Car Safety and Fuel Efficiency Improvements Aren’t Driving Up the Cost of Cars
Have the new automotive technologies that have improved safety and fuel economy over the years also made them more expensive? Some critics of auto regulations have long argued that they have—and that, as a result, consumers, don’t come out ahead.
But a new Consumer Reports analysis of car prices going back nearly two decades has found that’s not true. After adjusting for inflation, vehicle prices didn’t increase during the time period studied—model years 2003 through 2021—even as average fuel economy increased 30 percent and proven lifesaving safety technologies became common features.
GM Goes Deep Purple for Self-Cleaning Touch Screen Tech
Touchscreens inevitably leaves fingerprints at best, germs at worst. GM was awarded a patent for a self-cleaning touchscreen that's also self-disinfecting.
This system does not rely on the germicidal 254-264-nm UV-C wavelength used to disinfect water supplies, hospitals, airplane interiors, etc. Instead, ultraviolet illumination from LEDs activates a photocatalytic coating applied to the touchscreen. That material is normally water repellant, but when activated by UV light (sufficient sunlight can trigger it), it becomes hydrophilic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. With the moisture, the catalyst effectively kills and removes any organic material on the surface.
The Truck Driver Shortage: Recruiting and Retention Strategies
By Solera Fleet Solutions
The American Trucking Association estimates that the U.S. trucking industry is short 78,000 truck drivers, and the shortage could balloon to 160,000 by 2030.
The industry can avoid a more severe driver deficit by hiring about 1.2 million new truck drivers to replace drivers who are leaving the industry due to retirement or other reasons.
There hasn’t been a better time for you to explore the benefits Solera Fleet Solutions can provide for driver retention.
Solera Fleet Solutions applications like Omnitracs’ software can enhance driver experience and satisfaction. SuperVision Driver Performer provides managers with driver retention scorecards based on many key factors.
US Auto Industry Up 10% In 4th Quarter — But Down 16% Compared to Q4 2019
The US auto industry is truly on the rebound. In the 3rd quarter, sales increasing 1% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021, the first positive trend in a while.
Which brands are up, and which are down? There are three clear leaders — Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet. Honda and Hyundai seem to have a good grasp on #4 and #5. In Q4 2022 vs. Q4 2021, about half of auto brands saw their sales increase while about half saw their sales decrease. Clear winners in terms of volume growth were Chevrolet and Toyota. Key winners in terms of percentage growth were Cadillac and Audi. Tesla was 5th in terms of volume growth as well as percentage growth.
SOBRsafe Helps Create an Alcohol-Free Workplace for Fleets
By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor
Drunk driving is one of the biggest dangers of the road. Over 30 people in the United States are killed every day in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver.
“When people drink, we exhale alcohol through the pores of our skin everywhere on our body, including our fingertips,” says Michael Watson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for SOBRsafe. “Our potentially game-changing technology allows us to instantaneously determine whether or not a person has been drinking.”
