Each month for the past six years Fiat Chrysler has reported gains in sales. But a new lawsuit accuses the carmaker of conspiring with dealers to inflate U.S. sales, casting a shadow of doubt over those impressive numbers. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Uber To Pay $7.6M To California In Order To Keep Drivers On The Road
By 1.14.16
Uber must pay a $7.6 million fine in order to keep its drivers on the road in California after the state’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted on Thursday to approve a judge’s months-old recommendation that found the ride-sharing company failed to meet data reporting requirements. [More]
Safety Board’s List Of “Most Wanted” Improvements Targets Distracted, Tired Drivers
By 1.13.16
When you hear the words “most wanted,” the first thing to come to mind is probably a list of (alleged) criminals being sought by the authorities. But when the National Transportation Safety Board releases a “most wanted” list it takes on an entirely different meaning: a list of the top 10 transportation safety improvements on the roster for the new year. [More]
More Cars Could Be Added To Massive Takata Airbag Recall
By 1.13.16
Five months after lowering the number of vehicles recalled due to shrapnel-shooting Takata airbags, federal regulators are bracing to once again revise that figure upward, adding more vehicles to the years-long airbag defect list. [More]
Walmart Recalling 330,000 Electric Griddles That May Serve Up A Shock
By 1.13.16
You might shock yourself while cooking by how many ways you can figure out to melt cheese into and onto things, but you shouldn’t actually receive an electrical shock in the process. That’s Walmart’s cue to recall 330,000 electric griddles that could pose a shock hazard to home chefs. [More]
California Rejects VW Proposal To Fix Emissions-Cheating Vehicles
By 1.12.16
The California Air Resources Board has rejected Volkswagen’s recall plan for thousands of 2-liter vehicles sold in the state. The regulators also presented VW with a formal notice of air quality violations for its use of “defeat devices” to cheat on emissions tests in these cars. [More]
Pier 1 Imports Recalling 276K Swinging Chairs Because Falling Is Not Very Relaxing
By 1.12.16
The idea of swinging furniture is a soothing one: you climb in, set yourself to rocking, and away you go, blissfully swaying on a wave of relaxation. Unless, that is, the chair dumps you unceremoniously on the ground in the middle of your veg-out session. That’s why Pier 1 Imports is calling back 276,000 swinging chairs and stands, which can become unstable and lead to folks falling on their backsides. [More]
VW Expands “Goodwill Package” To Include 3-Liter Vehicles That Evade Emissions Standards
By 1.12.16
Back in November, Volkswagen announced a “goodwill package” of cash and credit intended to placate some owners of supposed “clean diesel” cars that were rigged to cheat emissions tests. Now the company is expanding this offer to include owners of 3-liter diesel cars from VW, Audi, and Porsche. [More]
Couple Says Uber Driver Left Woman Stranded On NYC Sidewalk While She Was In Labor, Still Charged Her $13
By 1.12.16
If there’s one time in your life when you could really use a lift somewhere, it’s got to be when you’re preparing to birth a human being. But can an Uber driver who may be adverse to transporting a person in labor just leave you hanging? That’s what happened to one couple in New York City, who say that after the pregnant woman vomited on the sidewalk, their driver refused to give them a ride to the hospital… and charged $13 for the privilege of being stranded. [More]
Carmakers, Regulators To Announce Agreement To Improve Vehicle Safety
By 1.12.16
Federal regulators and automakers from around the world are set to announce an agreement on Friday to reform and improve auto safety following a year of record fines and safety recalls. [More]
Ford Testing Lease-Sharing Program That Would Let Friends, Family Split A Car
By 1.11.16
Though it might be nice to have a car for some occasions, there are plenty of people for whom owning or leasing a vehicle just isn’t worth it. Ford thinks it can appeal to those who might want their own wheels but don’t want to bear the burden of paying for it alone, with a new lease-sharing program it’s preparing to test. [More]
Fiat Chrysler CEO: Forget About All That GM Merger Talk
By 1.11.16
A month after Fiat Chrysler said it would drop its hostile bid to merge with General Motors, the carmaker’s chief executive says he’s officially shelved talks of consolidating with any other manufacturer for the rest of his tenure at the company. [More]
Trial Starts In First GM Ignition Switch Defect Civil Lawsuit
By 1.11.16
The first of six planned civil trials involving General Motors’ faulty ignition switches that resulted in at least 124 deaths is slated to start today in a federal court in New York City. [More]
Uber Cuts Prices In 100 Cities — But Don’t Expect The Discounts To Last Forever
By 1.11.16
It’s that time of year again, when the cold has seeped into your bones, and winter’s relentlessly gray sky has you huddled under a pile of blankets inside where it’s safe and warm. But if you’re holed up at home, how is Uber going to make money? By trying to draw customers out of their winter dens with steep discounts in a slew of cities. [More]
Volkswagen CEO: We Are Not Crooks
By 1.11.16
While Volkswagen is currently the target of numerous civil lawsuits — including one filed last week by the federal government — there is still the possibility VW could face criminal charges. But the company’s CEO contends that no real crime was actually committed. [More]
Tesla Announces Software Upgrade That Allows A Car To Park Itself
By 1.11.16
As carmakers continue to push for fully autonomous vehicles that will take the hassle out of driving, Tesla Motors is taking another step in that direction with a software upgrade that will allow Model S owners to park them in a garage or perpendicular spaces without anyone behind the wheel. [More]
Mazda Adds 374,000 Vehicles To Takata Airbag Recall List
By 1.8.16
Weeks after federal regulators announced that additional vehicles would be added to the long list of those affected by Takata’s airbag defect, Mazda recalled 374,000 automobiles in the U.S. [More]
States Say Volkswagen Won’t Turn Over Documents In Emissions Investigation
By 1.8.16
A group of state attorneys general called out Volkswagen on Friday for allegedly withholding documents related to its use of “defeat devices” to skirt emissions standards in 500,000 vehicles in the U.S. [More]
