January 2019

Hyundai walking car concept is future of the first responder

(January 8, 2019) LAS VEGAS — Any first responder will tell you that the first 72 hours following a natural disaster are the most crucial to saving lives. However, often times due to the nature of the disaster (forest fire, earthquake, hurricane, or flood), it can be difficult for search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid missions to reach and get immediate help to those in need.

The need for efficient, rapid, resilient transportation for disaster assistance is what led Hyundai to develop the first-ever vehicle with moveable legs.

BraunAbility launches the Turny Evo car seat

(January 7, 2018) WINAMAC, Ind. — BraunAbility, a U.S. market leader in wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts, is expanding its product offering to now include an additional mobility transportation solution, the BraunAbility Turny Evo seat. BraunAbility says the Turny Evo rotating seat lift creates an easier and safer way to get in and out of tall vehicles.

It is an ideal alternative for anyone with limited mobility, wheelchair users who can transfer into a vehicle seat and caregivers of children, young adults and older parents.

Autonomous truck company TuSimple announces 2019 expansion

(January 7, 2019) SAN DIEGO — TuSimple, a global self-driving truck company, today announced that in response to growing commercial demand from 12 contracted customers, including Fortune 100 and large international companies, the company currently has 11 trucks in the U.S. and will have 40 trucks in fully-autonomous operation by June, making TuSimple the largest self-driving truck solutions company worldwide.

2019 Chevy Cruze proves bad things can happen to good cars

By Casey Williams
MyCarData

(January 7, 2019) General Motors recently announced the Chevy Cruze would be among six vehicles getting the axe and taking down their respective assembly plants with them.  For the Cruze, that means thousands of employees in Lordstown, Ohio.  But, before you think the Cruze was a piece of crud deserving of execution, my recent drive in a very base model proves bad things sometimes happen to good cars.
   

Toyota Research Institute to roll our P4 automated test vehicle

(January 6, 2019) LOS ALTOS, Calif. — This week, the bright lights of Las Vegas will once again shine on the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) when it introduces the TRI-P4 automated driving test vehicle on Monday, Jan. 7, at CES (Consumer Electronics Show).  The P4 is based on the all-new fifth-generation Lexus LS flagship sedan and will be used in TRI’s two-track Guardian and Chauffeur automated driving system development.

From static to streaming — The history of car radio

(January 5, 2019) A new infographic illustrates the history of the car radio, from the 1930s through the current decade. Since the team at VAIS Technology continues to follow and adapt to the advances in car audio, they wanted to share this chart of the in-car technology upgrades throughout the decades. The journey to today's in-car entertainment was bumpy.

"We've been looking for better ways to enjoy music on the go since the invention of the car radio," says Dennis Hopper, VP of sales at VAIS Technology.

Ford recalling nearly one million more vehicles for defective airbags

(January 5, 2019) DEARBORN, Mich. — As part of the fourth planned expansion of vehicles included in Takata inflator recalls described in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Takata coordinated remedy order, Ford is expanding its safety recall on 953,000 vehicles with certain passenger frontal airbag inflators after Takata declared those inflators defective.

Infiniti QX Inspiration concept — An electrified SUV for the future

(January 5, 2019) HONG KONG — Previewing the brand’s electrified future, Infiniti will unveil its new QX Inspiration concept at the 2019 North American International Auto Show this month. The new concept represents Infiniti’s plans for high-performance electrified vehicles, offering complete range confidence while signaling a new era for Infiniti design enabled by new technology.

Auto sales rise 2.2 percent in December; 2018 fourth best year ever

(January 4, 2019) U.S. auto sales rose 2.2 percent in December and overall volume rose 0.6 percent for the year even as automakers endeavored to counter slumping car demand with higher light-truck deliveries. December was the second-best month of the year on a volume basis with with sales of 1.639 million.

Subaru records 10th consecutive year of sales increases in U.S.

(January 4, 2019) Subaru of America has reported record-breaking sales of 680,135 vehicles for the 2018 calendar year; an increase of 5 percent over the previous annual record of 647,956 vehicles set in 2017. This marks the tenth consecutive year of record sales for Subaru of America and eleventh consecutive year of sales increases.

The December sales total of 64,541 vehicles marks the automaker’s best-ever sales month, topping the previous best month of August 2018 (64,088). December also marked the 58th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company.