Episode notes
Your car may physically last nearly 13 years, but its software, servers, cellular modem, and repair permissions may age out much faster.
Today’s episode breaks down the 12.8-year average age of U.S. vehicles, Rivian’s 7-to-10-year software-upgrade promise, the AT&T 3G shutdown that disconnected millions of vehicles, Stellantis shifting Jeep Cherokee production to Illinois on the STLA-1 platform, and Ford’s 784-horsepower Mustang Dark Horse SC Convertible.
Today's Key Headlines
~The average car on U.S. roads is now 12.8 years old
~Rivian promises 7 to 10 years of software upgrades while safety updates last indefinitely
~The AT&T 3G shutdown left millions of vehicles disconnected from paid digital features
~Stellantis is moving Jeep Cherokee production from Mexico to Belvidere, Illinois on STLA-1 architecture
~Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse SC Convertible uses a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 making 784 horsepower
00:07 Welcome to Auto News Talk
02:02 Dealership consolidation reshapes the retail landscape
05:37 NADA’s four-day Orlando event sells out its expo floor
06:50 Stellantis shifts Jeep Cherokee production to Illinois
08:53 Software-heavy cars face digital obsolescence
12:15 Enthusiasts push back with analog horsepower
17:41 Big takeaway: ask about the car’s digital lifespan
18:21 Outro: mechanical past meets digital future
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