Are automakers betting on the wrong cars? Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer break down the biggest automotive stories on The Drive with Lauren and Karl Episode 53. From affordable EVs to SUVs that could save major brands, the industry faces big decisions. Plus, Karl has some car regret. Doug DeMuro […]

Your car may be collecting far more than the miles on your odometer. Depending on the vehicle and connected services, it can capture information about where you drive, how you drive, and even information pulled from your phone. And the disturbing part isn’t simply that the data exists. It’s where […]

You found the car. The price is right, the pictures look great, the VIN checks out and the dealership website looks completely legitimate. There is only one problem: the dealership may not actually be selling the car. The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers that scammers are cloning legitimate dealership […]

Lauren Fix, Karl Brauer and Paul Fix celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Drive With Lauren and Karl with a special episode featuring some of the guests who helped make the show a success, including Michael Harley, Anton Wahlman, Henry Payne and Alan Taylor. The anniversary episode looks back at […]

For once, there is some good news coming out of Washington for people trying to buy a new car. The federal government has finalized a major change to fuel economy standards that could reduce the cost of building vehicles. The 2031 fleetwide target is dropping from the previous 50.4 mpg […]

Episode 51 of The Drive with Lauren and Karl examines mileage-based road charges, rising vehicle prices, Ram’s 777-horsepower Rumble Bee, vehicle longevity and the future of gasoline prices. What happens when government transportation policies encourage Americans to drive less while automakers compete to build increasingly powerful trucks? Lauren Fix and […]

What if you could prove you weren’t driving a car when it committed a traffic violation and still be responsible for the ticket? That may sound absurd, but that is essentially the issue raised by Jacob Rockwell’s experience with a red-light camera citation in Pensacola, Florida. Rockwell said he was […]

Gas-powered cars aren’t disappearing on schedule. On “The Drive With Lauren and Karl,” Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer explain why automakers are walking back electric-only timelines — and what that means for drivers. Cadillac is delaying the end of several gasoline models. Honda is pushing the CR-V toward hybrids. Volkswagen […]

What if the biggest foreign influence in your car never appears on the badge? Washington is warning that Chinese automotive technology can create national security risks. At the same time, some of the world’s largest automakers increasingly rely on Chinese companies for batteries, software, components and manufacturing. That contradiction is […]

New York lawmakers have a message for drivers: You are driving too much. Not because you are speeding, driving recklessly or breaking the law. The problem, according to a growing movement in transportation policy, is that Americans simply drive too many miles. That idea is now moving through Albany in […]

California is coming after your car again. New tire rules, mileage tracking requirements and a potential $900-a-year vehicle tax could increase costs for drivers. But that’s not all on this week’s episode of The Drive with Lauren and Karl. Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer break down the biggest automotive news […]

You paid for the car. You insure it. You fill the tank. The title has your name on it. So why does fixing a broken sensor or updating a module increasingly require the manufacturer’s blessing? That question gets to the heart of the Right to Repair debate. For decades, independent […]

California bureaucrats want you to believe they’re saving you money. That’s the sales pitch. Buy the tires the government approves, use less energy, save money. That is a total joke. Sounds great, until you ask the obvious question: If these tires are really so much better, why do unelected bureaucrats […]

If you’ve been reading my columns over the past year, you may have noticed that I keep returning to California. One week it’s the EV mandate. Another week it’s replacement tire regulations. Then it’s emissions waivers, Section 177, Right to Repair, insurance companies collecting driving data, or new incentives designed […]

They’re telling you they’re not banning older cars. They’re just making them more expensive, more restricted, and harder to keep on the road until most people finally give up and buy new. That is the quiet playbook unfolding right now, and almost nobody is saying it out loud. Picture Mike […]

This week, Lauren and Karl discussing Monterey Car Week, exciting new test vehicles, and what’s ahead in the industry. Special guests join them on the show. They sit down with the Ford Garage team to explore the Bronco Desert Rising concept, Ford’s growing lineup of factory-backed accessories, and how over-the-counter branded performance parts are […]

You probably thought the EV mandate was over. So did I. Washington certainly acted like it was. Congress celebrated. The White House touted what it called one of the largest deregulatory efforts in modern history, highlighting the repeal of federal vehicle emissions rules as the centerpiece of more than $1 […]

The light pole near your home rarely draws a second glance. Drivers pass it daily on the way to work or school. It fades into ordinary public infrastructure. That same pole can now gather more details about daily routines than many close friends. Modern systems identify vehicles by color, make, […]

Many Americans believe the EV mandate is over. Washington certainly acted that way. Congress celebrated recent victories. The White House promoted one of the largest deregulatory efforts in decades. Officials highlighted the repeal of federal vehicle emissions rules as a cornerstone of more than $1 trillion in projected savings. Automakers […]

Automakers’ Effort May Have Backfired Automakers sought to protect control over vehicle repairs. They may have triggered the biggest federal endorsement of consumers’ right to fix their own cars in years. For years, the Right to Repair fight seemed niche. It pitted automakers against hobbyists who wanted to work on […]

Gasoline prices often jump overnight when tensions rise. Drivers expect it. News outlets blame geopolitics. Oil traders cite uncertainty. Politicians blame each other. Yet few people ask the key question. Computers raise prices within hours. So why do they wait to lower them? The Persistent Price Pattern Americans have faced […]

Communities embraced school bus cameras for a simple reason: they caught drivers who illegally passed stopped school buses and endangered children. The cameras gave law enforcement clear evidence to hold reckless drivers accountable. Few people objected because the mission focused on protecting students. Leaked internal documents now suggest that mission […]

Last night, my Ford Bronco automatically installed a software update, something millions of modern vehicles do without driver intervention. The next morning, I noticed a change I hadn’t authorized: the update had enabled additional data-sharing features related to my driving habits. Fortunately, I discovered the change before leaving home and […]

The Drive with Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer – Episode 42 Lauren and Karl are joined by special guest Al Vazquez for an action-packed show covering the latest auto news, industry trends, and consumer issues affecting drivers across America. The show kicks off with a discussion about the all-new 2027 […]

Communities installed cameras on school buses for one clear reason: to catch drivers who illegally passed stopped buses and endangered children. Law enforcement could use the footage as evidence. Most people supported the cameras because they served a specific purpose: protecting students. Leaked internal documents suggest BusPatrol may now pursue […]

If you’ve spent any time on YouTube, you’ve probably seen Chinese electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids packed with giant touchscreens, advanced driver assistance systems, premium interiors, and impressive range, all selling overseas for the price of an entry-level compact car. Many Americans have the same reaction. “Why can’t we buy […]

We’ve covered Flock cameras before, the automated license plate readers were expanding fast, sold as a precision crime-fighting tool. The update is less reassuring. Fresh mistakes are still occurring, including a case where police tracked an automotive journalist in a press vehicle for days before surrounding him in a parking […]

Imagine purchasing a new vehicle and learning it includes a camera aimed directly at the driver — not the road, not surrounding traffic, but the people inside the car. As of this week, that scenario is now standard across the European Union. Under new EU safety regulations, all newly registered […]

Imagine buying a brand-new vehicle and discovering it comes with a camera pointed at the driver. It is designed to watch you every time you drive. Not the road. Not traffic. Just you and the others in your car. As of this week, that’s no longer optional across the European […]

Summer is road trip season, and on Episode 40 of The Drive with Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer, we’re covering the latest vehicles, industry news, and consumer issues that every driver should know. Lauren and Karl kick off the show by sharing their favorite summer road trip experiences, from spontaneous adventures […]

For years, the fight over Right to Repair has been portrayed as a niche battle between automakers and hobbyists who want to work on their own cars. It never was. What happened in Washington this week proved that. President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Environmental Protection Agency to […]

Could AI Be Keeping Gas Prices Higher? Why Regulators Are Investigating Algorithmic Fuel Pricing Every time geopolitical tensions rise, gasoline prices seem to climb almost overnight. Drivers have come to expect it. News reports cite global instability, oil traders point to uncertainty, and politicians trade blame. But one question rarely […]

For years, Americans have been told not to worry about the rapid expansion of AI-powered surveillance cameras. The message has been consistent: They help recover stolen vehicles, solve crimes and make communities safer. If you’re not breaking the law, you have nothing to fear. That narrative shifted when Garrett Langley, […]

If you drive a car in the U.S., new surveillance technology is quietly building a detailed picture of your movements — often without a warrant. Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), including systems from Flock Safety, have spread rapidly across highways, overpasses, city streets and parking areas. Now, an add-on called […]

The Drive with Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer – Episode 38!  California Wants to Control Your Tires, Tesla SUED Over FSD & Audi’s $500K Mistake! This week we’re diving into the biggest stories shaping the automotive world, from outrageous concept cars to consumer rights, tire technology, and the future of […]

California regulators are advancing a plan to set energy-efficiency standards for replacement tires sold for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks, saying the move would cut fuel use, lower emissions and save drivers money. The proposed Replacement Tire Efficiency Program would require new efficiency benchmarks for tires sold in the state. […]

When President Donald Trump emerged from a recent meeting with automotive executives and said he found it strange that some industry leaders appeared opposed to Americans repairing their own vehicles, much of the media coverage focused on politics. The more important story may be what happened afterward. The deeper you […]

This week on Episode 37, Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer cover the excitement of the Indianapolis 500, the future of electric luxury cars, autonomous driving failures and an exclusive look at the upcoming Polestar 5. Also on Episode 37, automotive journalist Henry Payne joins the show to discuss the closest […]

Policymakers in Europe policymakers are not outlawing older vehicles with dramatic bans. Instead, a quieter system is emerging through data collection, usage-based insurance, connected vehicles and behavioral monitoring that makes keeping and driving conventional cars increasingly difficult. The Real Battle Over Transportation While headlines focus on electric vehicles, emissions targets […]

New York politicians are celebrating what they call a major victory for public safety after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation requiring certain repeat speeding offenders to install GPS-based speed-limiting technology in their vehicles. Under the new law, drivers who accumulate 16 or more speed camera violations within a 12-month period […]

While most Americans see scrapyard fires as local news, the real story may be unfolding in repair shops, insurance offices, and family budgets across the country. Americans don’t need another reason for vehicle ownership to become more expensive. New vehicle prices remain painfully high. Used vehicle prices are still well […]

Americans were told Chinese cars were being kept out of the United States for security reasons. Washington has imposed massive tariffs, politicians promised tougher restrictions, and consumers were reassured that national security concerns surrounding connected vehicles were finally being taken seriously. China was tracking our every move through their software […]

Americans are hearing plenty of discussion about the federal gas tax. Some believe President Donald Trump has already eliminated it. Others expect an executive order that could immediately lower prices at the pump. Social media posts have fueled speculation that relief is already on the way. That is not how […]

Americans are hearing conflicting claims about the federal gas tax. Some say President Trump already eliminated it; others expect an executive order that will immediately cut prices at the pump. Social media is awash with posts promising imminent relief. That’s not how it works. Only Congress can suspend or repeal […]

Supply issues affecting some synthetic motor oils are real, but experts say widespread shortages remain unlikely America is not running out of motor oil. Despite alarming headlines and social media posts warning of a looming motor oil shortage, the reality is far less dramatic. While supply disruptions are affecting certain […]

This week on The Drive Ep 34, Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer welcome automotive journalist Al Vazquez to break down the biggest stories shaping the automotive industry and your freedom behind the wheel. The conversation starts with Formula 1 and the growing backlash against hybrid powertrains following the Miami Grand […]

Federal prosecutors have charged six people in what authorities describe as an international car theft operation that stole more than 100 vehicles in Washington, D.C., and additional vehicles in Maryland. The ring allegedly used handheld diagnostic tools to steal cars in under a minute without forced entry, according to court […]

By now, most Americans assume they’re being watched online. What they don’t expect is just how aggressively they’re being tracked offline, every time they get behind the wheel. A quiet but powerful fight is unfolding across the country over automated license plate reader systems, and it’s not just about traffic […]

f you believe you fully “own” your car, the reality of modern automotive technology may challenge that assumption. Today’s vehicles are rapidly evolving into sophisticated systems that can monitor, assess and even limit driver behavior in real time. In practical terms, ownership is shifting toward something closer to conditional access […]

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban Chinese cars and auto parts from the American market. “There will not be a Chinese automobile here,” Moreno said Monday at the Automotive Forum in New York City. “And what I’m hoping is that Latin America, Mexico, Canada […]

Jay Leno might live in California, but that state has built its reputation on aggressive emissions policies, but those rules may have created a problem that is becoming harder to ignore. Classic car owners — who represent a tiny fraction of vehicles on the road — have been caught in […]

Proposal Raises Questions About How and When Classic Cars Can Be Driven A bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature could significantly change how owners of classic and collector vehicles use their cars. Supporters describe HF 3865 as a clarification of existing law, but critics say it could limit when these […]

California has a new way to police drivers that does not involve patrol cars or flashing lights. Instead, a growing network of automated cameras watches intersections, school zones and major roadways. The cameras record violations and mail citations directly to vehicle owners. There is no traffic stop and no officer […]

For the better part of a decade, the automotive industry told consumers that the future was inevitable. Electric vehicles would dominate the roads, gasoline engines would fade into history, and the transition would happen faster than most people expected. Now the bill for that prediction is coming due. Automakers across […]

For many drivers, nighttime driving has become increasingly uncomfortable. The complaint is heard everywhere—from customer surveys to service departments and even federal regulators. Headlights on modern vehicles are brighter, whiter, and more intense than ever before. While those lights are designed to improve visibility for the driver using them, they […]

If a tax on every mile driven sounds extreme, it is already being tested, phased in or studied across the United States. While California is the most visible battleground, it is not alone. What is unfolding in Sacramento reflects a broader national shift in how states plan to generate transportation […]

Fuel Content Factor Removed The U.S. Department of Energy has rescinded the “fuel content factor,” a multiplier that boosted miles-per-gallon-equivalent (MPGe) values for electric vehicles in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) calculations. The change took effect immediately, following a September ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth […]

Stellantis is now facing a financial reckoning that should send a chill through every boardroom in the global auto industry. After betting aggressively that electric vehicles would dominate the market far sooner than consumers were ready to accept, the company is paying the price with a staggering $26.3 billion net […]

Why $20,000 Is the Sweet Spot in Today’s Car Market To buy a car with $20,000 is a bit like dating in your 30s. You know what you want. You are not willing to settle for junk. But you also understand that everything in this range comes with a little […]

California pushes ahead on zero-emission goals While Washington has pulled back on electric vehicle mandates and emissions enforcement, California is moving in the opposite direction—and the nation’s largest automakers are paying close attention. This week, executives from the Detroit Three are sitting down with regulators from the California Air Resources […]

Modern vehicles are increasingly connected and convenient, but that connectivity exposes drivers to growing cybersecurity risks, including data theft, financial fraud and, in rare cases, remote vehicle control. Hackers are no longer just targeting computers and phones. Modern cars are now high-tech gateways to your personal data, your finances, and, […]

Here we go again. Another expensive lesson in what happens when political ambition outruns engineering reality, this time playing out in the dead of winter in Burlington, Vermont. Electric buses, unveiled with great fanfare as symbols of progress and climate virtue, are now sitting idle in the snow while the […]

These bright headlights have been a real issue for many drivers. So many people are constantly complaining that they are blinded by other drivers who have no control over the brightness of their vehicles. For most of automotive history, safety advancements followed a clear and reasonable path. New technology was […]

The EPA just dropped a bombshell that every fed-up American driver has been waiting for: the automatic start-stop nonsense is getting gutted. On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin signed off on what they’re calling the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.  They scrapped […]

Congress funds automatic vehicle shutoff technology Congress has approved funding for an automatic vehicle kill switch system that could soon be required in new cars sold in the United States. The technology, often described as a “kill switch,” is designed to detect impaired driving and prevent a vehicle from operating […]

Massachusetts lawmakers are once again at the center of a national debate over climate policy and personal mobility, and this time the issue hits close to home for anyone who relies on a car to live and work. Senate Bill 2246, formally titled the “Freedom to Move Act,” has advanced […]

Karl Brauer, Lauren Fix and Henry Payne discuss winter tires, cold weather and the impact of electric cars. Are they the future? What is the shift in the auto industry. We discuss tariffs, electric cars and Chinese cars plus cars that people wants and the impact on jobs and the […]

For generations, black Chevrolet Suburbans have served as a rolling symbol of federal authority. Their size and unmistakable silhouette are instantly recognizable outside courthouses, hotels and along motorcade routes. That familiarity, however, is precisely why the FBI’s recent decision to transition away from armored Suburbans deserves closer scrutiny. Despite political […]

Canada’s decision to sharply reduce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is being framed as a pragmatic trade adjustment, but critics warn the move could have serious consequences for the nation’s auto industry, workforce and economic independence. What the Carney government describes as a “strategic partnership” with China is viewed by […]

The long-predicted EV future for automobiles is unraveling faster than many experts expected. Across the globe, gasoline engines are regaining favor as consumers, automakers and governments reassess the rapid push toward EV. A recent EY report found that 50% of global car buyers now plan to purchase a new or […]

If you’ve been shopping for a new car lately, you already know the truth: the price of vehicles is more expensive than ever, and many Americans are being priced out of the market. That’s why the latest news out of Washington matters. The Trump administration is rolling back fuel efficiency […]

If you want a clear picture of where the American auto market is heading, don’t look at political speeches or glossy concept vehicles. Look at where manufacturers are spending — and writing off — real money. Ford Motor Company just provided one of the clearest signals yet that the industry’s […]

Washington does not often admit when a policy has failed. But this week, the White House took a rare step back from more than a decade of regulations that pushed car prices to historic highs, limited consumer choice, and attempted to reshape an industry faster than technology, infrastructure, or American […]

A massive power outage plunged large swaths of San Francisco into darkness Saturday, knocking out electricity to about 130,000 homes and businesses and leaving self-driving cars stalled in city streets. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. did not immediately say what caused blackouts to roughly one-third of the utility company’s customers in the city. Fire […]

Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer, respected jurors for the World Car Awards, come together with fellow automotive journalists from around the world for an in-depth conversation about cars, global trends, and the forces shaping the auto industry in their respective countries. In this special episode, they are joined by an […]

Trump invalidates unsigned actions, triggering major shift in transportation and energy strategy A Technical Ruling With National Impact A little-noticed legal question about presidential signatures has emerged as one of the most consequential developments in U.S. automotive policy in decades. President Donald Trump has declared that executive actions not personally […]

PHOENIX — Arizona, known for its wide-open highways and sun-soaked roads, may soon become the first state to offer a high-tech alternative for habitual speeders: a speed-limiting device sometimes described as a “digital ankle bracelet” for cars. State lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow drivers at risk of losing […]

Episode 10 on The Drive, our guest for this week is Henry Payne, writer for the Detroit News, cartoonist, and vintage car racer. We talk about his history as an automotive journalist, how he got into racing, and the many Teslas he’s owned. Follow us on social media: Join The […]

First, it was AM radio now it’s FM radio.  Imagine starting your car and realizing that what you can hear—or can’t hear—has already been decided for you. The same tech giants that censor your posts, curate your newsfeeds, and impact your online experience now want to control what plays through your […]

Residents Say Annual Bills Feel Like a ‘Shakedown’ Most Americans assume that once they buy a vehicle, pay sales tax, register it and keep up with required fees, their financial obligations end. But in several states, that isn’t the case. One of the clearest examples is Virginia, where residents face […]

Amazon changed the way America buys books, clothes, electronics, and groceries. Now it’s moving on the auto industry—and if you think this is just another “online shopping feature,” you’re missing the real story. Amazon isn’t dipping a toe into car sales. It’s positioning itself to become the central hub for buying new […]

America runs on diesel. From freight haulers and farm equipment to fire trucks and snowplows, diesel engines are the literal torque behind our economy. Yet the same engines that built the nation’s backbone are now in Washington’s crosshairs — strangled by layers of federal regulation that threaten the people who […]

Expanding Vehicle Surveillance Americans are increasingly being monitored on the road, not just by speed traps or red-light cameras but by Flock Safety devices—solar-powered, AI-equipped cameras now installed in neighborhoods, outside schools, near grocery stores and along major roadways nationwide. The cameras capture far more than license plates. They collect […]

Elon Musk says the next Tesla Roadster might fly. Not figuratively—literally. Imagine an all-electric supercar that hits 60 mph in under two seconds, then lifts off the pavement like something out of The Jetsons. It sounds impossible, even absurd. But during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Musk hinted that the long-delayed Tesla […]

Your driver’s license does two jobs: prove your identity and generate revenue for the state. The revenue part never reaches your Every time you renew your license, you’re not just updating your ID — you’re funding a state-run data gold mine. Across America, Departments of Motor Vehicles have quietly turned […]

A major ruling has just upended one of the cornerstone policies of the Biden administration’s electric vehicle (EV) agenda. In a decisive decision that could reshape the future of American auto regulation, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a Department of Energy (DOE) rule that critics say […]

President Donald Trump is raising the stakes for the auto industry again. Starting Nov. 1, the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on all imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks — a dramatic escalation in the administration’s effort to boost domestic manufacturing and curb reliance on foreign-built vehicles. The announcement sent […]

$10 Billion in Duties Reshape Manufacturing America’s automotive industry is undergoing one of its most dramatic realignments in decades — driven not by electric vehicles, new emissions mandates or design trends, but by tariffs.A new report from the Anderson Economic Group shows U.S. automakers have paid more than $10 billion […]

The auto industry just can’t seem to get a break. U.S. assembly plants are weeks away from shutdowns due to new chip shortage. Germany’s VDA, the lobbying group for the auto industry, warns that suppliers and automakers in Europe are also only days away from having to shut down production […]

California’s leaders spent years promising an expedited break from fossil fuels, but the state is discovering a hard truth: gasoline and diesel still underpin daily life. Even as California builds out alternatives, it continues to rely on oil. Thirteen refineries remain in operation, with only a shrinking subset still producing […]

There’s a new dynamic shaking up the auto industry — and car dealerships aren’t thrilled about it. Generation Z, the most digital generation yet, isn’t walking into showrooms unprepared. They’re bringing a secret weapon: artificial intelligence. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the latest shift in how people buy cars. Gen […]

The automotive world is bracing for a decision that could rewrite the rules of the road—literally and figuratively. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding, a policy that for more than a decade has given regulators federal and state-level authority to […]