, Rogue, and Leaf electric vehicle.
SEMA
"and a look at all the cool happenings coming out of SEMA"
SEMA is a big event where companies show off new car parts and accessories you can buy for your vehicle.
SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is a trade show where aftermarket parts makers showcase new accessories and upgrades for cars.
Mercedes-Benz
"[94.7s] Nissan will close its joint venture factory [97.1s] with Mercedes-Benz in Mexico by the end of this month,"
Mercedes-Benz makes luxury cars like the C-Class and E-Class, known for comfort and advanced technology.
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automaker producing vehicles such as the C-Class, E-Class, and S-Class.
Infiniti QX50
"The Aguascalientes plant builds the Infiniti QX50 and QX55, which will end production as Nissan works to trim capacity"
The Infiniti QX50 is a small luxury SUV that Nissan sells under its premium brand, Infiniti. It’s like a fancy version of a regular crossover with more comfort and tech.
The Infiniti QX50 is a compact luxury crossover SUV produced by Nissan’s Infiniti brand, known for its upscale interior and advanced safety features.
Ford Maverick 300T
"Ford showed off a 300-horsepower Maverick 300T street truck,"
Ford made a tiny truck called the Maverick 300T that can do a lot of work and also go fast, showing they’re making small trucks that are strong.
The Ford Maverick 300T is a compact pickup truck that was showcased with a powerful 300‑horsepower engine, highlighting Ford’s push into high‑performance small trucks.
Honda Civic Type R HRC Rally XP
"Honda's Type R HRC Rally XP turned a Civic into a rally-ready racer."
Honda took a regular Civic car and added parts so it can race in rallies, showing how you can make a normal car into a fast racing car.
Honda transformed a standard Civic into a rally‑ready racer with the Type R HRC Rally XP build, demonstrating how performance upgrades can turn everyday cars into competitive rally machines.
Toyota Tacoma H2 Overlander
"Toyota blended past and future with its hydrogen-powered Tacoma H2 Overlander"
Toyota made a special Tacoma truck that runs on hydrogen instead of gasoline, showing they’re trying new ways to power cars.
The Toyota Tacoma H2 Overlander is a hydrogen‑fuel cell version of the popular Tacoma pickup, showcasing Toyota’s exploration into alternative fuel technologies for off‑road vehicles.
Toyota Turbo Tail Cruiser
"Toyota blended past and future with its hydrogen-powered Tacoma H2 Overlander and retro Turbo Tail Cruiser."
Toyota made a car that looks old‑school but has a turbo engine, mixing classic style with strong power.
The Toyota Turbo Tail Cruiser is a retro‑styled vehicle that incorporates turbocharged power, blending classic design cues with modern performance technology.
Ram 1500
"And Stellantis brought Mopar muscle with the Dude Ram 1500."
The Ram 1500 is a big truck that people use for hauling heavy loads or towing trailers. It’s made by the Ram brand, which is owned by a big car company called Stellantis.
The Ram 1500 is a full‑size pickup truck produced by the Ram brand, which is part of Stellantis. It’s known for its towing capability and rugged styling.
Cox Automotive
"backed by Cox Automotive, helping you drive qualified leads and close deals faster"
Cox Automotive is a big company that helps car dealers use technology and data to sell cars better.
Cox Automotive is a leading automotive technology and services company that provides digital platforms, data analytics, and marketing solutions to dealerships and manufacturers.
KBB.com
"Activate across dealer.com, autotrader, and kbb.com to create a seamless personalized journey."
KBB.com tells you how much a car is worth and gives you information to help you decide if it’s a good price.
KBB.com, or Kelly Blue Book, provides vehicle pricing information, reviews, and tools to help consumers make informed buying decisions.
Dealer.com
"Activate across dealer.com, autotrader, and kbb.com to create a seamless personalized journey."
Dealer.com helps car dealers show their cars online so people can see what’s for sale and learn more about them.
Dealer.com is an online platform that connects car dealers with potential buyers, offering tools for inventory management and marketing.
Autotrader
"Activate across dealer.com, autotrader, and kbb.com to create a seamless personalized journey."
Autotrader is a website where you can look for cars to buy or sell, and it shows lots of listings from different sellers.
Autotrader is a popular online marketplace where individuals and dealers can list new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles for sale.
Kelly Blue Book
"Kelly Blue Book My Wallet lets shoppers enter budget info and see personalized payments."
Kelly Blue Book helps people figure out how much a car costs and what they might pay for it.
Kelly Blue Book is a brand that offers automotive valuation services, including tools like My Wallet to estimate payments and vehicle worth.
Hybrid vehicles
"Hybrid vehicles are evolving"
A hybrid car uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to help it run more efficiently and use less fuel.
Hybrid vehicles combine an internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
hybrid systems
"She spoke with our own Jerry Hirsch about how automakers are refining hybrid systems and why drivers are responding so strongly to the balance they offer."
A hybrid car uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to help it use less fuel. The car can run on gas, electricity, or a mix of both.
Hybrid systems combine an internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors and a battery pack to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. They allow the vehicle to switch between or blend power sources depending on driving conditions.
plug-in hybrids
"She also shared insights on the role of plug‑in hybrids and extended-range EVs and why these technologies"
A plug‑in hybrid is a car that can charge its battery from the wall, so it can drive on electricity for short trips and use gas for longer ones.
Plug‑in hybrids (PHEVs) are a type of hybrid that can be charged from an external power source, allowing them to drive on electric power alone for a limited range before the gasoline engine kicks in.
extended-range EVs
"She also shared insights on the role of plug‑in hybrids and extended-range EVs and why these technologies"
An extended‑range EV can run on electricity for a while, and if the battery gets low it uses a small gas engine to keep going.
Extended‑range electric vehicles (EREVs) are fully electric cars that include a small gasoline engine or generator to recharge the battery when it runs low, extending their range beyond pure electric vehicles.
electrification
"may not just bridge the gap to electrification but stand on their own as practical long-term options for buyers."
Electrification means making cars run on electricity instead of just gasoline, either fully electric or with a mix of both.
Electrification refers to the shift in the automotive industry toward electric powertrains, including fully electric and hybrid vehicles.
full electric vehicle
"that they believe this is a path to people purchasing a full electric vehicle."
An EV is a car that gets all its power from batteries and electric motors, so it doesn't use gasoline at all.
A full electric vehicle (EV) runs solely on electricity stored in batteries, with no gasoline engine.
transitional vehicle
"Do you really see this as a transitional vehicle, or is it really just where the market is at"
A transitional car is one that helps people move from gas cars to electric cars, usually by mixing both power sources.
A transitional vehicle refers to a car that bridges the gap between traditional gasoline vehicles and fully electric ones, often using hybrid technology.
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
"That leads us to plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles. In Europe, they're really ramping up the ranges of those so they could go 60, 70, 80 miles on a charge before gas engine kicks in."
A plug‑in hybrid is a car that can run on electric power for short trips, but also has a gasoline engine to keep it going when the battery runs low.
Plug‑in hybrids combine an internal combustion engine with a rechargeable battery that can be charged from the grid. They can drive on electric power alone for a limited range before the gasoline engine activates to extend travel.
extended range electric vehicles
"more extended range electric vehicles pop up over time. And I think that's probably a better bridge solution than a plug‑in hybrid."
An extended‑range electric vehicle is mostly an all‑electric car, but it has a little gas engine that can recharge the battery if you run out of power.
Extended‑range electric vehicles (EREVs) are a type of plug‑in hybrid that run on an electric motor for most of the range, with a small gasoline engine acting as a generator to recharge the battery when needed.
electric motors
"It's the electric motors that's driving the wheels"
Electric motors are the parts that make a car move by turning electricity into motion, so you don’t need a gasoline engine.
Electric motors convert electrical energy from a battery into mechanical torque that turns the wheels, eliminating the need for an internal combustion engine.
hybrid mode
"kick into hybrid mode depending on how much throttle you give it"
When a car is in hybrid mode, it can use both the battery and the gasoline engine at the same time or switch between them to save fuel.
Hybrid mode refers to the operating state where both the electric motor and internal combustion engine work together or the vehicle switches between them to optimize efficiency.
electric mode
"a little bit more sometimes than they do in electric mode"
In electric mode, the car uses only electricity from its battery to move, like a regular electric vehicle.
Electric mode is when the vehicle runs solely on its electric motor and battery, without using the gasoline engine.
electric technology
"for electric technology. Can you use a smaller engine with smaller horsepower, smaller displacement in an E-Rev to get the same performance you would get out of a regular gasoline or diesel car"
Electric technology means cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline or diesel. They use batteries and electric motors to move, which can be cleaner and cheaper to run.
Electric technology refers to the use of electric motors and batteries to power vehicles, offering higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to internal combustion engines.
horsepower
"smaller engine with smaller horsepower, smaller displacement in an E-Rev to get the same performance you would get out of a regular gasoline or diesel car"
Horsepower tells you how strong an engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster or pull heavier loads.
Horsepower is a unit of power that measures how much work an engine can do over time, commonly used to describe vehicle performance.
Ram's
"I mean, in the sense of the numbers that Ram's been talking about for their extended range"
Ram makes big trucks that are popular for hauling and towing. They’re part of the Ford family.
Ram is a brand of trucks and commercial vehicles produced by the Ford Motor Company, known for its heavy-duty pickup models.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.