By Dave Bean, Content Editor, FMW
After three years of ownership, owners are finding their vehicles to be noticeably less dependable than reported in the last iteration of the J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). Year-over-year, the 2024 results reflect a 17% increase in reported vehicle problems from 2023.
“Historically, VDS model results mirror the results of the respective model year in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, so a deterioration of vehicle dependability is unusual,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.
Despite dismal numbers for most automakers regarding dependability, J.D. Power still presents its annual awards to the makes and models which fared better than the competition. Toyota bested all other OEMs in nine vehicle segments to be the overall winner.
Point One Navigation, a leading provider of high-precision location solutions, announced a new case study - Faction: Accelerating Autonomous Delivery with Point One.
Driverless delivery vehicles won’t go mainstream until they are safe, reliable, inexpensive, and most importantly, profitable. Faction is working with Point One Navigation to develop the tech that will make autonomous last-mile fleets meet those demands.
Faction develops driverless vehicle systems for vehicle manufacturers and uses a combination of computer-controlled autonomy and remote human (TeleAssist®) operators to create driverless last-mile curbside delivery and logistics fleets.
"Point One is very comparable to some of the more expensive systems out there, but at a better price point with excellent accuracy and reliability,” said Faction’s CEO Ain McKendrick
Wheels has been recognized as a 2023 winner of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the nation. The competition identifies and honors organizations displaying commitment to excellence in human resources and employee enrichment.
This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole.
“We treasure our employees and see them as vital to our success. It is our first priority to provide them with a great company, inclusive culture and strong value proposition that retains and attracts top talent,” stated Mary Formosa, CHRO.
Automakers believe that in-cabin technology is one of the most important areas of differentiation. However, a recent study shows that consumer desire for tech displayed at the show is tepid.
It looked at passenger-side infotainment screens, the ability to purchase products from an infotainment screen, and exterior screens, and found that fewer than a quarter of customers are interested in these technologies.
The passenger-side infotainment screen was most popular among people who intended to buy an EV or a plug-in hybrid, appealing to 29 percent and 25 percent of those shoppers, respectively. However, 79 percent of shoppers wouldn’t be interested in the feature if it added $1,000 to the price of their vehicle.
Walmart is kicking off plans to build and remodel hundreds of stores in the US – and those plans include installing DC fast chargers at thousands of its Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.
Walmart says it’s going to remodel 650 stores across 47 states and Puerto Rico over the next 12 months, and build or convert more than 150 stores in the next five years. DC fast charger installation is included in that plan. It already has almost 1,300 DC fast-charging stations at more than 280 US stores.
The retailer stated that it’s “working on developing a coast-to-coast network of affordable electric vehicle fast-charging stations we hope will make EV ownership a more convenient and accessible choice for Walmart shoppers and associates.”