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Drivetime
Unifying the auto industry: Data, AI, and the Keyloop vision
Season 1, Ep. 14
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This week, Jacqui sits down with Jon Clay, the Senior Product Director at Keyloop.
With a rich background in automotive, including FinTech and insurance, Jon shares his insights on how technology is transforming the industry from the inside out.
Topics Covered:
- Jon’s journey from FinTech to automotive, and the transformational impact of financial technology on the sector
- The ongoing challenge of making vehicle emission figures clearer and more accessible for consumers
- Lessons from the automotive insurance industry, including the need for exceptionally accurate data (think five sigma accuracy!)
- How Jon and the team at Keyloop are connecting systems to deliver a seamless, unified experience for retailers and customers
- An introduction to Keyloop’s Operate domain—what it is, and how it empowers automotive retailers
- Why standardisation is crucial for scaling quickly and reducing software development costs
- The evolution from Software-as-a-Service to agent-to-agent automation, and what this means for exponential industry growth
- A first look at Vega, Keyloop’s new AI-powered business intelligence solution
Tune in to hear Jon’s unique perspective on the future of automotive technology, and how Keyloop is driving innovation across the industry.
Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast dedicated to helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation.
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19. What 90% EV Adoption Looks Like: Lessons from Denmark
47:38||Season 2, Ep. 19Denmark has become one of the world's leading EV markets, with more than 90% of private new car sales now electric. But what happens when the transition becomes reality?In this episode of Drivetime, Jacqui travels to Denmark to speak with Thomas Møller Sørensen, Director of DI Automotive, the organisation representing Denmark's automotive retailers. Together they explore what dealers can learn from one of the most advanced EV markets in Europe. Thomas explains why Denmark and Norway have become the "canaries in the mine" for the EV transition, how dealers are adapting to shrinking new car margins, and why aftersales, data and customer retention will define the next era of automotive retail.They discuss:- How dealers are using used EV imports to create new revenue streams- The growing opportunity in crash repair and battery services- How AI and data can help retailers unlock missed revenue opportunities- Why dealers need access to their own data- Why Thomas believes dealer networks are here to stayAnd much more.If you're trying to understand where automotive retail is heading next, Denmark offers a glimpse into the future.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
How your car is becoming a device on wheels
16:24|This bonus episode of Drivetime — MOVE Monday — features Sven Eckoldt, Head of Global Partnerships at CARIAD, the software company behind the Volkswagen Group's software-defined vehicle strategy. Sven explains how CARIAD is helping transform some of the world's best-known automotive brands by centralising software development across the group. From intelligent navigation and AI-powered voice assistants to app stores and connected services, he shares how software is becoming as important as hardware in defining the ownership experience.The conversation explores what software-defined vehicles actually mean for drivers, why connected cars are creating entirely new partnership opportunities, and how automotive brands can create experiences that continue to evolve long after the vehicle leaves the showroom. Sven also discusses the growing role of AI, over-the-air updates, and the challenge of building customer-centric digital ecosystems inside the vehicle. Looking ahead, he shares lessons learned from launching connected services across multiple brands, explains why partnership ecosystems are critical to future vehicle experiences, and offers a glimpse into how cars are becoming personalised digital platforms that can grow throughout their lifetime.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Turning fleet data into action
19:47|This special MOVE Monday episode of Drivetime features Matt Walters and Amélie De Valroger from Arval, the world's largest fleet leasing provider. They discuss the evolving role of fleet management, the challenges of electrification, and why the future of mobility will be built on data, insight and automation. With Arval managing more than 3 million vehicles globally, Matt and Amélie share their perspective on helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex landscape. From fleet electrification and total cost of ownership to connected vehicles and software-defined mobility, they explain why today's fleet leaders need long-term strategies ratherthan short-term vehicle decisions.The conversation explores one of the event's biggest themes: connected vehicle data. Both guests argue that collecting data is no longer enough. The real opportunity lies in turning information into actionable insight and ultimately automating decisions that improve efficiency, reduce costs and simplify fleet operations. They also discuss the second wave of EV adoption, the difficulties of electrifying commercial vehicles, the role of AI in fleet management, and why advances in battery technology could unlock the next stage of the electric transition.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
18.5. AI, Consumer Law and Why Human Connection Still Matters
17:11||Season 2, Ep. 18.5In this gear change episode of Drivetime, Jacqui is joined once again by legal experts Peter Jaari and Mikko Koskinen from Lexia Attorneys to explore the practical realities of consumer law and AI regulation in automotive retail. Peter shares advice for retailers selling used vehicles, highlighting the importance of transparency, managing customer expectations, and responding quickly when issues arise. Good customer service, he argues, can prevent small complaints from becoming major disputes.Mikko demystifies the EU AI Act, explaining the difference between high-risk and low-risk AI systems, and why organisations must maintain human oversight in areas such as recruitment and credit assessments. The discussion also tackles common misconceptions around AI and consumer protection, before turning to a topic both guests believe will remain critical in the future: human connection. As technology continues to evolve, trust, relationships and personal service may become the biggest differentiators of all.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
The Human Side of Autonomous Driving
14:28|This bonus episode of Drivetime — MOVE Monday — features Avinash Balachandran, VP of Human Interactive Driving at the Toyota Research Institute, discussing what comes next for autonomy and why the future may be less about replacing drivers and more about empowering them.Drawing on more than a decade in autonomous vehicles, including time spent working on early self-driving programmes, Avinash shares how Toyota is rethinking the relationship between humans and intelligent machines. Rather than focusing solely on fully autonomous vehicles, the company is exploring how AI can work alongside drivers, helping them become safer, more confident and more capable behind the wheel.The conversation explores Toyota's philosophy of human-centred automation, where technology is designed to amplify rather than replace people. From helping teenagers become better drivers to supporting motorists in difficult conditions such as ice and heavy rain, Avinash explains how AI could deliver the benefits of autonomy without taking humans out of the equation. The discussion also looks beyond vehicles into robotics, micro-mobility and physical AI, examining why the future is likely to involve humans and machines working together rather than competing for the same role.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Why Connected Cars Need Global Standards
26:25|This bonus episode of Drivetime — MOVE Monday — features Alysia Johnson, President of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), and Ian Televik, Senior Marketing Director at the organisation. They discuss the role global standards play in making connected vehicle technology simpler, safer and more scalable. The conversation focuses on CCC Digital Key, a technology standard that allows drivers to access and start vehicles using a smartphone. Alysia and Ian explain why collaboration between automakers, device manufacturers, technology companies and suppliers is essential if connected vehicle experiences are going to work seamlessly across brands, devices and markets.They also explore the growing opportunities for fleets, car rental operators and shared mobility providers, where digital keys can transform everything from vehicle handovers to customer journeys. With more than 300 member companies and millions of vehicles already deployed, CCC is helping create a future where digital vehicle access becomes as familiar and trusted as mobile payments. The discussion looks beyond passenger vehicles too, covering software-defined fleets, micromobility, two-wheelers and the broader challenge of creating technology that simply works, regardless of the vehicle, device or location.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
18. What the EU AI Act Means For Automotive Retailers
45:52||Season 2, Ep. 18What does the EU AI Act mean for automotive retailers? And how can dealers balance growing consumer expectations with increasing regulatory scrutiny? In this episode of Drivetime, we’re joined by Peter Jaari and Mikko Koskinen from Lexia Attorneys to explore two of the biggest legal and operational challenges facing automotive retail today: consumer protection and artificial intelligence. The conversation covers the realities of used vehicle disputes, why transparency is becoming increasingly important in the sales process, and how retailers can better protect themselves through improved documentation and communication.The discussion also dives into the EU AI Act, unpacking what dealers, OEMs and lenders need to know about AI-generated content, customer data, chatbot transparency and high-risk use cases such as finance and recruitment. A practical and timely discussion on regulation, risk and responsible innovation in automotive retail.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
How GRIDSERVE is building the UK's electric freight network
17:05|This bonus MOVE Monday episode of Drivetime features Sam Clarke, Advisor and Brand Ambassador at GRIDSERVE, discussing one of the biggest challenges on theroad to net zero: electrifying heavy goods vehicles. With more than 20 years in the EV industry, Sam shares how a £62.7 million government-backed project is helping accelerate the adoption of electric HGVs across the UK. From deploying 161 electric trucks and building depot charging infrastructure to creating a nationwide public charging network, he explains what it takes to turn ambitioninto reality. The conversation explores the practical challenges of decarbonising freight, why collaboration across logistics, infrastructure and OEMs is essential, and whether technologies like hydrogen and synthetic fuels still have a role to play. It's a fascinating look at how the freight industry is tackling one of transport's toughestdecarbonisation challenges and building the infrastructure needed for the next generation of commercial mobility.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
The human side of autonomous mobility
13:59|This bonus episode of Drivetime — MOVE Monday — features Carlo Iacovini, author of The Human Side of Autonomous Mobility, discussing what it really takes to bring autonomous mobility from pilot projects into real-world operation. Drawing on 20 years working across electric mobility, shared mobility, startup scale-upsand autonomous shuttle deployments, Carlo Iacovini shares the lessons he learned while helping bring a robo-bus concept to cities around the world.The conversation explores the gap between pilots and commercial applications, the operational challenges of deploying autonomous vehicles in complex environments, and why success in the next phase of autonomous mobility will depend less on the technology alone and more on ecosystems, infrastructure and the “time of operation”.Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.