Keyless Cars Kill Over Two Dozen With Carbon Monoxide Since 2006

A new report put out by the New York Times found that there have been 28 deaths and 45 injuries related to keyless cars. These cars, when left idling unintentionally in attached garages, would flood the attached house with toxic fumes like carbon monoxide. Nearly half of the cars involved were made by Toyota, including its popular Lexus models.  There are currently no industry-wide safety regulations regarding safety features (like beeps or automatic shutoffs) to prevent these kinds of deaths. Here's hoping that this news brings more attention to what should be an easy safety hazard to fix.    Carbon monoxide from keyless cars has killed more than two dozen people since 2006, as drivers unwittingly leave their vehicles running inside garages, a new report has found. Toyota models, including Lexus, were behind almost half of the 28 deaths and 45 injuries that were identified Sunday by the New York Times. In all cases, drivers unintentionally filled their homes with toxic fumes by leaving their cars on inside attached garages. Keyless ignitions use radio signals transmitted through a fob the owner carries to start the engine. But drivers run the dangerous risk of forgetting to turn off their cars before going inside. Fred Schaub was found dead last year in bed after parking his Toyota RAV4 in the garage and going inside with the fob in his pocket. The level of carbon monoxide in his home was at least 30 times higher than what humans can tolerate. Click Here to Continue Reading

The featured article Keyless Cars Kill Over Two Dozen With Carbon Monoxide Since 2006 is republished from www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/keyless-cars-kill-over-two-dozen-with-carbon-monoxide-since-2006/

Hyundai Exec Emphasizes Tech Strategy In Years To Come

Hyundai has a respectable piece of the auto market across the globe, but vice chairman Chung Eui-sun envisions a Hyundai in the future, with some of the most advanced tech on the market. The South Korean automaker notes that other manufacturers have been boosting their tech development, so he does not want to see Hyundai fall behind, and is counting on affiliate Hyundai Mobis Co. to bring them to the future. Chung also has been incorporating talent from other automakers to the end of improving Mobis’ dominance in automotive tech.   Hyundai Motor Group’s vice chairman, Chung Eui-sun, is counting on bugs and holograms to help the South Korean automaker stay relevant amid a flood of electric-vehicle startups, ride-sharing services and driverless cars. During an exclusive interview at ZER01NE, an innovation center in Seoul where Hyundai incubates startups and designers, the 47-year-old Chung said parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis Co. will help lead the world’s fifth-largest automaker into the future.   [...] The following excerpt has been translated from Korean, condensed and edited. Bloomberg: How can Hyundai survive in the era of future mobility? Chung Eui-sun: In the era of robotics, the auto industry may see a significant sales drop. The profits in new technologies such as software and artificial intelligence could exceed the amount of losses. And Hyundai Mobis will lead that change in the group. Click Here to Continue Reading

The above blog post Hyundai Exec Emphasizes Tech Strategy In Years To Come is available on CarDaddy's Blog

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/hyundai-exec-emphasizes-tech-strategy-in-years-to-come/

MIT Scientists Making Progress On Self-Driving Cars On Old Country Roads

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most renowned centers of tech innovation in the United States, so it may come to no surprise that its staff and students have made an amazing leap in self-driving car tech. MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has created MapLite, which uses basic GPS data and advanced sensors to drive the equipped Toyota Prius on roads, even unpaved roads with no road markers or other usual amenities. MapLite has undergone road testing on roads in such conditions, and the team says the suite can reliably detect the road and its conditions over 100 feet ahead of the car’s position. There is no word on whether the product will be sold to carmakers or other companies in the near future.   Taking the road less traveled is extremely difficult for self-driving cars. Autonomous vehicles rely on highly visible lane markings, as well as detailed 3D maps in order to navigate their environment safely. Which is why most of the major companies have eschewed testing on unmapped rural roads in favor of suburbs and cities.Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have developed a new system that allows self-driving cars to drive on roads they’ve never been on before without 3D maps. Called MapLite, the system combines simple GPS data that you’d find on Google Maps with a series of sensors that observe the road conditions.This allowed the team to autonomously drive on multiple unpaved country roads in Devens, Massachusetts, and reliably detect the road more than 100 feet in advance. (As part of a collaboration with the Toyota Research Institute, researchers used a Toyota Prius that they outfitted with a range of LIDAR and IMU sensors.) Click Here to Continue Reading

MIT Scientists Making Progress On Self-Driving Cars On Old Country Roads is available on www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/mit-scientists-making-progress-on-self-driving-cars-on-old-country-roads/

GMC May Follow Ford, Chrysler Out Of US Passenger Car Market

Morgan Stanley has been watching the Detroit Three carefully since Ford and Fiat Chrysler have left the passenger car market, and analysts are guessing GMC might follow them out. Ford is only keeping the iconic Mustang in its stateside books, and Fiat no longer makes Sedans for the US. With this pattern in mind, analysts suspect GMC might make a similar move soon, for the same reasons the other Detroit automakers did: regulation and higher demand for crossovers and SUVs.   General Motors Co. may follow its Detroit peers in taking the off ramp from the American passenger-car market, according to Morgan Stanley. The maker of Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac sedans might mimic Ford Motor Co., which is keeping only the Mustang muscle car in the lineup, and Fiat Chrysler, which no longer manufactures sedans in the U.S., Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said Friday. “All three of the Detroit Three automakers have something in common: They’ve all been exiting the car business,” Jonas said in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We think that GM is going to follow” Fiat Chrysler and Ford, he said. The transformation of GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler’s lineups will factor in how the companies approach negotiations with the Trump administration and California regulators over the future of fuel economy standards, Jonas said. On one hand, the automakers will press for relaxed federal rules to protect their truck and SUV businesses. At the same time, the manufacturers are investing heavily in electric vehicles to appease the Golden State. Click Here to Continue Reading

The featured blog post GMC May Follow Ford, Chrysler Out Of US Passenger Car Market is republished from www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/gmc-may-follow-ford-chrysler-out-of-us-passenger-car-market/

Platinum Sellers Lose Profit From European Diesel Production Dropoff

The precious metal platinum is an important element in both jewelry and diesel truck production, but demand has fallen lately, after European automakers dropped production by 2 percent. Makers like Volvo and Volkswagen are likely feeling pessimistic after the emission scandals and looming EU regulations, which means they aren’t buying the platinum necessary to control nitrous oxide emissions in diesel engines. However, platinum is also useful in making fuel cell trucks and other cars, which will likely lead to more platinum sales as the technology improves.   The growing unpopularity of diesel cars in Europe will further hit demand for platinum this year, according to Johnson Matthey, a maker of autocatalysts using the precious metal. There will be a growing surplus of platinum in 2018 as production of diesel cars in Europe declines by 2 per cent while output from mines in Russia and South Africa remains flat, the company said. Platinum prices have fallen close to their lowest levels in ten years, a casualty of the backlash against diesel cars following the scandal over emissions cheating at Volkswagen. [...] Still, Johnson Matthey said there will be increased demand for platinum coming from fuel cell vehicles, which use the metal. Demand for platinum in fuel cells is expected to “rise significantly” this year, they said, especially in China. Click Here to Continue Reading

The following post Platinum Sellers Lose Profit From European Diesel Production Dropoff is available on CarDaddy News

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/platinum-sellers-lose-profit-from-european-diesel-production-dropoff/

$2 Million In High-Performance Cars Stolen From Georgia Dealership

Car dealerships might like to be “on the map” when it comes to car output, but as a Chamblee, Georgia dealership found out, output only matters if the cars are being paid for. Thieves broke into the Landmark of Atlanta dealership by literally breaking open a window and driving out with an estimated 35 cars. Included were high-end vehicles including Dodge Challengers, Chargers, and a number of Jeeps. Police have since recovered six of the vehicles and arrested two men in connection to the thefts, and continue to search for all other involved parties.   CHAMBLEE, Ga. - Thieves broke into a car dealership and stole more than $2 million worth of cars, according to the dealership.   Mike Orcutt is the general manager at the Landmark of Atlanta car dealership along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Chamblee.   He told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez that thieves stole more than 30 vehicles from the lot. Orcutt walked Jaquez through how he believes a group of men managed to get in.   “We did inventory and came up with about 35 cars missing. Dodge Challengers, Chargers, a few different Jeeps,” he said. The general manager learned something was up when he got a call Monday around 5:30 a.m. saying two of the stolen cars were crashed and left along Interstate 285. Click Here to Continue Reading

$2 Million In High-Performance Cars Stolen From Georgia Dealership is republished from www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/2-million-in-high-performance-cars-stolen-from-georgia-dealership/

GM Using Autodesk AI Design Software To Improve Auto Part Design

General Motors is using Autodesk’s new design software to automatically design new versions of auto parts to replace existing ones. Autodesk says the software uses inputs like design and cost requirements, part materials and machining methods to set up a profile, then uses cloud computing and machine learning to rapidly file through any number of possible designs and bring it down to a handful. This handful of final possible products can then be selected by GM to use in their vehicles. GM and Autodesk have already used this tech to make a new seat bracket that’s both lighter and stronger than the part it replaces. Reducing part weight also improves miles per gallon/EV range, and can be used in all of GM’s designs.   General Motors announced today that it's using Autodesk's new generative design software to help create lightweight parts for its future products, including zero-emissions vehicles. GM claims it's the first automaker in North America to take advantage of this clever new tech.   Here's how it works. According to Autodesk, the software takes a number of inputs including design and cost goals, materials and manufacturing methods. The software then uses cloud computing to generate a boatload of permutations, using machine learning to continually improve the design based on what it's already produced and what parts of those iterations will work. The end user can then choose the final iteration that best fits its needs.   As proof of concept, GM and Autodesk engineers created a seat bracket that's 40 percent lighter than the original part, yet it's also 20 percent stronger. The bracket previously comprised eight individual components, but with 3D printing, it's managed to reduce that down to a single component. Click Here to Continue Reading

The featured post GM Using Autodesk AI Design Software To Improve Auto Part Design See more on: CarDaddy News

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/gm-using-autodesk-ai-design-software-to-improve-auto-part-design/

“Blockchain” Technology To Arrive in Automaker Group Vehicles

The technology that powers the Bitcoin and other digital currencies will soon be found in BMW, Ford, GM and Renault vehicles in the future. The automakers and some of their tech partners have formed the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative, which hopes to use the decentralized ledger tech that makes cryptocurrencies so reliable to track information like payments, data sharing, car ownership and dealership supply questions. There is currently no timeline on implementation or what kinds of vehicles and other devices will use the tech.   Seemingly every company is determined to hop on the blockchain bandwagon, and that includes automakers. BMW, Ford, GM, Renault and and a string of tech partners (including Bosch and IBM) have formed the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative, a group that hopes to use blockchain's distributed, decentralized ledger technology across many aspects of your experience, even when you're not driving. They hope to create standards that allow for secure payments for everything from autonomous car hailing to congestion charges to ridesharing.   It could be useful for car-to-car data sharing, too. And behind the scenes, blockchain should be useful for vehicle ID (such as tracing stolen cars or collision histories) and bolstering the supply chain.   The move is undoubtedly super-trendy, and there's no firm timeline for when any blockchain technology might show up in cars. However, this could have some very tangible real-world benefits. As there would be fewer (if any) gatekeepers, this could reduce the cost of the services you use without compromising on security -- a trip in a self-driving taxi might be slightly more affordable. Click Here to Continue Reading

The above post “Blockchain” Technology To Arrive in Automaker Group Vehicles is available on www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/blockchain-technology-to-arrive-in-automaker-group-vehicles/

Toyota Prototypes Hydrogen Cell Powered Class-8 Truck

Toyota is one of many automakers with a tractor-trailer production side, but the company took a big step in distinguishing itself from the crowd by creating a successful hydrogen fuel truck prototype. Using both parts used in other Toyota EVs and a custom designed engine that meets the expectations of any big-rig enthusiast, the hydrogen- and electricity-powered car creates only water as a direct byproduct of operation. Currently, the supply side for hydrogen is inefficient, and as a result hydrogen vehicles create more overall waste than they prevent, but with this proof-of-concept truck with 8,200 miles on it and tech advances to come, you might see entire fleets of these vehicles in years to come.   Toyota took up the challenge of driving a meaningful reduction in its emissions from the port region and, after some brainstorming, decided to build a hydrogen fuel truck prototype to explore the potential use cases for a hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in its TLS facility. Toyota’s project was initiated prior to the announcement of the Nikola Motors hydrogen fuel cell truck, before Tesla’s fully electric Semi was unveiled, and even before Cummins’ electric powertrain offering. Today, BYD is already delivering its fully electric, class 8 heavy trucks to customers, with a slew of offerings and most of the other players already taking reservations for offerings that will enter the market over the next few years. Click Here to Continue Reading

Toyota Prototypes Hydrogen Cell Powered Class-8 Truck is available on CarDaddy

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/toyota-prototypes-hydrogen-cell-powered-class-8-truck/

Car Dealerships Adjust After Surprise Ford Announcement

Ford may have taken America by surprise by its announcement that it will no longer produce cars for its largest market, but dealerships, especially in the midwest and north, indicate that this was not an unwelcome move. Places where it snows heavily, especially New York and other nearby states, already show a preference for SUVs and trucks, so there are no objections there. Ford will shift $7 billion of research money from car development to SUV and trucks, and over 90% of the company’s car models will no longer be in production.   GREAT BEND TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- There will soon be fewer cars and more SUVs at Ford dealerships across the country. The president of the Ford Motor Company calls it a big a shift from cars to utility vehicles and that shift will make car dealership lots like Simmons Rockwell near Hallstead look a lot different. Ford is shifting its emphasis from traditional cars, shifting $7 billion of research from cars and putting it into SUVs and trucks. Those looking for new rides at Simmons Rockwell near Hallstead tell Newswatch 16 says the Ford Escape SUV is more dependable. Click Here to Continue Reading

The following blog post Car Dealerships Adjust After Surprise Ford Announcement Find more on: autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/car-dealerships-adjust-after-surprise-ford-announcement/

GM Reaffirms Passenger Car Lineup A Day After Ford Leaves That Market

After Ford’s surprise withdrawal from the passenger car market, GM’s CEO Mary Barra reassured analysts that her company still intended to sell the cars both domestically and abroad. This, after much buzz about the decline of this market in the US, is no doubt reassuring following such surprising news. GM also announced it was getting ready to launch a new program internationally to replace “legacy architectures with profitable architectures.”   General Motors (GM) affirmed a role for passenger cars in its lineup at home and abroad following a first-quarter earnings beat Thursday, a day after rival Ford Motor (F) topped views and outlined plans to largely exit that segment domestically. In a call with analysts, GM CEO Mary Barra described passenger cars as a "still significant" segment for now, even as consumers in the U.S. migrate in droves to SUVs, crossovers and light trucks. And small cars are important to GM internationally. GM is gearing to launch its Global Emerging Markets, or GEM, program, which will be "replacing legacy architectures with profitable architectures" in passenger cars sold around the world, CFO Chuck Stevens said on the call. Click Here to Continue Reading

GM Reaffirms Passenger Car Lineup A Day After Ford Leaves That Market was originally seen on www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/gm-reaffirms-passenger-car-lineup-a-day-after-ford-leaves-that-market/

Subaru Admits Rigged Compliance Tests To Japanese Government

Subaru Corp. submitted in a report to the Japanese government’s Road Transport Bureau that one of its plants systematically tampered with fuel economy and emissions for 903 new cars. The report continued that the malpractice may have begun in 2002, which is a further blow to the automaker, which had to recall many cars domestically after an inspections scandal. Subaru denies quality-control issues, using data showing the cars still met government standards. The director-general of the Road Transport Bureau gave only a brief reprimand in response.   Subaru Corp. said in a report to the government Friday that mileage and emissions data for 903 new cars were systematically rigged at one of its plants and that the malpractice may have started around 2002. The revelation is yet another blow to the carmaker, which admitted late last year that unauthorized staff had conducted inspections on new cars, triggering a massive domestic recall. Still, Subaru denied it had quality-control problems, claiming the vehicles in question satisfied regulatory standards under the original inspection data. The report was submitted by Subaru President Yasuyuki Yoshinaga to Tetsuya Okuda, director-general of the transport ministry’s Road Transport Bureau. Click Here to Continue Reading

Subaru Admits Rigged Compliance Tests To Japanese Government Read more on: CarDaddy News

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/subaru-admits-rigged-compliance-tests-to-japanese-government/

Toyota Advancing Passenger Car Production Amidst Ford Withdrawal

Ford is pulling out of passenger cars, but Toyota is doing just fine. In 2017, Toyota’s Corolla sold 329,196 units in the US, a good sign for Toyota, and possibly what inspired moving the Corolla’s production into Mississippi’s Blue Springs assembly plant. With the RAV4 taking up room in the Ontario plant, the Corolla’s production will move into the US, along with $170 million in jobs. Who says car sales are down?   Those fools — don’t they know the Corolla sold *just* 329,196 examples in the United States last year? Alright, not everything has to be about Ford. But as the Blue Oval plans a retreat from the affordable passenger car market, other automakers stand to gain the company’s lost customers. Some of them, anyway. And Toyota seems to have no qualms about continuing to sell small, affordable cars that bring buyers into the showroom — so much so, that it’s spending $170 million to bring more jobs (and a new Corolla) to Mississippi. In the context of this week’s news, the Corolla’s factory retooling and platform swap makes one marvel at what name recognition and a simple bodystyle can do for a model. Click Here to Continue Reading

Toyota Advancing Passenger Car Production Amidst Ford Withdrawal was first published on www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/toyota-advancing-passenger-car-production-amidst-ford-withdrawal/

Ford Pulling Out Of Cars In The US For Foreseeable Future

Ford Motor Company will stop selling all but two car models by 2020. The company announced in its Q1 earnings report that by that time, “almost 90 percent of the Ford portfolio in North America will be trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles.” Due to the market’s taste for SUVs and crossovers, as well as an improving electric and hybrid technological base to improve SUV’s notoriously bad fuel economy, one can hardly blame the company. The two cars to escape the hatchet are the legendary Ford Mustang, and the Ford Focus Active, a crossover SUV for sale starting in 2019.   Ford Motor Company stunned the world this week by announcing that it would stop selling cars in the United States over the next few years, except for only two: the iconic and ever-popular Mustang, and the Ford Focus Active, a crossover hatchback/SUV that goes on sale next year.   In its earnings report for the first quarter of 2018, the company announced: "By 2020, almost 90 percent of the Ford portfolio in North America will be trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles. Given declining consumer demand and product profitability, the company will not invest in next generations of traditional Ford sedans for North America." In other words, if you miss having the option of buying a Ford sedan, blame the millions of Americans who haven't bought one in the last several years.   Here's why Ford's response to current market realities is so very smart:

1. It's giving drivers what they've shown they want.
2. There's only one problem with SUVs, and Ford is solving it. (HYBRID)
3. It's betting big on electric.

Click Here to Continue Reading

Ford Pulling Out Of Cars In The US For Foreseeable Future Find more on: CarDaddy

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/ford-pulling-out-of-cars-in-the-us-for-foreseeable-future/

Amazon Offers In-Car Deliveries To Volvo and GM Smart Cars

Amazon, in a stunning bit of innovation no one saw coming, has joined forces with Volvo and General Motors to offer “in-car deliveries.” Using a special app, owners of some Volvo and GM brand (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac) cars with keyless entry and remote locking capabilities can sync to their vehicles, giving Amazon delivery drivers access to the trunk of these vehicles. Such drop-offs will only happen with Amazon Prime member accounts and through specifically choosing the in-car delivery option, can be chosen with same-day, two-day, and standard shipping, and can apply to a large range of items sold on Amazon   Retailer Amazon has teamed up with car companies Volvo and General Motors to deliver packages directly to users' vehicles.   With the Amazon Key app, car owners can now give delivery persons access to their cars to drop of parcels via a keyless entry and remote locking system.   The option is being offered in 37 US cities to owners of vehicles made by Volvo and General Motors (GM) brands Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac, who have cars with internet-connected capability.   Users download the app, log in to their Amazon Prime account and pair it with their connected car service account. Click Here to Continue Reading

Amazon Offers In-Car Deliveries To Volvo and GM Smart Cars is available on CarDaddy's Blog

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/amazon-offers-in-car-deliveries-to-volvo-and-gm-smart-cars/

Unsuccessful MPG Fine Rollback Means Automakers Must Take Bigger Steps

The Trump administration has made undoing broad-sector industry regulation a top priority, but for automakers, a recent failure to do just that may change how they do business in the USA. The Obama-era car manufacturer regulations set a fuel economy benchmark that some automakers (like Jaguar Land Rover) had to either beat or pay a fine for not surpassing. Jaguar Land Rover’s strategy so far was to just absorb the $55 per MPG under par per car sold fine, but with the fine set to adjust for inflation to $140 per MPG per car sold, the automaker might be rethinking its strategy.   Automakers may complain about rising gas mileage standards, but as several have proved over the years, they don't always have to meet them. Another strategy, employed regularly over the years by a few automakers is to ignore the fuel economy standards and just pay the penalties for missing them.   Those penalties aren't cheap, and they're now set to go up, following a court ruling that rejected a Trump Administration plan to roll them back.   Since Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are based on an average of every car an automaker sells across the country in a given year, any penalties are also paid per car, and per mpg below the target average that the automaker achieves across all the vehicles it sells in a given model year. Click Here to Continue Reading

Unsuccessful MPG Fine Rollback Means Automakers Must Take Bigger Steps is courtesy of www.autonews.cardaddy.com

source https://autonews.cardaddy.com/unsuccessful-mpg-fine-rollback-means-automakers-must-take-bigger-steps/