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[1/2] A Cruise self-driving car, which is owned by General Motors Corp, is seen outside the company’s headquarters in San Francisco where it does most of its testing, in California, U.S., September 26, 2018. NHTSA's preliminary evaluation covers about 594 vehicles and is the first step before the agency seek to force a recall. In December, NHTSA opened a separate safety probe into the autonomous driving system in Cruise vehicles after reports of two injuries in rear-end crashes. NHTSA said Cruise vehicles "may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized." The DMV in August said it was investigating "recent concerning incidents" involving Cruise vehicles in San Francisco and asked the company to take half its robotaxis off the roads, a request Cruise complied with.

Persons: Heather Somerville, Mary Barra, Cruise, robotaxi, David Shepardsin, Nick Carey, Abinaya, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Jan Harvey, Nick Zieminski Organizations: General Motors Corp, REUTERS, Rights, General Motors, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, GM, Cruise, California Department of Motor Vehicles, California Public Utilities Commission, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, California, U.S, Cruise, Washington, London, Bengaluru

☆ Tesla to recall nearly 55,000 Model X vehicles, auto regulator says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of car manufacturer Tesla is seen at a dealership in London, Britain, May 14, 2021. REUTERS/Matthew Childs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowOct 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. auto regulator on Tuesday said Tesla (TSLA.O) will recall 54,676 Model X vehicles manufactured between 2021-2023, as the vehicle controller is likely to fail to detect low brake fluid and not display a warning light. Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge, to fix the issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. The electric vehicle maker is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths that may be related to this condition as of Oct. 10, the regulator added. In August, NHTSA opened an investigation into 280,000 new Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over reports of loss of steering control and power steering.

Persons: Matthew Childs, Tesla, Jahnavi, Janane Venkatraman Organizations: REUTERS, Traffic Safety Administration, Reuters, NHTSA, Tesla, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Tesla urges US to adopt much tougher fuel efficiency rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla (TSLA.O) on Tuesday urged the Biden administration to finalize much tougher fuel economy standards through 2032 than U.S. regulators have proposed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in July proposed raising Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) car requirements by 2% and by 4% for trucks and SUVs annually between 2027 and 2032. The NHTSA's proposal would result in a fleet-wide average fuel efficiency of 58 miles (93 km) per gallon by 2032. On Monday a group representing General Motors (GM.N), Toyota Motor (7203.T), Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and nearly all other major automakers sharply criticized NHTSA's proposal, saying it is unreasonable and requested significant revisions. U.S. automakers separately have warned the fines would cost GM $6.5 billion, Stellantis $3.1 billion and Ford $1 billion, citing NHTSA's projections.

Persons: Biden, Tesla, David Shepardson, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Traffic Safety Administration, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, American Automotive Policy Council, Detroit Three, NHTSA, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, U.S, Energy, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Norway, Victoria, NHTSA's

☆ Feds probing safety of GM’s robotaxis around pedestrians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —The US auto safety regulator has opened a probe into whether General Motors’ self-driving unit Cruise has taken sufficient precautions with its autonomous vehicles to safeguard pedestrians, it said on Tuesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said its Office of Defects Investigation has received two reports from Cruise of incidents in which pedestrians were injured, and has identified two further incidents via videos posted to public websites. NHTSA said the reports include Cruise autonomous vehicles “encroaching on pedestrians present in or entering roadways, including pedestrian crosswalks, in the proximity of the intended path of the vehicles”. In August the California Department of Motor Vehicles said it was investigating incidents involving Cruise in San Francisco, after a Cruise robotaxi was involved in a crash with an emergency vehicle. The California Public Utilities Commission voted in August to allow robotaxis from Cruise and Alphabet’s Waymo to operate around the clock, despite strong opposition from residents and city agencies.

Persons: Cruise, “, robotaxi Organizations: Reuters, General Motors, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, California Department of Motor Vehicles, California Public Utilities Commission Locations: San Francisco, California, Cruise

U.S. regulators are investigating General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle division after receiving reports of incidents where vehicles may not have used proper caution around pedestrians in roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the reports involve automated driving system equipped vehicles encroaching on pedestrians present in or entering roadways, including crosswalks. The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation said that it's received two reports involving pedestrian injuries from Cruise vehicles. The office said the total number of relevant pedestrian incidents is unknown. The state Department of Motor Vehicles asked for the reduction at the time after a Cruise vehicle without a human driver collided with an unspecified emergency vehicle.

Persons: it's, It's, “, Hannah Lindow, Cruise, San Francisco robotaxis Organizations: General Motors, Traffic Safety Administration, Investigation, Cruise, NHTSA, Department of Motor Vehicles Locations: San Francisco

☆ Federal regulators open probe into Cruise after pedestrian injury reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Federal regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into whether Cruise autonomous cars exercised "appropriate caution" in and around pedestrians, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote in a filing. The NHTSA probe was prompted by two reports involving pedestrian injuries and Cruise vehicles in recent months. One incident on Oct. 2 involved a situation where a pedestrian was thrown by another vehicle into the path of a driverless Cruise vehicle. Proponents have argued that driverless vehicles are safer than human-driven ones. Other companies, including some based in China, are also testing driverless vehicles on San Francisco streets.

Persons: Cruise, Hannah Lindow Organizations: NBC, Area Investigative Unit, Traffic, Administration, NHTSA, General Motors, San, CNBC Locations: San Francisco, Francisco, China

☆ Automakers blast US plan to hike fuel efficiency rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) proposal was unreasonable and requested significant revisions. The auto alliance said last month automakers would face more than $14 billion in non-compliance penalties between 2027 and 2032. Automakers also raised alarm at the Energy Department's proposal to significantly revise how it calculates the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy rating for EVs in NHTSA's CAFE program, saying it would "devalue the fuel economy of electric vehicles by 72%." GM said on Monday it could support NHTSA's proposal if the Energy Department rescinded its petroleum-equivalent proposal. Automakers and the United Auto Workers union have previously also complained parallel rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency are not feasible and should be significantly softened.

Persons: Jorge Duenes, Biden, David Shepardson, Jamie Freed Organizations: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, NHTSA, American Automotive Policy Council, Detroit Three, Ford, GM, Chrysler, U.S, Energy, Energy Department, Subaru, United Auto Workers, Environmental Protection Agency, Thomson Locations: Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico, NHTSA's, KS

☆ US agency fines Zipcar for uncompleted recall rentals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A 2015 law requires rental car companies with 35 or more vehicles to complete recall repairs before renting vehicles. The agency is requiring Zipcar, a unit of Avis Budget Group (CAR.O) since 2013, to submit an audit report of all Zipcar vehicles with uncompleted recall repairs at any time within 150 calendar days after the effective date of the settlement. On Monday, Zipcar said the settlement stems from a 2017 recall in which less than 50 of 12,000 vehicles of its global fleet were found in violation. Zipcar added the recall "was a unique mileage-based recall that did not require the immediate grounding of the vehicles" and added the vehicles are no longer in its fleet. "Vehicles with open, unrepaired recalls pose a safety risk to everyone on the road," said Ann Carlson, NHTSA's acting administrator.

Persons: Robert Galbraith, Zipcar, unrepaired, Ann Carlson, NHTSA's, Hertz, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Paul Simao, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Avis Budget Group, Vehicles, NHTSA, Hertz, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California

☆ Elon Musk’s worst nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

It's hard to tell, for a simple reason: The data on the safety of robot cars sucks. Until robot cars have traveled for hundreds of millions of miles, there's no way to get a statistically significant, unequivocal conclusion. If the data on robot cars is equivocal or incomplete, then those rules should keep them off the road. In a sense, she's Elon Musk's worst nightmare. To her, the safety of self-driving cars is not an abstract question.

Persons: Missy Cummings, Elon Musk, Cummings, Elon, Musk, Tesla, stans, Musk's, —, that's, Terry Chea, Big, Waymo, Kyle Vogt, Cruise, Vogt, hillier, it's, Steven Shladover, Missy, She's, she's Elon, Don Quixote, Adam Rogers Organizations: Twitter, Duke University, National, Traffic, Musk's bros, NHTSA, George Mason University, Cruise, Navy, LinkedIn, Waymo, UC Berkeley's Institute of Transportation Studies, San, Boeing, Max Locations: San Francisco, Muskovites, Silicon, Silicon Valley, California

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government appears poised to order a recall of millions of air bag inflators due to a manufacturing flaw that could send metal shrapnel rocketing through a car's interior. Instead of releasing pressurized gas to inflate the air bag, the canister essentially explodes, sending metal shrapnel into the vehicle at head height. He said the government would be setting a dangerous precedent by targeting a parts supplier rather than a vehicle manufacturer in ordering a recall. The hearing also featured emotional testimony from Jacob Tarvis, whose mother, Marlene Beaudoin, died as a result of an exploding air bag inflator in 2021. “GM will continue to work collaboratively with NHTSA, other manufacturers, and ARC to monitor and investigate the long-term performance and safety of ARC airbag inflators," the statement said.

Persons: inflators, ” Bruce York, Sharon Yukevich, ”, Steve Gold, Gold, Jacob Tarvis, Marlene Beaudoin, Beaudoin, Tarvis, “, Tom Krisher Organizations: WASHINGTON, Traffic Safety Administration, ARC Automotive Inc, ARC, NHTSA's, NHTSA, Motors, GM Locations: U.S, Knoxville , Tennessee, United States, Canada, Detroit

In a few cases, according to NHTSA, ARC air bag inflators could be blocked by small pieces of debris, stopping the gases from escaping as they should. In May 2023, General Motors recalled 1 million GM vehicles with the air bags. NHTSA estimated the risk of one of these inflators rupturing at one in every 370,000 air bag deployments. But officials said the only way to know if an air bag has the defect is for it to actually rupture. NHTSA and various automakers are still working to get vehicle owners to replace all the air bags involved in that recall.

Persons: Jacob Tarvis, Marlene Beaudoin, Tarvis, inflators, Kia Optima, General Motors, ”, Donna Glassbrenner, Steve Gold, Gold, “, — Ford Organizations: CNN, Traffic Safety Administration, ARC Automotive, Delphi Automotive Systems, NHTSA, ARC, Chrysler Town &, General, GM, BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles —, Hyundai, Kia, Benz, Porsche, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen Locations: United States, Canada, Turkey, Traverse

☆ GM's stock hits three-year low amid UAW strike, potential air bag recall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Since the UAW union's targeted strikes began Sept. 15, shares of the Detroit automaker have fallen by about 10%. The stock closed Thursday at $30.31 a share, down by 2.4%. The potential recall of roughly 52 million air-bag inflators from Tennessee-based auto supplier ARC Automotive had been reported about previously, but the number of affected GM vehicles had not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held a public meeting Thursday on its determination that the air-bag parts are defective and should be recalled, according to the report. Automakers, including GM, have until later this year to file responses on the matter.

Organizations: DETROIT, Motors, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit, Street, ARC Automotive, Traffic Safety Administration, GM Locations: Tennessee

☆ US agency, California gathering details of accident involving robot taxi and pedestrian
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

San Francisco Fire Department via... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - U.S. and California officials said on Tuesday they are in discussions with General Motors' (GM.N) self-driving unit Cruise about an accident in San Francisco involving a pedestrian hit by a vehicle into the path of a robot taxi. The self-driving vehicle came to a stop on top of the pedestrian, the San Francisco Fire Department said on social media, adding the victim was freed using rescue tools and transported to a nearby trauma center. San Francisco police said Cruise was cooperating in the investigation. The DMV in August said it was investigating "recent concerning incidents" involving Cruise vehicles in San Francisco and asked the company to take half its robotaxis off the roads, a request Cruise complied with. NHTSA said Cruise vehicles "may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized."

Persons: Cruise, David Shepardson, Chris Reese Organizations: General Motors, San Francisco Fire Department, Traffic Safety Administration, California Department of Motor Vehicles, Cruise, DMV, Teamsters, NHTSA, Thomson Locations: Francisco, San Francisco , California, U.S, WASHINGTON, California, San Francisco

☆ US expands, upgrades probe into 708,000 Ford SUVs, trucks over engine failures
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Slideshow ( 2 images )WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Monday it was upgrading and expanding its investigation into 708,000 Ford Motor sport utility vehicles and trucks over catastrophic engine failures tied to a faulty valve. The investigation covers 2021 and 2022 model year Ford Bronco, Edge, Explorer, and F-150 and Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus vehicles. A Ford spokeswoman said the automaker was working with NHTSA to support their investigation. NHTSA said it had reports of 328 customer complaints and 487 warranty claims relating to the vehicles under investigation. Ford added it believed “defective intake valves commonly fail early in a vehicle’s life and has suggested that the majority of failures have already occurred.”

Persons: Ford, Ford “, ” Ford, ” Organizations: Traffic Safety Administration, Ford Motor, Ford Bronco, Lincoln Aviator, Nautilus, NHTSA, Ford Locations: WASHINGTON

☆ GM, Stellantis face $9.5 bln in US fuel economy fines -industry group letter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The American Automotive Policy Council, representing GM, Stellantis and Ford Motor (F.N), said in a letter to the U.S. Energy Department on Friday that the size of the expected penalties for not meeting proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements are "alarming." DOE wants to significantly revise how it calculates the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy rating for EVs in NHTSA's CAFE program. A group representing nearly all major automakers said last week the industry as a whole could face $14 billion in CAFE fines. Automakers buy credits or pay fines if they cannot meet CAFE requirements. In June, Reuters first reported Stellantis and GM paid a total of $363 million in CAFE fines for failing to meet U.S. fuel economy requirements for prior model years.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Joe Biden's, Ford, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio 私たち Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, General Motors, Chrysler, Reuters, The American Automotive Policy, GM, Ford, U.S . Energy Department, Energy Department, DOE, U.S, Detroit, Traffic Safety Administration, Detroit Three Locations: Velizy, Villacoublay, Paris, France, NHTSA's

☆ Automakers say they face $14 billion in fines from Biden's 'unfeasible' fuel rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The fines would impact one in every two light trucks and one in every three passenger cars in 2027-2032, the group added. A separate document viewed by Reuters said the Detroit Three - GM, Ford Motor (F.N) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) - would face about $10 billion in CAFE fines in that period. A NHTSA spokesperson said the estimate cited by automakers represents the agency forecast and is "consistent with our statutory obligations". In June, Reuters reported Stellantis and GM paid a total of $363 million in CAFE fines for failing to meet U.S. fuel economy requirements for prior model years. The record-setting penalties include $235.5 million for Stellantis for the 2018 and 2019 model years and $128.2 million for GM covering 2016 and 2017.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Biden, David Shepardson, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Traffic, Reuters, Detroit, Ford Motor, Chrysler, European Union, NHTSA, GM, Thomson Locations: Texas, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

☆ Not only is your Kia or Hyundai surprisingly easy to steal — it might also catch fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kia and Hyundai are recalling 3.3 million cars and telling drivers to park outside due to fire risks. Kia and Hyundai thefts have soared after videos exposing security flaws in some models went viral. AdvertisementAdvertisementKia and Hyundai drivers have had a rough run in recent years. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe recall extends over a range of different Kia and Hyundai models, released between 2010 and 2017. Per the NHTSA, more than 3,000 Hyundai and Kia vehicles have caught fire in that time, injuring 103 people, and killing one.

Persons: —, Kia Organizations: Kia, Hyundai, Service, Traffic Safety Administration, Consumer Locations: South Korea

☆ Union urges US regulators to deny GM's self-driving Cruise a safety exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A self-driving GM Bolt EV is seen during a media event where Cruise, GM's autonomous car unit, showed off its self-driving cars in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies General Motors Co FollowWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union on Wednesday asked U.S. auto safety regulators to deny a petition by General Motors (GM.N) to exempt its autonomous vehicle unit Cruise Origin from vehicle safety standards. The Cruise petition, filed in February 2022, seeks government approval to deploy vehicles annually without steering wheels, mirrors, turn signals or windshield wipers. Current on-road self-driving Cruise vehicles have human controls. NHTSA said Cruise vehicles "may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized."

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, Ann Carlson, Cruise, Sean O'Brien, Carlson, David Shepardson, Niket, Shounak Dasgupta, Marguerita Choy Organizations: GM Bolt, REUTERS, General Motors, Brotherhood of Teamsters, Wednesday, U.S, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, California Department of Motor Vehicles, Cruise, Reuters, GM, Congress, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, WASHINGTON, San Francisco, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Kia, Hyundai recall 3.37 million US vehicles over fire risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The Kia EV9 is displayed at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) are recalling a combined 3.37 million vehicles in the United States due to the risk of engine fires, telling owners to park outside and away from structures until repairs are complete. The automakers say brake fluid leaks can cause a short that could lead to a fire. Hyundai said it has reports of 21 fires and 21 other thermal incidents since 2017 related to the recall, while Kia has reports of at least 10 confirmed fires and melting incidents. Kia America's recall covers 1.73 million Borrego, Cadenza, Forte, Sportage, K900, Optima, Soul Rio, Sorento, and Rondo vehicles.

Persons: Kia EV9, David, Dee, Delgado, Kia, Kia America's, Forte, Sportage, Jyoti Narayan, Kanjyik Ghosh, Jan Harvey, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Kia, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Control, Tucson Fuel Cell, Santa Fe Sport, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, KS, United States, Santa Fe, Veracruz, Tucson, Santa, Bengaluru

☆ Hyundai and Kia warn of potential fires in 3.3 million vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The recall covers 1.64 million Hyundai models including 2012 through 2015 Hyundai Accents, 2011 through 2015 Elantras and 2011-2015 Genesis coupes. Hyundai and Kia are both part of the Hyundai Motor Group and their vehicles frequently share engineering. Kia and Hyundai owners are being advised to check NHTSA’s website to see if their specific vehicle is involved in this, or any, recalls. In 2022, owners of 500,000 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were also warned to park outside because a problem with anti-lock brake control electronics. In 2020, Kia recalled 295,000 vehicles because they could catch fire while driving because of fuel leaks.

Persons: they’re, Kia, Elantras, Sorentos Organizations: CNN, Hyundai, Kia, National, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Hyundai Motor Group Locations: United States

☆ Vehicle-related deaths are rising even though cars are built safer than ever. The popularity of larger vehicles may be to blame.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Vehicles are built to be safer than ever before, but pedestrian and cyclist deaths are rising. A rise in the popularity of larger vehicles, like vans and trucks, may be a factor in this increase. Ronald E. VanHoose/Associated PressRoadway deaths in the U.S. are mounting despite government test data showing vehicles have been getting safer. Fatal crashes also increased as a percent of total miles driven. AP Photo/Mark SchiefelbeinHart is now an advocate with the Washington chapter of Families for Safe Streets, a nonprofit working to end fatal crashes.

Persons: —, Alyssa Milligan, Alyssa, Ronald E, Jessica Cicchino, they're, Cicchino, Todd Hill, Transportation's Volpe, Billy Richling, Jessica Hart, Allie, Allie Hart, Mark Schiefelbein, Hart, didn't, Mark Schiefelbein John Capp, we're, Mark Schiefelbein Hart, I've Organizations: Service, Nashville —, Associated, National Association of City Transportation, Insurance Institute for Highway, Subaru, Consumer, U.S . Department, Transportation's, Transportation's Volpe Center, Volpe Center, Silverado, U.S, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, National Association of City Transportation Officials, D.C, AP, Ford Transit, General Motors, GM Locations: Tennessee, Nashville, U.S, Washington

Roadway deaths in the U.S. are mounting despite government test data showing vehicles have been getting safer. Subaru, which has performed well in IIHS pedestrian crash avoidance tests, considers visibility its first line of safety, according to spokesperson Todd Hill. Thanks to vehicle improvements, seatbelt laws and other changes, fatal crashes in the U.S. trended downward for decades, hitting a low of 29,867 in 2011. Government estimates of fatal crashes in 2022 show a 43% increase to 42,795 — partially thanks to increases in speeding and drunk driving and decreases in seatbelt use. Fatal crashes also increased as a percent of total miles driven.

Persons: — Alyssa Milligan, Alyssa, ”, Jessica Cicchino, they’re, ” Cicchino, Todd Hill, Transportation’s Volpe, Billy Richling, Jessica Hart, Allie, ” Hart, “, didn’t, ” John Capp, we’re, I’ve, — Organizations: Nashville —, National Association of City Transportation, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Insurance Institute for Highway, Subaru, Consumer, U.S . Department, Transportation’s, Transportation’s Volpe Center, Volpe Center, Silverado, U.S, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, National Association of City Transportation Officials, D.C, Ford Transit, General Motors, GM Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, Nashville, U.S, Washington

Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill to require human drivers on board self-driving trucks, a measure that union leaders and truck drivers said would save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state. Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, head of the California Labor Federation, said driverless trucks are dangerous and called Newsom's veto shocking. Businesses say self-driving trucks would help them transport products more efficiently. Last Tuesday in Sacramento, hundreds of truck drivers, union leaders and other supporters of the bill rallied at the state Capitol. There are about 200,000 commercial truck drivers in California, according to Teamsters officials.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, ” Fletcher, Newsom, Administration “ Organizations: —, California Labor Federation, Democratic, Department of Motor Vehicles, California, Patrol, Traffic, Administration, Union, Business, Economic Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, — California, San Francisco, Sacramento, California

☆ Carmakers will not immediately comply with Massachusetts data repair law
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 22 (Reuters) - An auto industry group said on Friday carmakers do not plan to immediately comply with a Massachusetts law requiring them to share vehicle data with independent repair shops citing concerns about potential hacking. Massachusetts voters in 2020 approved a ballot initiative that gives independent repair shops access to diagnostic data that newer cars can send directly to dealers and manufacturers, in order to allow consumers to seek repairs outside dealerships. The Massachusetts attorney general's office said earlier appreciated "NHTSA’s clarification today that our state law is not preempted by federal law." Automakers must comply with the state law, the office said. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan praised NHTSA's statement "clarifying that automakers can safely comply with Massachusetts' right to repair law and share vehicle data with independent repair shops."

Persons: Brian Snyder, general's, Lina Khan, David Shepardson, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Chevrolet, REUTERS, Traffic Safety Administration, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, NHTSA, Federal Trade, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Massachusetts, Massachusetts

☆ US opens probe into about 240,000 Ford EcoSport vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 2018 Ford Ecosport is displayed during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Ford Motor Co FollowSept 22 (Reuters) - U.S. auto safety regulators said on Friday they are investigating about 240,000 of 2018-2021 Ford (F.N) EcoSport vehicles after consumer complaints alleging oil pump failure. The investigation was opened on September 20 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation, the NHTSA said. It said it had received 95 complaints alleging that the oil pump may fail, resulting in a loss of motive power while the vehicle is in motion. 2 U.S. automaker's previous recall of 710,000 Explorer SUVs over power loss reports to determine if a fix implemented by Ford was adequate.

Persons: Ford Ecosport, Mark Blinch, Ford, Kanjyik Ghosh, Jason Neely Organizations: North American, REUTERS, Ford, National, NHTSA, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, Bengaluru

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