Taking a Look at Pay-as-You-Drive System
A number of regulators and planners think the idea of charging motorists by the mile rather than multiple fixed fees and taxes is a good idea. Several states and a number of European countries are exploring the idea of establishing per-mile fees that would use GPS navigation systems to track how much a vehicle is driven. A fixed rate could be charged or the fee might be adjusted to reflect the fuel-efficiency of a vehicle, perhaps even when and where it was driven. As fuel prices soar, American motorists are driving less and there seem to be few options to recover lost highway revenues other than raising excise taxes or adopting an alternative system. Few people expect the pay-as-you-drive system to go away.
Ford, Toyota Partner to Develop Large Vehicle Hybrid Technology
Ford and Toyota are partnering to develop the next generation of hybrid technologies that will specifically bolster the fuel efficiency of pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles. The new alliance is in response to recent federal mandates requiring automakers to boost fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Already the world's two leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles, Ford and Toyota now are challenged with expanding the technology to ensure that the largest vehicles can deliver better mileage. The two automakers also plan to work together on advanced telematics systems.
Toyota, Honda Top List in Best Cars for Families Awards
U.S. News Best Cars released the Best Cars for Families Awards, identifying the best family cars across twenty automotive categories. Toyota and Honda tied for the most awards with five each, followed by three awards for Ford, the most of any domestic automaker. Best Cars for Families Award winners are the cars that score highest in safety, reliability, comfort and affordability. The full list of winners is available at usnews.com/cars-trucks/Best-Cars-for-Families.
Using Text Messages to Unlock Car Doors, Start Engines
Researchers from iSEC Partners recently demonstrated an attack on a Subaru Outback equipped with a vulnerable alarm system by using a computer to send alarm commands to unlock the doors and start the engine. This was possible because car alarms, GPS systems and other devices are increasingly connected to cellular telephone networks and can receive commands through text messaging. Devices that receive texts generally cannot refuse them and the commands encoded in them. Users can't block texts; only operators of the phone networks can. If a secret phone number attached to a particular device is found, it can be thrown off by sending other commands through text messaging.
TrueCar to Purchase DealerTrack’s ALG
DealerTrack has announced it is selling ALG to TrueCar but will continue to have access to certain ALG intellectual property or data in its products and services, with a perpetual, royalty-free license. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. ALG will be run independently of TrueCar's operations. DealerTrack's management expects to recognize a pre-tax gain for GAAP purposes of at least $40 million on the sale, but officials do not anticipate that this will have an impact on 2011 non-GAAP guidance.
