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Today, we’re talking about how used car prices are on the rise—unless you’re driving a Tesla, where values are plummeting at three times the market rate. Plus, two NASA astronauts return home after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.

Show Notes with links:

• The used-car market is heating up, with February retail sales jumping 16% month-over-month, the largest increase in years. While tax refunds are playing a role, tightening inventory—especially for budget-friendly cars—is making affordability an ongoing challenge.
  • Used-vehicle supply dropped to 2.18 million units in early March, down from 2.23 million in February.
  • Cars priced under $15,000 have only a 30-day supply—well below the 42-day industry average.
  • The average listing price for a used car in March was $25,006, slightly down from last year.
  • Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan account for over half of used-car sales, with the top 5 best-selling models listing at an average price of $23,531.
  • February CPO sales hit 203,663 units, up from January but still 3.4% lower year-over-year.

• Used Tesla prices are dropping at three times the rate of the overall used car market, raising concerns about demand for both new and used models. While the market as a whole is cooling, Tesla's brand challenges seem to be accelerating depreciation.
  • Tesla's used car prices dropped 3.7% in the last three months, compared to just 1.12% for the broader market and over the past year, Tesla’s used prices fell 7.26%, nearly triple the market average of 2.68%.
  • Over the last 90 days, the Model 3 is down 4.2%, the Model Y is down 2.9% and Cybertruck is down 11.5% and a staggering 58% YoY
  • Only the Model X saw an increase, up 1.29% in the past 30 days.

• After 9 months longer than expected, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally on their way home from the International Space Station. 
  • SpaceX launched Crew-10 on Friday, docked on Sunday, and undocked and began its journey home early this morning.
  • Originally set for an 8-day mission, their Boeing Starliner test flight faced thruster failures and delays, forcing them to stay aboard the ISS until a new crew could arrive.
  • After technical issues, scheduling setbacks, and political drama, Wilmore and Williams are set to return to Earth tomorrow evening.
  • Despite the delays, the astronauts enjoyed their extra stay in space with Williams reflecting “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space. It’s just fun, you know?”

Wilmore echoed those comments: “It’s been fun. It’s been trying at times, no doubt. But stranded? No. Stuck? No. Abandoned? No.”

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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