After refusing to fold to pressure from German regulators and consumer safety advocates to change the name of its semi-autonomous driving feature Autopilot, the electric carmaker is changing something — its official name, dropping the “Motors” and becoming simply “Tesla.” [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Uber Signs Deal To Add Mercedes-Benz Vehicles To Self-Driving Fleet
By 1.31.17
For its first generation of self-driving cars, Uber partnered with automakers Ford and Volvo, and used the driving technology that it has developed itself on cars that it now owns. The transportation network company has now made a deal with Daimler AG to add the company’s Mercedes-Benz autonomous vehicles to the Uber fleet once they’re ready. [More]
Auto Industry: Possible Border Tax Would Raise Prices, Even On American-Made Cars
By 1.31.17
Facing a possible new tax on imported goods, some of the biggest names in auto manufacturing and retail are calling on lawmakers to rethink the tax, claiming it will hurt their businesses and lead to higher prices. [More]
Driver Says Police Radar Confused His Car With A Really Fast Deer
By 1.30.17
My speedometer must be broken…. You must have me confused with another car… I think your radar gun needs calibrating… I think that super-fast deer over there is the one who should get the ticket… One of these statements is not a common excuse for trying to get out of a speeding ticket. [More]
Maintenance Workers Find 31 Pounds Of Cocaine Hidden In Nose Of American Airlines Plane
By 1.30.17
Though it’s not uncommon to hear that someone shoved an ungodly amount of cocaine nose-ward, it’s an entirely different story when it’s 31 pounds of the stuff that’s been hidden in the nose gear of a commercial airliner. [More]
Why Your Social Media Feed May Be Filled With Pledges To #DeleteUber
By 1.30.17
Over the weekend and this morning, your social media feed may be filled with friends urging others to #DeleteUber and stop using the ride-hailing service. How does a popular app go from top of the heap to boycott target in just a few days? [More]
600,000 Audi Vehicles Recalled Over Fire Hazard, Airbag Issues
By 1.30.17
Audi’s parent company Volkswagen is kicking off the week in style, announcing two separate recalls — one involving a potential fire risk, the other for faulty airbags — covering a total of nearly 600,000 vehicles. [More]
Delta Systems Outage Leads To Hundreds Of Canceled Flights
By 1.30.17
It’s starting to sound like all too familiar a refrain. Due to an IT error, a major airline has to temporarily issue a full ground stop on all its flights nationwide, causing a cascade of problems. Today’s “winner” of systems glitch roulette is Delta, and travelers this morning may have cancellations and delays to look forward to. [More]
Southwest Airlines Has No Plans For No-Frills Basic Economy
By 1.27.17
Not that long ago, Southwest Airlines was considered a relatively no-frills airline, at least when compared to the other major carriers. Then all the competition started charging for checked bags, while Southwest says it’s given “no thought whatsoever” to the idea. The new trend among the big airlines is to offer “Basic Economy” fares that won’t even let you use the overhead storage bin, but Southwest says it won’t go this route either. [More]
Tesla Accuses Former ‘Autopilot’ Manager Of Stealing Company Secrets
By 1.27.17
Between safety concerns and a tit-for-tat with a former supplier of parts for its assisted-driving system, Tesla’s Autopilot has been thrust into the spotlight numerous times in the last year. Now, the company is doing battle over the semi-autonomous feature again, this time suing a man who formerly worked as a manager for the division, claiming he stole company secrets to start his own self-driving company. [More]
Google Maps Parking Assistant Is Live In 25 Cities
By 1.26.17 — Updated: 1.27.17
That didn’t take long. Just a week after a beta test of Google Maps’ latest app version showed the company was testing a new feature intended to alert users to potential parking problems, the service is now live. [More]
Uber Is Now Business Travelers’ Top Choice For Getting Around
By 1.26.17
If you travel for work and have to get around a city without your own car, how do you get around? For a growing number of business travelers, the answer is “by using the Uber app to make a car magically appear in front of me.” [More]
Tostitos ‘Party Safe’ Bags Will Detect If You’ve Been Drinking; Help You Call Uber
By 1.25.17
On Super Bowl Sunday, many of us will enjoy an adult beverage. Some of us may overindulge to the point where it’s unsafe to drive home. Now there are tortilla chips that can both detect if you’ve been drinking, and help you call for a ride home. [More]
Lyft Planning To Launch Service In 100 New U.S. Cities By End Of Year
By 1.25.17
If you’re looking for a set of hired wheels to transport you around town, you may soon have another option: Lyft says it’s planning to add 100 more U.S. cities to its service. [More]
New Mexico Sues 15 Carmakers, Takata For Concealing Deadly Airbag Defects; Seeks $10K/Day
By 1.25.17
Just when you thought Takata’s massive shrapnel-shooting airbag debacle was beginning to wind down after the company settled federal criminal charges for $1 billion, New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the company and 15 car companies for allegedly covering up the deadly defect. [More]
Volkswagen Dealers To Receive $1.85M Each In “Dieselgate” Settlement
By 1.24.17
The final pieces of Volkswagen’s efforts to put the “Dieselgate” scandal behind it are beginning to fall into place, as a judge approved yet another billion-dollar settlement from the carmaker, this time relating to compensating dealers affected by the carmaker’s decision to equip more than 500,000 vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” used to skirt emission standards. [More]
Budget Carrier AirAsia X Cleared For U.S. Flights
By 1.24.17
The next time you’re looking to book a flight on the cheap, you could have another option on the table now that budget carrier Asia X says it’s gained approval to fly anywhere in the U.S. [More]
Walmart To Start Selling Cars At Dozens Of Stores
By 1.24.17
It was just a matter of time: More than a year after Walmart-owned Sam’s Club began selling customers cars, taking on Costco’s long-running auto program, and with Amazon dipping its toes into the industry, Walmart is finally following suit. [More]
