August 2018

Subaru offers tips on how to keep national parks clean over Labor Day

(August 31, 2018) Last year, more than 330 million people visited the national parks and with Labor Day weekend around the corner, parks across the country are likely to see a surge of visitor traffic. While everyone is encouraged to visit a national park in their area, with more visitors comes more waste that the National Park Service (NPS) must manage. Each year, NPS manages nearly 100 million pounds of visitor waste nationally, much of which is brought in from outside the parks.

Automakers locked in battle with phone manufacturers, J.D. Power finds

(August 31, 2018) COSTA MESA, Calif. — Some technologies, such as smartphone mirroring, are quickly adopted by new-vehicle owners, while other technologies can take decades to be fully embraced according to the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study.

Labor Day wraps up highest summer pump prices since 2014

(August 30, 2018) BOSTON — Consumers have seen the most expensive summer at the pump since 2014 with an average of $2.73 per gallon thus far, according to GasBuddy, a smartphone app. The average gas price over Labor Day weekend is expected to be $2.84 per gallon, a 20 cent increase from Labor Day 2017.

“It’s been consistently a more painful summer at the pump than what we’ve been accustomed to when compared to the last few summers,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

AAA predicts gas prices could drop 14 cents a gallon this fall

(August 30, 2018) WASHINGTON — AAA forecasts that the national gas price average will drop to $2.70 this fall and has the potential to drop even more. That is 14-cents less a gallon compared to today’s price and more than a quarter cheaper than this year’s recorded high of $2.97 set in May.

“Cheaper-to-produce gasoline and relatively stable crude oil prices in August, combined with an anticipated drop in consumer gasoline demand post-Labor Day, means consumers will see savings when they fill-up at the pump this fall,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson.

Auto market appears to be tilting in favor of prospective buyer

(August 29, 2018) Consumer research and ratings firm J.D. Power has released its July auto sales forecast, and the trends aren’t looking great for the industry. Monthly new-vehicle retail sales had increased for the previous 54 months compared to the same months in the previous year. However, July’s sales were projected to have a 3.2% decrease compared to July 2017.

Autonomous and safe: Automated driving in urban traffic

(August 29, 2018) STUTTGART, Germany — Automated vehicles will become part of everyday life in the near future — not only on clearly structured motorways and expressways, but also in urban areas, according to Daimler. Yet urban traffic in particular poses huge challenges for the researchers and developers of the necessary technologies.

The task is to master considerably more complex road layouts, processes and possible scenarios. In addition, towns and cities are places where many different road users interact in a relatively confined space.

AAA: Ride-hailing twice the cost of car ownership

(August 28, 2018) ORLANDO, Fla.— Ride-hailing services are a popular and convenient transportation option, but a new AAA analysis shows they are not a cost-effective replacement for vehicle ownership. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the average driver in an urban area — the only setting in which using these services are a practical full-time transportation option — drives 10,841 miles per year.

Study finds mobility services becoming popular as alternative to ownership

(August 26, 2018) ATLANTA — The automotive industry's predictions on the future of traditional vehicle ownership remain a topic of debate and at times a guessing game. Ultimately, awareness, availability and acceptance of on-demand transportation options, such as car-sharing, ride-hailing and subscription services, will likely be the deciding factor. The uptake of vehicle ownership alternatives is transforming the way consumers view mobility according to the 2018 Cox Automotive Evolution of Mobility Study on Alternative Ownership.

Edmunds report shows record savings on used vehicle for car shoppers

(August 23, 2018) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Record savings can be found on used vehicles compared to new, according to the latest Used Car Report released by Edmunds. Edmunds data reveals that supplies of three-year-old vehicles hit a record-high level in the second quarter of 2018, accounting for nearly one-fourth of all franchise dealer sales.

Study: Fewer than third of consumers support fuel economy rollback

By Autolist Analytics Team

(August 23, 2018) Fewer than a third of consumers agree with the proposal by the Trump administration to roll back fuel efficiency standards in the U.S., according to a recent study by Autolist.com. Just 29 percent of those polled said they agreed with the Aug. 2 recommendation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation.