Shoot us a Text.

We’re rolling into the big conversations at the 2025 Public Policy Day, where industry leaders and lawmakers shape the future of auto. Plus, CVS is testing a new app feature to unlock products, and Tesla inches toward unsupervised self-driving—though Elon says don’t get too excited just yet. 

Show Notes with links:

• The press stage is set at ready to go at the 2025 Public Policy Day 
  hosted by WANADA. 
  • The 2025 Public Policy Day at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show on January 30 features key industry leaders and policymakers. The day kicks off with a networking lunch, followed by opening remarks from John O’Donnell and a keynote discussion with Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Devon Haynie (U.S. News & World Report).
  • Highlights include vehicle reveals from Stellantis (Dodge Charger Daytona, Jeep Wagoneer S) and Nissan (2025 Murano), plus an Aston Martin Vanquish presentation by Bouch Siaf. A fireside chat features Todd Inman (NTSB) and Dave Shepardson (Reuters), while Alex Kwanten presents the Best Cars for the Money Awards.
  • Industry roundtables cover consumer insights (featuring Thomas Castriota, Paul J Daly) and tax/trade policy (Jennifer Safavian, Cody Lusk, Bill Long). The event closes with Michael Cottone (Volvo) and John Bozzella (Alliance for Automotive Innovation).
  • The day concludes with an exclusive Sneak Peek Reception of the Auto Show, presented by Events DC.
    
    
    
• Elon Musk recently announced that Tesla has initiated "unsupervised self-driving" at its Fremont factory. However, this development is currently limited to vehicles autonomously navigating within the factory premises.
  • Tesla released a video showing cars driving themselves from the production line to loading docks without human intervention.
  • This internal application covers a 1.2-mile route on private factory roads at low speeds.
  • Musk has previously set ambitious timelines for unsupervised self-driving, including a driverless cross-country trip by 2018, which have not been met.
  • The current implementation is a step forward but remains far from the full autonomous driving capabilities promised to consumers.
  • Musk's latest projection targets unsupervised self-driving in California and Texas by the second quarter of 2025.
    
    
    
• CVS is piloting a new feature in its app that allows customers to unlock anti-theft cabinets themselves, aiming to enhance the shopping experience.
  • The feature is currently being tested in three New York City stores.
  • To use it, customers must be logged into the CVS app, connected to the store's Wi-Fi, and have Bluetooth enabled.
  • This initiative addresses customer frustration with locked cabinets, which, while deterring theft, often inconvenience shoppers.
  • CVS plans to expand the test to 10 to 15 additional stores, including locations on the West Coast.
  • "People really, really dislike locked cabinets," said Tilak Man

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.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/