Trump Meets Barra, Tesla Searches Plunge, Back To (Onsite) Work

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As we wind down another week, we’re talking about the meeting between President Trump and GM CEO Mary Barra at the White House discussing American manufacturing. Plus, we look at February market insights from Cars Commerce and see how far the pendulum has swung away from remote work.

Show Notes with links:

• President Donald Trump met with General Motors CEO Mary Barra at the White House to discuss the automaker's commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The meeting, which took place amid ongoing industry discussions about domestic investment and job creation, highlighted GM’s plans to expand its U.S. operations.
  • GM has signaled plans to invest $60 billion in U.S. manufacturing and production.
  • Trump and Barra discussed ways to enhance domestic auto production and bring more assembly jobs to the U.S.
  • The meeting follows recent discussions with Ford CEO Jim Farley and Stellantis Chairman John Elkann on industry-wide investments.
  • Automakers are seeking policy stability on tariffs and vehicle emissions before making major long-term commitments.
  • Trump praised GM's efforts and a GM spokesperson reaffirmed their support: “We share President Trump’s goals of a strong and competitive American manufacturing base.”

• The February 2025 Industry Insights Report by Cars Commerce highlights how potential tariffs are affecting car shoppers in the midst of slowing demand and rising new car inventory.
  • As tariff threats began, between February 16 and 22, searches on car-shopping website Cars.com jumped 9% from the previous week.
  • 52.1% of new inventory vehicles had their final assembly in the U.S. Meanwhile, 18.3% were assembled in Mexico, 4.0% were assembled in Canada, and 1.4% were assembled in China.
  • New car inventory is up 8% YoY, but trends split: Ford (+24%), Hyundai, Chevrolet, Kia and Honda expanded supply, while Dodge (-70%), Jeep, Lexus, RAM, and Volkswagen pulled back.
  • The used EV market is growing, with nearly 20 more models available YoY. Used Non-Tesla EV searches are up 25% YoY, while used Tesla searches have declined 8% YoY and 16% MoM

• Five years after the pandemic reshaped the workplace, remote work is steadily declining while hybrid and onsite arrangements gain ground.
  • In late 2020, 46% of workers were fully remote; today, that number has dropped to 26%.
  • Hybrid work has grown from 12% to 16%, but onsite work still dominates at 55%.
  • Companies are shifting back to in-person work, citing collaboration, culture, and productivity.
  • The future of work remains flexibility-driven, but traditional office setups are making a comeback.

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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