Better Place to Pilot Electric Car Battery Swap
Electric car batteries can be recharged, but heavy-use applications like cabs require quicker turnaround. California firm Better Place offers battery-switching technology which will be tested in Tokyo cabs early next year.
Used-Car Dealers Facing High Prices, Short Inventory
With demand climbing for used vehicles, wholesale prices are rising and dealers are finding a shortage of quality vehicles. SUVs, once among the easiest used vehicles to find, are harder to locate as gas prices hold steady. Some dealers are holding back, refusing to pay prices that move closer toward new-vehicle territory.
No NHTSA Requirement for Auto-Reversing Power Windows
NHTSA tentatively decided not to require the installation of automatic-reversing features on power windows because 50-75% of the approximately 6 deaths/year will be prevented by the safer pull-up switches mandated as of October 2008. The cost of $6-12 per window is unjustified.
Iowa Dealer Uses Web, Reputation to Boost Certified Sales
Hummel Nissan is the No. 1 seller of certified Nissans in the Chicago region. Officials credit Nissan for its CPO efforts, but they also take a proactive approach in selling used units. Every potential vehicle is certified, and the dealer aggressively uses the Internet to find customers.
