rperez817

Earlier this week, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended a requirement for Intelligence Speed Assistance technology in all new cars. NTSB Calls for Technology to Reduce Speeding in All New Cars Previous NTSB recommendations to address the problem of speeding include the following. Regulators should: Develop performance standards for advanced speed-limiting technology, such as variable speed limiters and intelligent speed adaptation devices, for heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses, and motorcoaches. Then require that all newly manufactured heavy vehicles be equipped with such devices. Collaborate with traffic safety stakeholders to develop and implement an ongoing program to increase public awareness of speeding as a national traffic safety issue. Revise regulations to strengthen requirements for all speed engineering studies and remove the guidance that speed limits in speed zones be within 5 mph of the 85th percentile speed. Update speed enforcement guidelines to reflect the latest automated speed enforcement technologies and operating practices and promote these guidelines. States should: Amend current laws to authorize state and local agencies to use automated speed enforcement and amend current laws to remove operational and location restrictions on the use of automated speed enforcement. Drivers should: Follow the speed limit. Slow down during bad weather, when a road is under repair, in poorly lit areas at night, or in other challenging driving conditions.

First Mercedes-Benz EV charging hub opened yesterday in the Atlanta area, adjacent to MBUSA HQ in Sandy Springs. Mercedes-Benz opens first US charging hub with ChargePoint piles (electrek.co) Highlights. The hub comes equipped with a solar canopy, enabling carbon-neutral energy usage, with fifteen-foot intelligent indicators that easily display whether a pile is available and a charging lounge complete with vending, restrooms, and places to relax Mercedes EV owners can take advantage of special benefits, including automatic charger reservations through the EQ vehicle’s native navigation, plus Plug & Charge capabilities using the Mercedes me Charge app – allowing drivers to simply plug-in and walk away without having to tap a card Mercedes-Benz says it is offering current EQ owners six months of complimentary charging at its hubs, while drivers of 2024 model year EQ EVs will receive two years of unlimited free charging. Plans are in place for additional hubs at Buc-ee’s travel centers in Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia before year’s end, followed by further expansion through the convenience stores and Simon malls through 2024 with the help of MN8 Energy and ChargePoint

In the past 30 years, the American Toyota Camry used an all-new platform three times. XV10 (MY 1992), XV30 (MY 2002, K Platform) and XV70 (MY 2018, TNGA GA-K platform). These represent the most extensive redesigns in the Camry's history. XV20 (MY 1997) represented a major redesign with all new styling inside and out, though using the same platform as XV10. Similarly, both the XV40 (MY 2007) and XV50 (MY 2012) Camry generations followed that approach (continuation of K platform) but added new engines and transmissions as well. XV50 also received a relatively substantial refresh for MY 2015, though no new powertrains were introduced. 2025 model year Camry is most similar to XV40 and the original XV50 in that respect. It has all new styling inside and out, using the same TNGA GA-K platform as its predecessor. The engine is a revised version of the A25 Dynamic Force family, and the transmission is the new fifth generation Toyota Hybrid power split eCVT.

Toyota is discontinuing the current Venza (rebadged Harrier) after 2024 model year. Toyota Venza Canceled After 2024 - Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)

Regarding the problem of speeding motorists (and their deleterious impact on pedestrian safety), more thorough driver education and testing actually won't help a multitude of issues unless combined with speed management measures. IIHS submitted data and recommendations to NHTSA on this subject 4 years ago in an RFC. IIHS urges NHTSA to look beyond education to address speed problem

That's related to a civil engineering guideline for traffic control called 85th percentile speed. IIHS described this concept, including its limitations, on the same webpage I shared earlier in the thread. Also, IIHS provided the following information comparing speeding vs. speed variation.

Excellent question Chrisgb. IIHS found average travel speeds increased when speed limits were increased, as did fatalities directly attributable to speed.

Exclusive: GM snatches key Tesla gigacasting supplier | Reuters Highlights. TEI will remain its own business entity with GM as its parent company TEI is based in Livonia, Michigan TEI began helping Tesla around 2017 to develop the Model Y and is considered in the industry to be one of the world's top sand casting specialists In 2021, GM signed a guaranteed, long-term contact and TEI invested in a new dedicated production line for the Cadillac Celestiq

Good example regarding underride collisions. A related phenomenon is frontover collision, something that is exacerbated by the designs of many pickup trucks and SUV, especially the larger ones. Example from Consumer Reports.

That's true, but IIHS does share its expertise with regulatory agencies such as NHTSA. Here is an example relevant to the topic of this thread in which IIHS responded to an RFC from NHTSA to update the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) with information about crashworthiness pedestrian protection of new vehicles. IIHS Comment on Docket No. NHTSA-2023-0020

IIHS' long-term study of a 5 mph increase in speed limits found increases in fatality rates both on freeways and other types of roads. As a corollary to that, driving 5-10 mph over the limit is anything but "perfectly safe". Speed (iihs.org)

That's correct, urban transportation design and planning in 20th century and into the 21st deliberately favored automobiles, thereby endangering other street users especially pedestrians. In fact, jaywalking regulations specifically were introduced in the U.S. nearly a century ago at the behest of the automotive industry, as California Assemblyman Phil Ting described. Many locales have adopted a "complete streets" design philosophy that does a much better job accounting for street users who are not in cars and trucks, resulting in a dramatic reduction of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Below is a simple example in Seattle (Rainier Avenue). Yes, that's one of the chief advantages of autonomous vehicles. Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (Ford Motor Company is a member of that organization) had a panel discussion a few weeks ago on how "advanced vehicle technologies" including ADAS and AV can improve pedestrian safety. PAVE Virtual Panel: “How Advanced Vehicle Technologies Can Improve Pedestrian Safety” – Full Recording | PAVE Campaign Very well said GearheadGrrrl. The IIHS research paper referenced in the original post mentioned several of the more recent studies in that regard. The association between passenger-vehicle front-end profiles and pedestrian injury severity in motor vehicle crashes (iihs.org)

Angie Schmitt (the pedestrian safety expert quoted by Consumer Reports as noted in the previous post) did research on the impact of jaywalking enforcement on safety outcomes for pedestrians. Here is a summary of Schmitt's findings, which were presented to the California State Assembly’s Transportation Committee. Thanks to this research, California wisely decriminalized jaywalking as of January 1, 2023. Our Testimony Before the California State Assembly - 3MPH Planning and Consulting

Good points DeluxeStang. Since automakers who market full size pickup trucks and SUVs focus on the emotional appeal, status, and image associated with those vehicles, regulations that require improved protection for pedestrians will present a challenge. Consumer Reports wrote about this back in 2021.

While the lack of product knowledge among sales personnel at franchised new car dealerships is an issue with both BEV and ICE cars, BEV are particularly ill suited to the dealership business model. Quotes below are from the Washington Post article that silvrsvt shared earlier in the thread.

In other words, hit and run involving a pedestrian is the driver's fault as mentioned earlier. What the pedestrian was wearing or where he or she was walking is irrelevant to the driver's culpability.

Details from IIHS. Vehicles with higher, more vertical front ends pose greater risk to pedestrians (iihs.org)

Hit and run involving a pedestrian is always the driver's fault.

The latest UAW contract stipulates numerous commitments by the OEMs for work at their UAW represented auto assembly plants in the U.S., and has nothing to do with "more auto plants in Mexico". Examples from Ford - UAW 2023 contract.

That's correct DeluxeStang. Both Team Edison itself and the revised corporate structure consisting of Blue, Model e (which contains Team Edison), and Pro represent competitive advantages for Ford.

The "if they unionize" part of your question does not support the "and can no longer compete" part. There is no reason that any automaker operating assembly plants in the U.S., whether foreign or domestic, would become uncompetitive for exporting because they employ a unionized workforce.

Vertical integration is necessary, but not sufficient, for Ford to survive amid the ongoing automotive industry revolution. Ford's survival, and hopefully thriving, in the automotive industry of the future will require totally different talent and totally different business strategies compared to the industry's "old world".

It's not asinine, but BMW didn't do a good job marketing subscription based payment plans for heated seats and ultimately discontinued them, leaving only the fixed one time price for that feature. Jim Farley isn't a fan of BMW's previous heated seat subscription model anyway. He wants Ford to focus on high value, customized subscription offerings for both fleet and retail customers. Ford CEO Jim Farley Dings BMW Over Heated Seat Subscription Model (fordauthority.com)

Those are 2 of the major growth opportunties for Ford Pro division. The division has also made a foray into additional subscription-based services as well as commercial vehicle insurance. Here is a slide from Ford's Capital Markets Day 2023 event.

This is an area where mass adoption of BEV with V2G capability, such as Ford F-150 Lightning, can promote grid resiliency. Additionally, growth in the installation of non BEV energy storage systems to support grid resiliency has picked up dramatically in recent years. In fact, the heatwaves in Texas (my home state) and California this summer demonstrated the value of these systems. Surprising energy source takes sector by storm after saving heat-battered states this summer: 'On pace for a record year' (thecooldown.com)