Episode #1301: GM hits the road with eyes-off autonomy testing, used EV demand rises as gas prices climb, and Zoox pushes into new markets while chasing Waymo in the robotaxi race.

GM is putting its next big autonomy bet on the road. Starting this week, the automaker will test its hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 system on public highways as it races toward a 2028 launch.

GM is deploying 200 test vehicles on highways in California and Michigan, each with a safety driver ready to take over.
The system is slated to launch in 2028 on the Cadillac Escalade IQ, with plans to expand quickly to other EVs and eventually mainstream gas vehicles.
GM says it has already mapped more than 1 million miles of roads in 34 states over the last six months to strengthen the system’s perception and planning.
GM CFO Paul Jacobson said, “It will start a little bit slow because it’s only going to be on one model, but we want to make sure we get the integration work done and fully integrated into the vehicles, and you’ll see it expand pretty rapidly after that.”

Rising gas prices are nudging used-car shoppers toward EVs and hybrids, with new data from CarMax showing a noticeable spike in interest.

CarMax reports a 12.8% increase in searches for used EVs and hybrids in early March, signaling a shift tied to rising fuel costs.
Used EV sales are gaining momentum, up 28.8% year-over-year in February, while inventory is tightening and days’ supply is dropping.
Prices are becoming more competitive, with used EVs averaging $34,821—just $1,334 more than ICE vehicles, and cheaper across many brands.
Cox Automotive’s Stephanie Valdez-Streaty said, “February underscored the EV market’s new reality…highlighting a market increasingly driven by affordability and demand alignment.”

Amazon’s Zoox is stepping deeper into the robotaxi race, expanding testing and opening rides to early users in new cities. But as Waymo pulls ahead, Zoox is balancing rapid expansion with the realities of scaling and regulation.

Zoox plans to launch early robotaxi access in Austin and Miami, starting with employees before opening a public waitlist through its Explorer program.
The company’s purpose-built, steering wheel-free vehicles are already operating in Las Vegas and San Francisco, serving 350,000 riders to date.
Zoox has yet to launch a paid robotaxi service, offering free rides so far as it builds scale, gathers data, and awaits regulatory approval to begin charging customers.
The company is still awaiting federal approval to scale up to 2,500 vehicles for commercial use on public roads.
CEO Aicha Evans said, “This is a long journey. It’s not like you wake up tomorrow and there’s going to be a million robotaxis everywhere.”

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