Oprah Winfrey Gives Pontiac G6 to Each Member of her Audience
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey celebrated the premiere of her 19th season on September 13 by surprising each of her 276 audience members with a new car.
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey celebrated the premiere of her 19th season on September 13 by surprising each of her 276 audience members with a new car. "We're calling this our wildest dream season, because this year on the Oprah show, no dream is too wild, no surprise too impossible to pull off," Winfrey said. Making sure the audience was kept in suspense, Winfrey opened the show by calling 11 audience members onto the stage. She gave each of them a car - a Pontiac G6. She then had gift boxes distributed to the rest of the audience and said one of the boxes contained keys to a twelfth car. But when the audience members opened the boxes, each had a set of keys. "Everybody gets a car! Everybody gets a car! Everybody gets a car!" Winfrey yelled as she jumped up and down on the stage. The audience members screamed, cried and hugged each other - then followed Winfrey out to the parking lot of her Harpo Studios to see their Pontiacs, all decorated with giant red bows. Winfrey said the audience members were chosen because their friends or family had written to the show about their need for a new car. One woman's young son said she drove a car that "looks like she got into a gunfight"; another couple had almost 400,000 miles on their two vehicles.
More Operations

90% Use Telematics. Are Fleets Getting Safer? | AF News Recap
This week, we're breaking down which industries have the highest rates, how Jamie McKay manages 2,400 vehicles, what's happening with the 2027 fleet awards, and why software-defined vehicles could introduce new costs.
Read More →
What's Best Handled by an FMC, and What's Better Done Directly?
Fleet managers continue to rely on FMCs for essential services but are taking a closer look at where working directly with suppliers can improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Erin Gilchrist
Meet Erin Gilchrist, the inaugural Mike Antich Spirit of Fleet Award winner, as she shares insights on leadership, mentorship, the power of industry connections, and why people remain at the heart of fleet's future.
Read More →
How 2026 Fleet Visionary Jamie McKay Manages 2,400 Vehicles Across 37 States
How do you keep 2,400 vehicles running across 37 states? Fleet Visionary Award winner Jamie McKay shares how collaboration, flexibility, and a few simple strategies help her tackle fleet management challenges at Aptive Pest Control.
Read More →
Managing Fleet Costs in an Era of Permanent Volatility
Fleet operating costs have risen more than 20% since 2020, raising a key question: When does extending a vehicle's service life stop making financial sense?
Read More →
The Next Evolution of Fleet Management: Autonomous Operations
This opening keynote session at the Fleet Forward Conference highlights the future of autonomous driving for fleets.
Read More →
How to Reduce the Total Cost of Risk From Catalytic Converter Theft
A stolen catalytic converter can cost fleets far more in downtime and lost productivity than in repairs. A total-cost-of-risk approach can help fleet managers quantify their exposure and prioritize theft prevention.
Read More →
Personal-Use Charges Rise as Vehicle Values Fall | AF News Recap
Personal-use charges are climbing, wholesale used-vehicle values are declining, and commercial fleet sales growth is slowing. This week, we're breaking down the latest fleet data, plus how Element Fleet Management is helping Waymo prepare for its first Canadian robotaxi market.
Read More →
Here's When You Should Make an Exception to Fleet Policy
Fleet policies are designed to create consistency, but not every driver or situation fits neatly within standard rules.
Read More →
AI-Native or AI-Acquired: What Should Fleet Managers Look for in an AI Platform?
Six questions can help fleet managers look beyond AI marketing claims to evaluate integration, data access, and real-world operational performance.
Read More →
