September 15th, 2009
CarGurus.com survey finds more than half of respondents (52%) said they have used a cell phone to read/write email or text while driving in the last 12 months.
According to a July 2009 Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study, truck drivers face a 23 times greater risk of a crash or near crash while texting than when not doing so. Given the known risks of texting and reading email while driving, it seems surprising that a majority of consumers appear to be doing exactly that.
Just last month, the Senate proposed a bill (the ALERT ACT), which would ban truck and car drivers from texting or emailing while driving. Fourteen states already have laws barring texting while driving.
“Most consumers would agree that texting and emailing while you drive is dangerous. I was surprised to see that the majority of respondents admitted to distracting themselves from driving,” remarked Langley Steinert, CEO of CarGurus.com “Clearly this is not a small problem, but rather a widespread trend.”
Popularity: 6% [?]
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
August 24th, 2009
Chevrolet Volt ad campaign take on life with catchy image
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. We’ll see.
According to GM, the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle is expected to achieve city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon, based on development testing using a draft EPA federal fuel economy methodology for labeling for plug-in electric vehicles.
The Volt, which is scheduled to start production in late 2010 as a 2011 model, is expected to travel up to 40 miles on electricity from a single battery charge and be able to extend its overall range to more than
According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, nearly eight of 10 Americans commute fewer than 40 miles a day http://tinyurl.com/U-S-DOTStudy .
Volt drivers’ actual gas-free mileage will vary depending on how far they travel and other factors, such as how much cargo or how many passengers they carry and how much the air conditioner or other accessories are used.
The Chevrolet Volt uses grid electricity as its primary source of energy to propel the car. There are two modes of operation: Electric and Extended-Range. In electric mode, the Volt will not use gasoline or produce tailpipe emissions when driving. During this primary mode of operation, the Volt is powered by electrical energy stored in its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
When the battery reaches a minimum state of charge, an engine-generator produces electricity to power the vehicle. The energy stored in the battery supplements the engine-generator when additional power is needed during heavy accelerations or on steep inclines.
GM said testing of launch vehicles begins next year.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Tags: Volt
Posted in Chevrolet | No Comments »
August 24th, 2009
Cash for Clunkers is a phrase that translates into incentives which were roundly criticized when automakers used them to spur sales. Something about pulling people into the market early and doing away with brand loyalty were mentioned.
But given the dire condition of the U.S. auto market, nary a peep has been heard about the long term impact of incentives, or cash for clunkers. And the downside was not mentioned when the National Automobile Dealers Association asked the government to suspend the cash-for-clunkers program because a survey by the group found that the $3 billion fund has been exhausted.
While the Cash for Clunkers program is coming to an end manufacturers and dealers are concerned that their business will return to pre-clunker levels. To address this concern, some of the leading U.S. Automotive Retailers are participating in a privately funded stimulus program to help consumers who were left behind by the government’s plan.
Due to the restrictions of the government’s program, over 90% of consumers were not eligible. As a result, some of the largest retailers in the country are promoting a new dealer funded stimulus program that gives consumers up to $4500 of additional trade-in value towards the purchase of a new or used vehicle.
See Program details at www.AutoStimulusPlan.com.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Posted in Auto Industry | No Comments »
August 24th, 2009
Tustin, CA (July 28, 2009) – Newly released research from Auto Pacific shows 15 percent of new car buyers in the United States say they would consider purchasing their next vehicle from China, and 11 percent would consider buying a car from India, without knowing specific brands or vehicles. This compares with 16 percent who said they would consider a vehicle from Korea, which has been marketing vehicles in the U. S. since the 1980s.
“As Hyundai and Kia have been on the American scene for decades now, it’s surprising that consideration for Chinese and Indian brands, sight unseen, would be about as strong as it is for the Korean brands,” said George Peterson, president of automotive research firm AutoPacific and author of the study. “However, with so many premium and high-tech non-automotive products already being made in China and purchased by Americans, why not automobiles too? It appears that buyers in America are willing to give Chinese and Indian vehicles a chance right out of the box.”
The study shows Chinese and Indian considerers are more likely to currently own Japanese and Korean brands, indicating that these brands may have the most competition from the new entries, rather than domestic brands like Chrysler, Ford and GM. The study also revealed that while those who would consider a car from China and India rate reliability and durability high, they are not as interested in the dynamics of a vehicle like handling, braking and acceleration.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Tags: AutoPacific
Posted in Auto Industry | No Comments »
August 24th, 2009
GM seems to be stirring -- a little -- after a brief brush with bankruptcy
GM’s OnStar is expanding on its Stolen Vehicle Assistance Services with the announcement of a new technology that will give law enforcement another critical tool to help safely and quickly recover subscribers stolen vehicles.
This new technology is called Remote Ignition Block and will allow an OnStar Advisor to send a remote signal to a subscriber’s stolen vehicle to prevent the vehicle from restarting once the ignition is turned off. This capability will not only help authorities recover stolen vehicles, but can also prevent dangerous high speed pursuits from starting.
“Remote Ignition Block is a prime example of the rapid pace of technological innovation underway at OnStar. We are developing services desired by our subscribers that deliver important societal benefits as well,” said Chet Huber, OnStar president.
Remote Ignition Block builds on OnStar’s growing suite of Stolen Vehicle Assistance services which includes GPS technology that pinpoints a stolen vehicle’s exact location and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown® which can remotely slow a stolen vehicle to idle speed.
OnStar will make Remote Ignition Block is being rolled out to select GM 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
July 23rd, 2009
The Detroit News reported that Toyota’s top executive in the United States said that the company was reviewing its entire operation here, including whether to close a factory in California and when to open a factory in Mississippi.
In an hour-long interview with reporters at Toyota’s Washington office, Yoshimi Inaba said Toyota is not profitable in North America despite cost cutting in the organization.But he said he hopes the company could be profitable in its next fiscal year in North America.
Inaba, who is president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor America and chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor Sales USA, is taking up his responsibilities at a crucial time for the Japanese automaker. Toyota’s sales have fallen 38 percent in the first six months of the year — to 770,000 cars and trucks from nearly 1.25 million vehicles in the first six months of 2008. U.S. industry auto sales fell 35 percent in the first half of the year.
When Toyota starts talking about closing plants and or not opening new ones, then times are not only tough, they’re dire.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Tags: Add new tag, Auto Companies, Toyota
Posted in Auto News | 133 Comments »
