Category Archives: safety

Hyundai Reorganizes with Executive Shakeups

Kenny Lee’s departure comes as Hyundai confronts mounting pressure to address reports about no collision engine fires in some of its vehicles. ( See AutoInforned on Center for Auto Safety Demands Recall of 2.9 Million 2011-2014 Kia and Hyundai Vehicles for Fires) Continue reading

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Volvo Cars and Nvidia Deepen Ties

The agreement deepens the existing collaboration and partnership between Volvo Cars and NVIDIA. Last year, the companies started joint development of advanced systems and software for self-driving cars. Adding advanced 360-degree perception capabilities and a driver-monitoring system, the core computer will help Volvo Cars safely introduce fully autonomous cars. Continue reading

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More Automated Driving R&D Underway at Toyota

Through this alliance, the three companies will work toward achieving “freedom of movement for all” and a “society with zero casualties from traffic accidents.” While these goals are a cliché in automated driving releases, scant evidence exists that this will happen beyond the fact that there is a lot of work underway in the area. Continue reading

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Center for Auto Safety Demands Recall of 2.9 Million 2011-2014 Kia and Hyundai Vehicles for Fires

There have been more than 220 consumer complaints regarding non-collision fires in these vehicles submitted to NHTSA and the Center for Auto Safety combined. Between June 12 and October 12, 2018, the Center learned of 103 additional fire reports, an 85% increase. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls 1.5 Million Focus Models for Bad Fuel Gages

The Ford recall announcement comes the morning after Ford Motor reported disappointing Q3 earnings which included major operational losses – Europe, China – as well as drops in market share for several regions. Consumer Reports yesterday also rated Ford Motor dependability – based on customer complaints – near the bottom of a list of all major automakers. Continue reading

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Subaru Sells One-Millionth Eyesight Driver Assist

The driver-assist technology has Pre-Collision Braking and Throttle Management; Adaptive Cruise Control; Lane Departure and Sway Warning; and Lane Keep Assist. All 2018 models equipped with Eyesight received the highest possible rating of “Superior” for front crash prevention from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Continue reading

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Chinese Junk Watch – Brookstone Wireless Speaker Fires

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Brookstone speakers and properly dispose of the lithium-ion battery packs according to state and local regulations. Continue reading

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More People Want Gun Ownership Controls Than Gun Rights!

“Overwhelming majorities of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and Democrats and Democratic leaners (89% each) say mentally ill people should be barred from buying guns. Nearly as many in both parties (86% of Democrats, 83% of Republicans) favor barring gun purchases by people on federal watch lists. And sizable majorities also favor making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks (91% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans),” according to Pew. Continue reading

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JAMA to Conduct Public Testing of Automated Driving

Ten JAMA member companies (Daihatsu Motor Co., Hino Motors, Honda Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Subaru Corporation, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.) will participate in the testing of level 3 and Level 4 self-driving vehicles. Continue reading

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Mahindra, Ford Agree on Connected Car, Powertrain Sharing

Both companies “continue to make progress on the remaining MoUs signed earlier this year. This includes leveraging their respective strengths on product development for India and emerging markets, including co-development of compact SUVs and electric vehicles.” Translation: Ford can’t afford to develop EVs on its own. Continue reading

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Chinese Junk Watch: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Warns about Unsafe Tubeez Baby Bath Support Seats, and Eddie Bauer Infant Carriers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to a product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov. Continue reading

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Dieselgate – Audi Fines of ~$1 Billion hit Porsche Guidance. Porsche is Economical with the Truth on Ongoing Risks.

Porsche rules out however a spin off ala Ferrari that could value and independent company at more than $80 billion. The remaining outstanding fraud case from the noxious diesel emissions scandal is remains ongoing in Stuttgart, where state prosecutors are investigating the role Volkswagen’s sports car brand Porsche played in the sordid diesel affair. Continue reading

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Ford Selects Wind River Over-the-Air Update Technology

By creating what’s claimed to be the most minimal differential update possible during OTA updates, this approach offers the potential for cost reductions as well as an allegedly better experience for consumers. Continue reading

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Alliance Ventures Invests in Coord, a US Mobility Data Platform

Application programming interface – API – is a set of tools for MAKING software from defined methods of communication between various components. A strong API makes it easier to develop computer instructions by providing separated pieces, which are then put together by the programmer. Continue reading

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Arizona Picks Intel to Lead Automated Vehicle Safety Institute

Partners include Intel, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Continue reading

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