Daily Recap: Monday, March 30, 2026
29 episodes · If you only listen to one: Inside the Dealership: A candid talk with Porsche Hunt Valley's General Manager, Porsche Club Insider
GM's push into subscription services showed up across multiple shows, with discussion of how software and recurring revenue are reshaping the automaker's business model. The Porsche Cayman R got detailed attention around production numbers and ideal spec choices. Rivian and Lucid also secured direct sales rights in Washington state, adding another win for the direct-to-consumer model.
Headlines
GM Subscription Revenue Grows; Rivian and Lucid Win Direct Sales
General Motors is rapidly expanding its subscription revenue from OnStar and SuperCruise services, which generated $2.7 billion in realized revenue in 2025 and are projected to reach $3.1 billion in 2026, with deferred revenue expected to climb from $5.4 billion to $7.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Rivian and Lucid secured the ability to sell directly to consumers in Washington state after dealers backed down when confronted with polling data showing 70% voter support. Rivian reportedly spent nearly $5 million on the effort and was prepared to spend an additional $25 million on a ballot initiative.
"After car dealers saw polls which showed that seventy percent of the voters in Washington approved of selling direct, they caved. They actually supported legislation that would allow Rivian and Lucid to sell cars on their own"
Episode Spotlights
On Audi's five-cylinder engine phase-out in Europe:
"Audi plans to phase out its five-cylinder engine in Europe by mid-2027. The engine doesn't meet the European Union's upcoming Euro 7 emission standards."
Cayman R: the purest real-world Porsche sports car?
On Cayman R production rarity and UK numbers:
"So as far as we understand it, there's 221 Cayman Rs in the UK out of 1620, I believe, that those numbers were never formally published by Porsche. But Porsche Museum published something that said that I think it was 1621 Cayman Rs in total."
Why your engine uses, burns or leaks oil AND what to do about it
On valve cover gasket leaks and oil consumption:
"And the valve cover gasket, once it's all under pressure inside your system, they can leak. That's the gasket right under the valve cover. Those tend to leak after about 30,000 miles."
Why the Aston Martin Valhalla is an all-time great #307
On the Valhalla's bespoke tire development:
"These are very special tires developed very specifically for that car. The Cup 2, if you order your Valhalla with a Cup 2 on it, its compound is essentially Cup 2R."
If You Only Listen To One
Inside the Dealership: A candid talk with Porsche Hunt Valley's General Manager
A rare candid look inside a luxury dealership — the general manager talks openly about how online reviews shape the business, how the shop floor actually runs day-to-day, and what it takes to keep a Porsche franchise's reputation intact.
By the Numbers
Most-Discussed Cars
| Car | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 10 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 9 |
| Porsche 911 | 8 |
| BMW M3 | 5 |
| Ford Mustang | 5 |
| Toyota Prius | 5 |
| Porsche Boxster | 4 |
Trending Terminology
| Term | Mentions |
|---|---|
| EV | 6 |
| air filter | 3 |
| PDK | 2 |
| throttle | 2 |
| manual | 2 |
29 episodes. 399 car mentions. 673 terms explained. Browse every episode with searchable annotations and plain-language term definitions in the Car Curious app.