European Study Cites Safety, Cost Benefits of ‘Driver Assist’ Technology

A European consortium published the findings of a four-year study focused on the impact of driver assistance systems in Europe. The study looked at existing technologies and their potential to both enhance safety and reduce environmental impact. It revealed a link between these systems and improvements in driver behavior, fuel efficiency and traffic safety, as […]

Used Market Shrugs Off Fuel Price Drop

A 10-cent drop in gas price could have created a stir on the wholesale market, but Ricky Beggs and the Black Book team didn’t spot one last week. However, Beggs cheered the downward movement of fuel prices, which according to his calculation now have softened for 13 weeks in a row to leave the national […]

Progressive Touts Spy- As-You-Drive Insurance Plan

Usage-based auto insurance plans have been around for a decade. But because drivers are wary of letting insurance companies track their driving patterns, adoption has been slow. Now insurance company executives say they’re amassing enough data to refine the formula for calculating risk—aka rates.

Average Incentive Spending – Luxury vs. Mainstream

While mainstream brands have chipped away at profit-eroding incentives over past few years, same can’t be said of luxury counterparts
Mainstream and luxury brands reduced average incentive spending by 9.4% and 7.5%, respectively, from 2008 to 2011
Luxury brands changed course over 2nd half of 2011, while mainstream spending continued to trend downward