Episodes
56
Latest episode
Aug 2026
Language
EN
The Garage Podcast from Sonatus brings you conversations with thought leaders from around the vehicle technology space discussing far-reaching topics about software innovation in vehicles. These episodes will include industry experts, whether from Sonatus, or from our amazing partners across the industry, all of whom will share their Ideas and their outlook for the most important topics in vehicle technology. Episodes span from more technical topics, to business evolution, and market trends. Join us and learn about the future of vehicle in The Garage.
Recorded live at Auto Tech 2026, this episode features AutoMobility Advisors' Chip Goetzinger discussing the rise of software-defined vehicles, embedded connectivity, and changing OEM-supplier relationships. He also explores emerging automotive trends like vehicle commerce and digital identity, along with insights from his background as an amateur race car driver.
Recorded live at AutoTech 2026, host John Heinlein speaks with Stellantis's Mel Roberts on how AI and small language models (SLMs) are transforming the automotive user experience. They discuss the strategic deployment of AI in vehicles, focusing on local processing for low latency, predictive maintenance, and balancing physical controls with digital UX design.
Recorded live at AutoTech 2026, this episode of The Garage features Subaru's Amy Sgrignoli discussing how the brand prioritizes safety and customer experience in connected vehicle technology. Sgrignoli also shares her philosophy on servant leadership and introduces her new podcast, Learn to Lead Differently .
Recorded live at AutoTech 2026, this episode of The Garage features Sonatus host John Heinlein and Mobileye VP Nimrod Brickman discussing the evolution of ADAS and autonomous driving technologies. They explore Mobileye's growth into a comprehensive tier-one supplier, its advanced AI approaches, and how the integration of safety-critical features is making autonomous capabilities more accessible for lower-cost vehicles.
Recorded live at ACT Expo 2026, this podcast episode features Matt McLelland of Covenant Logistics discussing how the company evaluates diverse fleet technologies, from autonomous vehicles and electric trucks to data analytics. He highlights practical implementations like electric APUs and shares how combining data sources provides the context needed to proactively improve driver safety and wellbeing.
Recorded live at ACT Expo 2026, host John Heinlein interviews former UPS fleet manager Lawrence Bader on the evolution of fleet technology, including keyless systems, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and autonomous trucking. Bader emphasizes that to remain competitive, fleets must start small, iterate quickly, and integrate technologies across all operational departments.
In this podcast episode recorded live at the COVESA meeting, host John Heinlein interviews Roger Lanctot about how the automotive industry can leverage vehicle data to transition from a B2B to a B2C model, prioritizing driver personalization over data monetization to enhance customer engagement and loyalty. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Vehicle Data and Personalization 1:12 Introducing Roger Lanctot 3:11 Personalization not Monetization 5:23 Engagement Strategies of New Automakers 6:27 Case Study: Chevy Equinox Connectivity Experience 9:57 The Cost of Customer Acquisition and Retention 12:11 Ensuring Privacy 14:47 Emerging Trends in Vehicle Diagnostics 15:45 The Evolution of Usage-Based Insurance 18:43 Real-Time Feedback and Driver Engagement 19:59 The Future of Personalization in Automotive 21:06 Changing the Dealer Engagement Model 22:13 Conclusion and Future Perspectives
In a live recording from COVESA all-member meeting in Porto, Portugal, John and Omdia analyst Maitê Bezerra discuss the 2026 SDV survey, which reveals the industry expects to reach SDV level 3 by 2030. Key findings highlight a shift toward data-driven value creation and predictive maintenance, though organizational readiness still lags behind technology deployment by several years. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to COVESA Meeting 1:29 Guest Introduction: Maitê Bezerra 2:13 Transition from Wards Intelligence to Omdia 4:03 Key Conclusions from the SDV Survey 5:25 Understanding SDV Levels 7:01 Current State of Vehicles on the Road 9:52 Reality Check on Technology Deployment 12:04 Near-Term Future of Technology Implementation 13:01 Diversity of AI Use Cases 15:17 Shifts in Data Monetization Strategies 18:55 Regional Variations in Data Strategy 22:15 The Role of AI in Automotive 26:44 Predictive Maintenance as a Key Focus 30:28 Accessing the Survey Results
In this episode of The Garage podcast recorded live at CES 2026, host John Heinlein interviews Derek De Bono, Vice President of Software Defined Vehicles at Valeo, a major tier one automotive supplier. The conversation explores how software defined vehicles (SDVs) are transforming the automotive industry, moving beyond simply adding more software to creating a holistic system approach that decouples hardware and software. Derek discusses Valeo's 90-year evolution from mechanical systems to leading innovation in electrification, lighting, and autonomous driving systems. The discussion covers how SDVs enable vehicles to evolve with their owners through over-the-air updates, feature-on-demand capabilities, and continuous improvements through AI and machine learning. They explore the changing relationship between automakers and suppliers, moving from hierarchical structures to partnership ecosystems. Derek shares insights on the future of autonomous driving, predicting level 3 autonomy before 2030, and discusses how software updates are becoming more frequent, with some manufacturers pushing hundreds of updates per year. The conversation touches on business model implications, including whether new features should be revenue-generating or loyalty-building, and how SDVs can improve vehicle resale value and reduce costs through simplified wiring harnesses and fewer controllers. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Software Defined Vehicles 0:44 Introduction to Derek De Bono 3:48 Overview of Valeo 5:01 Transition to Software Defined Vehicles 7:44 The Role of AI in SDVs 9:03 Collaboration in the Automotive Ecosystem 13:18 Opportunities for OEMs and Consumers 16:11 Revenue Models for Software Updates 20:42 Future Trends in Autonomous Driving 24:52 Conclusion and Closing Remarks
In this podcast episode, filmed at CES2026, Ajit Chander, Associate Partner and Mobility Practice Leader at Frost and Sullivan, discusses a comprehensive research report analyzing the impact of cloud and edge AI in the automotive industry with host Dr. John Heinlein, Chief Marketing Officer, Sonatus. The conversation covers key findings from their analysis, including market projections showing AI automotive spending growing from $48 billion in 2025 to $238 billion by 2030, representing a portion of the overall $500 billion software-defined vehicle market. Chander explains emerging AI use cases in vehicles including prognostics, usage-based insurance, sensor virtualization, and edge cybersecurity. The discussion highlights how AI can be deployed on existing vehicle hardware without requiring advanced processors, providing immediate cost savings and new revenue opportunities for OEMs. Specific examples include virtual sensors that can replace physical components like IMUs, saving $20 per vehicle in bill of materials costs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of end-to-end AI lifecycle management and positions Sonatus as a key enabler for achieving AI and software-defined vehicle objectives in the automotive industry. Frost and Sullivan report "In-Vehicle Edge and Cloud AI at Scale": https://www.sonatus.com/resources/in-vehicle-edge-and-cloud-ai-at-scale/ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to the Guest 0:50 Ajit's Background and Experience 3:36 Overview of Frost and Sullivan 4:36 Research report on In-vehicle and Cloud AI 7:17 Market Outlook for AI in Automotive 8:05 OEM Strategies and Investments in AI 10:00 Emerging Use Cases in Automotive AI 11:59 AI Not Always Driver-Visible 16:13 Future of AI in Automotive and Continuous Improvement 18:13 Sonatus Vehicle AI Products 20:43 Conclusion and Call to Action
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