🚗 Ford Expands AI As Gas Prices Climb

Howdy Fam!

You know, we’re always gonna have naysayers. People who would be more comfortable if you cared just a little less. Caring isn’t cool after all.

But the MTC team cares about a great many things, including celebrating wins together!

Chief of Staff Michael Cirillo just crossed 700 episodes of his podcast The Dealer Playbook with a home run guest, Ashley Lopez Cavazos!

Check it here, then head over to the Dealer Playbook here.

Keep Pushing Back,
—Chris with Paul, Kyle & Kristi

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Dealers are feeling pressure from a few directions at once, and they all connect. Customers are more payment-sensitive, more comfortable shopping online, and more likely to compare every step before they buy.

CarMax is being pushed to improve digital trade-ins, pricing, and conversion. Carvana is expanding same-day delivery. The signal for dealers is clear: shoppers now expect faster appraisals, clearer pricing, and quicker fulfillment.

Automakers have leaned into higher-priced models while affordable options stay limited. Honda's cancellation of three planned U.S. EVs is another sign that brands are shifting away from expensive EV bets and toward hybrids, value, and lower-risk volume.

Cox says credit availability improved in February, but subprime share, negative equity, and longer loan terms all rose. More approvals are possible, but structure matters more than ever.

JD Power says dealer satisfaction improved, but customers still see aftermarket shops as faster and easier.

More shoppers are landing in used, digital expectations are higher, credit risk is rising, and service convenience still keeps customers loyal.

There’s a lot more on these stories and a way to break this down for your customers, too. We put together a quick AI prompt to help. Grab it here.

Ford rolled out a new Ford Pro AI system aimed at its commercial customers. It analyzes more than 1B data points from connected vehicles each day to track vehicle health, optimize routes, and reduce downtime as Ford grows software and services around its fleet business.

Nissan, Uber, and self-driving tech company Wayve plan to launch a robotaxi pilot in Tokyo by late 2026 using Nissan Leaf EVs. The vehicles will run through Uber’s platform and start with safety drivers onboard while the companies test real-world autonomous ride-hailing.

One more thing your customers are likely hearing today. As global tensions push U.S. gas prices past $3.50 per gallon, Edmunds says searches for EVs and hybrids have climbed to 22.4% of vehicle shopping searches. When fuel costs jump, shoppers start asking more questions about efficiency, hybrids, and long-term fuel costs.