Consumer Reports: New Safety System Could Prevent Crashes

Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Issue features a new safety system designed to prevent vehicle crashes from occurring. The technology allows cars in the same area to communicate with one another over a wireless network, exchanging data about each vehicle's speed, location, and direction of travel. Cars can also communicate with roadside infrastructure. The NHTSA says the technology has the potential to help drivers avoid or minimize up to about 80 percent of crashes involving unimpaired drivers.

 

Fleets Can Measure Carbon Footprint with New Ford Calculator

Ford will offer its U.S. fleet customers a new computer program that measures emissions such as carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen. It also provides fuel-cost estimates based on regional pricing data. Ford says the calculator is simple to use and compares any two models on the market including hybrid-electric, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The calculator will not be made available to retail customers.

 

Automakers Bet on EVs as Analysts Predict Surging Interest in Plug-ins

Early sales of plug-in cars have been disappointing, but automakers are continuing to bet on electricity as the best available technology to curb pollution and reduce foreign oil dependence. LMB Automotive says Americans bought 19,874 plug-in cars in 2011 and predicts the number to rise to about 70,000 in 2012, 170,000 in 2013, and 250,000 by 2015.

 

Rental Dealers Face Federal Oversight On Recalled Vehicles

Rental firms like Hertz (not Avis or Enterprise so far) are now supporting legislation that would require vehicles returned to their lots to be inspected and fixed before putting customers behind the wheel. The NHTSA has been investigating such companies for allowing recalled vehicles to stay on their lots instead of fixing safety-related repairs, which could become a safety hazard to renters.

Assessing Retail vs Fleet Vehicle Registrations in the U.S.

Sales to fleets are a good way of gaining product exposure, but they are often viewed as a means of eliminating excess production, especially those to rental car companies. Polk compared retail vs. fleet vehicle registrations for eight brands to determine those that more closely match production to retail demand. Import automakers have seen a more consistent retail/fleet mix.