The Center for Auto Safety and Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate what they say are dangerously misleading and deceptive advertising and marketing practices and representations made by Tesla Motors, Inc. regarding the safety and capabilities of its Autopilot feature. At least two people are dead and one is injured […]
Consumers Union Calls on Tesla to Improve Safety of “Autopilot” Driver-Assist System
Consumers Union, the advocacy division of Consumer Reports (CR), called on Tesla to move quickly to improve the safety of its “Autopilot” driver-assist system and to publicly release the detailed data behind the company’s safety claims. The company recently acknowledged that this technology was engaged at the time of a recent fatal crash in California, […]
Ford to Roll Out Suite of Advanced Drivers Assistance Systems this Fall
Ford announced its Co-Pilot360, an advanced suite of standard driver-assist technologies that includes standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot information system, lane keeping system, rear backup camera and auto high beam lighting. Ford Co-Pilot360 will roll out across Ford’s new passenger cars, SUVs and trucks up to F-150 in North America, starting […]
Vehicle Manufacturers Report Progress on Autonomous Emergency Braking Commitment
Toyota leads major vehicle manufacturers on number of vehicles with over 56 percent of its 2017 fleet, 1.4 of 2.5 million vehicles, with accident avoidance feature. Four of 20 automakers report that automatic emergency braking (AEB) is standard on more than half of their 2017 model year vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) […]
Mitchell Report Shows Collision Repair of Redesigned Vehicles Significantly More Expensive
Across redesigned vehicles studied in Mitchell Fourth Quarter 2017 Industry Trends Report, average front impact repair cost up 29 percent, rear impacts up 14 percent. New technologies increasing parts cost. Mitchell today released its Industry Trends Report (ITR) for the fourth quarter of 2017. In this edition, Mitchell executives share insights on how video chat […]
Toyota Rolling Out Second Generation Safety Sense Collision Avoidance Technologies
Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) announced that the second generation of its Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) package of active safety features will begin rolling out as standard equipment on certain Toyota vehicles beginning in mid-2018. The updated safety package will add new technologies and capabilities that enhance protection for drivers, passengers, and others who […]
Federal Highway Administration Showcases Truck Platooning Technology in Virginia
The Federal Highway Administration yesterday conducted the first of a two-day demonstration of three-truck platoons on I-66 in Centreville, Va., several miles outside the nation’s capital. The results of a four-year research project to test the effectiveness of state-of-the-art driving and communications technologies were showcased at the event. “The future of innovative new technology to […]
Auto Glass Safety Council Amends Standards to Include ADAS Language
The Auto Glass Safety Council’s (AGSC) AGRSS Standards Committee voted at its recent spring meeting to amend the AGRSS Standard with language related to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that places the responsibility for recalibration on the glass installer to have the proper equipment and training or requires notification to the vehicle owner that calibrations […]
J.D. Power Initial Quality Study Uncovers Consumer Concerns with Autonomous Vehicle Technology
Initial quality at highest level ever. Increasing problems raise early warning bells for driver assistance technology. New-vehicle quality is at its highest level ever, improving a significant 8% from last year, according to the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study,SM (IQS) released yesterday. According to the study of nearly 80,000 purchasers and lessees of […]
Thatcham Calls on Vehicle Manufacturers to Engage with Repair Industry to Address “Spiraling Cost of Repair”
According to the UK-Based Insurance Research body, average repair bills have increased by 32% over the last three years due to increasingly complex repairs. Thatcham Research is today delivering a call to action for vehicle manufacturers to urgently engage with the repair industry to halt spiraling costs. According to Thatcham, the motor insurer’s automotive research […]