Helium is the last thing most drivers think about until a car can’t ship because a chip can’t ship. We follow a surprising thread from helium balloons to the clean rooms where semiconductors are made, and why a strained global helium supply can raise fresh questions about automotive chip availability. If you remember the pandemic-era semiconductor shortage, this conversation makes one thing clear: the next bottleneck might come from a material most of us never associate with cars.

We break down what helium actually does inside a semiconductor fab, including how it helps purge contamination during wafer processing and supports precision steps like extreme ultraviolet lithography. Then we connect the dots to the vehicles you see on the road, from advanced driver assistance systems to EV hardware and infotainment. Because liquid helium boils off so easily, stockpiling is not simple, so logistics and semiconductor grade supply matter as much as the raw production numbers.

From there we shift into the fun stuff that keeps car people glued to the weekend: Jeff’s racing calendar with NASCAR and IndyCar, plus a few schedule notes influenced by world events. Mike brings This Week in Auto History, touching Pontiac milestones, the Oakland name that helped shape GM history, the polarizing Honda Element, and the Mustang’s legendary launch day. We also hit current headlines, including EV registration trends after tax credit changes and the update on Carroil Shelby Way at Ford.

If you like smart car talk with real-world supply chain context, listen now, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more drivers can find us. After you hear it, what surprised you most: helium in chips or how fragile “small” supplies can be?

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

---- -----
Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?

In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!

Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.
----- -----
Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.

In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:

Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.

Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/

https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime

https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime

For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at

info@inwheeltime.com