Drivetime

We’re hitting the road this week to bring you a bonus edition of Drivetime, recorded live at the 2025 EV summit in Oxford, UK.Jacqui grabbed ten minutes with many of the guest speakers at the event – and what a lineup it was!From charging infrastructure to consumer insight, this episode is packed with sharp perspectives from some of the most influential voices in the EV space.Guests include:- Steve Catlin – Managing Director at Vauxhall- Jade Edwards - Head of Insight at ZapMap- Kate Jeffreys - Head of Partnerships at OVO- Ginny Buckley - Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com- Sara Sloman - Chief Strategy Officer at PaythruDrivetime is the global auto tech podcast designed to help you navigate the fast-moving world ofautomotive innovation.

It’s gear change time as Jacqui Barker reconnects with Dominique Kleeman and Jacob Sullivan from TekCor4 for a practical, myth-busting episode.  This time, the focus shifts from strategy to action, offering retailers and OEMs hands-on advice on how to make the most of their data, embrace AI, and build confidence in tech adoption. They discuss: Why tracking the origin and transformation of your data matters, and how to do it. How providers can better support retailers in understanding what they’re buying and how it works. Why AI isn’t just for engineers – business users can now build powerful tools with ease. Real-world AI wins: From CRM reporting to building websites in minutes Predictions on how AI will reshape customer experiences, technician workflows, and dealership operations. Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation. 

In this episode of Drivetime, Jacqui Barker is joined by Dominique Kleeman (Chief Revenue Officer) and Jacob Sullivan (Chief Product & Technology Officer) from TekCor4.  Together, they explore how data, AI, and machine learning are transforming the automotive aftersales landscape, helping dealerships and OEMs drive customer loyalty, optimise workshop operations, and prepare for the future of connected vehicles. Topics include:  How legacy data is being restructured to deliver predictive insights. Using service regimes, invoice data, and connected car metrics to keep workshops full and customers loyal. Challenges in the UK Market: Fragmented tech stacks, outdated KPIs, and the need for better data integration. Empowering retailers and technicians with tech that supports—not replaces—human expertise. The role of AI in simplifying decision-making, optimising service plans, and adapting to EV mandates and market shifts. This is a great conversation, packed with insight throughout.  Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast, helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation.  

In this lighter, fast-paced Gear Change edition, Jacqui Barker reconnects with Andy Barratt to unpack the rapid transformation of the Middle East automotive market. From the explosion of Chinese OEMs to the urgent need for CRM innovation and strategic thinking, Andy shares practical tips and personal reflections. The episode also explores how tech, data, and customer experience are reshaping the industry, and ends with a fun dive into Andy’s dream road trip and playlist picks. The conversation covers:The Middle East’s shift from brand loyalty to customer empowermentHow dealers can build future-proof ecosystems and leverage CRMThe power of connected vehicle data and predictive servicingWhy consumers are buying technology and convenience, not just carsThe role of WhatsApp, social media, and mobile-first experiencesPlaylist picks: David Gray, Josh Groban, and Harry Styles 

In this special Middle East-focused episode, Jacqui Barker sits down with Andy Barratt, former Chair of Ford UK and now a leading voice in Middle Eastern automotive trends. Andy shares his unique journey from finance apprentice to CEO at Ford, as well as his current work across the Middle East, offering insights from his LinkedIn newsletter, Middle East Auto Insight. The conversation explores the rapid evolution of the region’s automotive landscape, the rise of Chinese OEMs, the importance of strategic thinking, and the critical role of data and digital transformation. Key topics include:The Middle East’s automotive boom and regional differencesStrategic challenges for retailers and distributors in the regionThe importance of CRM, data, and digital tools in modern auto retailEV adoption trends and infrastructure challengesCommercial vehicle innovation and last-mile deliveryThe role of social media and TikTok in car salesTalent gaps and the need for fresh thinking in the Middle East auto sectorDrivetime is the global auto tech podcast designed to help you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation.

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 sectorThe ongoing challenge of making vehicle emission figures clearer and more accessible for consumersLessons 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 customersAn introduction to Keyloop’s Operate domain—what it is, and how it empowers automotive retailersWhy standardisation is crucial for scaling quickly and reducing software development costsThe evolution from Software-as-a-Service to agent-to-agent automation, and what this means for exponential industry growthA 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.

Jane Smith returns for this week’s Gear Change episode of Drivetime. Jane is the Field Chief Data & AI Officer for EMEA at ThoughtSpot – the world’s leading agentic analytics platform. In just 13 minutes, she shares practical insights you can put to work today, including:Why you don’t need a specialist team to access your dataThe one data point most dealerships overlook (and shouldn’t)Simple steps to start unlocking value from your data nowHow Keyloop and ThoughtSpot are partnering to power auto retailer intelligencePreparing for the agentic AI futureTwo free resources to level up your AI educationDrivetime is the global auto tech podcast helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation.

This week on Drivetime, we’re joined by Jane Smith, Field Chief Data & AI Officer for EMEA at ThoughtSpot, the world’s leading agentic analytics platform. Jane brings her expertise to unpack how AI is transforming the way organisations connect with and act on their data.In this episode, we explore:How the role of Data & AI leaders has evolved in recent yearsThe power of conversational analytics for unlocking insightsHow data analytics played a surprising role in keeping Taylor Swift concerts safeHow ThoughtSpot uses “tokenised search” to boost data accuracyThe benefits of integrating world data into your systemsThree things every retailer should prioritise in their AI strategyDrivetime is the global auto tech podcast helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation.