ASOTU Recap - February 26th - March 1st

The ASOTU Daily Pushback email is a one-stop digest of the day's big automotive, economic, and cultural news aimed at keeping our community equipped with knowledge, connected to the industry, and encouraged to keep on moving the needle forward on remaining the best method for meeting consumer mobility needs.

As we cover the stories, we keep our finger on the pulse of retail auto by asking our readers their thoughts, opinions, or predictions regarding today's news and its impact on tomorrow.

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RECAP WEEK: FEBRUARY 26TH – MARCH 1ST

Some big stories:?

• Major automakers are challenging California's ambitious plan to cease the sale of ICE vehicles by 2035.
• The U.S. investigates whether Chinese vehicle imports, particularly "connected" and autonomous cars, pose national security risks.
• GM cancels its Compact EV Pickup plan and contemplates a Plug-in Hybrid Full-size Pickup instead.
• Volvo announced record-breaking profits in 2023, driven in large part by a remarkable EV sales surge.
• Jaguar Land Rover says they’re abandoning its fixed-price car sales plan in Europe and will continue with the traditional franchise model.

On Monday, the U.S. plays material chess, BYD undercuts with budget EVs, Tesla swings the price axe again, GM flirts with hybrids, and Hyundai-Kia fast-track to EV credits, proving the auto world's geopolitical game is all about making strategic new moves. ??

We also discuss OpenAI’s recent release, Sora, a generative AI text-to-video tool that is leaps and bounds ahead of anything we’ve seen so far. It’s so advanced, that it even has filmmaker and actor, Tyler Perry (aka Madea), taking pause.?

We asked you:

Will AI replace motion picture actors eventually??

???????????? ?? Yes

???????????? ?? Yes?

???????????? ?? No

???????????? ?? No

There was a pretty even split between “Yes” and “No,” so it looks like the jury is still out.?

But, one commenter who selected “?? Yes” pointed out the sad reality: it’ll be a “huge savings for production companies.”

Xiaomi races into EVs aiming at luxury, Europe and China eye car collaborations, Renault and MG electrify Geneva, and Volvo's EV sales hit record highs on Tuesday. ??

We also wanted to check in with our community to find out if there were any burning questions or subjects that you’ve been dying to read more about. We asked:

Have a topic that needs more attention or explanation? Hit "yes" and leave a comment!

???????????? ?? Yes

???????????? ?? No

You all overwhelmingly selected “Yes,” but we didn’t receive a single comment. So, we know you’ve got plenty on your mind – spill it! We’re seriously dying to know.

Then, on Wednesday we find that hybrids are winning hearts in Consumer Reports' 2024 picks, Toyota shines with eco-friendly options, Honda's hydrogen CR-V bets on California, and vehicle-to-grid tech promises smarter energy use. We also take our first dive into Will Guidara’s incredible book, “Unreasonable Hospitality.”

Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover decided to stick with traditional sales methods in Europe, while Hyundai is still causing a stir in the car buying scene due to its partnership with Amazon. Plus, we all enjoyed our 24-bonus hours for Leap Day! ??

Then Friday, Renault revs up nostalgia with the electric reboot of its classic Renault 5, and debates over EV bans and Chinese imports stir the pot. We wrap up the week with some market insights and considerations to ponder over the weekend. ??

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