Industry

Hyundai and Kia last week upped their investment in autonomous car technology startup Aurora Innovation just as Volkswagen stepped away. Specifically, the investment will expand self-driving technology research to more Hyundai and Kia models and help build a platform suitable for the brands' future...Read More»

Giant SUVs are less likely to go extinct than sedans, hatchbacks, and convertibles, according to the results of a study conducted released Monday by iSeeCars.com. Only six vehicles in the study were likely to last at least 300,000 miles. The odds of any new vehicle making it that far into triple...Read More»

One of the world's largest car-rental companies is taking advantage of its massive car inventory by dipping its toes into car subscriptions. Hertz announced Tuesday it will roll out its Hertz My Car program in two markets to start. The structure is similar to many pilot car subscription services...Read More»

General Motors and Michelin said Tuesday that they will test an airless tire prototype called the Uptis. Uptis, which stands for "unique puncture-proof tire system," is designed to be puncture-proof, to last longer than a conventional tire, and to require less energy to produce. The airless tire...Read More»

The 2020 Ford Fusion lineup won't include the powerful Fusion Sport. Cars Direct reported Monday that the Fusion Sport will not return for the 2020 model year. The website confirmed with For a spokesman, who said the automaker wanted to simplify the lineup for the sedan's final model year. Instead...Read More»

The EPA last week approved higher amounts of ethanol blended into gasoline to be sold at gas stations in the U.S. during summer months, but many automakers warn against using fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol content in their vehicles. The EPA said that it will allow fuel with 15 percent...Read More»

An icon of the American highway system is up for sale. Reuters reported last week that the British firm that owns Greyhound has put the bus line up for sale. Greyhound has struggled to compete with low-cost airlines in areas where the bus line typically serves. Relatively low oil prices have also...Read More»

Uber will ban low-rated riders from its service in the U.S., a move the ride-share company has already made in Australia and New Zealand. In a statement released Wednesday, Uber said the policy change puts the same level of accountability on riders as it does on drivers. Any rider who falls into a...Read More»

We've come a long way from the Pony Express. The U.S. Postal Service said last week that it will test autonomous long-haul mail delivery trucks in the relatively remote stretch between Phoenix and Dallas. The USPS said that San Diego-based TuSimple won the contract to self self-driving semi trucks...Read More»

Nearly one sixth of all ride-share vehicles in two major U.S. markets are subject to safety recalls that haven't yet been performed. Consumer Reports reported last week that one in six ride-share vehicles in a study of vehicles in the New York City and Seattle areas had an open recall. The issues...Read More»

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles submitted a proposal Monday to merge with French automaker Renault in a multibillion-dollar deal that could create the world's third-largest automaker by volume. The equity offer would merge the automakers equally and combine complementary vehicle lineups together into a...Read More»

After years of adding new nameplates to its portfolio, Mercedes-Benz is ready to prune some vehicles from its lineup. The German luxury brand will reportedly cull some models, variants, and options from its U.S. portfolio, Automotive News (subscription required) reported on Sunday. The brand...Read More»

The outside world can be smelly: exhaust fumes, foul food, and farm animals. The South Korean automaker announced this week it developed a new "smart air purification system" that may appear in new cars soon. The smart system monitors the air quality inside of the car and purifies the air to an...Read More»

Active and recently retired U.S. military members are now eligible to purchase the 2019 Mini Cooper Oxford Edition, a high-value trim level previously offered only to students. Mini on Tuesday called its decision to expand Oxford Edition availability as a gesture of appreciation for those who serve...Read More»

American consumers have more confidence in self-driving car technology than electric vehicles, according to the results of a survey conducted by the AAA. Results of the study released last week show that Americans are more likely to think that most cars will be able to drive themselves come 2029...Read More»

Electric car owners in Illinois may soon face an annual $1,000 registration fee to offset uncollected fuel taxes. The Chicago Tribune last week reported on the proposed registration fee, which would be 60 times more expensive than registration for a standard vehicle with an internal-combustion...Read More»

Two of Ford Motor Company's discontinued small cars may come back to haunt it for the second time. The automaker is facing potential legal action as a law firm in California hopes to undo an earlier class-action lawsuit in pursuit of an even bigger payday for consumers over transmission woes in its...Read More»

BMW and Microsoft have forged a partnership to improve in-car voice-recognition systems. Both companies announced at Microsoft's Build developer conference on Thursday a partnership for improved machine learning and artificial intelligence. The goal is to create an open-source platform for voice...Read More»