The NHTSA is urging all users of 15-passenger vans to take specific steps to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. Overloading 15-passenger vans increases rollover risk and makes the vehicle more unstable in any handling maneuvers. Other safety tips include making sure all passengers are buckled up, vans have appropriately-sized and load rated tires that are properly inflated before every trip, the vehicle is regularly maintained, and drivers are properly licensed and experienced in operating a 15-passenger van.
Toyota and Lexus Financial Services have rolled out an Excess Wear & Use (EWU) Protection Plan for their lease customers, which will help customers avoid unexpected charges for financial responsibility when returning a lease vehicle due to dings, dents, scratches and missing parts or equipment. The EWU program is aimed at simplifying the return process, eliminating claim forms and keeping customers happy.
The NHTSA is proposing a rule standardizing keyless ignition systems so that they all shut down after a half-second hold of the power button, whether the vehicle is moving or not. In addition, the proposal calls for a loud warning to sound if the driver exits the vehicle without putting it in park or without turning off the vehicle. Some carbon monoxide fatalities have occurred when drivers left their cars running in attached garages.
Mota Motors launched a highly successful certified pre-owned program called SureSale™Certified in the Phoenix, AZ, area, and will now extend it to New York and New Jersey. The program expands the range of vehicles eligible for certification on dealer lots, online marketplaces, and remarketing channels (up to 15 years old and 150K miles), making it easier to implement with one-click vehicle certification.
Plans are underway by several major auto manufacturers to offer hydrogen fuel cell cars for sale. These are electric cars that generate electricity in fuel cells rather than storing it in batteries. The fuel cells combine hydrogen gas with oxygen in a process that creates water and a stream of electricity without long charging times, but current costs and infrastructure needs must be addressed before the vehicles gain commercial acceptance.