by Michael Strong | Dec 31, 2014
The fact that teen drivers die at significantly higher rates than other age groups isn’t a surprise to most; however, one of the reasons may be a bit of a revelation: old cars. It’s often assumed that teenage fatalities involving vehicles – the top reason for teenage...
by Michael Strong | Dec 30, 2014
The U.S. government lost less than $10 billion rescuing the auto industry, which was four times less than some estimates. The Treasury initially estimated the loss would be $44 billion, but revised it to $30 billion in 2009. Under government accounting rules, the U.S....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 30, 2014
When 2014 opened, the year’s top automotive story seemed likely to be Mary Barra, General Motors’ new chief executive, and the first female CEO of a major automaker. As the year draws to a close, Barra is, indeed, still in the headlines, but enmeshed in what has...
by Michael Strong | Dec 30, 2014
Fiat Chrysler is ending the “Year of the Recall” with a problem similar to issue that earned 2014 the nickname to begin with: an ignition problem. The company is recalling about 67,000 pickups from model year 2006 and 2007. The trucks can be started without the clutch...
by Michael Strong | Dec 29, 2014
How much pot can a person smoke and then drive safely? It’s a question more and more states are grappling with as the legalization of marijuana becomes more widespread. Those states are not alone as nearly half of Americans express similar concerns and report feeling...
by Joseph Szczesny | Dec 29, 2014
Global sales of the Jeep brand are expected to top 1 million units for the first time ever when the numbers are added up by Fiat Chrysler next week. However, the company isn’t resting on its laurels, FCA is charging ahead with ambitious plans for the future. FCA Chief...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 29, 2014
He’s been the target of parodies from the likes of Jim Carrey and Ellen DeGeneres, but the folks at Lincoln apparently like what they’ve seen from actor Matthew McConaughey because they’re bringing him back for a sequel. The Academy Award-winning actor will start...
by Michael Strong | Dec 26, 2014
Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, has been making noise on Twitter about an announcement regarding the company’s first vehicle – the Roadster – for more than a week and now he’s let the cat out of the bag: it can go nearly 400 miles on a charge. The improved results are...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 24, 2014
Embattled Japanese airbag supplier Takata is shaking up its top management team – even as top managers take pay cuts of as much as 50%. But the company is so far maintaining its position that there is no need to expand the recall of airbags linked to a potentially...
by Joseph Szczesny | Dec 24, 2014
No vehicle is perfect and the Fiat 500 Abarth has its share of shortcomings. For starters, it can only carry two passengers. You can add to the list that it barely has enough room for the groceries of someone living alone and it’s dwarfed by most of the vehicles on...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 23, 2014
The number of vehicles earning one of the top two ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has nearly doubled for 2015 despite the industry’s ongoing recall problems. A total of 71 vehicles have earned either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award,...
by Michael Strong | Dec 23, 2014
The Chrysler 300 isn’t exactly a new car. It’s been around since the middle of the last decade, but the enduring appeal of its exterior design plus the almost constant attention from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles engineers and product planners has turned the...
