The AI Boom Is About to Make Cars Even More Expensive
Modern vehicles are increasingly reliant on advanced computing hardware and memory to power integrated screens and AI-driven features. This trend, coupled with a global shortage of RAM driven by AI data center demand, is expected to significantly increase the average cost of new cars.
Why it matters
The integration of consumer-grade computing into automotive manufacturing creates a supply chain conflict that threatens to make personal transportation less affordable for the average consumer.
Prepare yourself for an average sticker price of $60,000.
Illustration by Alisa Gao / The Atlantic August 19, 2026, 4:22 PM ET Share Save New drivers may never have to learn how to parallel park. At least not the old-fashioned way. Many new cars—a Ford Mustang Mach-E, a BMW sedan, a Tesla Cybertruck—will just maneuver into a spot for you with a click of a button. Even a decade-old Toyota Corolla has a backup camera and pedestrian detection. Cars that leave you to park all on your own are a dying breed: Any car manufactured after April 30, 2018, for sale in the United States is legally required to have a backup camera and, thus, a screen.
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