Audi is ramping up one of its assembly plants in Germany with photovoltaic cells to power the plant with solar panel energy. The upcoming eTrons battery electric vehicle will be built at this plant. The photo cell technology will create enough electricity to power the equivalent of 180 homes.
Certified pre-owned sales are up again in November, to 126,651 units, with almost 1.5 million year-to-date and a 6.5 percent increase over same period last year. Dealers look forward to gathering new certified inventory for a successful 2011.
While government agencies are proposing annual increases in overall vehicle fuel efficiency, automakers say they're underestimating the technology costs and more study is required on the impact to vehicle safety.
Used commercial vehicle (Class 3-8) registrations were up 18.7% through the first nine months of 2010, according to Polk. Analysts also report an increase in new commercial vehicle registrations of 9.6%, and new commercial trailer registrations were up 42.2% over 2009.
When cars and sport utility vehicles literally bump into one another in stop-and-go traffic or in parking lots, their owners should prepare for a financial hit that could reach $6,000, according to new tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Because SUVs and other light trucks are not subject to the same federal bumper standards as cars, their bumpers generally don't line up. That means that what should be minor fender-benders can lead to huge repair bills, according to the institute, which is financed by the insurance industry.