Many people shop for a used car first. They want a lower price. GM has a new plan for those shoppers. It wants to show them a new car instead. The plan is called CarBravo.
What Happened
GM said it wants to sell 250,000 cars through CarBravo in 2026. CarBravo is a website and a service from GM. It lists used cars from GM dealers. About 38 out of every 100 people who visit CarBravo end up buying a new car instead of a used one. GM shared this news on November 10, 2026.
CarBravo started in 2022. It now has 1,615 GM dealers. That is about 43 out of every 100 GM dealers in the United States. The dealers list used cars online.
- CarBravo sales goal for 2026: 250,000 cars
- Shoppers who switch to a new car: about 38%
- GM dealers using CarBravo: 1,615
- Average new car price: about $50,000
- Average three-year-old used car price: about $30,000
Why It Happened
New cars cost a lot of money. The average new car now costs about $50,000. A used car that is three years old costs about $30,000. That is a gap of about $20,000. Many shoppers pick the used car because it is cheaper.
Car loans are also hard for many people. A loan is money you borrow to buy a car, and you pay it back over time. Some shoppers take a loan for 84 months. That is seven years. A new car may have a lower interest rate. Interest is the extra money you pay to borrow money. A lower rate can make the monthly payment closer to the used car payment. Car makers are also facing rising costs, as I wrote about in Car Makers Face a Hard 2027 as Costs Rise and Sales Stay Flat.
GM also wants more people to visit its dealers. A used car listing can bring a shopper in the door. Then the dealer can show the shopper a new car. The new car may have a warranty. A warranty is a promise to fix some problems for free for a time. It may also have new safety tools.
Why It Matters
This plan matters for GM and for car buyers. GM makes more money when it sells a new car. For shoppers, the plan can mean more choice. They can see used and new cars in one place. They can compare the real cost, not just the sticker price.
Other car makers do the same thing. Ford has a used car service called Blue Advantage. Ford sold about 450,000 used cars through it in 2025. Toyota also says about 40 out of every 100 of its used car shoppers buy a new car. I also wrote about how Ford, Rivian and GM are using 3D printing to build cars faster and cheaper.
What Happens Next
GM will watch the 250,000 sales goal in 2026. It will also try to add more dealers to CarBravo. More dealers mean more used cars to list. More cars can bring in more shoppers. GM will also keep working on prices and loan offers.
Final Thoughts
CarBravo is a simple idea. Bring shoppers in with a used car. Then show them why a new car may be a good pick. The numbers so far look strong for GM. The next year will show if 250,000 sales is a goal GM can reach.
Quick Questions
What is CarBravo?
CarBravo is GM’s online service for used cars. It lists used cars from GM dealers, and it can also show shoppers new cars.
How many cars does GM want to sell through CarBravo in 2026?
GM wants to sell 250,000 cars through CarBravo in 2026.
Why do some used car shoppers buy a new car instead?
Some new cars have lower loan rates, a warranty, and new safety tools. That can make the monthly cost closer to a used car.
This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Sources: CNBC: How GM is trying to talk used car shoppers into buying new vehicles; CarBravo official website
Featured photo: The Renaissance Center in Detroit, home of General Motors, by Patricia Drury, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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