Pre-tariff demand adds 153,000 extra sales in March, ADAS features annoying drivers, auto shows still influential

Hey everyone. Sam D’Arc just sat down with Tom Bear and Stephan Morris from Cable Dahmer Automotive—plus Frank Zombo of Auto Hauler Exchange in the latest CDG Industry Spotlight Podcast.

And they broke down:

• How a Super Bowl championship helped crack the code on interstate shipping

• Smarter used car acquisition strategy

• And the logistics edge that gives dealers room to grow…

Catch it if you haven’t: YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

— CDG

New car days’ supply on dealer lots is down three weeks since the beginning of March:

And 10 automakers have seen days’ supply drop by 30 days or more MoM—with Lincoln dropping the most (54-day decrease)

The reason? A pre-tariff buying spike.

But looking ahead… as “healthy” inventories steadily dry up—automakers will find it more difficult to hold the line on pricing.

Here’s new car availability from least available to most (new car franchised dealerships only):

(Data/graph source: Cox Auto)

And Tom says Lexus supply might be even tighter…

1. Pre-tariff ‘pull-ahead demand’ adds extra 153,000 vehicle sales in March

March saw a mad dash to dealerships—and tariffs were the main trigger.

The findings:

New data from Cloud Theory shows vehicle sales jumped 38% month-over-month, with tariff-driven panic alone fueling an extra 153,000 vehicle sales.

The issue?

This sugar high may come with a hangover. As Cloud Theory puts it, the “pull-ahead” effect could mean softer sales in the months ahead—especially if tariffs drive prices higher.

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

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2. Car tech is advancing—but demand? Not so much

Drivers are still scratching their heads at much of today’s in-car safety tech—and the data shows.

According to a study from AutoPacific:

Awareness is decent for well-known ADAS features like Auto High-Beams (76%) and Adaptive Cruise Control (67%). However, demand plummets for lesser-known or misunderstood tools.

Take monitoring tools like Speed Limit Alerts and Drowsy Driver Detection—which ranked high in visibility and usage—but also topped the charts for dissatisfaction.

The takeaway: Just installing these systems isn’t enough. Drivers want clear explanations and more control. Not tech that feels like a hall monitor.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

3. In-person auto shows still move metal—even in a digital age

Auto shows aren’t just glossy showcases—they’re shaping what (and where) people buy.

New data from the Automotive Experience Alliance shows:

• 78% of attendees said the event influenced their decision, with half switching up their consideration list after walking the floor.

• Meanwhile, 35% of attendees planned to visit a showroom post-show, and 46% of near-term buyers were ready to purchase within three months.

The kicker? 90% wanted to see a brand that wasn’t even there—hinting at just how much ground OEMs can gain (or lose) by showing up.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

• GM temporarily laying off hundreds of workers at Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck EV plant

• Study finds Trump's 25% auto tariffs could cost US automakers $108 billion

• Lucid acquires Nikola’s factory, some assets, and offer jobs to workers

• BMW considers boosting output at U.S. plant by up to 80,000 units

• Analysts trim target prices for Tesla stock, citing tariffs on auto industry

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG

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