Consumer Reports: Drivers Often Confused By Vehicle Assist, Safety Systems
CR offers new guidance that should help automakers make systems easier to understand.
A new study shows drivers are often not familiar with how and when the modern safety systems in their cars work.
“Steering wheels have become cluttered with unrecognizable symbols to operate ADAS [advanced driver assistance systems] features, which drivers have to somehow distinguish and understand while they’re out on the road,” Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports senior director of auto testing, explains.
Tucson Intends to Replace City Fleet with Electric Vehicles
The city of Tucson, AZ has significant headway to make in transitioning its fuel-powered cars to electric vehicles in the next 10 years as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while realizing long-term cost savings.
The City Council adopted the “Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap” in April 2021, which includes the lofty goal of replacing the city’s entire light-duty fleet with electric vehicles, or EVs, by 2030.
Tucson could save $15 million by replacing light-duty cars and trucks with EVs throughout the next decade.
CerebrumX, Toyota Partner to Reduce Connected Fleet Management Costs
CerebrumX Lab, an AI-driven automotive data services & management platform, is partnering with Toyota to provide real-time insights aimed at making connected fleet operations safer and cost-effective.
The partnership is focused on reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for fleets by utilizing embedded telematics data from participating Toyota vehicles to promote data-driven decision-making and upgraded performance.
With the potential access to millions of vehicles and owner-consented trips data, CerebrumX is currently working with fleet service providers across North America.
Automotive Semiconductor Market Expects Major Growth Ahead
The automotive semiconductor market is expected to grow from USD 42.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 70.0 billion by 2027.
There is a significant demand for power electronics in automotive applications as it is a huge sector in terms of the potential use of electrical energy and the diversity of power electronics to solve all the concerns in automotive applications.
The transformation of passenger cars toward electrification is expected to disrupt the entire supply chain and create a significant shift in market size for automotive semiconductor components.
Yes, Warming Up Your Car Before Driving in Cold Weather Can Damage the Engine
In frigid temperatures, it’s a common practice for many drivers to let their cars warm up for a few minutes before hitting the road. Some vehicles even have a preset feature that lets drivers start their cars remotely.
“If you're one of the many drivers who thinks it's important to turn on your car and let it sit for a bit before hitting the road in wintry weather, you could be doing your engine more harm than good,” Firestone says.
In a blog post on its website, Smart Motors Toyota says letting your car idle in cold temperatures can shorten the life of your engine by stripping away oil from the engine’s pistons and cylinders — two critical components that help your engine run.
