Editorial archive

November 2015

Automotive loan balances grow more than 53 percent since 2010

Tags:

(November 4, 2015) SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Experian Automotive today announced that outstanding automotive loan balances reached its highest level — $968 billion — in the third quarter of 2015, growing by more than 53 percent since the post-recession low in 2010. According to Experian's most recent State of the Automotive Finance Market report, this increase also marks a $98 billion increase from the previous year.

New-car transactions prices rise more than 1 percent in October

Tags:

(November 3, 2015) IRVINE, Calif. — The analysts at Kelley Blue Book kbb.com today reports the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $34,023 in October.  New-car prices have increased by $458 (up 1.4 percent) from October 2014, while climbing $233 (up 0.7 percent) from last month.

"Transaction prices continue to rise with several segments besting the industry average in terms of growth, including full-size SUVs, high performance cars, mid-size trucks and vans," said Akshay Anand, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

New child car seat system monitors baby, alerts parents

Tags:

(November 2, 2015) ST. LOUIS — Driver's Little Helper, a new stand-alone smartphone-enabled car seat system, will monitor and alert parents and caregivers if a child leaves the car seat, if the temperature inside the car gets too hot or cold, or if a child is left in the seat for several minutes after the vehicle has stopped moving.

Available for iPhone and Android devices, the app communicates with a sensor inside the car seat to send the phone alerts.  If the driver doesn't respond to the alerts, the system can be configured to send messages to other designated contacts.  Driver's Little Helper, which retails for $80, can be used on any car seat.