Disposable cars
Leasing a car might be the only way to keep up with the technological advances being offered in automobiles today…and tomorrow, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Edmunds reports that leasing volume skyrocketed this decade, to 4.3 million in 2016, from 1.4 million vehicles in 2009. As new technology is the driving force behind the short life cycle for cellphones, the same forces are at play with automobiles, according to the report. In recent years, automakers have started calling themselves “technology companies,” pointing to big jumps in software innovations that have improved navigation, safety and infotainment systems.
Intel jumps into autonomous driving
Intel Corporation and Mobileye N.V. announced the completion of Intel’s tender offer for outstanding ordinary shares of Mobileye, a developer of computer vision and machine learning, data analysis, localization and mapping for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving. Intel likes the looks of autonomous driving, estimating the vehicle systems, data and services market opportunity to be $70 billion by 2030.
Mechanics on call
Otobots expanded its mobile automotive repair service in Texas. The company offers an on-demand auto repair service by using its website to give free estimates and schedule a certified mechanic to service the car at the customer’s home or work. Otobots is currently available in Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and now expanding to Austin, and several suburbs in Houston and Dallas Metro. The car owner provides Otobots the car’s general information and what services are required; a quote is returned and a time and location selected to have the work performed. The most popular services include oil changes, starter replacements, brake service, tune-ups, engine diagnosis and routine maintenance. Otobots provides a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on all work performed by its mechanics. www.otobots.com
Vehicular heatstroke deaths persist
Despite two decades of public education about the dangers of leaving children in cars, the number of vehicular heatstroke deaths of children in the U.S. has remained about the same – an average of 37 each year since 1998. Safety advocates are backing federal legislation that would mandate a technological solution requiring new cars to be equipped with a visual and audio alarm system to alert caregivers if a child is left behind, reports the Chicago Tribune. If pending legislation is passed in Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would have two years to come up with rules to mandate what the technology must do, and then automakers would have another two years to put it in all new vehicles.
Electric trucks
Electrified step vans and medium-grade trucks may be going mainstream, reports the Chicago Tribune. Such vehicles cost more than their diesel counterparts, but they are less expensive to run. The Workhorse plug-in van costs about $90,000, compared to about $60,000 for a diesel step van. But the electric vans have a running cost of 4 cents a mile, versus about 35 cents a mile for a diesel truck.
Beautiful eats
Driving between accounts, why not stop for a scenic lunch? OpenTable, a provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group, unveiled the “100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2017.” The awards reflect the opinions of more than 10 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 25,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. While California once again had the most winning restaurants (13), and North Carolina was in second place with six, accolades were more evenly distributed this year among the remaining featured states. Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin each received five honorees, while Colorado, New Jersey, and Texas each have four.
Bridge upgrades still needed
August 1 marked the 10th anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. The bridge was classified as “structurally deficient” and was undergoing repair at the time. Since then, states have devoted significant resources to bridge work, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The value of bridge construction increased 39 percent, from $23.2 billion in 2007 to $32.3 billion in 2016. During the same time period, highway and street construction activity increased just 8 percent, from $54.6 billion to $59.2 billion. Despite the ramp-up in investment, it has not been enough to keep up with the nation’s bridge needs. In 2016, there were 55,710 structurally compromised bridges, a 24.5 percent reduction compared to the 73,817 in 2007, according to ARTBA’s analysis of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Bridge Inventory database. While these bridges may not present an imminent threat, they are in need of attention.
If you lose your key…
Do you remember when car keys were just keys, and the guy at the Ace Hardware could grind one out for you for a buck or two? Not anymore. That’s why Toyota and Lexus have unveiled a Key Replacement Protection program for drivers with lost, stolen or damaged car keys. Benefits include: 1) replacement of the covered vehicle key/remote if lost, damaged, or stolen, up to $800 per occurrence; 2) lock-out assistance to unlock the vehicle if your vehicle keys are lost, damaged, or stolen, up to $100 per occurrence; 3) towing assistance, up to $100 per occurrence; 4) taxi/rental vehicle/public transportation reimbursement, up to $75 per occurrence; and 5) replacement benefit for additional nonprogrammable keys on the key ring, up to $250 per covered key claim for a total of up to three occurrences.
FM radio on the go
NextRadio, an app with FM radio stations, launched an iOS version of its free app for iPhone mobile device users. The app allows listeners to remain connected with any city or community while on the go. One of NextRadio’s features – Live Guide – allows users to see and select from what’s playing on local stations in real time, all at once, rather than searching through each station for something they want to hear. www.nextradioapp.com