In yet another example of unexpectedly crunchy, contaminated food, Pilgrim’s Pride is busy getting the news out about a recall of more than four million pounds of pre-cooked poultry products that could contain unwanted additions like plastic, wood, rubber, or metal bits. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Pilgrim’s Pride Recall: 4.5M Pounds Of Chicken Products May Contain Plastic, Wood, Rubber, Metal
By 4.27.16
Investigation Into Honda’s Inaccurate Death And Injury Reports Closed
By 4.25.16
Eighteen months and $70 million later, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed a probe into Honda’s failure to report over 1700 injuries and deaths over a period of 11 years without further penalties against the carmaker. [More]
NHTSA Shames Distracted Drivers With #JustDrive Twitter Hashtag
By 4.25.16
Distracted drivers aren’t just making phone calls or taking their eyes off the road to text. Many of them are going on Twitter while they should be concentrating on driving. Which is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is trying to shame them into putting their phones down. [More]
Fiat Chrysler Recalling 811K Dodge, Jeep Vehicles Over Confusing Gear Shifts
By 4.22.16
Two months after federal safety regulators expanded their investigation into Fiat Chrysler vehicles after receiving more than 100 complaints about crashes and injuries resulting from drivers inadvertently leaving their vehicles in gear with the engine running, the carmaker is officially recalling 811,000 SUVs and sedans equipped with the confusing electronic gear shifter. [More]
Daimler Reviewing U.S. Emissions Certification Process
By 4.22.16
Shortly after it was revealed that Volkswagen equipped 11 million diesel-engine vehicles worldwide with emissions-cheating “defeat devices,” rumors began swirling that similar irregularities were present in Daimler vehicles. While the carmaker hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing by regulators, it announced today that it would review its emissions certification process and investigate possibly issues. [More]
U.S. Investigating Mitsubishi Over Falsified Fuel Mileage Data
By 4.22.16
Two days after Mitsubishi revealed that employees manipulated mileage test data for 620,000 vehicles sold in Japan since 2013, U.S. regulators have opened their own investigation into the carmaker to find out if the same shenanigans occurred stateside. [More]
Uber Drivers Are Independent Contractors, Will Receive Up To $100M In Settlement
By 4.22.16
For the better part of three years, Uber drivers have sparred with the ride-sharing company over the status of their employment: are they independent contractor or actual employees? Today, Uber has agreed to settle two lawsuits over the issue, paying up to $100 million to the drivers who will remain independent contractors. [More]
California Regulators Might Stop Lyft And Uber Driver Car-Rental Programs
By 4.21.16
Drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft need relatively new cars, so a program where drivers lease new General Motors vehicles for $99 per week seemed like a good match. It’s being tested in Chicago now, and the companies plan to expand the program. They won’t be expanding it to California, though: regulators there will vote today on a proposal that specifically bans such programs in the state. [More]
Uber Fined $11.4 Million For Operating Without Proper Authority
By 4.21.16
When Uber launched its Pennsylvania operations in 2014, it did so without approval of the state regulatory agency that oversees most taxi services. Two years later, the ridesharing service is being hit with a $11.365 million civil penalty by the state. [More]
Volkswagen Offers To Buy Back Emissions-Cheating “Clean Diesel” Cars
By 4.21.16
Owners of one of Volkswagen’s 500,000 diesel vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” designed to cheat emission standards will have two options when it comes to fixing their vehicles: allow the carmaker to buy it back or have it modified to meet emissions standards. [More]
Would $5,000 Make You Forget That Your VW Car Exceeds Emission Standards?
By 4.20.16
With only one day to go before Volkswagen is supposed to present a workable fix for more than 500,000 diesel vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” designed to cheat emission standards, the carmaker has reportedly reached a deal with U.S. regulators that includes the company paying billions of dollars to compensate owners. [More]
Owners Of Tesla’s New Model X Report Doors Won’t Close, Other Quality Issues
By 4.20.16
Earlier this month, Tesla recalled 2,700 of its newly released Model X SUVs because third-row seats may not properly latch into the vehicles. Now, owners of the early-build models say they’ve encountered several other issues including doors that won’t close and a windshield that gives drivers double vision. [More]
Lyft Raised The Cap On ‘Prime Time’ Price Hikes, Forgot To Tell Customers
By 4.20.16
One of the key innovations of ride-hailing apps has been that their pricing is sensitive to demand: that is, prices go up as there are more customers demanding rides. Uber calls this surge pricing, whcih is such strong branding that people have started to call similar demand-sensitive pricing programs at other companies by the same term. Lyft calls it Prime Time, and did away with previously-announced caps on price hikes in February, but forgot to notify passengers. [More]
How Does JetBlue’s New Employee College Tuition Program Compare To Others?
By 4.18.16
Just like a 401k, health insurance, and other benefits, more and more companies are offering to pay for employees’ college education — or at least part of it — as a way to keep them on the payroll. Joining the increasingly growing list that includes Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Anthem Insurance, and Fiat Chrysler, JetBlue announced today that it would offer crewmembers a program to obtain a college degree. [More]
More Walgreens “Nice!” Brand Sliced Fruit Recalled For Possible Glass Shards
By 4.18.16
Only a few months after recalling Walgreens Nice! store-brand orange slices because shards of glass might have found their way into the jars, the company is recalling jars of Nice! peach slices and mixed fruit for the same reason. [More]
Tesla Owners Can Try Pricey Autopilot Feature Free For One Month
By 4.18.16
If you own a Tesla Model S or Model X but didn’t feel like forking over $2,500 for the company’s new Autopilot software, you’re in luck: Tesla drivers can now get a free taste of what a more autonomous future could be like with a monthlong trial of the feature. [More]
Fiat Chrysler Hates Being Single; CEO Talks Mergers, Even Though No One Seems Interested
By 4.18.16
Four months ago, Fiat Chrysler proclaimed it was quitting the dating scene after being snubbed by General Motors. But ever the hopeless romantic, the carmaker’s CEO is once again pining to be in the arms of another manufacturer. [More]
