Live from the Used Car Summit in Miami, Kirsten Von Busch, Director of Product Marketing at Experian Automotive, is back on the show today to unpack what’s really happening on America’s roads (and in consumers’ heads). More specifically, we're taking a close look at how evolving consumer behavior and market trends are influencing new and used vehicle buying in the U.S. with Experian’s Q4 2025 Automotive Consumer Trends Report as our guide. SUVs are still the undisputed heavyweight champions, now grabbing over 60% of new retail sales, while traditional cars quietly lose ground. On the electrification front, the headlines may scream “EV slowdown,” but the data says otherwise: Tesla still ties for fourth overall, and the real surprise hero is the Toyota Camry Hybrid, now the top dog in electrified registrations over the last 12 months. Alternative fuel vehicles have climbed to nearly 39% of new retail registrations, as shoppers juggle gas-price pain, range anxiety, and total cost of ownership. On the marketing side, it’s a generational split-screen: Boomers buying new cars want you in their inbox while Gen Z used-car shoppers live on mobile, online, and new media like voice AI. Kirsten’s message to dealers: “Know your buyer, know what you're selling.” A used EV shopper in LA is not the same as a used truck shopper in Texas. Segment, model, and geography all demand tailored targeting. And last but not least, this episode wraps with an aggressive “Yes, No" paddle game that was interrupted by the conference xylophone and somehow covers if Bear needs a sibling and whether or not millennials over-index for used cars. Don't miss this trends report episode with Experian because this one feels more like a Miami joyride instead of homework.

_______________________________

This episode is sponsored by Experian. Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. Experian helps to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using their unique combination of data, analytics and software. Learn more here

https://www.experian.com/automotive/ev-resource-center?cmpid=EVS_for_Everyone

_______________________________

Here's the link to Experian’s Q4 2025 Automotive Consumer Trends Report

_______________________________

Connect with Kirsten on LinkedIn

_______________________________

Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

________________________

If you like your auto news with a side of legal intrigue, this one’s for you. Today, Brian Maas, President of the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) is back on the show *again* to talk lawsuits, EV reversals, and why Scout’s reservation list might be more complicated than it looks. First up, a federal court allows CNCDA’s lawsuit move forward, challenging Scout’s direct-to-consumer reservation model and pushing for sales through franchise dealers instead. Scout’s first vehicles are now pushed to 2028, but tens of thousands of consumers have already put down deposits for vehicles that aren’t here yet and might not be sold the way the law intended. Next, Sony Honda Mobility rethinks its electrification strategy, putting the brakes on the infamous Afeela while CNCDA’s lawsuit is still active. And finally, we discussed how Rivian successfully negotiated with dealers to withdraw opposition in Washington. Brian breaks down why some states let Tesla and Rivian sell directly while others don’t, and why dealers say the 125-year-old franchise system still protects local jobs, service, and competition. Ready for more? Press play for a continuation of all the legal drama in the EV world.

_______________________________

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

__________________________

Bear wants you to support his snack addiction, I mean, this show.

Shop all merch here!

https://evs4everyone-shop.fourthwall.com

_______________________________

Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

________________________

Christian Spencer, Senior Manager of Marketability at Nissan Technical Center North America joins the show today to tell us exactly what happens when you mash up EV-style performance with hybrid convenience. Nissan calls it e‑POWER, and the all-new 2027 Rogue Hybrid is bringing it to U.S. roads later this year. Driven exclusively by dual electric motors (eliminating the need for a transmission) the gasoline engine serves as a generator and provides convenient refueling. Press play on this episode to get the inside scoop on how the Rogue Hybrid delivers instant, shift-free acceleration with no transmission, why the gas engine is basically just the battery’s personal assistant, the quiet, refined, EV-like drive, and how it stacks up against hybrid heavyweights like Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR‑V. If you love new product reveals and the feeling of your hair getting blown back on acceleration, this one’s for you.

_______________________________

What is Nissan e-POWER? While most hybrid-electric vehicles in the U.S. use a parallel hybrid system, Nissan e-POWER is a next-generation series hybrid. That means two electric motors power the wheels directly, delivering instantaneous torque and quick, smooth acceleration. Meanwhile, a gasoline engine serves as a generator for the battery and motors, providing the convenient refueling that customers equate with internal-combustion vehicles. Drivers refuel just like a typical gas-powered car, there is no plug. In city and suburban driving, the gasoline engine runs infrequently, because speeds are lower and battery demand is modest. On highways or under heavy load, the engine runs more often to maintain battery charge and supply sustained electrical power. The lithium-ion battery stores energy captured through regenerative braking and from the engine, which is connected to a generator instead of a transmission. The third-generation hybrid system in the all-new Rogue, tuned for the North American market, can effectively meet the demands of a wide variety of driving environments.

_______________________________

Learn more about Nissan's Third Generation of e-POWER here.

https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY/ARCHIVE/E_POWER_GEN3/

_______________________________

Shop all EV4E merch here!

https://evs4everyone-shop.fourthwall.com

_______________________________

Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

________________________