Sono’s Solar EV on Tour to Woo US Fleet Business
Sono Motors is bringing its Sion solar-supplemented EV to the United States, but it's unclear if the small hatchback will be sold here to retail customers.
The Sion was on display in New York City's Time Square, followed by a stop in Brooklyn on what will be a multi-city tour, Sono said in a press release. The car will also be shown in Boston, Detroit, San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles.
The company has suggested that the Sion was developed only with European regulations in mind, and isn't discussing firm plans to sell it to retail customers in the U.S. Instead, Sono's release implied the Sion's U.S. tour is aimed at drumming up fleet business.
Lucid’s Over-The-Air Update Is Most Significant One Yet
Lucid is gearing up to issue its most comprehensive set of over-the-air updates yet, refining everything from screen displays to climate control.
Once all the updates are installed, drivers will enjoy much faster startup speeds for the Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel displays, updated on-screen layouts that place infotainment buttons and the most-used apps more easily within reach. Turn-by-turn directions will appear in the center of the Glass Cockpit so that they’re easier to follow.
An “Instant-on” displays mean the vehicle will be ready to drive as soon as you buckle up. Be prepared to say "Alexa" more often with additional voice-control features, including climate-control settings for the rear seat.
New Vehicle Supply Increased, Average Prices Fell in September
Cox Automotive‘s analysis of vAuto Available Inventory data shows that new vehicle inventory in September closed at the highest level since early June 2021, and average listing prices fell to the lowest point in two months.
“Supply is improving but demand is staying strong so we’re still not back to inventory levels of years past,” said Cox Automotive Senior Economist Charlie Chesbrough. “Despite elevated vehicle prices, soaring interest rates and high inflation, we see no signs that demand is falling off, at least, not yet.”
The total US supply of available unsold new vehicles stood at 1.32 million units at the end of September, an increase from 1.23 million cars at the end of August. Days’ supply was 42 compared to 41 at the end of August.
Unannounced Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections Yield 1700+ Violations
Commercial motor vehicle inspectors examined 6,204 vehicles transporting hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) and 6,668 HM/DG packages in Canada and the U.S. for a five-day unannounced HM/DG inspection and enforcement initiative for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).
The total number of violations was 1,774, according to a news release. Vehicles found to have HM/DG-related out-of-service violations, and/or any other driver or vehicle out-of-service violations, were restricted from traveling until all out-of-service violations were addressed.
According to FMCSA’s data for last calendar year, among the top hazmat violations in the U.S. were 'package not secure in vehicle', 'no copy of USDOT HM registration number' and 'no or improper shipping papers'.
Introducing Proactive Driver Coaching: Empower Drivers to Build Safe Habits on the Road
Driver safety is always a top priority—but in a tight labor market, a strong safety program is more important than ever for organizations seeking to attract and retain talent.
The commercial driver shortage has increased safety concerns, as experienced drivers leave the industry and newer drivers take their place.
This shift has brought even more attention to the importance of driver training and coaching.
