Once upon a time, if you fell behind on your car loan, the repo guy came out in the middle of the night and took your collateral-on-wheels back. These days, there are small GPS devices that can remotely disable the ignition until the borrower pays up. However, one auto lender is currently facing a federal investigation for its use of this technology. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Automakers Ask New EPA Chief Pruitt To Rescind Mileage, Greenhouse Gas Standards
By 2.22.17
Now that Scott Pruitt — the former Oklahoma Attorney General who repeatedly sued the Environmental Protection Agency — has been sworn in as the Administrator of the agency whose policies he once attacked, auto industry lobbyists are calling on the EPA to put a stop to longterm fuel-economy and emissions standards locked in by the previous White House. [More]
Google To Take On Uber, Lyft With Major Expansion Of Waze Carpooling Service
By 2.22.17
It seems you can’t throw a rock in the street these days without hitting a ride-sharing vehicle (but don’t do that, seriously). Google is going to make that marketplace even more crowded with a major expansion it has planned for the carpooling function included in its Waze navigation app. [More]
American Airlines Unveils Routes For Basic Economy Fares
By 2.21.17
A few weeks back, American Airlines said it would soon begin offering a new “Basic Economy” fare that offers discounts in exchange for travelers giving up their ability to choose a seat or use the overhead bins. Now the airline has begun selling these lower-cost tickets on certain routes, at a savings of around $20 per leg of a flight. [More]
Dodge, Chrysler Recall Nearly 70K Vehicles Over Possible Loss Of Power
By 2.21.17
Driving down the road and losing power doesn’t sound like a good combination. Yet, it can happen to nearly 70,000 Fiat Chrysler vehicles now being recalled. [More]
11 Passengers Walk Through TSA Checkpoint Without Screening At JFK Airport
By 2.21.17
One does not simply walk into Mordor, mostly because of the ever-watchful burning eye of Sauron. The Transportation Security Administration might need some of that juice after eleven people strolled right through a security checkpoint at John F. Kennedy airport in New York. [More]
Dash Cams: Coming To A Dashboard Near You
By 2.16.17
You’re driving calmly along when, suddenly, a small truck sideswipes your passenger door, taking your sideview mirror with it. Your heart is pounding and you both stop, whereupon the other driver starts shouting that you swerved into his lane—when you know for a fact that you did no such thing. Now it’s just your word against his. Anticipating the headache of filing a police report and arguing over the insurance claim, you think, “If only I had a video!” [More]
American Airlines Regional Plane Returns To Runway After Striking Deer
By 2.15.17
Occasionally, we’ll hear of a plane returning to the airport after colliding with a bird or birds upon takeoff –including one incident that resulted in a two-foot dent in a nose of an aircraft — but you don’t often hear about flights returning after other animal strikes. Yet, that’s what happened today when an American Airlines regional jet struck a deer on the runway and began leaking fuel. [More]
Toyota Recalls All Hydrogen-Powered Mirai Vehicles
By 2.15.17
Toyota’s goal to phase out traditional gas-powered vehicles from its product line may have hit a bit of a snag: The carmaker has recalled all of its hydrogen-powered Mirai vehicles. To be fair there are only a few thousand of them. [More]
Mazda Recalls 174K Vehicles Because Seats Shouldn’t Unexpectedly Move
By 2.14.17
Adjusting your seat position while driving can be dangerous, but it can be even more hazardous if you don’t know your seat is going to move. That’s why Mazda has recalled nearly 174,000 vehicles with seats that can unexpectedly change position. [More]
2,000 Royal Caribbean Cruise Passengers Stuck At Port Over Life Jacket Issues
By 2.14.17
If there’s anything we know about heading out on the open sea, it’s that you’d better have plenty of lifesaving equipment on board. That’s why a failed safety inspection has left more than 2,000 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise stuck at port instead of sailing the high seas on Valentine’s Day. [More]
Taxi Drones Preparing To Take Off In Dubai
By 2.13.17
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a reference to Superman — no, it’s a drone, and instead of carrying a package or even a six-pack of beer, it’s ferrying humans through the skies over Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. [More]
United Flights Delayed Over Flight Planning System Issues
By 2.8.17
Less than two weeks after Delta Air Lines suffered a systems outage that led to hundreds of canceled flights, passengers on United Airlines are dealing with similar issues after the system that creates flight plans for the carrier experienced technical difficulties. [More]
BMW Reaches $478M Settlement Over Water Damaged Cars
By 2.8.17
More than 300,000 BMW owners will soon be eligible to claim their portion of a $478 million settlement over allegations that a design defect resulted in water damage to electrical components in vehicles’ trunks. [More]
Nissan Recalls Altimas, Because Rolling Down The Window Shouldn’t Open The Door
By 2.7.17 — Updated: 2.8.17
We’re all used to the idea of pressing a button to roll down your car window. What we’re not used to — because it would be insanely dangerous — is pressing the window button and having the door open instead. [More]
Uber Brings In NASA Engineer To Make Flying Cars A Reality
By 2.7.17
If Uber ever wants to get its on-demand flying car service off the ground (pun definitely intended), it’s going to need some of the best brains in the business. That’s why the ride-hailing company is bringing in a NASA engineer with 30 years of experience at the agency to make the aerial service a reality. [More]
There’s A New “Longest” Flight: 9,032 Miles From Doha To Auckland On Qatar Airways
By 2.6.17
Nearly two years after an 8,590-mile flight from Dubai to Panama City became the “world’s longest flight,” there’s a new route trying to claim that crown. [More]
Ride-Hailing App Drivers Want To Put Ads Up If Taxis Can
By 2.2.17
If there are ads on the outside of taxis as well as on their insides, why can’t drivers for ride-hailing apps put up ads of their own? A company that provides an app that turns a driver’s tablet into a ride-hailing version of Taxi TV is suing the city of Chicago, which bans advertising in cars for ride-hailing app services. [More]
