FCA US announced that it has invested more than $30 million at its Chelsea Proving Grounds in southeast Michigan to further development and testing of autonomous vehicle and advanced safety technologies. The all-new facility, which begins testing programs in September, features a dedicated autonomous highway-speed track, 35-acre safety-feature evaluation area and a high-tech command center. […]
New Ford Ranger Will Use Radar to Make Towing Easier
When the 2019 Ford Ranger goes on sale later this year, customers will be able to get towing technology to prevent blind spot collisions. Taking boats to the slip or ATVs to the dunes is easier with Ford Ranger’s Blind Spot Information System with trailer coverage. After hooking up a trailer, radar housed in Ranger’s […]
CAPA and NSF Stand Behind Certified Non-OEM Bumper Cover ADAS Performance
Parts certification bodies stand behind certified aftermarket part performance where driver assistance systems installed. Recent vehicle manufacturer position statements have cautioned collision repair facilities on the extent of allowed repair procedures and parts to use for bumper cover repair on vehicles that have advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) installed. CollisionWeek reached out to both the […]
Honda Updates Position Statement on Collision Repair Parts Usage on ADAS-Equipped Vehicles
Bulletin supersedes 2014 guidance requiring OEM collision repair parts to restore proper function of advanced driver assistance systems. American Honda Motor Company released an updated position statement that details the need for OEM parts on vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The bulletin details concerns relative to windshield replacement, windshield replacement on vehicles […]
Automotive Recyclers Association Says GM Position on Recycled Bumpers for Vehicles with ADAS Disservice to Consumers
Recycler group questions why recycled OEM parts shouldn’t be used to repair GM vehicles. Reiterates call for Federal Trade Commission to investigate. The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) issued a press release Friday that expressed “extreme disappointment” with the recent position statement by General Motors (GM) stating that the automobile manufacturer does not approve of the […]
Center for Auto Safety and Consumer Watchdog Request FTC Investigation into Tesla Autopilot
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 […]