PPG: White Most Popular In 2014, Brown On The Rise
It’s official: White is the most popular color the world over, while the B&B’s favorite shade is making some inroads into the global palette.
$1.99/Gallon Gasoline Arrives In Oklahoma City
Remember when fuel prices were under $2? Those days are back.
Lyft, Uber Et Al Impact US Medallion Market
Transportation network companies like Lyft and Uber are making an impact on the United States livery market, particularly in cities where medallions are sold.
Hearings, Recalls Et Al Darken Takata's Doorstep
Takata and those associated with its airbag recall crisis are heading back into the fire this week, one that could grow into a firestorm soon enough.
Toyota: Don't Drink The (Mirai's) Water
Want to literally taste the future? Toyota would like for you to reconsider that notion.
EFF: ECU Modification May Result In DMCA Notice
Planning to work on your new car? Pray you don’t receive a DMCA notice upon opening the hood.
Texas Woman Exonerated Due To GM Ignition Switch Recall
A Texas woman was exonerated when a seven-year-old negligent homicide conviction was overturned due to evidence linking the conviction to the February 2014 General Motors ignition switch recall.
Honda Calls For Compliance From Consumers Regarding Recalls
Just as the federal government wants Honda and Takata to fix the airbags in the former’s vehicles, Honda would like consumers to bring in said vehicles for repair.
Even if it means involving the government.
Report: US Median Income Could Soon Outpace Falling Car Prices
Consumers looking for a new car may not need to take their wallets to the hospital afterwards should prices continue to fall and incomes continue to rise.
Tesla Fights Georgia Dealers Over Direct Sales Model
Tesla’s ongoing battle to directly sell its wares to the public has come to Georgia, where the automaker is asking for a dismissal of a petition by the state’s dealer association seeking to ban Tesla from conducting such sales.
Barra Backs Out Of Appearance To Accept National Award Amid Outcry
General Motors CEO Mary Barra, who was to appear at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., opted not to appear to receive an award amid outcry from those affected by the February 2014 ignition switch recall.
VW Establishes New Labor Organization Engagement Policy For Chattanooga Plant
Without mentioning the United Auto Workers by name, Volkswagen established a new policy that would allow organized labor groups to hold meetings at its Chattanooga, Tenn. plant, as well as speak with executives.
NYC Lowers Speed Limit To 25 MPH For Safety Reasons
Sammy Hagar may not be able to drive 55, but thanks to new legislation limiting rate of travel in New York City to 25 mph, the Red Rocker would be dying to hit the double nickel.
GM Parts Order Center Of New Evidence Surrounding Ignition Recall
Just when you thought the meat of the story had long since been consumed, a lovely roast was just delivered courtesy of an email chain between General Motors and Delphi regarding a large order of parts months ahead of the February 2014 ignition switch recall.
First GM Ignition Lawsuit Trial Set For January 2016
It’s official: the first bellwether trial involving a lawsuit against General Motors over its role in the February 2014 ignition switch recall is set for January 2016.
B&B Reject Red-Light Cameras In Three States On Election Night
Tuesday, the B&B made their voice known on the issues affecting them, including a set of referendums on the infamous red-light traffic camera.
GM Offers Gift Cards To 700K Affected By Ignition Recall
Just in time for Black Friday or Black Thanksgiving (for those heathens who really want Alex from Target to scan their cheap HDTV, instead of giving him the day off by voting with their wallets), General Motors will be giving their customers a $25 gift card if they bring in their vehicles affected by the February 2014 recall by December 1.
Suppliers Come To Takata's Aid Amid Airbag Recall Crisis
Takata may not being doing so hot amid its airbag crisis, but it is providing an opportunity for at least two other airbag suppliers.
GM, Harman Delivering Android-Equipped Vehicles By Late 2016
Remember how the heads of Volkswagen and Daimler were urging their fellow automakers not to drink so much Google Kool-Aid? General Motors thinks the punch isn’t spiked at all, pressing forward with a plan to bring Android into its brand portfolio by late 2016.
Report: Electric Turbocharging Could Provide Fuel Economy Boost
Though full electrification might not be in the cards for most consumers, those looking for turbo power for their vehicles could find a little bit of that black magic in the turbo itself down the road.
Honda Ordered To Answer For Its Role In Takata Airbag Recall By November 24
Takata is no longer alone in facing an intense federal investigation over in its airbag recall action: Honda, too, has been ordered to answer under oath for its role in the recall.
Dodge: Over 5,000 Challenger Hellcats Ordered Since October
Since the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat roared at the 2014 New York Auto Show, enthusiasts have been waiting for the day the big cats would enter the showroom.
When ordering opened in October, so did the floodgates.
Smartphone-Vehicle Pairing NFC Tech On The Horizon
NFC — near-field communication — technology not only can allow you to buy a My Little Pony: Equestria Girls doll from Walmart (or will, once Walmart et al decide Apple Pay and Google Pay are better than CurrentC), but it may soon allow you to start your car by simply tapping the ignition.
Treasury: GM Bailout Suit Would Hinder Future Actions
Should companies in the future need to be bailed-out by the federal government, they may not be so forthcoming with the necessary information if General Motors’ confidential documents linked to its own bailout see the light of day.
Dorizas Leaves Holden, General Motors To Pursue New Ventures
Another bell tolls as Holden draws closer to the end of local production in 2017, this time for brand boss Gerry Dorizas, who resigned after serving just eight months in the position.
FCA Spinning Ferrari Off From Parent Company By 2015
By this time next year, Ferrari will no longer be a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, thanks to a plan announced today that will spin the exotic brand off from the rest of the Italo-American automaker.
Ford Brings Telematics To Law Enforcement For Greater Safety, Transparency
To further transparency and improve safety, Ford and Telogis have debuted a system that will gather information on a given police officer’s driving practices.
NYC Taxi Association Take Taxi Of Tomorrow Fight To Albany
Clutching dearly onto their fleet of Panthers, New York’s taxi industry is heading up to Albany to contest the $1 billion plan to replace their vehicles with Nissan’s “Taxi of Tomorrow” NV200.
Privacy Advocates Take Law Enforcement To Task Over Handling Of License Plate Data
The panopticon grows taller every day, as motorists who try to learn what information is gathered by the automatic license plate readers face roadblock after roadblock, with three cases set to determine once and for all what can be seen.
Gilbert Calls Out Dealers In Wake Of Reinforced Michigan Direct Sales Ban
Tuesday, Michigan governor Rick Snyder signed into law a bill that included language reinforcing a direct sales ban established over 30 years ago.
Wednesday? Detroit billionaire Dan Gilbert — best known as the majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers who penned a letter in Comic Sans typeface in response to LeBron James making the decision to play for the Miami Heat — had a few words to say about this decision.
Tesla Direct Sales Ban Reinforced In Michigan, GM Supported Signing
It’s official: the ban preventing Tesla from directly selling its wares to customers in Michigan has been reinforced.
Jeep First American Brand To Enter Japan COTY Top 10
While the new Mazda2 — Demio to its friends in Japan — took home the overall gold in this year’s Japanese Car of the Year awards, Jeep took home a JCOTY, too, the first time an American brand has ever accomplished the feat.
Big Steel Steps Up Marketing Game Under Aluminum Shadow
Ford’s move to make the upcoming F-150 out of aluminum, along with GM’s plans to do the same with its trucks down the road, isn’t sitting well with the steel industry, to say the least.
Michigan May Ban Tesla Direct Sales Pending Governor's Signature
Sitting on Michigan governor Rick Snyder’s desk is a bill that would add the state to the list of places where Tesla cannot sell its vehicles directly to the public, waiting for his pen to seal the deal.
Saudis Accept Lower Barrel Prices In Fight Against US Production
While some OPEC nations are panicking over oil prices not being above $100/barrel, Saudi Arabia says it wouldn’t mind accepting barrels worth $90 or $80 for the next year or two, so long as it slows down production elsewhere.
Volvo Goes Death Metal With Triple-Turbo Two-Liter Four
Channelling its inner Viking death metal chef spirit, Volvo has unleashed a concept 2-liter turbo-four delivering 450 horsepower with the help of three turbochargers.
UAW Local Publishes Spring Hill Scab List
Over 40 workers at the General Motors facility in Spring Hill, Tenn. recently found themselves on a list of “scab workers” published by United Auto Workers Local 1853, a list one anonymous employee says kicked-off an effort to pressure and intimidate into joining.
Marchionne: New No. 1 Manufacturer Could Arise From Mergers
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne — who will be retiring from the company after the next five-year plan runs its course after 2018 — believes mergers between automakers will one day result in a new No. 1 automaker.
UAW Establishes New Local Near US Daimler Plant
Just as in Chattanooga, Tenn., the United Auto Workers has established a local in Tuscaloosa, Ala. for those working on the floor of the Daimler AG-owned MBUSI plant in nearby Vance.
GM Puts Stop-Delivery Order On Colorado, Canyon Twins
If you ordered one of General Motors’ new mid-size pickups, your delivery may be a bit late, thanks to an airbag recall.
State, Federal Authorities Target Subprime Liar Auto Loans
The same subprime lending practices in the mortgage industry that fueled the run-up toward the Great Recession have found a new market to infect: used-car auto lending.
Metaxas: License Plate Recognition Can Improve Originations
Aside from GPS-equipped starter interrupt systems, lenders have another tool to repossess a vehicle, with the added benefit of using the data obtained to acquire better contracts: license plate recognition.
Valet Mode Data Recorder In 2015 Corvettes Could Bring Legal Trouble For Some
Not too long ago, General Motors brought comfort to many a new 2015 Corvette Stingray owner with a feature that would do for them what teddy-bear cams did for concerned parents, recording audio, video and vehicle data when the key was given to the valet. Alas, the spyware could land the owner in legal hot water in a dozen states, to say the least.
Daimler Works Council Boss To Meet With UAW In Coming Weeks
Though Daimler senior management has said repeatedly that the decision to organize the MBUSI plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala. was up to the workers on the floor, Daimler works council boss Michael Brecht is heading there in a few weeks to explore the possibility with the United Auto Workers.
California Planning EV Charging-Friendly Building Codes For 2015 – 2016
Should you one day find yourself heading off to make a new life in California, and you own a plug-in vehicle, your home or apartment will already have the minimum infrastructure needed to install a charging port.
Lenders Monitor, Control Subprime Nexum Via Connected Vehicle Tech
In a perverse nexus where connected-vehicle technology, privacy and subprime lending intersect, consumers who fall behind on so much as a single payment, or even stray outside a given teritory, may find their vehicles shutdown by their lender from a digital panopticon.
US Average Gas Price Per Gallon Falling To $3.15 By Year-End
Once upon a time, a gallon of regular could be had for under $3. Then, prices climbed as reduced production and geopolitical uncertainty played their respective roles. However, 2014 could feel like 2010 again as prices tumble back down to $3/gallon.
Real-Time Data May Lead To Greater Automated Law Enforcement
Presently, V2V (vehicle to vehicle) and V2I (vehicle to infrastructure) technologies are meant to allow a vehicle so-equipped to better navigate its surroundings, and to exchange data with other vehicles like it. If law enforcement has its way, however, the red and blue lights in the rearview mirror could soon give way to the electric eye of automated enforcement.
Reuss: Cadillac Move To NYC Will Elevate Brand Profile
Now that Cadillac and 50 of its B&B have packed up and moved out of Detroit for the American hustle of New York, what do those closest to the brand have to say about the move? General Motors product boss Mark Reuss has a couple of cents to spare.
Toyota Camry To Have Aluminum Hoods By 2018
As Ford prepares to stake its future on an aluminum F-150, Toyota is looking to do the same for at least a single part on its best-selling vehicle.
US District Court Orders Discovery For Some GM Ignition Switch Suits
Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman issued from his bench in the Southern District of New York an order for discovery to begin on a number of cases related to the February 2014 General Motors ignition switch recall.
Virginia Company Unveils Text-Detection Device
From the commonwealth where radar detectors are verboten, and speeding has more in common with sex crimes than physical graffiti, a local company has developed a device that can detect the sort of signals a phone might emit when its owner is texting.
Tesla Appeals NJ Franchise Statute, May Win Via Legislation
Months after the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission forced Tesla to stop directly selling its vehicles to the public, the automaker’s appeal moves closer to its day in court.
Supplier Believes Lightweight Steel Has A Place In Light-Duty Pickups
Though Ford is going all in on aluminum for its upcoming F-150, with General Motors following suit soon after, one supplier believes lightweight steel can be just as effective as the alloy best known for holding beer and keeping turkeys juicy in the oven.
131 Fatality Claims Filed With GM Compensation Fund Thus Far
Yesterday, we reported General Motors accepting there were 19 fatalities linked to a defective ignition switch originally tied to 13 deaths and 31 accidents, thanks in part to the compensation fund established with the aid of administrator and attorney Kenneth Feinberg. More could be on the way, however, as 131 fatality claims have been submitted thus far.
UAW, Unifor Strike Out Against Two-Tier Wages
Last weekend, 760 UAW workers at the Lear facility in Hammond, Ind. — where Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant receives its seats — went on strike against two-tier wages, winning a tentative contract that eliminates the system. This, in turn, may be a sign of more such actions to come as the union seeks to end the two-tier system throughout the industry.
Friedman: GM, Not NHTSA, Most To Blame For Recall Crisis
It was a long day for David Friedman and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration during congressional testimony Tuesday, admitting before a Senate panel that his agency has more work to do to improve itself, and that General Motors made “incredibly poor decisions” as far as recalls were concerned.
US Treasury Begins Second Divestiture Plan Of Ally Stock
Ally Financial, the lending artist formerly known as GMAC Financial, inches closer to freedom from government ownership as the United States Treasury begins a second trading plan to shed its shares.
Nevada Governor Signs Tesla Tax Package Into Law
A week after the announcement, and through two days of deliberation by the state legislature, Nevada governor Brian Sandoval signed into law September 11 the $1.25 billion tax package that won over Tesla enough to bring its Gigafactory to the Silver State.
Delphi Confirmed ITS Technology Supplier For Cadillac
Earlier this week, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced that Cadillac would be the first of her company’s brands to receive V2V and V2I technologies, which would be introduced in the 2017 CTS and the unnamed F-segment flagship recently green-lighted.
Today, we know who will be supplying those technologies: supplier Delphi.
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