Tesla Promises Full Self-Driving Model 3
Posted on Mar 6, 2019
Tesla is now taking orders for a Model 3, which includes a full self-driving capability. On March 1, 2019, Tesla announced that “all customers who bought a Tesla before yesterday’s price decrease will be able to buy the Autopilot or Full Self-Driving capability for half of what those features would normally cost after initial purchase.” Experts, on the other hand, say the “full self-driving” feature is really a partial self-driving feature that handles minor driving tasks, such as keeping pace with other cars on a highway, and still requires diligent human oversight. To most autonomous...
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Pedestrian deaths increase in 2018
Posted on Mar 4, 2019
2/28/2019 A new report, commissioned by the Governors Highway Safety Association, estimates that over 6,000 pedestrians were killed in car accidents in 2018. This is the highest level of pedestrian deaths in the United States since 1990; the number of deaths hit a low in 2009 but has since risen steadily. In many cases, alcohol use is a factor in accidents involving pedestrians. The fatality rate may also be increasing because there are more SUVs on the road, which can cause greater injuries to those outside of the car than a sedan. Experts also raise the possibility that distracted drivers...
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Autonomous Vehicles Bill in 2019? Senator Sees an Opening
Posted on Feb 21, 2019
Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) indicated that his fellow senators have expressed interest in resuming considerations on legislation that would designate the necessary provisions for infrastructure, as well as safety associated with autonomous vehicles. Thune stated that he is hopeful the legislation could be introduced in the near future, noting the opportunity for bipartisanship with Democrats who control the House. An autonomous vehicles bill in the previous Congress co-sponsored by Thune, who at the time chaired the Commerce Committee, failed to land on President Donald Trump’s...
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Five Autonomous Car Trends Everyone Should Know About In 2019
Posted on Feb 19, 2019
Every major automobile manufacturer is heavily investing in self-driving technology, and 2018 saw many pilot schemes taken onto highways and city roads. By the end of 2019, we may not all be chauffeured around town by robots as we sit in the back and catch up with our Facebook friends, but we will certainly be significantly closer than we are today. Forbes published five major predictions for autonomous vehicles in 2019, which include: First Level 5 autonomous cars First fully autonomous coast-to-coast trip Autonomous trucking becomes a reality Autonomous ride sharing hits the mainstream...
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Five Takeaways from KPMG’s 2019 Autonomous Vehicle Readiness Index
Posted on Feb 14, 2019
KPMG recently released its second annual Autonomous Vehicle Readiness Index. The purpose of the document is to assess countries’ preparedness for autonomous vehicles. KPMG ranked a total of 25 countries on four different categories as they pertained to AVs: (1) Policy and Legislation; (2) Technology and Innovation; (3) Infrastructure; and (4) Consumer Acceptance. Here are five takeaways from the report: Netherlands ranks as the country most prepared for autonomous vehicles. The country’s infrastructure and acceptance of AV technology make it particularly likely that the Dutch will accept AVs...
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“AI Farms” Are at the Forefront of China’s Global Ambitions
Posted on Feb 6, 2019
Yin You doesn’t look like a key strategic asset. He weighs a little over 100 pounds, has auburn dyed hair, and wears a hoodie emblazoned with catchy phrases. But in China’s rise to superpower status, the 20-year-old student is a foot soldier playing a vital role. This Time article details how China is turning to technology to arrest an economic slide. Read the full article.
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Insurtech Grabs $5 Million in Funding For Autonomous Vehicle Coverage
Posted on Jan 31, 2019
A startup focused on rewarding drivers and fleet owners that use autonomous vehicles and semi-autonomous car safety features has raised $5 million in seed funding. California-based Avinew’s technology uses artificial intelligence and telematics to gather driving data that can tell when a vehicle is in autopilot mode or is using advanced safety features. That data can then be used by insurers to offer coverage that rewards drivers and fleets using these vehicles and features. Read the full article.
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Six Used Vehicle Trends to Watch in 2019
Posted on Jan 29, 2019
Automotive News released its outlook for 2019 and believes that it will closely mirror 2018. Like last year, analysts warn that what has gone up since the Great Recession must surely come down—at least a little. The tepid outlook reflects macroeconomic concerns, such as the government shutdown, rising interest rates and the threat of tariffs—in addition to record-high vehicle prices. Read the full story.
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Waymo to Build Plant in Michigan
Posted on Jan 25, 2019
On January 22, Waymo announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) voted to approve its effort to establish a manufacturing presence to build self-driving vehicles in the state, creating hundreds of jobs along the way. Waymo develops hardware and software in-house so that its self-driving technology works as a seamless, single system. A vital part of that process is integrating Waymo’s self-driving system into the vehicles purchased for its fleet, including Fiat Chrysler automobiles and the Jaguar Land Rover.
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Russia Begins Testing Autonomous Vehicles
Posted on Jan 24, 2019
On November 26, 2018, the government of the Russian Federation issued a regulation that permits the testing of driverless cars on regular roads to begin. The new Regulation is the first piece of national legislation that regulates the use of autonomous vehicles. The government will conduct the experimental testing through March 1, 2022, on the roads of two constituent components of the Russian Federation—the capital city of Moscow and the Republic of Tatarstan, a territory located about 500 miles to the east of Moscow. Simultaneously, the government approved the Rules of the Experiment,...
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Autonomous Vehicles May Create More Jobs Than Can Be Filled
Posted on Jan 22, 2019
According to research from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Detroit Mobility Lab (DML), self-driving and electric cars will help create more than 100,000 US mobility industry jobs in the coming decade, including up to 30,000 jobs for engineers with degrees in computer-related subjects. But the demand could be as much as six times the expected number of such graduates, exacerbating the industry’s already significant talent shortage. Like the US mobility industry, other industries are modernizing and looking to attract and retain such engineers and skilled trade workers. “Companies...
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States Fight for Their Right to Follow California Car Rules
Posted on Jan 14, 2019
States’ efforts to protect their authority to adopt California’s vehicle greenhouse gas limits could be futile if the Trump administration succeeds with its proposal to strip that power from them. The Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates vehicle emissions, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with jurisdiction over fuel efficiency, want to eliminate state authority to deviate from federal standards as part of a broader push to freeze fuel economy limits nationwide at 2020 levels. In its August proposal, the EPA suggested reinterpreting the Clean Air Act to...
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New Autonomous Vehicle Coalition to Educate the Public
Posted on Jan 10, 2019
A diverse group of automakers, non-profits and other industry stakeholders have launched a new coalition dedicated to educating the public and policymakers about the safety benefits of advanced vehicle technologies and self-driving vehicles. The National Safety Council and Audi of America are co-chairing the coalition, which is known as Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE). The coalition plans to hold events nationwide to introduce driver assistance and self-driving technology to consumers and policymakers. In addition, the group will offer educational workshops to guide federal,...
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Amazon Will Get Into More US Cars With a New Alexa Partnership
Posted on Jan 8, 2019
Your Alexa at home and your navigation in your car both tell you how to find things, but in different ways. Now they’ve been integrated by a major automotive vendor offering car companies a suite of “contextual” assistance features to help sell its models. That means Alexa will answer your questions and find your desired products with an emphasis on help related to your current location. This development could be huge. HERE Technologies reports its location data powers four out of five cars in the US and Western Europe and more than 100 million cars globally. Meanwhile, more than 100 million...
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