EPA and DOE have released the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide. The guide finds that best fuel economy performers are hybrids, but the 2011 fuel economy leader list also includes fuel-efficient clean diesels as well as gasoline models. For the first time, the guide includes medium-duty passenger vehicles, which are generally large SUVs and passenger vans.
As the smartphone market continues to burn white-hot, automakers need to ask themselves one crucial question: Which comes first, the app or the money? The business models are still fuzzy because so many issues around software production and delivery, safety concerns, and consumer demand are still unclear. Some automakers wonder whether they should even expect to make money from in-car apps or just put apps down as cost centers or marketing expenses.
CNW Market Research president Art Spinella has reviewed trends in lease penetration and the sale of certified pre-owned vehicles. Toyota is leading the charge as lease penetration increased in October. He also offered encouraging observations for dealers who sell CPO vehicles; the premium between certified and non-certified continues to grow.
General Electric's decision to ramp up its fleet substantially with electric vehicles could be the tipping point for making EVs commercially viable and sooner than expected. GE's CEO Jeffrey Immelt called upon executives and industries to increase their green technology investment, citing GE's own $10 billion investment over the next five years.
When NHTSA decided to include technology that provided advanced collision warning and blind-spot detection into its MY2011 5-star safety technology, it started a push for the technology in the U.S. market. Automakers are still coming to grips with how to best notify drivers of danger and how much vehicle control to automate.