December 2018

Taking multiple medications can increase crash risk for older drivers

(December 7, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 50 percent of older adults report using seven or more medications while remaining active drivers, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. An evaluation of the medications people are taking found that nearly 20 percent of older drivers are using medications that generally should be avoided because they have very limited therapeutic benefit, pose excess harm, or both.

Newly redesigned 2019 Chevy Traverse — Room with a view

By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 6, 2018) Last year, for 2018, Chevrolet completely redesigned the Traverse, a popular three-row family crossover utility vehicle that seats up to eight passengers and starts under $30,000. The Traverse competes against the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, VW Atlas, Dodge Durango, Kia Sorento, and Nissan Pathfinder, as well as its up-market sibling, Buick Enclave.

Honda uses virtual reality to transport patients into a magical snow globe

(December 6, 2018) TORRANCE, Calif. — For the holiday season, Honda is using virtual reality to create a one-of-a-kind winter wonderland in "The Magic Snow Globe," an interactive world personalized for patients at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's).

Ho Ho Go! brand social series 'Jolly Fast Man' takes viewers behind scenes

(December 5, 2018) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Dodge brand is launching “Jolly Fast Man,” a seven-part social series campaign across its digital and social channels that chronicles the entire process of overhauling Santa’s sleigh — the Redeye Express. The series launches on the brand’s YouTube channel, with content running across the brand's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels throughout the month of December.

For first time in 18 months, gas price average cheaper than year before

(December 4, 2018) On the week, motorists in 32 states are paying less to fill up compared to a year ago. As the national gas price average drops to $2.46 it sets a new low price for the year and is cheaper than a year ago by two cents. The last time the daily national gas price average was cheaper year-over-year was 18 months ago on July 6, 2017, when gas prices were $2.24 (versus $2.26 on July 6, 2016).

Not only is today’s national gas price average cheaper year-over-year, but also is 31-cents cheaper than a month ago. On the week, 24 states saw gas prices drop double digits.

Automakers lead smart manufacturing advances with close to 50% automation

(December 4, 2018) LONDON — The adoption of smart manufacturing technologies is growing in almost all industries within the leading manufacturing countries such as the United States, Japan, and Germany, and the automotive industry has been a pioneer for most technologies in each of them, finds ABI Research, a market-foresight advisory firm providing strategic guidance on the most compelling transformative technologies.

Kelley: Average new-car prices up 2 percent year-over-year

(December 3, 2018) RVINE, Calif. — The analysts at Kelley Blue Book today reported the estimated average transaction price for light vehicles in the United States was $36,978 in November . New-vehicle prices increased by $769 (up 2.1 percent) from November 2017, while remaining flat (down 0.1 percent) from last month.  

"There were mixed average transaction price results among automakers in November 2018, even though the industry average did rise 2 percent," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

2019 Ram takes truck to a new level in full-size pickup segment

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 2, 2018) When Ram designers and engineers sat down four years or so ago to create the next generation half-ton 1500 pickup, they were given a blank sheet of paper and the goal of producing a no-compromise truck that, according to Brad Pinter, 1500 brand manager, would be the strongest and most technologically advanced Ram the company had ever built.