Economic Recovery Brings Back Traffic Congestion
A new INRIX study reveals that traffic congestion and commuting times are rising as the economy recovers from the recession. Gridlock bottomed out in March and April 2009, but 58 of the 100 most populated cities experienced increases in traffic. Los Angeles topped the list as the most congested city.
Small Pickups Don’t Fare Well in IIHS Rollover Tests
Of all the compact pickups, only the Nissan Frontier was given a "good" rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the group's first test for rollover protection. Institute standards for a good rating are twice as strong as federal minimum standards.
Automakers Struggle to Bet on Right Telematics
In-car electronics and mobile connectivity highlighted the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. Everyone from Microsoft to Google and Ford to Audi unveiled new concepts that make the connected car of the future seem a present-day reality: infotainment systems with Wi-Fi capability and advanced voice recognition, cars that can read aloud tweets from Twitter, play and identify songs off Pandora, and keep drivers apprised of problems in their engines, all while enabling hands-free cell phone use and voice-activated email.
ZAP Electric Conversion Mail Trucks Coming to USPS
The United States Postal Service has contracted with ZAP to produce an electric version of its gasoline mail trucks called Long Life Vehicles. They'll be used first at USPS facilities in Santa Rosa, Calif., and then will undergo field trials in the Washington, DC, metro area.
Toyota Issues May be Impacting Used-Car Sales
CNW Research is suggesting that February's slipping used-car market may be traced to Toyota's troubles. Many independent dealers don't have resources to handle repairs and recalls, so Toyota sales are sluggish. And the market's price downturn is almost all the fault of Toyota's products.
