Ryan Falor and Jason Ekelmann: How GM is merging its robotaxi venture with Super Cruise

Ryan Falor and Jason Ekelmann: How GM is merging its robotaxi venture with Super Cruise

Author: Automotive News December 21, 2025 Duration: 30:47
Ryan Falor, director of AV/ADAS data at GM, and Jason Ekelmann, manager of the advanced vehicle integration team at GM, join Automotive News reporter Lindsay VanHulle on the “Shift” podcast to talk about how the automaker is leveraging its shuttered Cruise robotaxi venture and Super Cruise hands-free driver-assist technology to build an eyes-off system for 2028. They also explain why GM is taking a nationwide testing approach and using manual data collection, simulation and supervised driving...

Shift: A podcast about mobility cuts through the hype surrounding the future of transportation. Hosted by Automotive News tech and innovation lead Pete Bigelow, each episode digs into the practical realities behind the headlines-from electric vehicles and autonomous driving to shifting ownership models and supply chain revolutions. Pete brings the authority of the industry's leading publication while maintaining a balanced, inquisitive tone, equally enthusiastic about potential and clear-eyed about pitfalls. This isn't just speculation; it's grounded analysis for professionals and curious observers who want to understand the actual forces reshaping how we move. The conversations go beyond mere announcements, examining the business strategies, technological hurdles, and societal impacts that will define the next era. As a production of Automotive News, this podcast offers direct access to the reporters and thinkers at the center of this transformation. Tune in for a nuanced exploration where optimism meets healthy skepticism, providing a essential guide to the complex world of modern mobility.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Shift: A podcast about mobility
Podcast Episodes
Bryant Walker Smith examines the state of the self-driving industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:31
The University of South Carolina professor and autonomous-driving safety expert discusses Tesla’s Cybercab rollout, Waymo’s growing operations, and how self-driving rules, regulations and laws might be shaped by upcoming…
ZEI’s John Motlow on solving hydrogen infrastructure challenges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
The chief strategy officer at Zero Emission Industries details the startup’s work in developing a suitcase-sized device that functions as a portable hydrogen fueling station. Further, he discusses ZEI’s work in pioneerin…
Sion Power’s Pam Fletcher | EV Adoption’s Loren McDonald [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:12
Pam Fletcher, a former leader at General Motors and Delta Air Lines, discusses her move to the battery startup world as CEO of Sion Power. Then Loren McDonald, CEO of analyst firm EV Adoption, provides a status report on…
Navigating the path toward developing software-defined vehicles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
False starts and missteps define the auto industry’s initial attempts to build software-defined vehicles. In this panel discussion from Automotive News Congress, experts detailed the right way to prioritize software and…