October 21, 2021
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Rekor Systems Announces Selection of Waycare Technologies by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for Pilot Program to Reduce State Traffic Congestion and Crashes
California homeless camp fire damages 2 bridges, disrupts public transportation
Austin finishes half of its bicycle network, expects to complete entire 400-mile system by 2025
The Top 10 Automotive Concepts that automotive enthusiasts will be itching to see on the road!
Oregon Transportation Commission, wary of I-5 Rose Quarter project’s growing price tag, grants conditional approval
Woman dies after being hit by car in North Windham Friday night
Silk-FAW Continues To Poach Italy’s Automotive Talent, As Lamborghini’s Katia Bassi Joins As Managing Director
Transportation Department cracks down on airlines withholding refunds for canceled flights
Bear gets trapped in car, destroys interior
Cycling apparel company adding full-service bike repair to visitor center
Latest Post
Rekor Systems Announces Selection of Waycare Technologies by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for Pilot Program to Reduce State Traffic Congestion and Crashes California homeless camp fire damages 2 bridges, disrupts public transportation Austin finishes half of its bicycle network, expects to complete entire 400-mile system by 2025 The Top 10 Automotive Concepts that automotive enthusiasts will be itching to see on the road! Oregon Transportation Commission, wary of I-5 Rose Quarter project’s growing price tag, grants conditional approval Woman dies after being hit by car in North Windham Friday night Silk-FAW Continues To Poach Italy’s Automotive Talent, As Lamborghini’s Katia Bassi Joins As Managing Director Transportation Department cracks down on airlines withholding refunds for canceled flights Bear gets trapped in car, destroys interior Cycling apparel company adding full-service bike repair to visitor center

Tag: Auto

Aug
2021
28

Huawei, sanctioned by U.S., doubles down on auto industry

While drawing more customers to HiCar, Huawei has also made rapid progress in engaging domestic carmakers to develop intelligent full-electric vehicles. 

Jianghuai Automobile Co. this week disclosed it will collaborate with Huawei to develop sensors and intelligent cockpits for next-generation EVs. 

JAC is the fourth customer Huawei has signed up among major domestic auto manufacturers seeking to develop smart EVs. 

Last month, GAC Motor Co., a major state-owned automaker, disclosed that it plans to invest 800 million yuan ($123 million) to develop an intelligent electric utility vehicle with Huawei. The vehicle is scheduled to be mass-produced starting in late 2023. It will be equipped with Huawei’s computing and communication technology and offer Level 4 autonomy, GAC said. 

At the Shanghai auto show in April this year, BAIC Motor Co. launched an updated electric utility vehicle featuring L3 autonomous driving technology developed by Huawei. The vehicle is set to go on sale in China in the fourth quarter.

Huawei is also assisting Changan Automobile Co. in developing an intelligent electric crossover with the goal of competing with the Tesla Model Y and the Volkswagen ID.6 in China. The crossover is expected to be displayed at the Guangzhou auto show in November.

But not every domestic carmaker is equally enthusiastic about hiring Huawei to develop smart EVs. 

At SAIC Motor Corp.’s annual shareholder meeting in late June, Chen Hong, chairman of the largest state-owned automaker in China, made clear the company sees autonomous driving technology as the “soul” of its future intelligent EVs. 

For that reason, SAIC wants to keep the technology under its full control and won’t use a powerful technology company such as Huawei as a total solution provider for self-driving vehicle development projects, Chen noted.

Huawei has probably sensed such reluctance while seeking to expand its customer base. To diversify revenue sources within the auto sector, the company has also tapped its extensive sales network of electronic products to market vehicles for customers.

In April, Huawei’s stores in major Chinese cities started to serve as showrooms for the SF5, a range-extended electric crossover developed by a small domestic light-vehicle maker, Sokon. The vehicle is equipped with Huawei’s HiCar system. 

Huawei, the world’s largest telecom equipment supplier and major smartphone maker, has been expelled from the U.S. market, but also barred from accessing U.S. technologies including Google’s Android operating system, since 2019. 

That has dealt a heavy blow to the company’s smartphone business, which used to be its largest revenue source. As a result, Huawei’s revenue plunged 29 percent from a year earlier to 320 billion yuan in the first half of 2021, according to the company’s latest financial report. 

To make up for the loss of revenue from the U.S. sanctions, Huawei probably has no way out but to accelerate its foray in the domestic auto industry. 

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Aug
2021
27

Computer chip shortage continues to plague the Big Three, auto industry

DETROIT – The semiconductor shortage that has hampered the auto industry, created vehicle shortages and higher prices isn’t likely to end any time soon.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has cut its global production 40%.

According to Mark Fulthorpe, with IHS Markit Production Forecasting, the manufacturing of the semiconductors had stalled, but now the testing and shipping of the chips is the current issue,.

“We’re seeing a spill over in Malaysia production at the moment, where we’re seeing COVID cases returning that is disrupting another part of the supply chain,” Fulthorpe said.

Malaysia shut down for two months and manufacturers only went back to work this week.

“COVID-19 was 2020′s problem and semiconductors were 2021′s problem,” Fulthorpe said. “I think the recent evidence proves the two are intrinsically linked.”

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Domestic automakers have adjusted staffing production.

GM will close the Orion Assembly Plant. The Lansing Grand River SUV plant was supposed to open before Labor Day, now it won’t. The Cadillac production that has been down since May will not return until mid-September.

Related: Train derailment destroys hundreds of Ford F-150s, vans, report says

Ford will take down production at its Kansas City F-150 plant. Its Dearborn Assembly is running and helping with tight supplies.

The shortage of chips and vehicles is expected to last into the second quarter of 2022. Fulthorpe said the industry won’t recover until the pandemic ends.

More: Automotive

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Aug
2021
19

Senate passes $1 trillion infrastructure package with auto safety, EV provisions

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade association that represents most major automakers in the U.S. as well as some suppliers and tech firms, applauded the bipartisan effort Tuesday, pointing to the $7.5 billion included for EV charging that can “certainly help jumpstart” public investment in a nationwide charging network.

“While today’s action represents a strong first step, collaboration on a comprehensive strategy will be key moving forward,” John Bozzella, CEO of alliance, said in a statement Tuesday.

Industry investments

Many of the group’s members are working to meet a voluntary goal outlined by the White House for zero-emission vehicles to make up half of all new passenger vehicles sold in 2030. By 2025, the auto industry will have invested $330 billion in EVs, including plug-in hybrids, battery-electrics and fuel cells, according to the alliance.

“We are working with Congress to craft the additional complementary policies necessary to further boost investment in the domestic EV supply chain and incentives that encourage consumer adoption of EVs,” Bozzella said. “Realizing these necessary conditions for a successful EV market will be critical to boosting EV sales from just over 2 percent of vehicle sales now to achieve a goal of 40 to 50 percent EV penetration by the end of the decade.”  

Safety advocates argue many of the bill’s vehicle safety provisions cater to industry demands by not setting enough compliance deadlines or mandating regulatory action by NHTSA.

The legislation sets deadlines for the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue rules on automatic shutoff for keyless ignition systems, updated headlamp standards and a requirement for new vehicles to be equipped with drunken and impaired driving prevention technology.

The bill also calls for a rule that sets minimum performance standards for crash-avoidance technology and requires all vehicles sold in the U.S. to be equipped with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems as well as lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems, though it does not specify a rule deadline or compliance date.

“Firm deadlines for agency actions have been detoured with needless studies, insufficient requirements or not included at all,” Advocates President Cathy Chase said in a statement.

The Center for Auto Safety said the bill is “flashy, took a lot of effort to build and includes some new praiseworthy features, but it remains an unfinished product in terms of making an immediate impact on the 40,000 annual crash deaths in our country.”

The center said it looks forward to seeing a combined version of the Senate legislation and the House’s Invest in America Act sent to the president that includes “the best consumer protection provisions” from both.

Back to the House

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, under pressure from progressives who want their priorities addressed, has said she will not allow a vote on the bipartisan package until the Senate has passed the broader economic plan. Moderates, meanwhile, are clamoring for the House to take up the bill sooner than that. The House may also seek changes to the infrastructure bill.

Still, the

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Aug
2021
7

U.S. auto sales pace to weaken further in July – J.D. Power, LMC Automotive

Vehicles for sale are seen at Serramonte Ford in Colma, California, U.S., October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

July 28 (Reuters) – Growth in U.S. new vehicle retail sales is expected to slow down further in July because of a limited supply of automobiles caused by a global semiconductor shortage, consultants J.D. Power and LMC Automotive said on Wednesday.

Retail sales are expected to reach 1.2 million units in the month, a 3.7% increase from the same period last year when adjusted for selling days, but a slump in expectations when compared to the preceding months.

The consultants had forecast sales growth of 110% for April, while the outlook fell to 34% and 12.4% for May and June, respectively.

A shortage of semiconductors has hampered automobile production and slowed down sales growth despite strong demand for personal transportation during the COVID-19 crisis. This has, in turn, pushed up prices.

“Consumers will spend more money buying new vehicles than ever before in the month of July, and dealer profits from selling new vehicles will reach an all-time high,” said Thomas King, president of data and analytics division at J.D. Power.

Average transaction prices are expected to rise 17% to $41,044, the highest on record, while the average incentive spending per unit is expected to fall to $2,065 from $4,235 last year.

The average number of days a new vehicle sits on a dealer lot before being sold is on pace to fall to a record low of 31 days, down from 75 days a year ago, said the statement.

The total seasonally adjusted annualized rate for new vehicle sales will be 15 million vehicles, up 0.4 million units from 2020 but 1.9 million units less than 2019.

Reporting by Shreyasee Raj in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Jul
2021
26

Electric-Vehicle Sales Growth Outpaces Broader Auto Industry

The auto industry’s push into electric vehicles has gained traction this year with sales of these models growing at a faster clip than the broader U.S. car business.

While still a sliver of the overall market, sales of plug-in vehicles more than doubled in the first half of 2021 compared with last year, when the pandemic sapped sales. That far outpaced the 29% rise for total vehicle sales, according to research firm Wards Intelligence.

The biggest factor driving the gains was

Tesla Inc.’s

TSLA 2.45%

continued dominance in electrics. Tesla’s U.S. sales rose 78% through June this year, according to an estimate from research firm Motor Intelligence. The increase was helped by Tesla’s Model Y crossover SUV, which has quickly become the company’s top seller since being introduced last year. Tesla is scheduled to report second-quarter financial results Monday.

Other new offerings from traditional auto makers, such as

Ford Motor Co.

F 1.27%

’s Mustang Mach-E SUV and

Volkswagen AG’s

VOW -0.64%

ID.4, also helped push sales of plug-in electric vehicles to over 3% of the total U.S. market in May and June, the highest ever recorded, according to industry data.

Auto companies collectively are spending $330 billion over the next five years to bring more plug-in models to showrooms, according to consulting firm AlixPartners LLP.

Now, the big question looming over the car business is whether consumers are ready to buy them.

Longer driving ranges and a wider variety of body styles and price points are helping garner interest in plug-in cars from more car shoppers, dealers and analysts say. But hurdles remain, including higher sticker prices and a deficit of places to charge them.

A shortage of places to charge electric vehicles remains a hurdle to drawing interest from more buyers.



Photo:

kena betancur/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Auto executives in recent months have said they believe consumer interest in the technology is rising and should help speed the transition.

In the U.S. market—which lags behind Europe and China in electric-vehicle adoption—executives also are encouraged by the Biden administration’s plans to support plug-in cars through charging-station investment and consumer incentives.

Carlos Tavares,

chief executive of global auto maker

Stellantis

STLA 1.35%

NV, said the pace at which drivers make the switch to electrics will depend on regulations and consumer awareness.

“The more the public opinion becomes sensitive to the global-warming issue and how to fix it, the more we can expect a very strong acceleration,” Mr. Tavares said to journalists this week.

Stellantis, which owns Jeep, Ram and other auto brands, recently joined other global auto makers in outlining big investment plans for electric cars and battery plants.

General Motors Co.

GM 1.43%

, Ford and

BMW AG

BMW -0.04%

each have said they are earmarking tens of billions of dollars on the transition during this decade.

On Thursday,

Mercedes-Benz

DMLRY 0.73%

said it is preparing to sell only electrics by 2030 but would respond to market demands.

“The EV shift is picking up speed, especially in the luxury segment,”

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Jul
2021
11

Auto Part Maker Finds Takata Falsified Seat Belt Tests: Report
Takata demonstrates the effectiveness of its seatbelts during a 2012 exhibition.

Takata demonstrates the effectiveness of its seatbelts during a 2012 exhibition.
Photo: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP (Getty Images)

The Japanese arm of Joyson Safety Systems, a United States-based automotive safety component maker, found 1,000 cases of data falsification when it came to Takata’s seatbelt tests, Reuters reports.

This investigation began back in October of 2020, and the results are conclusive: plants in Hikone, Japan and in the Philippines were found to have falsified test data on belt webbing for adult seatbelts and child safety seats. This webbing is the core of the belt’s strength, so it’s crucial that these elements are in top condition.

Unfortunately, the plants in question doctored data in order to meet client standards. It does not appear that these elements compromised safety, and there are currently no recalls issued for the belts at the moment. That said, Hisayoshi Iwamitsum president of JSS Japan, said JSS Japan submitted an investigation report to Japan’s transport ministry on Friday.

Here’s a little more from the Reuters story:

As part of preventive measures, the company introduced an electronic system in March that would prevent data from being falsified, and is working on expanding human resources for quality management, he added.

The investigation also showed that data had been falsified at Hikone plant over a two-decade period until Jan. 2020, overlapping with when Takata was embroiled in airbag scandals.

G/O Media may get a commission

Yes, having both seatbelt and airbag issues is not great. That doesn’t lend a lot of confidence to your company—but at the very least, the seatbelt issue doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as devastating as the airbag one, in part because the safety of the belts were confirmed by other tests.

If you’ve forgotten, about 67 million Takata air bags were recalled for potentially causing harm to drivers involved in accidents. Airbags exposed to high heat or humidity were prone to failing.

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Jul
2021
7

Android Automotive Hacked to Run Outside Cars, Could Replace Android Auto

Android Automotive is Android Auto’s bigger and more complex sibling, as it comes pre-loaded on the head unit and provides more advanced functionality. That includes access to climate controls and EV information, such as battery level and mileage.

While the number of cars getting Android Automotive is growing, the adoption of this fully featured operating system is still in the early phases. Google is working together with carmakers across the world to bring it to more models.

The Mountain View-based search giant lets companies put their own skins on top of Android Automotive, creating a fully personalized experience that looks different from the one on other brands. But the core OS is the same, and Google hopes this approach will help increase the adoption in the long term.

In the meantime, however, Android Automotive is also getting more love in the dev community. Most recently, someone has managed to port the operating system to a tablet and therefore run it outside of the car.

Developer Tom Pratt claims everything is running properly, though Android Automotive’s tablet port lacks Google services, meaning that apps like Google Maps wouldn’t be available.

On the other hand, Android Automotive can still be an Android Auto replacement, as you can install other navigation and media apps. That’s pretty much because the port does recognize the tablet’s LTE connection, the GPS sensor, and even the microphones for voice input.

In its current implementation, Android Automotive barely brings any value to someone who wants Android in their cars. Still, with the right improvements, such as a launcher and more apps, this port could easily become a full Android Auto replacement that no longer requires a phone to power the whole thing.

Of course, pretty much the same thing can be obtained by simply running full Android on a tablet and customizing it with a car launcher, so it’ll certainly be interesting to keep an eye on this project and see how it improves over time.

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May
2021
22

Auto Parts, Car Parts, DIY Car Maintenance

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May
2021
4

Best 30 Auto Salvage in Los Angeles, CA with Reviews

YP – The Real Yellow PagesSM – helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. These factors are similar to those you might use to determine which business to select from a local Yellow Pages directory, including proximity to where you are searching, expertise in the specific services or products you need, and comprehensive business information to help evaluate a business’s suitability for you. “Preferred” listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. YP advertisers receive higher placement in the default ordering of search results and may appear in sponsored listings on the top, side, or bottom of the search results page.

Source Article …

Apr
2021
30

Carrollton Auto Repair at its Best | Carrollton Car Repair | Carrollton TX Auto Repair

Carrollton Complete Automotive Shop Image

We will be closing on Saturdays Effective October 3rd, 2020


Our customers are truly appreciated and we are committed to help in any way we can to offset any inconvenience this might create.


Please ask and let us know how we can help!

Building long term customer relationships based on a foundation of integrity!

We are ready to serve you and your family with the best auto service in the Carrollton area. We are committed to being “Your auto repair shop” for all auto maintenance and service needs. Carrollton Complete Automotive is a complete automotive repair and maintenance facility servicing all domestic and import vehicles including light and medium duty trucks. We offer a wide range of services from routine maintenance, state inspections, and brake service, to the most comprehensive vehicle repairs, including engine and transmission replacement.

Through our relationship with GoodYear, we are now offering the Goodyear Credit Card which offers 0% financing for 6 months on tires and service!

Credit Card

Carrollton Complete Automotive is conveniently located at 1401 Wainwright Way, which is near the intersection of Frankford and Dickerson. Our business hours are 7:30 to 6:00 Monday through Friday. We are no longer open on Saturday. We hope to see you soon!

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