Daily Recap: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

26 episodes

Tuesday's shows covered GM's manufacturing moves in South Korea as tariff policies shift, along with practical advice on extracting equity from leased vehicles before turn-in. The 2026 Voice of Technician Survey results also got attention, revealing what 5,500 techs want from employers, while Ford's CEO drew criticism for claims about taking a $120,000 salary.

Headlines

GM's South Korean Manufacturing Strategy Amid Tariff Uncertainty

General Motors is significantly boosting its South Korean production as it navigates tariff concerns.

GM is targeting 500,000 vehicles from its South Korean plants this year despite tariff headwinds, demonstrating the company's commitment to expanding manufacturing capacity in the region.

From Autoline Daily:

"GM boosting South Korean production amid tariff uncertainty"

From Automotive News Daily Drive:

"It plans to build 500,000 vehicles despite tariff headwinds."

Episode Spotlights

LEASE-END LIES: How to Get the Equity Out of Your Leased Car — The Straight Shift with The Car Chick
On why leased cars lose value before lease-end:

"Typically, if you don't have positive equity at the end of your lease, it's because either you're way over the miles and it's not a car that's super hot in the market, or the car was in a wreck during the lease... But if the market value is higher than that residual, that equity belongs to you."

What 5,500 Technicians Really Think About the Industry — Beyond the Wrench
On what 5,500 technicians want from their employers:

"we had 5,500 completed responses. About 60% of those were working technicians. I was surprised and I think why the focus on the school side. 20% were instructors, which provided some incredible feedback. 85% were automotive, 13% were diesel."

His Son Told Him to Leave the Dealer | David Kline — The Jaded Mechanic Podcast
On how a podcast episode inspired a dealer technician to leave:

"sitting in my car with my wife and my son and listening to my podcast with you, yeah, was, was, man, it, it turned a mirror back on me in a way that, that really made me uncomfortable... I told my wife, uh, you know, 20-year-ago me would be heartbroken to listen to now me"

1 in 5 Americans Are NOW Paying $1,100+ Monthly for Cars | The Payment Crisis EXPOSED | Episode 1013 — CarEdge Live
On whether to stretch car loans beyond 60 months:

"You need to look at cars that you can afford the payment for 48 months or less. Maybe max 60 months or less...Cars are not one of them [worth stretching for]. Real estate typically is because historically most real estate appreciates over time."

Stop Wasting Your Porsche: The Truth About Garage Queens, Lot Rot, and the 100k-Mile Myth — Rennthusiast Radio
On when a low-mileage Porsche becomes a driver car:

"I have it all partitioned in my head...cars under 40,000 miles are still fresh...Over 40, I think it goes into being a driver car...Once you have that psychological 100,000 mile barrier in my mind, you're free. You're free."

If You Only Listen To One

What 5,500 Technicians Really Think About the Industry — Beyond the Wrench

The 2026 Voice of Technician Survey drew 5,500 responses revealing what techs actually want from employers — from pay structures to workplace culture.

By the Numbers

Most-Discussed Cars

Trending Terminology

26 episodes. 216 car mentions. 358 terms explained. Browse every episode with searchable annotations and plain-language term definitions in the Car Curious app.