The FBI estimates reported cargo theft in the U.S. costs businesses $30 billion a year. Most goods are stolen from trucks but also from shipping containers, cargo lanes and warehouses. A growing number of businesses now use telematics to address the threat. Tracking systems include using GPS, Google maps, and geofencing devices.
Speaking at the NADA-ATD Conference in Las Vegas, NADA Used Car Guide executive automotive analyst Jonathan Banks said increasing demand and a drop in the supply of used vehicles will lead to higher used vehicles prices this year. "The slowing rate of depreciation over the course of the year will lead to even stronger trade-in values and enhance the equity that a consumer has in their vehicle," Banks added.
Flying cars may now be a bit closer to reality. The Skycar 100 LS and Skycar 200 LS are designed to take off like a helicopter, fly like a plane and be street-legal for short-distance driving. The Terrafugia Transition will fly at 93 knots and, upon landing, fold up its wings and get 35 miles per gallon on the highway. Terrafugia hopes to deliver its first plane by the end of the year, but challenges remain.
Ford, Chrysler, and GM are adding more luxury touches to their high-end pickups in response to growing demand. Buyers of high-end trucks are generally more wealthy and credit-worthy. In 2011, 13% of pickups cost more than $40,000, and the market is expected to only get better as buyers load up their trucks with options and extras.
Using a variety of sources and criteria, Forbes searched through data on 2012 pickup trucks to determine which are the year's toughest. Models making the list include the Honda Ridgeline, consistently rated high for reliability and durability, Toyota Tundra with its payload, towing capacity, and interior space, and Ford F-150 with the strongest frame and wider choice of engines.