Days after Toyota announced it would follow in the footsteps of other carmakers like BMW and General Motors by investing in the car-sharing game, we’re learning a bit more about what the company plans to do with its new stake in San Francisco-based Getaround. Here’s a hint: it doesn’t involve keys. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Nissan Has Great Sales, Pays Out Big Incentives And Rebates To Dealers To Get There
By 10.31.16
Nissan is one of the top auto brands in the country, which is nice and all, but the owner of the country’s largest chain of auto dealers gave us a peek under the hood to explain why he doesn’t like the practices that help get it there. Namely, the company gives huge rebates and incentives to dealerships that make their sales goals. [More]
Self-Described “Simple Man” Pays $9M For License Plate
By 10.31.16
While here in the U.S. you can get a personalized license plate, having “ILUVCHEEZ” on your bumpers won’t break the bank. Outside of the U.S., however, there are folks willing to drop millions to get just the right message on their luxury vehicles. [More]
The Tiny Home Market Isn’t Booming Despite What TV Tells You
By 10.31.16
It’s a novel idea: spend less on a smaller, often portable, home and and have extra money to travel, pay off student loans, or simply move from one place to another. But despite popular TV shows hyping this “tiny home” movement, the folks who build these diminutive dwellings downplay talk of a miniature housing boom. [More]
Southwest Airlines Giving “No Thought Whatsoever” To Checked Bag Fees
By 10.31.16
Southwest Airlines is the only one of the largest U.S. commercial airlines that does not charge for customers to check bags, meaning the company is missing out on this multibillion-dollar revenue stream. While Southwest CEO Gary Kelly acknowledges the need to bring in more money for his business, he says his company has no plans to lose its “bags fly free” identity. [More]
American Airlines Flight Catches Fire After Aborting Takeoff In Chicago
By 10.28.16
An American Airlines flight preparing to takeoff from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport blew a tire and caught fire Friday afternoon following a reported engine malfunction. [More]
Toyota Latest Carmaker To Invest In Car-Sharing Company
By 10.28.16
Following in the footsteps of rival carmakers BMW and General Motors, Toyota dipped its tires into the sharing game on Friday, announcing an investment in car-sharing company Getaround. [More]
BMW Recalls 136K Vehicles Over Stalling Issues
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
You can’t go anywhere — or at least get far — if the engine in your car stalls. For that reason, BMW recalled more than 135,000 vehicles that could contain a wiring issue. [More]
Kia, Hyundai Agree To Pay $41.2M To 33 States & D.C. Over Fuel Economy Issues
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Hyundai and Kia agreed Thursday to pay $41.2 million to dozens of states four years after it was revealed that the carmakers overstated the fuel efficiency of certain vehicles. [More]
Uber Has Plans For An On-Demand Flying Car Service
By 10.27.16
Every time some company comes up with an idea that’s sort of like a flying car, we have to ask, “Yeah, but what about living like The Jetsons?” Uber has apparently been thinking about this too, announcing that it’s been working on a flying car project. [More]
Uber Adds Surge Pricing To Food Delivery
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
For years, Uber has subscribed to a “surge” pricing model that increased the cost of a ride during peak times, like rush hours. Now, the ride-sharing company is taking that idea and bringing it to its UberEATS food delivery service in certain markets. [More]
Ford Issues Trio Of Recalls Over Fire Risks, Leaks
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Vehicles are not supposed to leak fuel or oil. Still, several models of Ford vehicles apparently include those issues, leading the carmaker to announce three recalls covering nearly 500,000 vehicles. [More]
Subaru Recalls 100K Vehicles Over Fire Concerns
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
One of the last things you might expect when driving your vehicle is for it to catch on fire. But that’s apparently a concern for more than 100,000 Subaru vehicles now under recall. [More]
Uber’s Self-Driving Truck Startup Delivers Beer To Denver With Driver In Sleeper Cab
By 10.25.16
AB InBev and Uber teamed up last week for a ceremonial delivery: the first recorded commercial shipment delivered by self-driving truck. It was a load of Budweiser, and the truck made its 120-mile trip down a highway with no driver in the seat. [More]
Lyft Testing Paid Memberships That Offer Discounted Line Rides
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Right now, anyone can hail a ride on Lyft or Uber, as long as they have the app installed on their phone — there are no monthly fees, just what you pay for each ride. But there could be good business in paid memberships, which is something Lyft says it’s going to test out for the month of November. [More]
British Airways Flight Diverted After 25 Crew Members, Passengers Become Sick
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
The long trip from San Francisco to London became even longer for nearly 400 passengers on a British Airways flight after the plane had to make an emergency landing when dozens of passengers and crew members became ill. [More]
One Airline Now Offers Kid-Free “Quiet Zones” On Flights
By 10.24.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
For years airlines have toyed with the idea of separating sometimes fussy, loud children from adults on flights, either through flying nanny services or the ever-popular, but seldom instituted “kid-free zones.” Now, one airline is taking the plunge, offering separate “quiet zones” where passengers under the age of 12 aren’t allowed to sit. [More]
