andrew, Author at Carmigo

F1 Hits the Las Vegas Strip

April 11, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

April 11, 2022

F1 Hits the Las Vegas Strip

F1 to speed through the streets of Sin City next year.

After four decades, F1 is finally returning to Las Vegas, and the track looks dope!

Our marketing strategist, Austin Hille, actually drove a racecar on a racetrack in Las Vegas. So he’s basically an F1 driver at this point. He can’t stop talking about this race.

In fact, yesterday’s marketing plan was, “Did you know they go so fast that their tires don’t generate enough grip if the car is going below 100 miles per hour? That’s literally the definition of built for speed.”

Look at This Track

The track design for Las Vegas will run down the actual Las Vegas Boulevard, which reminds us of the street course in Monoco (think Iron Man 2).

The track announced for the 2023 F1 race in Las Vegas features a straightaway that will send drivers flying down the iconic strip.

Drivers will take 50 laps around the track 3.8-mile track that will send drivers flying past all of the city’s neon landmarks.

For anyone interested in F1’s history in the US, Autoblog did a great job summarizing it.

The Most F1 City in America

This is the third US stop on the circuit, and if there was ever a city built to host an F1 race… well it’s Miami. But Vegas is definitely the second-most F1 city in America.

Speaking of Miami, the premier racing circuit will make its debut in the Magic City next month (tickets sold out in one day). F1 has also raced in Austin, Texas for the last 10 years.

Three races don’t seem like very many, but no other country hosts more than two in a single season.

Additionally, races in Mexico City and Montreal will bring F1 racers to North America five times in 2023.

EV Models Galore: Everyone Announced EVs in March

April 8, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

April 8, 2022

EV Models Galore: Everyone Announced EVs in March

And some of these EV models look like spaceships

It feels like new EV models are announced every single day. There are so many we can barely keep up.

Thankfully Car and Driver put together a list of something like 60 EV models we can expect to see in the next five years, and it doesn’t even include some of the announcements made in the last month.

And even though that list was published this year, it’s missing a ton of new EVs.

There were at least a dozen new EV models announced in the last month or so. Here are a few we’re excited about:

Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me you built an EV?

For instance, DeLorean tweeted a teaser for a new EV earlier this week.

Let’s clear things up a bit. The next generation of DeLorean is coming into focus August 18, 2022. For more information read the press release here: https://t.co/Q4Rax2aBC1 #DeLorean #DeloreanEVolved #firstlook pic.twitter.com/H0t0i4ODqv
— DeLorean Motor Company (@deloreanmotorco) April 4, 2022

The car is slated to be on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 21. But according to this tweet, the new DeLorean will officially be unveiled three days earlier.

Honda has been busy.

Honda announced partnerships to make both high-end and affordable EVs.

And they’ve teamed up with GM to create EVs for people currently priced out of the growing market. The new project aims to develop a line of compact crossovers that retail for under $30,000.

And the Japanese automaker is also partnering with Sony to create a much more expensive line of electric cars for those who enjoy the finer things in life.

But that’s not all (for the luxury EV models).

Maserati, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes-Benz have all entered the chat.

The Rolls Royce, which was announced last year, completed winter testing a few miles south of the arctic circle last month.

Meanwhile, Maserati announced its line of EVs called Folgore (Italian for lightning).

And Mercedes-Benz teased the unveiling of its EQS, the first SUV in its EV stable.

What Do These EVs Mean for You?

The more the market transitions to Electric Vehicles, the more EVs we’ll see on the resale market, meaning they’ll begin to be even more affordable.

At the same time, it’s good to see auto manufacturers innovating on both the economy and luxury ends of the spectrum. Making the latest technology available to all is key to innovation.

But the changing EV landscape isn’t just for EV enthusiasts. As automakers switch production lines to electric vehicles, we suspect the demand for used combustion engine vehicles will continue to tick up. And as we all know, reduced supply and increased demand drive prices up.

Take good care of that combustion engine and it could make you some serious money one day. When you’re ready to sell, give us a chance to sell it for you.

Tupelo Auto Online Startup Aims to Stem ‘Brain Drain’ by Selling Used Cars

April 8, 2022June 17, 2022 by andrewin PressLeave a Comment

April 8, 2022

Tupelo Auto Online Startup Aims to Stem ‘Brain Drain’ by Selling Used Cars

By Kayode Brown | April 7, 2022 –

Carmigo Founder and CEO Andrew Warmath got the idea for starting his Tupelo-based company during the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for used cars increased because of the virus’ impact on the economy and, especially, on vehicle manufacturing, with factories shutting down.

His business allows owners to sell their used cars to the highest bidder among various auto dealerships. “Right when the pandemic first started, everything just shut down,” he said in a March 15, 2022, Zoom interview. “Most (auto) retail (outlets) were shut down overnight, but a few weeks later, the faucet turned back on, and traditional supply for cars was shut off while demand exploded.”

“So dealerships were looking all over for different sources of inventory, and we were having trouble finding it,” he added. Barnes Crossing Auto Group, the company for which he worked the time as chief financial officer, experienced the same need.

Now with about 30 employees, most of them in Mississippi, a big part of Warmath’s focus is offering employment in the Magnolia State to combat brain drain, he says.

Read the full Mississippi Free Press article here.

Tesla Is on Fire, Breaking Delivery Records Again

April 5, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

April 5, 2022

Tesla Is on Fire, Breaking Delivery Records Again

Shutdowns and supply-chain issues can’t slow Tesla

Tesla produced more than 305,000 cars and delivered more than 310,000 during the first quarter of 2022. And the company achieved these numbers despite COVID outbreaks forcing two extended shutdowns at its Gigafactory in Shanghai. The factory performs final assembly of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

What Does This Mean For You?

We would normally say global supply and distribution issues would slow Tesla’s efforts to deliver the cars it’s selling, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Tesla produced about 500 cars this quarter compared with the last quarter of 2021. That doesn’t seem like a large enough production reduction to cause alarms.

And if you’re a Tesla owner thinking about jumping ship, this could be a great time to sell your car. We even know where you can get bids from a network of dealers instead of one trade-in offer.

Will Tesla Ever Slow Down?

These first-quarter numbers are even more impressive when compared to the same last year. In Q1 2021 Tesla made 180,338 cars and delivered 184,800.

Fred Lambert at Electrek said the next quarter will be another interesting one. The company will likely face similar shutdowns and supply problems, but Lambert said, “Otherwise, Tesla would be well-positioned to grow significantly during the current quarter as it ramps up Gigafactory Berlin and Texas.”

How Does Tesla Stack Up?

The country’s largest automaker (GM) delivered fewer than 500 EVs in the first three months of 2022. Hyundai is the only company that reported EV sales growth in the US this past quarter.

Green Car Reports also reported sales decreases by Audi and Kia, while BMW hasn’t even begun shipping its iX and i4 EVs.

US Postal Service Doubles Electric Delivery Vehicle Order

April 5, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

April 5, 2022

US Postal Service Doubles Electric Delivery Vehicle Order

DeJoy announced 20% of new US Postal Service vehicles will be EVs

The US Postal Service is planning to purchase more than 10,000 of these cute electric delivery vehicles as a part of its efforts to replace its aging fleet.

The US Postal Service announced it’s going to order more than 10,000 electric vehicles as a part of its larger order of 50,000 “next generation” delivery vehicles.

This announcement comes after the USPS received flak for their initial order, which included 50% fewer EVs.

US Postal Service Postmaster General on the Decision

Here’s what Louis DeJoy had to say:

“We owe it to our carriers and the communities we serve to provide safer, more efficient vehicles to fulfill our universal service obligation to deliver to 161 million addresses in all climates and topographies six days per-week.”

Why Does the USPS Need EVs?

As it stands, EVs are significantly less expensive to fuel than gas-powered vehicles, even before gas prices began skyrocketing in March. It’s no secret that the postal service is financially stressed, so any savings are welcome.

Additionally, current trucks lack safety features and don’t even have air conditioning. Add to that the fact that the aging fleet is getting costly to maintain.

The electric delivery vehicles could mean the USPS can save money on fuel and maintenance while future-proofing their vehicles.

And since many postal routes are short, the USPS doesn’t need its delivery trucks to go very far between charges. That gives it a little more flexibility than other logistics and transportation organizations

Charging Stations of the Future Look Like Apple Stores

April 4, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

April 4, 2022

Charging Stations of the Future Look Like Apple Stores

New EV Charging Stations from Electrify America Designed for Comfort

Electrify America announced new “Human-Centered” EV charging stations and the fueling stations of the future look like… well gas stations.

Electrify America is calling their new EV charging stations a “customer oasis.” Quite frankly, they do seem like a nice place to spend 30 minutes while you charge up your monstrous F-150 Lightning.

Follow this link to see Electrify America’s lookbook for the new concept. All joking aside, they look like a very chill place to charge a car.

The EV Charging Stations

Here’s what else Electrify America’s press release said about the new concept:

Providing a more inviting transition to an electric vehicle lifestyle from a traditional gas station
Adding solar canopies, waiting areas, and other customer services at select locations
Introducing technology and design enhancements to its next-generation ultra-fast charger
Expanding onsite battery storage systems to more than 150 stations

The retail spaces will be designed to accommodate waiting travelers in safe, comfortable, and well-lit spaces.

The customer lounges should be well-received, at least until recharge times are shorter. Currently, charging takes at least 30 minutes, though industry experts think it will reach 10 minutes.

Electrify America’s Plan

One of Electrify America’s next-generation EV charging stations. The company recently announced plans to make the pumps smaller and even easier to use.

In addition to the customer-focused amenities, Electrify America said it intends to increase battery capacity at 150 stations around the country to make the process more efficient.

And the solar panel awnings will do a lot more than simply provide shade to customers. The panels should help stations produce power themselves, store it on-site, and reduce strain on the energy grid.

The company said they’re also working to make the actual charging stations (think gas pumps) easier to use.

The EV Charging Future

Cross-country EV road trips aren’t easy to pull off with the disjointed charging infrastructure. But, now Electrify America is stepping in to some of the gaps in the current system.

The Biden administration and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have been clear about their plans to strengthen the electric infrastructure. They’ve been especially bullish on EV charging stations.

Biden has outlined a plan to have 500,000 EV charging stations in the US.

As of now the future of EVs is unclear. But Electrify America has given us a glimpse into what it will look like in the short term.

Electrek has some more details on the plan, which includes rollouts in markets in California and New York this year and next.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Is a Monster — and it Is Going Places

March 31, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

March 31, 2022

The Ford F-150 Lightning Is a Monster — and it Is Going Places

The New F-150 EV Truck Hauls Tons in Extreme Heat and Goes 300+ Miles on a Charge

The more we hear about the new Ford F-150 Lightning, the more we want to get behind the wheel. We would normally say peak under the hood, but there’s nothing there (seriously, they’re calling it a “frunk”).

This Truck Is Powerful

This truck hauled a 10,000 load up the steep and frigid Ike Gauntlet in the snow. And then it hauled the same load across the sweltering Davis Dam which rises 3,000 feet in 11 miles.

It feels like just yesterday when everyone thought an electric engine was no match for good-‘ole American combustion engines. But here we are — the most capable truck on the market might soon be an EV. We can’t wait to see the Denis Leary commercials for these trucks. “Plug into your inner tough-guy, and plug into the Ford F-150 Lightning. That’s right, lightning. Because these big tough trucks can tackle any job.”

Go the Distance in an F-150 Lightning

The new Ford F-150 Lightning can even serve as a backup power source for your house.

And don’t worry about getting stranded on a rural worksite in your loaded-down Ford F-150 Lightning. The EPA confirmed Ford’s estimated ranges and even found a few trim packages to go farther than estimated on a single charge.

The lower-tiered trims are estimated to get 230 miles and the more advanced trims should get 320 miles on a single charge.

If that don’t impress you much, the truck even serves as a power source for your house!

The future isn’t as spaceship-filled as promised, but at least the Ford F-150 Lightning feels kind of like a spaceship.

Uber Is Listing Yellow Taxis to Lower Prices

March 31, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

March 31, 2022

Uber Is Listing Yellow Taxis to Lower Prices

Soon, the very taxis Uber sought to disrupt will be available through the Uber app. “Yellow Cab” by Bert Boerma is licensed under CC BY 2.0

How the Disruptors Are Getting Disrupted

After years of fighting and bitterness between Uber and New York taxi owners and operators, the two are joining forces.

This is seriously wild. Uber, the “Uber” of ride-sharing apps, is turning to the very industry it disrupted to help fill the demand for drivers. The entire Uber story arc is based on its fight to eliminate the taxi-cab industry.

And now, they’re cutting deals with the taxi drivers of New York City, the most active battleground in the aforementioned fight, all because they can’t get enough drivers to meet demand.

What Uber’s Move Means for You?

If Uber’s plan works, fares should go down. As taxi drivers begin accepting Uber rides, the availability will go up, and surge pricing will be rarer.

As for pay, taxi drivers in New York City will be paid the Uber rate for rides accepted through the Uber app. But unlike other drivers, taxi drivers will be able to see an estimated fare before accepting the ride.

Where Are All the Uber Drivers?

Rideshare apps are experiencing a massive lack of drivers, making it feel like we’re always paying for surge pricing. The lack of drivers can be explained by a truly perfect storm, but in one word, COVID. Here are the three factors that created the storm:

PANDEMIC – When people sheltered at home in 2020, rides on the app fell off a cliff.

DELIVERY – Simultaneously, food and grocery delivery demand are skyrocketing. Drivers found themselves making more money and driving fewer miles delivering food. And groceries typically don’t barf in the backseat on the way home from the bar. Dain Evans summed it up nicely for CSNBC:

“It was a bit like a gold rush for drivers who were not able to deliver passengers during the pandemic; while Uber’s ride-sharing revenue decreased 43% between 2019 and 2020, its delivery revenue increased 179%, according to its 2020 annual earnings report.”

BAD BUSINESS – To top it all off, Uber had been notorious for undercutting its drivers ever since the startup’s new-car smell wore off. As soon as the driver’s found a better way to make money, they jumped ship and didn’t think twice.

Uber Appears to Be In It for the Long Haul

This move looks like more than just a bandaid for Uber. To list taxis on its app, Uber is integrating its tech with Curb Mobility and Creative Mobile Technologies.

They’ve already worked with the Taxi industry internationally, including in countries in Europe, East Asia, and South America. It looks like integrating their competition is the future, and honestly, the best way to save Uber’s business.

Lyft Is Joining the Party, Sort Of

Meanwhile, in Nashville, Lyft is integrating Spin’s electric scooters into its app. This move is weird for completely different reasons. It seems less like they’re offering a solution and more like they’re saying, “We’re kind of busy, why don’t you just walk.”

Our Take on Uber’s Move?

Honestly, if Carmax or Cavana started buying cars on Carmigo, we’d be stoked. Inclusivity creates more room in the marketplace and usually brings the customer added value too.

Tornado Tosses Truck, No Big Deal For Texas Teen

March 30, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Easy, Green LightLeave a Comment

March 30, 2022

Tornado Tosses Truck, No Big Deal For Texas Teen

Chevrolet replaces damaged Silverado with a brand new one

Riley Leon, a Sixteen-year-old high-schooler from Elgin, Texas, was caught in the destructive path of a Tornado. In a now-viral video, his red 2004 Chevrolet Silverado is lifted off the ground and spun around. It’s terrifying to watch, but then you see the driver speed away as if nothing happened.

Omg… just going thru my video. This is a story about a red truck and a tornado…. I CANNOT believe they drove away like that. #txwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/8h0nD88xFv
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) March 22, 2022

According to Carscoops, the “16-year-old behind the wheel shrugs and drives away like a boss.” The teen also told Fox7 Austin that he was “on his way back from a job interview at a Whataburger 10 minutes away from his home when the accident happened and is now just happy to be alive.” Thankfully Riley only sustained a few scrapes on his left arm from the ordeal. I imagine it was nightmarish to experience, but at least he is safe now.

The tornado truck survived too, kinda

KXAN Austin tracked down the truck Riley Leon was driving and the truck made it out relatively unscathed, too. The Drive reports that Chevrolet received a lot of PR from this and took it one step further. In a collaboration with Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet in Fort Worth, Riley will soon receive a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT All Star Edition in Cherry Red. This is definitely a silver lining and a new truck will definitely help the Leon family. It looks like Chevrolet is also sending the American Red Cross $50,000 to help Texas after the storm.

Chevrolet trades tornado truck for new Silverado

Chevrolet also released a statement on the viral video, “We are thankful Riley is safe, commend his driving skills during a frightening situation, and our hearts are with other families in Texas that have been affected by these storms. Due to the quick action of the team at Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet, the new truck will be presented to Riley and his family.”

Chevy taking this moment to connect with Riley and his family and also donating to Red Cross looks great for the brand. It’s always nice to see happy endings to stories like these. It’s a minor effort on Chevrolet’s part, but it’s still amazing to see large corporations go out of their way to make someone’s day better. This is a great example of not overthinking corporate social responsibility.

What’s Up? Used Car Prices and Demand

March 29, 2022May 10, 2022 by andrewin Auto, Green LightLeave a Comment

March 29, 2022

What’s Up? Used Car Prices and Demand

This May be the Time to Finally Sell Your Car.

Used car prices are on the rise, but with inventory still below pre-COVID levels, demand is still just as high.

The average used car price rose continually for the past five years, and especially so since the start of the pandemic. The over-stretched marketplace mostly caused those increases.

Let’s get in to what all that means, and more importantly, what it means for you:

Used Car Prices Are Up, Inventory Down.

Used car prices are 28% higher than they were this time last year (according to VehicleRemarket.com and Cox Automotive). In March, the average used car listing price dropped to $27,608 after topping out at $28,000 in December.

And sales are heating back up after a cool February. Used car sales were 104,000 units higher the last week in February than the week before. The February dip provided a little relief in demand, giving the marketplace 5% more used car inventory than in March 2021. But even with an uptick in inventory, used car availability is still far from reaching pre-COVID levels.

And it’s likely supply doesn’t catch up with demand any time soon. The IRS is working its way through a backlog of tax filings, having issued nearly $171 billion in refunds as of March 18. And returns that would have been spent to new cars will likely be spent on used cars due to manufacturing delays.

New Car Supply Is Lagging Behind Demand.

Many people are turning to the used car market because the demand for new cars far outpaces the current supply.

New car inventory is down for a number of reasons, beginning with manufacturing shutdowns caused by COVID. And while car manufacturers were shutting down, so were their parts suppliers. There are lots of moving gears in the supply chain, and it takes a while for them to crank back up.

For instance, Mazda shut down two Japanese factories for two days because of a lack of auto parts. This was due in large part to spiking COVID cases in China, and ultimately will result in two-fewer-days worth of Mazdas in the already depleted new car marketplace.

Plus, there is a new wrinkle in the supply chain. Just as vehicle manufacturers are reopened, many of the key parts and raw material suppliers in Europe are being disrupted by Russia’s invasion and corresponding war in Ukraine. Additionally, transportation is made increasingly difficult by the war itself and the rising fuel prices it has caused.

Here’s the cherry on top. The shortages have led to waitlists and dealerships charging well over sticker price across the country, pushing even more buyers to the used car market.

What Do Used Car Prices Mean For You?

If you’ve been thinking about selling your car, used car prices are at an all-time high and demand is only poised to go up. That means there are a lot of people willing to pay higher prices for used cars. Consider shopping around for a price, or list it on Carmigo.io and we’ll shop some prices for you.