Daily Recap: Monday, March 16, 2026
36 episodes · If you only listen to one: Did ChatGPT Name the Baby? Why Denny Wins. — Stacking Pennies with Corey LaJoie
Honda's EV retreat — covered since Wednesday — continued into Monday, with more hosts unpacking the $15.7 billion restructuring hit. The used EV market continued to trend as lease returns flood dealer lots. Elsewhere, hosts debated daily-driving sports cars like the Porsche 911 and Corvette, and one show tackled the question of selling cars to elderly buyers showing signs of cognitive decline.
Honda Scraps Three EV Models and Faces Major Restructuring Costs
Honda has cancelled three planned electric vehicle launches including the Honda Zero SUV, Honda Zero Saloon, and Acura RSX, marking a significant retreat from its EV ambitions.
The company is facing up to $15.7 billion in restructuring costs tied to its EV business, which represents its first potential annual loss in nearly 70 years as a public company.
Layton on Appraisals, Dunne on China, RussFlipsWhips on Social | Daily Dealer Live
"Honda announced last week it's scrapping three planned EV launches, including the Honda OSUV, Honda O-Saloon and the Acura RSX. With that, the OEM is now facing its first potential annual loss in nearly 70 years as a public company, with up to $15.7 billion in restructuring costs tied to its EV business"
Additionally, the Honda Prologue will end production in December 2026 due to declining US demand for electric vehicles.
Honda Drops 2 Models, Audi Q3 Reivew, Buying a Car in Uncertain Times
"Honda was developing a line of electric vehicles, a sub-brand called Zero. And there were two products that were coming imminently and one coming later. But one of them was the Honda Zero SUV and the Honda Zero Saloon, Saloon being British for sedan... But really interesting cars, they would do this year. It ain't coming at all. No more Honda Zero."
More Shows Weigh In on Used EV Market Surge from Lease Returns
First covered yesterday: Multiple podcasts are now reporting on the significant influx of electric vehicles coming off lease in the United States.
Over 300,000 EVs will come off lease in 2026 alone, driven by a post-2022 surge in EV leasing that continued until the federal tax credit ended.
These used EVs represent an opportunity for budget-conscious buyers, with good quality 2023 and 2024 models available for under $20,000.
Episode Spotlights
025 | Nissan Z Cars, San Diego Car Cruise & Should You Daily Drive Your Dream Car?
On using a sports car as a daily driver:
"I drive it literally everywhere. Like it's, it's the grocery getter. It's the, you know, it's the just, you know, go to the beach car... I do commute down the San Diego a couple of times out of the day."
On Rivian R2's expected launch timeline:
"It will be on the roads by the end of the year I think it's coming out in third quarter...they have like three three levels of as as most electric car manufacturers seem to do like three levels of base model...the price range will be in the 50 55 to I guess maybe 75 thousand dollar range"
On the R2's weight advantage versus the R1S:
"The R2 weighs about just over 2,000 pounds less than the R1S. But then so it should, because it's a much smaller vehicle. It's a two-row, not a three-row."
On dealership responsibility when elderly buyers show cognitive decline:
"If somebody over 80 comes in to buy a car... are we supposed to say, well, give us a number of your family member and let us call them first and see if you have permission to do this or if you have dementia. I mean, that's asking too much of the business."
If You Only Listen To One
Did ChatGPT Name the Baby? Why Denny Wins.
NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie talks using ChatGPT to name his newborn, then breaks down Denny Hamlin's winning strategy at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.
By the Numbers
Most-Discussed Cars
| Car | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Porsche 911 | 11 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 11 |
| Ford Mustang | 9 |
| Rivian R2 | 8 |
| Dodge Charger | 7 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Honda Prologue | 6 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 5 |
Trending Terminology
| Term | Mentions |
|---|---|
| horsepower | 6 |
| hybrid | 5 |
| all wheel drive | 3 |
| plug-in hybrid | 3 |
| supercharger | 3 |
| warranty | 3 |
36 episodes. 511 car mentions. 579 terms explained. Browse every episode with searchable annotations and plain-language term definitions in the Car Curious app.