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March 7, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Iran conflict could spike oil prices; Ford plant’s pivot to energy storage

·25 min·5 clips

The host tees up a weekend roundup centered on the biggest auto stories of the week. The first major topic is the Iran conflict and the way it could spread through the industry. The discussion treats that risk as global, not just domestic. Asian brands are singled out as the most exposed group. A Bernstein report is referenced in the conversation. Toyota is described as accounting for 17% of Middle East sales. Hyundai is said to account for 10%. Cherry is said to account for 5%. The point is not only geopolitical unease. It is the business exposure underneath it. The hosts then turn to Ford. The Kentucky battery plant becomes the center of that discussion. Ford's plan B is framed as a question of whether it can credibly compete in batteries. The conversation treats the move as part of a larger question about how automakers diversify. Larry Veloquette argues that companies should not chase every shiny new trend. He makes the case that focus, profitability, and core competency still matter. He also says automakers are in the business of making money by selling automobiles. Michael Martinez pushes back with the argument that Ford believes it can compete credibly in the battery space. He points to CATL's technology as the basis for that confidence. He notes that CATL is one of the world's biggest battery suppliers and is based in China. He also places Ford's effort in the context of larger competitors in the battery market. The final stretch turns to consumer demand. Wealthier shoppers are still helping keep sales afloat. Lower-income buyers are still struggling. The episode leaves the listener with a clear picture of an industry facing both near-term shocks and longer-range repositioning.

As heard by us

A brisk auto-business briefing on conflict risk, battery strategy, and who is still buying.

The weekend drive edition moves fast through three practical auto industry angles: the Iran conflict and its risk to global automakers, Ford’s plan B for the Kentucky battery plant, and the split between wealthy shoppers who are still spending and lower-income buyers who are…

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Track how the Iran conflict is pressuring global automakers, Ford's plan B for its Kentucky battery plant, and why wealthy shoppers are still keeping auto sales afloat.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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