Category Archives: safety

Chinese Junk Watch: Walmart’s Dimensions Bluetooth Speaker Helmets

The helmets are black with black straps and a black buckle. The white label on the inside of the helmet contains the Item # ACTGEAR-238BTS in the bottom left corner. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled helmets and contact Sakar for instructions on receiving a free replacement helmet. Continue reading

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Hagerty International Offers UK Track Insurance

“Many of our clients enjoy participating in motorsport using classic and collectible vehicles, ranging from club-level track days to organized classic racing events such as Goodwood Revival…. we know our clients will enjoy our new range of products, and our specialist team is ready and waiting to discuss their individual needs,” said Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International. Continue reading

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Mercedes EQS Sedan Valet Parks Itself in Los Angeles

“The demonstration… showcases how automated valet parking will operate in a working hotel environment where both automated and non-automated vehicles operate alongside pedestrian traffic,” said Dr. Kay Stepper, senior vice president of automated driving and driver assistance for Bosch in North America. “This allows us to dive into the dynamics of local deployments with the use of a highly-connected EQS from Mercedes-EQ to demonstrate how automated technology continues to move forward,” Stepper said. If all doesn’t go well? That’s the way the Mercedes Bends… Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 160,000 F-150 Pickups for Bad Wipers

The front windshield wiper motor made by Trico in Mexico may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. An inoperative wiper motor has the potential for reduced visibility or loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. In the require NHTSA filing Ford said, “The primary causal factors that led to inoperative or poorly performing wipers were poor quality motor brush plate spot welding, insufficient motor magnet adhesive being applied, and insufficient motor nut assembly torque. Continue reading

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Autonomous – GM Ups Stake in Cruise and Buys out Softbank

Cruise has made self-driving cars a reality and is arguably the leader on the pathway to commercial autonomous ridesharing and delivery, creating significant value for both GM shareholders and Cruise’s minority shareholders. Since Cruise was founded in 2013, it has run more than 2 million autonomous miles in California. It has 300+ all-electric AVs on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix. Funding is more than $9 billion with ~1900 employees, with a market valuation of, gulp, +$30 billion. Continue reading

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Hyundai, Kia Recall 2022 Seat Belts for Shrapnel Explosions

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America are recalling seat belts because during a crash the front passenger-side seat-belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment sending metal fragments into the interior. The actual incident that remains under investigation occurred in February … Continue reading

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Cruise CEO – It Will Be Hard to Sell a Car That Isn’t Self-Driving

The challenges are the cost of the technology that works and customer satisfaction – make the riders happy. Cruise is 6 weeks into dozens of driverless vehicles on the roads. The technology is scalable from two cities, to three, to 20 to… exponential growth. Hence the capital market interests. Continue reading

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PG&E and GM to Test EVs as Power Source when Grid Fails

EVs, of course, play a critical role in achieving California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and already provide customers with many benefits. Bidirectional charging capabilities add even further value by improving electric resiliency and reliability. PG&E, of course, is beleaguered by civil and criminal lawsuits for its corporate actions and neglect that, among other things, ignited the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. In 2020, PG&E pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, the largest homicide ever legally attributed to a United States corporation. Continue reading

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Tesla Recalls Model S for Bad Side Curtain Airbags

This results in an airbag that did not meet specifications. The replacement airbag was assembled with an inflator with a correct number of components that meet specifications whereas the recalled airbag was assembled with an inflator with an additional component that did not meet specifications. Continue reading

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Honda Expands Work with Renesas Electronics for ADAS

Now Honda has selected R-Car and RH850 for use in the Honda SENSING 360 omnidirectional safety and driver assistance system, which builds on the knowledge and expertise gained through research and development work on the earlier technology. The first automobile model equipped with Honda SENSING 360 is scheduled for release in China in 2022, with adoption in a broader range of models to follow. Continue reading

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Toyota Expands Customer Data Use for Insurance Savings

CAS does business with insurance carriers to provide customers with the ability to use their driving data to price their insurance “more accurately.” Drivers of Toyota vehicles interested in receiving potential insurance savings can opt in to Insure Connect, Toyota’s latest connected service. The company is also focused on creating a future of safer roads and improved driving conditions. Continue reading

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EPA, Louisiana Fine Firestone Polymers for Air Pollution

“This settlement requires Firestone to take concrete steps to reduce emissions of air pollutants from its manufacturing facility in Sulfur, Louisiana,” said Larry Starfield, Acting Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This will result in cleaner air for communities in Southwest Louisiana, particularly for communities that have suffered a historically disproportionate burden from pollution.” Continue reading

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Honda Motor to Make Sweeping Organizational Changes in April to Survive and Sustain Itself as a Mobility Company

Translation: The changes are needed to survive the electrification business, new business, and combined solution business, which will require bolstering the development of software, as well as the strengthening the development of core electrification technologies. Continue reading

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Connected Cars – State Farm and Ford to Offer UBI Coverage

Eligible 2020 Model Year and newer connected Ford and Lincoln vehicles, with the consent of the owner, can share information directly with State Farm to enable Drive Safe & Save. The more customers improve their driving behaviors, the greater the insurance discount they may obtain, the companies claim. Continue reading

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NHTSA – Consumer Alert for Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Fires

The potentially affected van production began on August 12, 2016, when production of Chrysler Pacifica PHEVs began, and ended on August 7, 2018, when 2018 MY production ended. The suspect population was determined using vehicle manufacturing records. Similar vehicles not included in this recall are not PHEVs or were built after the suspect vehicle production period. Continue reading

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