Unable to store selected Picker value in SwiftUI

I have a simple SwiftUI view with a Picker containing a list of objects from a data array. The Picker lists the objects just fine, but the selected value is not being saved to the binding variable $selectedCar. It returns empty string. This is the view in question:

struct GarageSpace: View { var currentUserID: String @Environment(\.presentationMode) var presentationMode @Binding var selectedPlaceID: String @Binding var selectedPlaceName: String @Binding var selectedPlaceDate: Date @Binding var selectedSpaceID: String @State var selectedCar: String @Binding var cars: CarArrayObject var body: some View { VStack{ Group{ Picker("Car", selection: $selectedCar) { if let cars = cars{ ForEach(cars.dataArray, id: \.self) {car in let year = car.year! as String let make = car.make as String let model = car.model! as String let string = year + " " + make + " " + model Text(string) //displays correctly in Picker } } } Spacer() if let cars = cars { Button { print("yes") print(selectedCar) //returns empty string } label: { Text("Confirm") } } } } } } 

The above view is displayed via a NavigationLink on the previous screen:

NavigationLink(destination: GarageSpace(currentUserID: currentUserID, selectedPlaceID: $selectedPlaceID, selectedPlaceName: $selectedPlaceName, selectedPlaceDate: $selectedPlaceDate, selectedSpaceID: $selectedSpaceID, selectedCar: "", cars: $cars)) { } 

This NavigationLink might be the culprit because I'm sending an empty string for selectedCar. However, it forces me to initialize a value with the NavigationLink.

Any ideas? Thanks!

EDIT: Added a tag of type String, still same outcome:

Text(string).tag(car.carID) 

EDIT: FOUND THE ISSUE! However, I'm still stumped. The selection variable is empty because I wasn't pressing on the Picker since I only had one item in the array. How can I get the Picker to "select" an item if it's the only one in the array by default?