(July 17, 2019) BETHESDA, Md. — That little engine part called the spark plug performs a huge job in delivering a vehicle's power, performance, dependability and fuel efficiency and, according to the non-profit Car Care Council, should be replaced periodically.

"Spark plugs are one of the hardest working parts of a vehicle. A spark plug can fire 400 times per minute per cylinder or 1,600 times a minute on a four-cylinder engine," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

(July 16, 2019) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The average interest rate for a new-vehicle loan dropped for the second month in a row in June, hitting its lowest level so far this year. According to the car shopping experts at Edmunds, the annual percentage rate (APR) on new financed vehicles averaged 6% in June, compared to 6.1% in May. Edmunds data reveals that more shoppers received interest rates between 2 to 5% in June compared to any other month so far in 2019.

(July 15, 2019) For Toyota, sustainability is about more than just cars. It’s about embracing emerging technologies that give people more opportunities to move — safely, responsibly and in harmony with the environment. And Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050 offers a comprehensive roadmap to achieving these core goals.

(July 11, 2019) ATLANTA  — As car shoppers grill, chill and watch the fireworks this July, summer buying season continues to heat up at dealerships across the country. Dealers are looking to add the latest 2020 models to their lots, so this is a great time for consumers to find a good deal on their next vehicle. Focusing on certified pre-owned vehicles can help car shoppers find their dream car with even more cash saved for those weekend summer trips.

(July 11, 2019) BOSTON — GasBuddy has debuted its new consumer ranking of fuel and convenience store (c-store) brands with 4,000+ locations in the second quarter report card based on more than 2 million ratings submitted by GasBuddy users in the app between April 1 -  June 30, 2019.

The rankings for the 4,000+ locations as well as four additional number-of-location segments examine fuel and c-store retailers in the six categories of cleanliness, coffee, customer service, outdoor lighting, restrooms, and overall experience.

(July 9, 2019) Gas prices are heating up alongside summer temperatures. In the last 15 days, state averages have jumped, pushing up the national average nearly a dime to $2.75. In addition to rising gasoline demand, 13 states this month have introduced new gas taxes that have contributed to the national average increase.

Those states include California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont.

(July 7, 2019) Toyota is committed to the safety and security of our customers. As part of this commitment, we monitor field information, investigate identified issues, and take action to address them as appropriate. In some instances, this involves issuing voluntary safety recalls.

On July 2, The Los Angeles Times published a story that misrepresents a recent recall filing involving certain Model Year 2018 and 2019 Prius c vehicles as an “expansion” of previous Prius inverter recalls filed in 2014, 2015 and 2018. This is inaccurate and has generated additional misleading reporting.

(July 5, 2019) ROCKLEIGH, N.J. — The quality and accessibility of driver education is declining, with Americans seeking a more modern and comprehensive approach to learning how to drive, according to a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Volvo Cars.

To better understand the effectiveness of today’s driver’s ed programs, Volvo set out to explore how Americans of all ages learned to drive, what information was available and retained, and what they think needs to be changed or updated in the process.

(July 4, 2019) ROCKLEIGH, N.J. — According to a new survey by The Harris Poll on behalf of Volvo Cars, Gen Zs1 and Baby Boomers2 point the finger at each other when naming the most significant safety threats on the road today.

In a wide-ranging survey of Americans across a broad range of generations, Volvo set out to explore the effectiveness of driver’s ed programs in developing safer and more confident drivers.