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In this episode of the TechMobility Podcast, Ken Chester connects the dots between design, powertrains, and autonomy across a rapidly shifting auto landscape.

He opens with a look at Volvo’s new ES-90, a sleek full-electric premium car aimed at drivers who are burned out on SUVs but still want space, comfort, and ground clearance. Blending sedan elegance, fastback flexibility, and SUV practicality, the ES-90 targets professionals who value understated, confident design over flashy excess. The catch? Because it’s built in China, current U.S. tariffs make it unprofitable to sell here—so American buyers may never see it, even as European customers start taking delivery.

From there, Ken dives into a detailed review of the 2026 Ram 1500 Bighorn pickup truck. After a quick history lesson on how the old Dodge D/W pickups evolved into today’s Ram brand, he breaks down engine options, towing and payload numbers, and real-world driving impressions. With its mild-hybrid V6 or Hemi V8, comfortable ride, big-brash styling, and genuinely usable cabin, the Ram 1500 delivers the capability and refinement buyers expect from a modern full-size truck. He does call out some gripes—like the exposed spare tire placement and the lack of standard running boards on 4x4 models—but still concludes that, for those willing to pay the price, the Ram 1500 remains a highly compelling choice.

Ken then shifts to the growing wave of canceled or reshuffled EV programs. As tax credits fade and buyers gravitate toward hybrids over pure EVs, automakers are quietly killing or reconfiguring some electric models. He highlights surprising moves like Acura canceling the ZDX after just one year and GM walking away from its BrightDrop electric vans, with big financial implications for suppliers and owners alike. At the same time, he notes what hasn’t been canceled: key EVs like the Mustang Mach-E, Cadillac’s electric lineup, and GM’s Silverado and Sierra EVs are still moving ahead. The real story, he says, is not that EVs are dying, but that automakers are pivoting to hybrids and recalibrating timing, not abandoning electrification altogether.

Finally, the episode closes with the emerging “Robotaxi Wars.” Waymo, long the U.S. gold standard in autonomous ride-hailing, now faces incoming competition from Amazon’s Zoox and a late-to-the-party Tesla. Ken explains how Waymo has spent years and billions building a multi-city fleet using modified vehicles from established automakers, while Zoox is betting on funky, fully symmetric, purpose-built pods with no steering wheel at all. Tesla, meanwhile, is testing supervised robotaxis in Austin but trails Waymo by roughly a decade. Ken questions who will ultimately crack all-weather, all-city autonomy—especially in dense, messy environments like Boston—and suggests that while the field is getting crowded, Waymo is still the one to beat.

If you enjoy sharp, data-literate takes on cars, EV strategy, and autonomous tech, follow along, share with a friend, and leave a review. Have a question or hot take we should cover next? Drop us a note at talk@techmobility.show and subscribe for more deep dives.

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