Used Car Buyers Charged Up about EVs and Hybrids
Looking for a good used car? Well, if you find a hybrid or an EV you like, don’t dawdle on buying it because it’ll be off the lot before you know it.
According to iSeeCars.com, five of the top 10 fastest selling used cars in the U.S. in the first half of this year were hybrids or full electrics, including the top three movers. Perhaps even more astonishing, only one of the top 10 is an American car.
Overall, iSeeCars.com found that one- to three-year-old used cars took an average of 42.4 days to sell. The top 10 fastest selling cars, however, were much faster—ranging from just 19.7 days on the market to 29.4 days.
Are In-Car Technologies Influencing Dangerous Driving Behaviors?
The first self-driving auto fatality in the U.S. once again raises the question for this risk industry vet: Are In-car Technologies Influencing Dangerous Driving Behaviors?
By Art Liggio, President, Driving Dynamics
On May 7 Joshua D. Brown an Ohio resident in his 40s was killed in Florida when he drove under the trailer of an 18-wheel semi truck while operating his Tesla Model S in “Autopilot” mode
Getting beyond the sensational headlines and the tragic loss, what can we learn from this incident? Is there something new to learn here or does it remind us of safety principles already proven but largely ignored? The answer is “yes” on both counts.
Forget Leather and Wood; Automakers Struggling to Redefine Luxury
Focus shifts to the “total customer experience.”
Leather, wood, a big engine and lots of chrome. Those have been the traditional signatures of a luxury car.
But what happens when you can add those same features to an entry-level sedan?
That’s a question high-line brands have been struggling to deal with as they face increasing competition from more mainstream manufacturers. That new reality is forcing luxury marques to shift focus a bit.
Anthony Foxx: Coolness Aside, Self-Driving Focus Should Be on Safety
As auto manufacturers rush to bring self-driving features to the market, they may have a responsibility to ensure motorists understand the limits of the latest technologies.
Weeks after autonomous driving technology contributed to a fatal crash for the first time, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told a room full of automated driving leaders Wednesday that they can’t expect car owners to understand the capabilities and complexity of autonomous systems, or to always play by the agreed-upon rules.
Although he never mentioned Tesla Motors or Joshua Brown by name, Foxx made it clear he was addressing the May 7 crash that killed Brown while he operated a Model S which had its Autopilot feature engaged.
Enjoying the Dog Days
The ‘dog days’ of summer are certainly upon us, and we hope that many of you are enjoying some well-deserved time off with friends and family! For those of us who are still working, the office can be a bit quieter and calmer - a great time to reflect, and to plan for the busier months ahead.
Are you looking to optimize vehicles, workers, and work? Then we suggest attending this Ask the Expert webinar with fleet expert Steve Saltzgiver.
Maybe you’re looking to improve Customer Experience? If so, check out this great column on SWOT analysis from Wendy Eichenbaum.
Finally, if you’re setting your sights forward to the AFLA conference in San Diego, then you might want to consider arriving early enough on Sunday, Sept. 18, to attend this dynamic Women in Fleet Management (WIFM) session: Ignite Your Selling Potential — led by Susan Lund.
Enjoy your summer!
Ted Roberts
President & Chief Content Officer
