Category Archives: safety

SoftBank Vision Fund to Invest $2.25 B in GM Cruise

The SoftBank Vision Fund investment will be made in two phases. At the closing of the transaction, the Vision Fund will invest the first tranche of $900 million. At the time that Cruise AVs are ready for commercial deployment, the Vision Fund will complete the second tranche of $1.35 billion. Continue reading

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FCA Sells Minivans to Google’s Waymo for Driverless Use

Google’s self-driving wing Waymo – a clear threat to established automakers – will expand its fleet with an agreement to add up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans. Given Chrysler’s dubious safety record, it’s a risky proposition in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading

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CARB OKs Plan to Mitigate Harm from Volkswagen Diesel Defeat Devices. Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Get Clean Technology

“This is a landmark moment in the saga of Volkswagen’s environmental violations,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “Over the next 10 years this plan will put in place not only tools to clean up VW’s excess emissions, but also to help achieve further reductions of smog-forming pollution for decades to come.” Continue reading

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Fiat Chrysler Recalls 4.8 Million Vehicles for Runaway Acceleration Caused by Cruise Control Software

This appears to be a re-run or sequel of Chrysler’s long-running horror movie on safety. (See AutoInformed/com on: NHTSA Whacks Chrysler with Record $105m Safety Penalty, Hack Attack! FCA Recalls 1.4m Vehicles Because Outsiders Can Take Control Remotely by Exploiting the Software, US DOT Fines Fiat Chrysler $70 Million more, NHTSA Blasts FCA Recalls – Big Fines, Maybe Criminal Charges Coming for Italian Automaker? Litigation Ongoing.) Continue reading

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Transformation to Mobility Company? Ford Returns to Detroit.

As part of an $11.1 billion investment in global electric vehicles announced earlier this year, Ford says it will sell electrified vehicles that “offer exciting experiences and enhanced capabilities based on what people need and want – including the all-new Mustang-inspired battery-electric SUV in 2020.” Continue reading

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Driving Dangerously – an American Way of Life. And Death

Both “rushed and aggressive drivers” discovered that with practice they could improve their driving. Continue reading

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Daimler, Deutsche Telekom End German Government Clash

Whether this bodes ill for Daimler’s other car-to-car or car-to-infrastructure/web communications programs remains to be see. It also points to an unknown legal environment facing autonomous car makers with products already on the market – automatic driver-assist systems such as automatic braking, automatic parking, or vehicle-following speed control. Continue reading

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Toyota, KDDI, OYO to Collect Data for Disaster Relief

The project uses technologies in the IoT (internet of things) and big data analysis that will be crucial to the survival of “wanna be mobility companies in the auto industry. Continue reading

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Ford Smart Mobility, Zotye Ink MOU on Chinese Ride Hailing

The Zotye-Ford mobility JV will provide ride-hailing fleet operators and drivers with all-electric vehicle leasing services, data-driven fleet management solutions, in-vehicle digital services, connectivity and vehicle customization. Ford Smart Mobility is a Ford Motor Company subsidiary formed to design, build, grow and invest in emerging mobility services. Continue reading

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Ford Enlarges Transit Fire Recall in North America

In potentially unsafe Transits, water intrusion into the module may result in rapid flashing of the turn signals, loss of the instrument cluster display, loss of heater and air conditioning controls, and loss of multimedia including radio, screens and the SYNC system. Continue reading

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Failing Grade for Ford Motor Q1 Earnings

This promised 8% Automotive Operating Margin is normally obtained or surpassed by offshore automakers year in, year out. It gets worse when you consider Ford Motor costs have grown as fast as revenue; Grimmer still when capital spending has grown even faster. Continue reading

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50 Mayors, 11 States to Defend +50 MPG CAFE Standard

In a statement like the American Revolution’s Declaration of Independence, local leaders are rejecting a corrupt central government out of touch with the people – one that instead is beholden to special interests, big oil, and big money for campaigns to keep the corruption and tyranny ongoing. Continue reading

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Shift Indicators Bad on Ford F-Series, Lincolns, Mustangs

On the affected vehicles, the transmission can be in a gear different from the gear shift position selected by the driver. Ford said it is aware of one reported accident and injury related to this safety defect. Continue reading

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Republicans Starting to Like Putin. Treason over Patriotism?

By January 2017, after the presidential election, Democrats had become far more likely than Republicans to view Russia as a threat – though views have changed little since then. Pew does not express a view on Russian tampering with American Democratic processes. Continue reading

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Laws Mandating DUI Interlocks Save Lives

Twenty-eight states, the District of Columbia and four California counties have some type of interlock requirement that applies to first-time offenders. If all states without such laws adopted them, more than 500 additional lives could be saved each year. Continue reading

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