You May Not Realize What’s Come and Gone ‘Til You’re Shopping for a New Car
Automakers are continually making changes in vehicles, and most new cars come with a range of connected options, from Bluetooth to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Changes can be technological breakthroughs, such as the automatic emergency braking systems that are increasingly becoming standard on new cars. Some are mandated changes, such as a federal requirement that all vehicles have backup cameras. What are the most popular features in new cars?
Read the article at USA Today.
After Losing $1 Billion to Trump’s Trade Tariffs, Ford Prepares for Mass Layoffs
Ford's stock is down 29%, and the tariffs imposed by President Trump have reportedly cost the company $1 billion, as the company is in the midst of a reorganization. Now, the company is announcing layoffs.
Jim Hackett, Ford’s CEO, is working to engineer a $25.5 billion restructuring, hoping to cut costs and remain competitive. But auto sales are down, and one reason is the trade tariffs that Trump has imposed on metals and other goods. Hackett has said the tariffs could do “more damage” if the disputes aren’t resolved quickly.
Read the article at Fortune.
Being Climate-Friendly Makes Business Sense
Historically, corporations have been complicit in the world’s climate problem. One analysis shows that half of the globe’s emissions since 1988 are traceable to just 25 private and state-owned fossil fuel corporations.
With trillions of dollars at stake, corporations have forged ahead to create sustainable businesses. They are taking steps to lower their carbon footprints and overhaul their supply chains in a race against rising seas and temperatures. Others are trying to achieve the ultimate goal: pulling carbon dioxide out of the air and using or storing it.
Read the article at The Washington Post.
Self-Driving Cars Need a Common Language
Most experts agree: we need a better, more unified way that autonomous vehicles could use to communicate intent to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers.
The five levels of automation as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, the global standard for self-driving, is being criticized for being overly broad and possibly dangerous.
Read the article at The Verge.
The Best Automotive Brand? Toyota Tops the List
According to Interbrand’s 2018 Best Global Brands report, Apple was the top company on the list with a valuation of $214 billion.
Toyota was seventh on the list at $53 billion, which was up 6% over last year’s result.
Overall, 15 automotive brands made the Top 100 list. The “valuation brings together market, brand, competitor, and financial data into a single framework within which the performance of the brand can be assessed, areas for growth identified, and the financial impact of investing in the brand quantified.”
Read the article at The Detroit Bureau.
