🚗 GM puts 200 eyes-off test vehicles on public roads

Howdy Fam!

Take a moment today to rewatch last year’s car giveaway at ASOTU CON 2025. It was an incredible moment and set the tone for the rest of the year.

This industry isn’t just where sales experts make their home. Or tech pros, or thought leaders. Each of those has a place, but this industry is where people who take human mobility needs personally thrive.

Every skill is useful, but the goal is always the same. Get people where they’re trying to go safely, reliably, and in style 😎

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

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Autonomous driving took two solid steps forward this week.

GM began public-road testing of its hands-free, eyes-off system in California and Michigan using 200 test vehicles, with a 2028 launch planned for the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

Zoox is pushing the robotaxi side, expanding into Austin and Miami later this year after already serving 350,000 riders and building a 500,000-person waitlist.

The big point: autonomy is moving from development to real-world rollout.

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Rising gas prices appear to be pushing more shoppers toward efficient options.

CarMax said used EV and hybrid searches rose 12.8% in March. Cox data showed 30,879 used EVs sold in February, up 28.8% year over year, while days’ supply fell to 42. Average used EV pricing dropped to $34,821, down 8.5% from a year ago.

For dealers, this is a cue to stay sharp on affordable hybrids, value-priced EVs, and customer education.

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Chinese automakers remain blocked in the U.S., but they are gaining ground nearby.

BYD plans to open 20 dealerships in Canada after tariffs on Chinese EVs fell to 6.1%, with initial imports capped at 49,000 units.

Reuters also reported that 40% of U.S. consumers support Chinese brands entering the market as new vehicle prices approach $50,000.

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European February sales rose 1.7% to 979,321 vehicles, with electrified models making up about two-thirds of registrations. Tesla rose 11.8%, while BYD more than doubled sales. Global EV competition is not slowing down.

This week’s data shows an auto market that is still moving, but with clear pockets of strength. Black Book reported wholesale prices rising +0.60% for the week ending March 21, with trucks and SUVs up +0.69% and cars up +0.34%. Auction conversion came in at 65%, down 3 percentage points week over week, which suggests buyers are still engaged but staying disciplined.

The strongest action remains in trucks, SUVs, and practical crossovers. Black Book noted that 12 of 13 truck segments in the 2 to 8-year-old range posted gains. Full-size pickups were especially strong, with 2 to 8-year-old units up +1.37% in a single week. Older compact crossovers also continued to rise, with 8 to 16-year-old units up +0.76%, marking a fifth straight week of stronger gains.

That tells us shoppers are still prioritizing usefulness, affordability, and clean inventory.

Cox Automotive points to the same spring story from another angle. Tax refunds are helping support near-term demand, with the average refund now just over $3,600, up 10.8% year over year. Manheim data showed wholesale used values up 5.3% year over year in the first half of March and 0.5% higher during the month’s first half alone.

Affordability also improved modestly in February. The average monthly payment on a new vehicle was $756, and the number of income weeks needed to buy a new vehicle fell to 35.4.

The wider economy is giving mixed signals. The Fed held rates steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, while producer prices rose 3.4% year over year and energy prices climbed 2.3%. That could create pressure in the weeks ahead.

Still, consumers have not pulled back. Reuters reports Easter spending is expected to hit a record $24.9 billion this year, up 5.5% from a year ago. For dealers, that is the big picture: shoppers are still spending, but they are spending carefully. Auto remains part of that story, especially when inventory matches what buyers want most.