NHTSA Launches Campaign to Educate Drivers on Safety Features
The U.S. Department of Transportation launched a new series of safety videos featuring Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained, demonstrating for the public the potential lifesaving benefits of several advanced driver assistance systems available in many new vehicles.
The five short videos are hosted by Fenske and include: 4 Technologies That Could Prevent Your Next Car Crash; Rear Automatic Braking; Blind Spot Intervention; Lane Keeping Assistance; Automatic High Beams; and a four-part summary video discussing blind spot warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian automatic emergency braking.
Paving the Road to Future Fleet Success
By Samir Mehta, Chief Product Officer, Wrench
Finding efficient processes for getting your fleet's vehicles repaired and maintained with minimal downtime can be challenging as a fleet manager.
And now, because of the chip shortage and other manufacturing issues, there is a significant decrease in the production of new vehicles. With new vehicles harder to find, many fleet managers are turning to used vehicles. But buying used vehicles comes with new concerns about purchasing a lemon.
Wrench offers comprehensive inspection services to fleet managers with over 3,500 qualified and experienced inspectors nationwide, available 7-days a week. Wrench inspectors perform a 160-point inspection covering the exterior, interior, mechanical, tire, road test, and then generate a detailed report identifying areas of concern conducted by a Wrench ASE-certified technician.
The Importance of Driver Coaching in Your Fleet Safety Program
By John Carione, Vice President of Marketing, IntelliShift
At the top of every fleet manager’s list of concerns is safety.
A strong safety program can protect not just your equipment and brand, but also your most important asset – your drivers and operators. By now, most organizations with a fleet of any size have some elements of a safety program in place. However, fleet safety programs must be both holistic and should never be “set and forget.”
With any safety program, it’s important to ensure that the foundational groundwork is in place. First, does your organization have a well-articulated definition of what safety means? Does everyone in your organization understand this definition? Ensure you’ve established clear goals and policies to reach them. Then, communicate, demonstrate, and reinforce this safety-centric approach so that it becomes engrained in your company’s culture.
Cheap Electric Cars Won’t Happen in America Until We Fix the Federal Tax Credit
The price of lithium-ion batteries is far from the only obstacle slowing electric vehicle adoption in the United States. Behind the battery supply hurdle is another, equally large barrier, one America must contend with if it's to democratize the electric car: The well-meaning, but utterly broken $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs.
The financial incentive is only fully available to car buyers above a specific threshold of income. Shoppers below that mark, who are more likely to shop economy cars than a fancy Tesla, pay less in taxes and thus receive reduced tax breaks, which by virtue of being smaller won't be as influential in their car selection process.
As advocated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the incentive should be awarded at the time of purchase, rather than be locked away for months until tax season. Point-of-sale rebates, these are called.
Read the article at The Drive.
Car Prices Are Soaring, And They’re Not Going to Stop
Car dealer lots have only a fraction of the vehicles — both new and used — that they typically have. That's helping send prices to record levels and lifting the nation's overall inflation rate. And the price increases aren't over yet.
Wholesale prices for used cars sold at auction are up 39% since the start of this year, according to other data from JD Power. Retail used car prices are up a more modest 20% in the same period. That's also a significant jump for this time of year, and the higher wholesale prices are pointing to bigger increases on the way. Strong sales and limited supply — are feeding the price boom.
"It's a perfect storm," said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist for Cox Automotive. "If you're not willing to pay near sticker price, there's someone behind you who is. These issues will likely be with us through at least the rest of this year."
Read the article at CNN Business.
