Car troubles: Chevrolet, Land Rover Have Multiple Models Among Cars More Likely to Report Problems
There are many important matters to consider when buying a new car, and something that often gets overlooked is a car's reliability – or how long it will last before repairs are needed.
To help car buyers identify potentially troublesome cars, product review organization Consumer Reports conducted its latest annual reliability survey. This survey of owners' experience with approximately 329,000 vehicles was used to determine how likely each model is to have serious problems.
While many different automakers and brands appear on this list, some appear more than others. Notably, Land Rover and Chevrolet have at least five models each with a predicted reliability score of just 1 out of 5.
Read the article at USA Today.
Are We Ready for the Zero-Emission Future?
Globally, it’s not possible that we’ll see 100 percent zero-emission vehicles by 2035, though it’s possible in some regions. There has to be a concerted effort, a true societal commitment.
A 2019 AAA survey found 40 million Americans ready to consider an EV for their next car, but 40 percent also said they don’t expect the majority of vehicles to be electric by 2029.
EVs remain expensive, and leading EV supplier Tesla can no longer offer its customers the federal $7,500 income tax credit (which expires after 200,000 electric vehicles have been sold). Will the Biden administration increase EV subsidies? With a commitment to a clean energy economy by 2050, it will definitely try, but Congress may well balk.
Read the article at MSN.
Digital Driver Risk Management Tools for 2021 and Beyond
By Chris Boyd, Chief Product and Technology Officer, eDriving
Not only will 2020 go down in history as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also as the year that almost everything went digital, from business events to social get-togethers!
And, while digital safety programs have been around for some time, more and more elements of driver risk management are shifting to a digital format, including driver training and coaching.
Of course, there will always be a place for in-car training and face-to-face interactions between managers and drivers, but for the foreseeable future, many organizations will be utilizing more and more digital tools to manage driver risk.
Leasing vs. Buying a New Car
Buying a vehicle with a conventional car loan is pretty straightforward: You borrow money from a bank, credit union, or other lending institution and make monthly payments for some number of years and keep the car. Drive it as much as you want. But, what about leasing?
With a lease, buyers make a monthly payment to drive a new car for a set term. That payment is often less than the monthly cost of financing a new vehicle, but buyers must return the car at the end of the lease term.
Lease contracts specify a limited number of miles. If you go over that limit, you’ll have to pay an excess mileage penalty. If you don’t maintain the vehicle in good condition, you’ll have to pay excess wear-and-tear charges when you turn it in.
Read the article at Consumer Reports.
US Drivers Paying Most at the Pump Since the Pandemic
U.S. retail gasoline prices are at their highest since the pandemic drove widespread lockdowns last March. The national price average is $2.29 a gallon.
The boost in fuel prices comes after global crude futures reached the highest since February after Saudi Arabia cut output earlier this week. Gasoline demand is lagging by 10-15% from a year ago, but with refiners trimming capacity and a weaker U.S. dollar, values have been climbing.
At the same time, Morgan Stanley expects the incoming Biden Administration to match Obama-era fuel efficiency standards that will cut gasoline demand by 5.6% over the next 30 years, according to a research report published Thursday.
Read the article at The Detroit News.
