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AI robot changes your tires and balances them too

Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:40 -0400

Tire shops are not exactly known for cutting-edge technology. You pull in, hand over your keys and hope the wait does not take over your day. Automated Tire, Inc. wants to change that.

The Boston-based robotics company has unveiled SmartBay, an AI-powered robotic tire change platform built for dealerships, tire shops and service centers. The system handles tire changes, wheel balancing and vehicle inspections with minimal human intervention.

The timing could be good for repair shops. Many are struggling to find technicians, while EVs are putting more demand on tire service because they can wear through tires faster. SmartBay is ATI's answer to a service-bay problem that has been building for years.

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AI HUMANOID ROBOT IS CHANGING THE WAY YOU BUY CARS AT DEALERSHIPS

What is the SmartBay AI robot tire changer?

SmartBay is a robotic service-bay system that uses physical AI, computer vision and machine learning to perform tire work in real time. Instead of relying on fixed routines, the system adapts to each vehicle.

Andy Chalofsky, CEO of Automated Tire, Inc., describes it as "the next generation of the automotive service bay," a robotic-first system built to automate routine, physically demanding work that has traditionally required skilled service-bay personnel.

"Rather than relying on a technician to manually remove the wheel, dismount the tire, balance it on traditional equipment, and reinstall everything, SmartBay performs the tire change and wheel balance itself with only light-touch oversight from an operator," Chalofsky said.

SmartBay is designed to take on the tough tire work technicians usually do by hand. A worker still keeps an eye on the process, but the robot handles most of the lifting, tire changing and balancing.

How SmartBay changes tires without removing the wheels

Here is the part that may surprise you the most. SmartBay leaves the wheel on the car.

"SmartBay is the first patented system in the world that changes tires without removing the wheel from the vehicle. The car is lifted just as it would be on a conventional lift, but instead of taking off the lug nuts, disturbing the tire pressure monitoring system, and pulling the wheel, SmartBay dismounts the tire directly from the rim while the rim stays on the car," Chalofsky said.

After the new tire is mounted, SmartBay performs ATI's trademarked Real Force Balance. Chalofsky says the technology balances "the entire wheel-end assembly, including all of the rotating components in the wheel well," instead of only balancing the tire by itself. He says the result is "the most complete and accurate balance available on the market today."

Why tire shops need robotic tire-changing technology

Tire appointments can go sideways fast, especially when a shop is short-staffed or one job takes longer than expected.

"Anyone who has spent time in a tire shop knows how quickly a busy day can fall apart: a technician calls in sick, the first car of the morning takes longer than expected, and the appointments stacked behind it back up the entire schedule," Chalofsky said.

That is the bottleneck SmartBay is designed to ease. ATI says one technician can manage up to three SmartBay-equipped service bays at once. ATI also designed SmartBay to fit inside a standard 12-foot service bay, so shops do not need oversized lanes or major infrastructure changes.

SmartBay is offered through a lease model, which means shops do not have to make a large upfront investment to install it. ATI says the monthly cost is structured to be lower than the cost of one tire technician. For many operators, the value goes beyond labor savings. The company says SmartBay could help shops move more cars through the bay, deliver more consistent service, make better use of existing bay space and reduce the physical strain on technicians.

The company says its initial machines are targeting a 45-minute door-to-door tire change for four tires, mounted and balanced. As the technology learns more, that time could be reduced to 30 minutes.

How the AI robot handles different vehicles

SmartBay has to deal with whatever rolls into the service bay that day. "Every vehicle that comes into a service bay is different," Chalofsky said. "Even within a single model line, those combinations multiply quickly."

Road grime adds another layer of difficulty. Vehicles may arrive covered in mud, snow, road salt, brake dust or rain, and the system still has to identify what it is working on safely.

Chalofsky says SmartBay handles all of this with "a self-learning AI layer that adapts in real time to hundreds of data points per vehicle."

That approach takes the kind of judgment technicians build over years and turns it into a repeatable system that can keep learning over time.

How SmartBay could speed up tire service

Speed is a big part of what ATI says SmartBay can bring to an auto service business. Chalofsky says the system creates consistency because it can repeat the same process with less variation from one vehicle to the next.

"A single technician can run two or three SmartBays in parallel, processing roughly 24 tires an hour compared to about four tires in 75 minutes today," Chalofsky said.

That could help keep the day from getting backed up when appointments start stacking. For customers, it could mean less time waiting around for updates. Chalofsky says the result can be "more billable volume" and "more predictable scheduling" for high-volume service centers.

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Why EV tire wear makes SmartBay more important

EVs are changing what tire shops have to handle. "EVs are reshaping the tire economy. Because of their weight and instant torque, EV tires wear faster and need to be replaced more often," Chalofsky said. He added that tires are now "the single largest lifetime maintenance expense on most EVs," taking the place of routine costs like oil and filters.

That is a big shift for drivers. EV owners may end up visiting tire shops more often. If shops already struggle with staffing, that extra demand could make the waiting-room problem worse.

ATI believes SmartBay can help shops handle more tire work without needing the same increase in labor. Chalofsky says the system can work across different vehicle classes because "a Tesla, an F-150, and a Chevy Silverado all run through the same system."

Will robotic tire changers replace technicians?

This is the question everyone asks when robotics enters a hands-on job. Chalofsky answers it head-on. "Both, but mostly the latter," he said when asked whether SmartBay replaces technicians or changes the work they do.

He says SmartBay can take over repetitive tire tasks where robotics can work more efficiently. But he also argues that it can make existing workers more valuable.

"In many cases, it allows a shop to take a lower-skilled operator and get three to four times the throughput out of them, which means shops can actually pay those operators more because the work is more valuable," Chalofsky said.

The bigger picture here is that skilled mechanics could spend less time lifting tires and more time on diagnostic or mechanical work that needs their expertise.

"Every wave of automation we've seen in adjacent industries has played out the same way: technology augments the workforce far more than it replaces it, and that's the dynamic we expect here," Chalofsky said.

How SmartBay could make tire service safer

Tire work is physical. Heavy wheel assemblies can strain backs, shoulders and knees, especially over a long shift. Chalofsky says SmartBay can help reduce those risks.

"Because SmartBay leaves the rim on the vehicle, technicians are no longer lifting heavy, expensive wheel assemblies on and off mounting machines. This eliminates one of the most common sources of strain injuries and workers' compensation claims in tire work," he said.

He added that the equipment includes sensors designed to help it operate safely around people in a busy service bay. SmartBay also connects deployed systems through a network, allowing one unit to learn from another.

Chalofsky gave the example of a specific F-150 trim package seen for the first time in California. That data could train every machine in Boston and Florida in near real time. The goal is a system that gets smarter as more shops use it.

What drivers may notice with AI tire service

Most drivers probably will not care how much AI is working behind the scenes. They will care about the part they feel right away: how long the visit takes and how well the car drives afterward.

Chalofsky says consistency will stand out most. "The biggest thing customers would notice is consistency: a faster, more predictable visit, with their car in and out in a defined window rather than depending on which technician happens to be working that day," he said.

He also says Real Force Balance could help deliver a better ride because it balances the full wheel assembly, rather than only the tire. SmartBay's automated visual inspection can also check parts inside the wheel well and flag issues a busy technician might overlook.

For drivers, that could mean a smoother tire visit from start to finish. For shops, it gives them another way to show customers exactly what was checked and why it matters.

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Why ATI started with automated tire changes

Tires may not sound like the most exciting place to start, but they are one of the most common reasons people visit service centers. They also make a strong case for automation because the work is frequent, physically demanding and hard to staff.

"Tire changes and wheel balancing check nearly every box for a first product. It's one of the most frequent reasons a vehicle comes into a service bay, it's a high-dollar transaction, the work is physically arduous and exactly the kind of task a robotic-first platform is well suited to handle, and the labor shortage is most acute precisely in this part of the workforce," Chalofsky said.

He points to EV growth, retiring technicians and broad demand across dealerships, aftermarket shops and fleets. ATI also has a personal connection to the problem. Chalofsky is a fourth-generation tire industry entrepreneur and previously founded several tire businesses, including SimpleTire.

That background gives ATI firsthand knowledge of how tire shops actually operate. Rather than chasing a flashy robotics use case, the company is applying tire-industry experience to a long-running bottleneck.

What this means to you

If you own a gas car, hybrid or EV, this kind of technology could make a tire appointment feel like less of a waiting game. A robotic tire system could help shops move cars through faster when appointments start piling up. It could also make balancing more consistent, which may help your car ride more smoothly after service.

EV owners may feel the impact sooner. Heavier electric vehicles can wear through tires faster, and replacement costs can add up quickly. If shops can handle more tire work without longer waits, EV maintenance could become a little less frustrating.

SmartBay could also change the job for technicians. Instead of spending as much time on the most physically demanding tire work, they could shift more toward oversight and higher-skill repairs.

For service centers, the payoff is steadier operations. When one technician can oversee multiple bays, a busy day may be less likely to turn into a long backup.

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Kurt's key takeaways

SmartBay is one of those things that makes you wonder why tire service has not changed more by now. Cars have become far more advanced, but many tire shops still rely on the same tough manual process drivers have dealt with for years. ATI is betting that physical AI can help the service bay catch up with the vehicles coming into it. The real test will be what happens on a packed Saturday morning when every bay is full, and customers are watching the clock. Robots can look impressive in a demo. The real question is whether they can hold up in busy service bays and make tire appointments less of a headache for drivers.

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Would you trust an AI robot to change and balance your tires if it meant a faster visit and a smoother ride? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Video exposes disrepair lurking beneath Trump Kennedy Center as $257M renovation looms

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:44:09 -0400

Peeling concrete, exposed steel rebar, rust-streaked electrical equipment and vents patched together with layers of duct tape are among the problems hidden beneath the Trump Kennedy Center, according to photos, project materials and board minutes obtained by ӣ��Ƶ Digital as officials push to temporarily shut down the building for major repairs.

The Trump Kennedy Center released documentation Wednesday of what it described as "decades of deferred maintenance and critical infrastructure needs" as part of a $257 million renovation effort, offering an unusually detailed look at the condition of the venue as leadership pushes forward with the project.

The disclosures come as debate intensifies over the plan to close the center for up to two years. While there appears to be broad agreement that the building requires significant repair, some Democrats have objected to the speed of the process.

According to March 16 meeting minutes reviewed by ӣ��Ƶ Digital, Democrat Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, said she had "no opposition for the need for repair" but "strongly opposes voting on a closure."

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The minutes also say Beatty argued there had not been "enough time to review, study, and discuss" the proposal.

The condition of the building is evident in images and video provided by the Trump Kennedy Center, which show water damage affecting electrical systems, rusted infrastructure and large sections of concrete where internal steel supports are exposed.

Project materials describe "2,000+ pound soffit panels" that have reached "end-of-life" and "present a public safety risk," along with "hundreds of structural failure points" in areas such as the parking garage.

Officials also cited "extensive water infiltration," deterioration in electrical rooms beneath entrances and long-term damage affecting the center's iconic white marble exterior as well as concrete and core structural systems.

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Officials have warned that, without repairs, deteriorating structural elements, water-damaged electrical systems and heavy overhead components nearing "end-of-life" could pose potential safety risks to visitors and staff.

The scope of the problems outlined in the new materials echoes earlier warnings from center leadership. In February, officials told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that decades of neglect had left the building in "extremely poor condition," citing broken elevators, failing HVAC systems and deferred maintenance needs they warned could threaten the venue’s very survival.

"We are financially stable, yet the building is still physically in trouble," Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi said in a previous statement to ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

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Executive Director Matt Floca said the decision to close the center is driven by the scale of the work required.

"So, the recommendation was just natural: You shut the building down, temporarily, and you make this investment. And then you reopen," Floca said.

President Donald Trump has also previously argued that closing the building is necessary to complete the work efficiently.

"If we don’t close, the quality of construction will not be nearly as good," Trump said.

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Floca said the scope of the repairs is based on long-standing assessments of the building’s condition, not a newly developed plan.

"The maintenance needs were all developed previously in a 2021 Comprehensive Building Plan," he said.

Asked how visitors have reacted when seeing the condition of the building up close, Floca said there has been "surprise across the board — ‘How did we get here,' right?"

Tours of the Trump Kennedy Center have been offered on a bipartisan basis to lawmakers, along with donors and other key stakeholders, as officials seek to demonstrate the extent of the damage firsthand.

The sessions began earlier this month while Congress was in recess and included staff for a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as well as offices representing both parties in the House and Senate and a representative for Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.

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Opponents have also raised concerns about process and oversight, and a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation has argued that major changes could affect the historic integrity of the building.

"We're maintaining the JFK bust where it is," Floca told gathered press on Wednesday. "The memorial at large will stay the same. All of the quotes and everything on the marble on the exterior building, none of that's changing."

The physical deterioration outlined in the renovation plans comes as the center has reported financial gains under current leadership. In December, officials told ӣ��Ƶ Digital the Kennedy Center Honors raised a record $23 million, nearly doubling the previous year’s total.

The fundraising gains followed leadership changes that saw Trump take on a more direct role in the institution, including as chairman of its board.

Congress has appropriated roughly $257 million for the work through the "One, Big Beautiful Bill" signed into law last year.

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Renovations are expected to begin after July 4, 2026.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the center," Floca said Wednesday. "All of these improvements that we need to make are real, are needed. And we have the timeframe to do it. I'm incredibly excited about it."

The Office of Rep. Joyce Beatty did not immediately respond to ӣ��Ƶ Digital’s request for comment.

7 costly mistakes to avoid at the pump right now as gas prices surge nationwide

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:09:37 -0400

Gas prices are climbing again just as spring travel ramps up, putting added pressure on drivers from road trips to simply commuting to work.

The national average price for regular gas has jumped in recent weeks, climbing to about $3.98 per gallon — up roughly $1 in just the past month, according to AAA. With seasonal demand increasing and oil prices remaining elevated, experts say drivers should expect continued volatility at the pump.

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Luckily, experts say small changes behind the wheel and simple maintenance habits can help stretch every tank further.

Here are seven of their best tips:

1. Drive smarter, not faster

Speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking are some of the biggest fuel drains.

Fuel efficiency drops quickly above about 50 mph, The Points Guy recently reported, and federal data shows aggressive driving can cut gas mileage by up to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.

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Cruise control can also help keep your speed steady, but experts warn not to use it in slick conditions.

2. Pick the right gas

Using premium gas won’t improve fuel economy unless your vehicle specifically requires it.

Most cars are designed to run on regular 87-octane fuel, making it the most cost-effective option, according to AAA.

Using a higher octane than recommended won’t improve mileage or efficiency and typically isn’t worth the added cost.

3. Keep tires properly inflated

Underinflated tires increase resistance on the road, forcing the engine to work harder and burn more fuel, experts say.

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Tires naturally lose about 1 to 3 psi per month, and a 10 psi drop can reduce fuel economy by up to 4%. Pressure can fall even further with colder temperatures or small leaks, making regular pressure checks especially important.

4. Avoid idling

Many drivers believe it’s more fuel-efficient to let a car idle than to turn it off and restart it, but experts say that’s a myth.

A warm engine uses only about 10 seconds’ worth of fuel to restart, meaning idling longer than that wastes gas, and engines can burn up to a half-gallon per hour while idling, according to AAA and government agencies.

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Letting a car warm up for long periods is also unnecessary, as most vehicles need only about 30 seconds before driving.

5. Lighten your load

Extra weight — especially roof racks and cargo boxes — can significantly reduce fuel efficiency.

Drivers can lose about 1% of fuel economy for every 100 pounds added to a vehicle, and cargo mounted on the roof creates additional wind resistance that can cut mileage by up to 8% in the city and as much as 25% on the highway, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Clearing out your trunk or removing unused carriers can help your car go farther on each tank, while rear-mounted cargo options tend to have a smaller impact on fuel economy.

6. Plan ahead

Plan fuel-efficient routes using apps like Google Maps to avoid backtracking and unnecessary stops.

Combining errands into one trip and opting for "one-stop" locations when possible can reduce driving time, especially if you avoid peak traffic and stop-and-go conditions.

Fewer trips also mean fewer cold starts, which use more fuel, helping drivers save gas over time, according to federal guidance.

7. Use A/C and windows strategically

Air conditioning can increase fuel use — by up to 10%, in some cases — while open windows also reduce efficiency by creating drag, so experts recommend adjusting based on speed.

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At lower speeds, windows can be more efficient, but on highways it’s better to close them and use A/C, ideally after airing out a hot car to reduce the strain on the system.

Mechanic finds Ford assembly worker's lost wallet in vehicle hood from 11 years ago

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 22:18:51 -0400

A Minnesota mechanic working on a 2015 Ford Edge discovered a wallet under the hood that a Michigan Ford assembly plant worker lost 11 years earlier.

Chad Volk, who runs LC Car Care in Lake Crystal, Minnesota, was under the hood replacing the vehicle's cooling fans and had pulled out the airbox when he made the discovery, he told KARE 11.

When the airbox would not fit when he attempted to put it back into place, Volk had to investigate the problem.

"And that's where the wallet was," Volk told KARE 11.

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"I had to sit down and go through this wallet," he added.

Volk then searched through the leather wallet and found the Ford Motor Company employee ID.

"I was surprised. You find stuff all the time, usually tools," Volk told the Detroit Free Press. "I looked through it, and I see a Ford Motor Co. badge. I thought, 'I'm going to try finding this guy to see if I can get it back to him.'"

He then used Facebook to find retired autoworker Richard Guilford, who recalled the moment he learned his wallet had been located.

"Is this your wallet?" Volk asked.

"The first thing I said was, 'Did you find that in a car?'" Guilford told the outlet.

Guilford, who built Ford vehicles in Michigan, was fixing electrical issues in Ford Edges the day he lost his wallet around Christmas in 2014.

"I never wore sweatpants to work, but I did that day," Guilford said. "And I had my wallet in my shirt pocket."

As Guilford leaned over the car, the wallet must have slipped out of his pocket and into the vehicle.

At about 2 a.m., he turned to a co-worker and told him he had lost his wallet.

Several coworkers then helped Guilford search for his wallet.

"You know, there [were] 2,000 cars out there, and we couldn’t find it," he said.

Although he knew specifically which cars he worked on during that shift, Guilford says it did not even occur to him to look under the airbox.

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The Ford vehicle then traveled to a dealership in Arizona before heading to Lake Crystal, where the wallet was found by Volk after more than 150,000 miles on the road.

After exchanging Facebook messages, Volk mailed the wallet to Guilford's home in Petersburg, Michigan.

"And there's nothing wrong with the money at all," said Guilford, who found $15 cash in the wallet.

"It's well-traveled currency," he added.

In addition to the cash and long-expired lottery tickets, the wallet contained $250 in Cabela's gift cards he had planned to use 11 years ago to buy Christmas gifts for his kids.

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Guilford said he checked with Cabela's and was told the gift cards could still be used.

The two men spoke in a video chat just days after the wallet was found.

"I would have never, ever, figured in a million years that would still be there," Guilford told Volk, according to KARE 11.

Chad replied that he was "going to have to start digging through cars more often, I guess, in the engine bays, and see if I can find something."

Baltimore bridge victims' families filing suit to prevent shipowner from shirking legal liability

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:06:01 -0400

Families of some of the immigrant workers who died when a cargo ship plowed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March are expected to announce Tuesday that they will take legal action to hold the owners of the vessel legally liable for the deadly collapse, according to a report.

The families of three of the six victims will be asking a federal court to prevent Grace Ocean Private Limited, a Singapore-based company which owns the Dali, from escaping legal liability with regard to the maritime disaster, CBS reports.

In April, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., as manager of the Dali, filed a petition for exoneration from or limitation of liability in the federal district court in Maryland over the deadly incident.

The Dali lost power on two occasions when it was little more than half a mile from the bridge in the early hours of March 26, which ultimately led the 117,000 ton vessel to slam into a main support pier on the bridge, causing part of the 47-year-old structure to collapse into the water within seconds.

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Eight construction workers who were on the bridge at the time doing maintenance fell into the water as it collapsed. Two of the eight survived, while six workers died.

Should the federal district court in Maryland allow the case to proceed, the victims' families could pursue legal action to obtain monetary compensation for the deaths of their loved ones, Matthew Wessler of Gupta Wessler LLP, the firm planning to file the court motion, told CBS.

"They all have suffered an unimaginable tragedy, losing their loved ones, whether it was one of our clients who lost her husband and partner. Another who lost their son," Wessler told CBS News. "And we think that accountability, or they think that justice here means holding those responsible accountable."

Wessler told the outlet that his firm is planning to file the motion to hold Grace Ocean Private Limited legally liable before a Sept. 24 deadline which was triggered following the April petition.

He says Grace Ocean Private Limited was negligent and that the ship should not have left the port when it did, having lost power multiple times prior to its departure.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that a crewmember of the Dali accidentally disabled the vessel’s equipment during in-port maintenance while it was moored at the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore on March 25. Crewmembers experienced a second blackout due to insufficient fuel pressure for the online generator.

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When leaving the harbor in the early hours of March 26, a primary electrical breaker that fed most of the ship's equipment and lighting unexpectedly tripped, causing the ship to lose electrical power and experience a blackout.

The main propulsion diesel engine then shut down after the pumps lost electrical power. The ship's crew was able to restore power, then called for an assist from tug boats and the senior pilot ordered the ship's anchor to be dropped.

A second blackout then happened, and a marine radio call was made to warn waterborne traffic, but the ship struck a main support pier on the bridge, causing it to collapse and plunging the workers to their deaths.

It is unclear what role the earlier technical malfunctions may have played in the vessel’s loss of power before it hit the bridge.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to Gupta Wessler LLP via its PR firm for comment, as well as attorneys representing Grace Ocean Private Limited, but did not immediately receive responses.

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The legal action will be filed on behalf of the families of Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, Jose Maynor Lopez Sandoval and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, CBS reports.

Despite the immediate dispatch of salvage divers to the collapse, it took six weeks before all the bodies of the missing construction crew members were recovered. All of the victims were Latino immigrants who had moved to the U.S. for work opportunities.

The Dali remained stuck amid the wreckage for almost two months, with a massive steel truss draped across its damaged bow. On May 20, the ship was refloated and guided back to port. That allowed officials to open a channel that was 50 feet deep and 400 feet wide, big enough for most of the largest commercial vessels.

Officials have pledged to rebuild the bridge, which could cost at least $1.7 billion and take several years.

ӣ��Ƶ’ Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Here's why buying a yellow car might be a bright idea

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:51:53 -0400

Yellow cars are solid gold… in the used car market.

A new report from iSeeCars has determined which color vehicles hold their value the best, and the more colorful the better.

Well, usually.

The study looked at 1.3 million transactions of three-year-old cars and trucks sorted by color to determine their depreciation.

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Yellow vehicles lost just 13.5% of their value during the period, compared to an average of 22.5%.

It often tops the list, but not just because people like cheery bright cars.

It's actually the least common car color in the U.S., accounting for just 1% of sales, which makes it a rarity on the used car market.

"Yellow cars continue to represent the greatest disparity between how many are produced and how many people want one," iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said.

"While not many people want a yellow car, there are clearly more people who want one than exist, which is why yellow performs so well on the secondary market."

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The once-ubiquitous beige finished second on the list at 17.8%, which reflects its recent shift toward becoming a niche color.

It was followed by orange, green and red, while black, brown and actual gold were the three worst performers, the last of which saw an average depreciation of 25.9%.

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"It’s interesting to see how color rankings change across vehicle segments, reflecting the shift in preference based on the type of vehicle someone is buying," Brauer said. "Even more interesting is the consistently low ranking of supposedly popular colors like black and silver."

Smoke screen: This car part can help clear the air if you remember to change it

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:15:25 -0400

The wildfire smoke covering large parts of the U.S. and Canada has people reaching for face masks again and staying indoors to avoid the worst effects of the bad air quality, but there's another place where you can breathe a little easier: your car

But only if you've kept up the maintenance on one key part.

Nearly every new car and truck is equipped with a cabin air filter that is incorporated into the climate control system.

A recent survey by NAPA found only 26% of respondents said they thought they knew if their car had one or where it was located.

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It is typically located behind the glove compartment and easily accessible, although it can be found in other locations in older cars and in a few special cases.

The filter works when the fan is turned on and in both the fresh air and recirculated air settings, with the latter providing the maximum effect, as anyone who's driven behind a smoky truck or another vehicle on a dusty road knows.

Most filter 98% of particulates down to the size of .5 microns, according to AAA, while HEPA-grade filters are available that can catch 99.97% of particulates as small as .3 microns.

Tesla and Mercedes offer HEPA filters as factory equipment on some of their electric models, which use extra large filters that are installed under their hoods.

The standard filters cost as little as $15 to $20 and the replacement process often doesn't require any tools. Replacement schedules usually range from 15,000 to 30,000 miles, but each vehicle is different and details can be found in the owner's manual.

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AAA also recommends that people who live in areas with high levels of pollen, dust and pollution, and those with regular wildfire seasons, should check and change them more often.

Along with protecting passengers' lungs, cleaner filters allow the climate control system to operate at its peak efficiency, just like an air conditioner at home.

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Low air flow or a whistling noise can also be a sign that a filter needs to be replaced.

Auto-moo-biles? Ethanol made from milk coming soon to Michigan

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 12:32:31 -0400

A lot of people like to start their day with a tall glass of cold milk, and some Michigan drivers will soon be able to start their cars with one. In a roundabout way.

The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) is collaborating with Canada’s Dairy Distillery to build a factory that turns byproducts from milk production into ethanol, which will be blended with gasoline for use in automobiles.

Dairy Distillery currently runs a facility in Almonte, Canada, that already uses the process to make a vodka it calls Vodkow.

MMPA CEO Joe Diglio told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that when milk is separated into skim and butterfat for use in making dairy products like ice cream and cheese, it also creates a byproduct called milk permeate whey that is high in lactose sugar, which is filtered and concentrated.

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"Traditionally it’s been used as an additive to animal feed and there’s very little profit margin in that," Diglio said.

Dairy Distillery can take this and ferment it into ethanol, which makes it a more valuable product.

"Fermented lactose goes back to the time of Genghis Khan, who would drink kumis, fermented mare’s milk," Dairy Distillery founder Omid McDonald said.

The idea to turn it into a motor fuel gained traction during the energy crisis of the 1970s, but the more cost-effective corn-based ethanol took over. The only two factories currently making ethanol this way are in Ireland and New Zealand, according to a USDA report promoting it to dairy cooperatives.

This time around, a big part of the appeal is lowering the carbon footprint of dairy production, as the permeate whey-based ethanol works as a carbon offset.

The $41 million factory will be built adjacent to the MMPA dairy in Cosntantine, Michigan, and produce up to 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually from 14,000 tons of permeate whey.

"The facility will be co-located on the same campus, with the permeate piped from the dairy to the distillery," McDonald said.

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Unlike the Vodkow, which still has a hint of milk flavor, the motor fuel is 100% ethanol and identical to that made from other sources.

The factory is set to begin production in 2025 and will sell the ethanol to local blenders through brokers, which opens up a much larger market than vodka sales could support.

"We’ve gotten some interest from other dairy cooperatives around the country and think it can take off," Diglio said.

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McDonald said new factories can be built in about a year and a half and that their output can be scaled up quickly.

The 10 best new car deals for Memorial Day weekend

Fri, 26 May 2023 14:22:26 -0400

Car dealers are dealing again.

Thanks to improving supplies, the average amount paid for a new car has fallen below the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), and incentives are growing.

There are plenty of discounted models to be found this Memorial Day weekend, but Consumer Reports has highlighted some of the best.

It's restricted its picks to models with high overall scores in its benchmark ratings.

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"You’re likely to see ads for other models, but they may have come up short in Consumer Reports’ testing," the organization said.

"It is important that shoppers to do their research and not be swayed by the savings alone."

The Consumer Reports top 10 picks include everything from sedans to pickups available for discounts as high as 10% below MSRP.

Below are the best deals listed with the estimated discounts and price ranges for each model line. All of them run through at least May 31:

Chevrolet Equinox 10% ($26,600 - $33,400)

Chevrolet Blazer 8% ($35,100 - $45,700)

Chevrolet Traverse 7% ($34,520 - $54,200)

Dodge Charger 7% ($33,200 - $77,900)

Mazda CX-9 7% ($38,750 - $48,460)

Lincoln Corsair 7% ($38,690 - $53,885)

Ford Edge 7% ($37,945 - $46,485)

Ram 1500 6% ($37,410 - $84,355)

Cadillac XT5 6% ($44,195 - $57,095)

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GMC Acadia 6% ($36,800 - $50,600)

THE BEST NEW CARS FOR TEENS ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORTS AND IIHS

AI-powered system can inspect a car in seconds using bomb detecting tech

Fri, 26 May 2023 02:00:25 -0400

This is what you call speedy service.

UVeye is a new system that uses artificial intelligence to perform multi-point vehicle inspections in seconds, saving hours of work compared to traditional methods.

"It’s kind of like an MRI for your car," UVeye Chief Marketing Officer Yaron Saghiv told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

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The technology uses computer vision and deep learning originally developed in Israel as a security system that could scan below vehicles for explosive devices and other smuggled items.

"What happened was that instead of bombs and guns and drug bags, we started finding oil leaks, so we understood there was something much bigger here," Saghiv said.

Its capabilities were expanded to look for things like broken components, missing parts and scratches.

It covers 70% of a standard multi-point inspection as the vehicle is driven through the scanner at up to 20 mph and issues a report within three to 10 seconds.

"We have an algorithm, an AI brain that has seen millions of vehicles already, and it knows how to predict and reconstruct the areas of a car and recognize issues," Saghiv said.

"It’s AI, like everybody talks about, but it’s also practical and applied to something that touches us all."

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It is make-and-model agnostic and has proven to be 95% accurate.

It can also check the tread depth of tires and looks for uneven wear, which suggests the steering is out of alignment.

It will even determine how old the tires are by reading the writing on the sidewall and note if they’re past their recommended life expectancy and need to be replaced.

General Motors and CarMax both took part in a recent $100 million funding round that’s helping to back a new manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, where the systems can be mass-produced.

General Motors alone has over 4,000 dealers in the U.S. that could potentially add a UVeye station.

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"The UVeye system allows our dealers to provide enhanced customer experience by sharing real-time, precise and transparent information. In turn, this has built stronger trust with our customers and allowed our dealers to guide timely repairs to keep our customers safely on the road." Dave Marsh, GM Customer Care and Aftersales executive director, sales and marketing, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

Along with retail service centers, the system is marketed toward wholesale car auction companies and fleet managers and costs $3,500 to $6,000 per month through a subscription.

UVeye is developing a second step that can scan the interior of a car with a 360-degree camera that’s placed between the front seats.

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"There’s a phone app that lets you record the sound of the engine, and you can connect a USB stick to the OBD (onboard diagnostics port) and then we can give you a complete condition report that provides a full picture," Saghiv said.

The best new cars for teens according to Consumer Reports and IIHS

Tue, 23 May 2023 06:28:34 -0400

Graduation day is right around the corner, and for many teenagers, the ultimate gift is still a new set of wheels.

With only three new vehicles priced under $20,000 these days, cheap rides are a thing of the past, but for those who can afford them, Consumer Reports has teamed up with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to pick the best new models for teens and recently licensed drivers.

"As parents, we can’t control what happens on the road once our teen driver pulls out of the driveway," Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center, said.

"But we do have some say in the type of vehicle they drive off in, and that can make a huge difference. This list can help parents find vehicles that check all the boxes."

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The list leaves off sports cars and other high horsepower vehicles that might be too tempting to speed with or show off in.

It also eliminates vehicles that are very small – microcars and those under 2,700 pounds – that might not fare well in a crash with a heavy vehicle, as well as very large models that can be harder to handle and pose additional dangers to other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians when in the hands of an inexperienced driver.

The 16 vehicles chosen also received either a Top Safety Pick ro Top Safety Pick+ crash safety award from the IIHS and standard automatic braking systems; reliability and performance scores of at least average from Consumer Reports; a braking distance from 60 mph of less than 140 feet; and a good or better score for how easy their in-cabin controls are to use.

Vehicles with higher than average injury insurance claims were also left off, unless they recently received a full redesign.

Here is the full list by segment with prices for the lowest-priced trims that qualify.

SMALL CAR

Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback: $23,000

MIDSIZE CARS

Subaru Legacy: $25,100

Subaru Outback: $29,300

SMALL SUVS

Honda HR-V: $24,400

Subaru Forester: $27,700

Mazda CX-5: $27,800

Mazda CX-50: $28,900

Toyota RAV4: $29,300

Honda CR-V: $29,700

Lexus UX: $36,000

MIDSIZE SUVS

Subaru Ascent: $34,600

Hyundai Palisade: $36,600

Toyota Highlander: $37,100

Mazda CX-9: $38,300

Lexus NX: $39,800

MINIVAN

Honda Odyssey: $38,100

AI-powered RoboTire can change 4 tires twice as fast as a human

Fri, 19 May 2023 02:00:43 -0400

Autonomous robot cars may be the next big thing, but robot mechanics are right behind them.

RoboTire is a new technology that can change all four tires on a car two to three times faster than a human can do it alone. But it still requires a human touch — for now.

After a vehicle pulls onto the device’s platform, artificial intelligence-driven machine vision identifies the wheels, spots the lugs and guides the robot arms to unscrew and remove the nuts or lug bolts, then pulls the wheels and tires off.

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It then passes them on to a Hunter tire-changing machine, to which it transmits information about the size and type of tire, so that it’s ready to make the swap.

A human tech helps with the transition between the two, loads the fresh tire into the changer and keeps an eye on the operation, but Michigan-based RoboTire's founder and CEO Victor Darolfi said the company is working to develop the system to be fully autonomous.

Darolfi told ӣ��Ƶ Digital the entire process can be completed in 23 minutes, and that it’s getting faster all the time as the machine continues to learn through AI.

"It’s mainly training our machine vision system. Every motion is guided by this," Darolfi said.

RoboTire already has a large library of information on vehicle types, wheel sizes and bolt patterns, and it can tap into that when it encounters a new one.

"Someone can come in with a new rim combination that the robot hasn’t seen yet, but since we’re constantly retraining our models on the fly, that allows the robot to continue and not get hung up," Darolfi said.

"How we handle the variability is our secret sauce."

The company has four stores using RoboTire, and when one learns something new it shares it with the others.

"It figures it out itself, calls back home, and then we rerun our models every week to increase the confidence level," Darolfi explained.

It can even work when conditions aren’t perfect.

"What if there’s mud on the tire or snow packed into the wheel well? As long as it can see one edge of the lug nut, it can find it," Darolfi said.

"It’s like seeing through the woods. The AI helps us see the woods, and the machine vision allows us to identify the tree."

RoboTire hasn’t publicly announced exact pricing but offers it as an all-inclusive "robot as a service" subscription at varying rates that take into account local salaries.

Darolfi said most operators will see payback within a year thanks to reduced labor costs and higher production.

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Along with retail giant Discount Tire, it’s also being used by a Creamery Tire, a small Philadelphia-area chain that does 80 to 100 tires a day at each location and has been having great success with the one RoboTire it has.

Owner Rich Shainline told ӣ��Ƶ Digital it’s helped the company address the ongoing labor shortage.

"Our big thing is, we have to move product, and I can put one guy on it instead of two," Shainline said. "It’s not 100%, but the vehicles it can’t handle are few and far between. And RoboTire has been great to work with."

Darolfi said his company is already testing its use on other wheeled vehicles, like side-by-side UTVs, and that the company is working on additional functions he’s not ready to reveal yet, including inspections.

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"Imagine what can you do in and around the tire and in and around where the tire's off the vehicle," he said.

This Ford truck is the vehicle most likely to last 250,000 miles

Wed, 03 May 2023 07:37:27 -0400

The Ford F-350 Super Duty was built for the long haul.

A new study found that the truck is more likely to remain in service for 250,000 miles than any other vehicle.

The iSeeCars.com online marketplace looked at 260 million vehicle sales from 2012 to 2022 to determine which models had the highest chances of reaching the quarter-million-mile mark, based on the mileages listed at the time of their sales.

The F-350 Super Duty received a score of 49.1%, which is more than four times the average of 11.8% for all vehicles.

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"Vehicle lifespans continue to grow, with more than 20 cars now having a 20% or better chance of lasting at least a quarter-million miles," iSeeCars.com Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said.

"For most of the automobile’s history, 100,000 miles was considered the maximum usable lifespan. Over the past 30 years we’ve watched an increasing number of cars reach 200,000-plus miles, and for our 10th Longest-Lasting Cars Study we’ve expanded our analysis to predict which vehicles have the greatest likelihood of reaching 250,000 miles or more."

The F-350 was followed by the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV and Toyota Tundra pickup, tied at 47.9%.

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The Toyota Sequoia, which recently topped iSeeCars.com's list of vehicles with the longest potential lifespan at 296,509 miles, was third at 47.1% and followed by the Ford F-250 Super Duty at 43.6%.

The Honda Pilot crossover utility vehicle was the top model that is not a truck in sixth at 42.7% and the Toyota Avalon the highest rated car at 33.1%.

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The Toyota Sienna at 23.3% was the only minivan among the 23 models with scores better than 20%, and Toyota led all brands with a total of eight models on the iSeeCars.com list:

1. Ford F-350 Super Duty: 49.1%

2. Toyota Land Cruiser: 47.9%

3. Toyota Tundra: 47.9%

4. Toyota Sequoia: 47.1%

5. Ford F-250 Super Duty: 43.6%

6. Honda Pilot: 42.7%

7. Toyota Tacoma: 41.7%

8. GMC Sierra 2500HD: 41.3%

9. Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD: 41.2%

10. Toyota 4Runner: 41.0%

11. Toyota Avalon: 33.1%

12. Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 31.0%

13. Acura MDX: 29.2%

14. Honda Element: 27.8%

15. Honda CR-V: 27.5%

16. Honda Accord: 27.1%

17. Chevrolet Avalanche: 26.7%

18. Ram 2500: 26.3%

19. Ram 3500: 24.3%

20. Toyota Sienna: 23.3%

21. Subaru Outback : 22.3%

22. GMC Yukon XL: 21.3%

23. Toyota Camry: 20.4%

Many electric vehicles can't go as far as advertised, report says

Mon, 01 May 2023 11:03:53 -0400

A new look at the driving range ratings for electric cars has found that many of them come up short.

SAE International (formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers) and Car and Driver collaborated on the study, which compares real-world testing with the EPA-certified figures listed on the window stickers.

Internal combustion engine models display fuel economy figures for city, highway and combined estimates, while electric vehicles only get a combined rating.

Both are also given a total range rating representing how far they are expected to drive on a full tank or battery charge, which is based on the expectations that 55% of the driving takes place in the city.

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Electric and hybrid vehicles tend to be more efficient in city driving because they can use their motors as brakes that recapture energy, which charges the battery during stop-and-go driving.

It's the opposite for internal combustion engine vehicles, which are typically more efficient when traveling at a constant speed.

In 2016, Car and Driver intimated its own real-world highway test for all vehicles, which is conducted over about 200 miles at 75 mph.

A look at the figures found that internal combustion engine models outperformed their ratings by 4% on average, while electric vehicles fell short by 12.5%

"Basically we've taken a look at how vehicles perform relative to the values on the window sticker, looking at the difference between what the label says and what we actually see in our real-world highway test," explained Car and Driver testing director Dave VanderWerp.

"We see a big difference in that gap between gas-powered vehicles and the performance of EVs."

For an electric vehicle with a listed range of 300 miles, the 12.5% drop would mean it could only go 262.5 miles between charges in perfect conditions, not taking into account the negative effect extreme temperatures have on battery performance. But the way the cars are rated by the EPA makes the issue even more confusing.

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The tests are conducted across several speeds, often by the automakers themselves, and multipliers are used to come up with the final number.

There are two different testing cycles available, one of which tends to produce higher numbers, and the automakers can choose which one to use for certification. European automakers often go with the more pessimistic option, which results in lower, but more accurate figures.

"400 miles of stated range for a Tesla and 300 miles for a Porsche is pretty much the same number at real highway speeds," VanderWerp said.

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The study suggests that the certification process should be updated with new calculations that better reflect what consumers can expect and that all electric vehicles use the same testing criteria.

Rare license plate sold for record $15 million

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 08:45:32 -0400

And you thought registering your car in the U.S. was expensive.

A rare license plate has been sold in the United Arab Emirates for an astonishing amount.

The number 7 plate from Dubai was purchased for a record $15 million.

But it is not an example of out of control regulations.

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The plate was auctioned by the government to raise money for the 1 Billion Meals Foundation, a charity founded by the country's ruler to help fight world hunger.

UAE countries often hold charity auctions for plates with low numbers, which are seen as a status symbol in the region.

The identity of the buyer has not been revealed, but they now hold the Guinness World Record for highest price ever paid for a license plate.

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The previous high mark was the $14.2 million sale of the Abu Dhabi number 1 plate in 2008.

The $15 million amount is more than just about any new car in the world the plate might be used on, although the highest official price ever paid for a new car was $18.9 million for the one-off Bugatti La Voiture Noire supercar, which was delivered to its mystery owner in 2021.

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However, Rolls-Royce is rumored to have sold the similarly bespoke Boat Tail convertible for $28 million the same year.

Used Ford Maverick pickups still cost more than new ones

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:46:10 -0400

Used cars and trucks are getting cheaper than new ones again, but a few models are hanging on to their inflated prices.

A new study from iSeeCars that looked at 8.9 million sales found that used vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 model years are now selling at an average of $3,701, or 8.1% below the cost of a new one.

That's almost perfectly flipped from a year ago when used vehicles were going for a $3,574 premium.

"Inflation and interest rates are among the primary factors impacting consumer spending, as reflected in a substantial drop in used car pricing over the past year," iSeeCars.com executive analyst Karl Brauer said.

USED TESLA MODEL 3 PRICES ARE COLLAPSING ALONG WITH OTHER EVS

There are a few used models that are still in high demand, however, and hanging on to their value, including one that's the cheapest car sold by its automaker.

The Ford Maverick compact pickup sells new for prices ranging from $24,190 to $35,165 before options, but used examples have an average $36,777, which is 12.3% higher than their list price average.

The fuel efficient Toyota Corolla Hybrid had the second-highest premium at 7.9%, while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class ultra luxury SUV was third at 4.6%.

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The Toyota Sienna minivan, Toyota Rav4 Prime, Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Rav4 Hybrid and Kia Carnival minivan were next on the list, all of which have had tight inventories.

The Ford Bronco, Honda Civic hatchback, Honda Accord Hybrid, Chevrolet Corvette, Kia Rio and Honda Accord were the other models above the break even point.

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The high fuel efficiency and relatively low cost of several of these reflect "the ongoing consumer interest in saving money on fuel costs as gasoline prices remain high," according to the iSeeCars report.

Used Tesla Model 3 prices are collapsing along with other EVs

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:10:55 -0400

Used car prices have dropped -8.7% over the past year as the supply chain recovers, a new report says, but many electric vehicle values are in a free fall.

The study of more than 1.8 million sales of one- to five-year-old vehicles by iSeeCars found that EV prices are down -13.9%, but still at an average of $46,353.

That compares to -8.8% for conventional combustion engine models, and -2.1% for hybrids, which have benefited from stubbornly inflated fuel prices compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A few electrics have bucked the trend, however. Prices for the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf are up 5.9% and 5.4% respectively over the same period.

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Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst, said the hybrid price strength is "possibly reflecting the average consumer’s unwillingness to pay the higher price for a used EV as inflation and interest rates dampen consumer confidence."

The EV drop was driven in large part by the Tesla Model 3, which has seen prices fall -21.5% over the past six months.

New Model 3 prices were increased steeply over the past few years with tightening inventories, but received several large reductions in recent months that raised the ire of some customers who bought cars before the cuts.

Other models seeing large six-month drops are the Nissan Kicks (-13.4), the Nissan Leaf, which took a -12.0 turn despite being up over the year, the Toyota C-HR (-11.9) and the Jaguar E-Pace (-11.6).

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The Model 3's year-over-year decline is lower than its six-month figure at -19.3% and led by the Land Rover Discovery (-19.9), Nissan Armada (-20.3%) and Infiniti QX80 (-22.3%).

However, several models continue to buck the discount trend, according to iSeeCars, mostly in the luxury segments.

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Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan and Mercedes-Benz GLS prices are up 11.8% and 11.2% since last September, followed by the Porsche 911 (10.6%), Cadillac Escalade (9.1%) and Porsche 918 Cayman (8.7%).

Consumer Reports says these are the best car insurance companies

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 06:42:14 -0400

It looks like Gronk just won another title.

Consumer Reports has released its rankings of the best car insurance companies, and USAA swept every category.

The insurer for current and retired members of the U.S. military and their families features NFL legend Rob Gronkowski in its latest commercials, depicting him as envious of the people who qualify for the insurance.

Despite the high profile spokesman, USAA and the rest of the top four companies in the Consumer Reports rankings were not among the biggest spenders on advertising, which include Geico, Progressive and Allstate.

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USAA, NJM, Amica and Erie were the highest ranked of the 36 car insurance companies studied, with all four earning very favorable scores from Consumer Reports members.

USAA was the only one to get straight Superlative ratings in all seven categories, which include premium prices, claims settlements, customer service and breadth of coverage.

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However, three of the top-rated companies offer very limited availability to their policies. Along with USAA's military requirement, NJM is only available in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey Ohio and Pennsylvania, while Erie covers 12, the District of Columbia and 12 states in the East and Midwest.

Amica covers the entire country, including Washington, D.C., except for Hawaii.

Major insurers Liberty Mutual, Kemper and Allstate all received a "very unfavorable" rating for premium pricing.

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Regardless of the carrier, Consumer Reports recommends a few strategies for lowering costs:

-Set the deductible right.: It might be worth the risk to go with a higher deductible if you have a history of safe driving.

-Bundle car and homeowners: Many insurers offer discounts for multiple policies.

-Look for the discounts: Security systems, good grades for young drivers and low daily mileage are among the list of things that can reduce a premium.

-Keep a high credit score: Consumer Reports disagrees with this practice, but many states allow insurers to use this to calculate risk.

-Other factors: Some states allow insurers to consider employment and education level when setting rates, but not all companies do.

These 10 vehicles have the biggest markups at 20% and more

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:33:50 -0400

New car markups are the lowest they’ve been in over a year, but several models are still being advertised with big add-ons.

The latest study by iSeeCars found that the average list price at dealers was 8.8% higher than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which was the same as January, but down from 10% last summer.

The overall average price is up from $42,551 to $45,996, but that’s partly due to increases in MSRP.

"There’s no denying it – new cars are expensive!" Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars, said.

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"The manufacturers keep raising their prices and then the dealers raise them again."

Several popular models were going for far more inflated prices, with the top 10 marked up more than 20% over list.

Among the highest are the Genesis GV70, which is advertised with an average 27.5% markup, and the two-door Jeep Wrangler at 23.9%.

The full iSeeCars list is dominated by premium SUVs:

Genesis GV70: 27.5%

Jeep Wrangler: 23.9%

Mercedes-Benz GLB: 22.9%

Porsche Taycan: 22.7%

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: 21.9%

Cadillac CT4-V: 21.1%

Genesis GV80: 21.0%

Porsche Macan: 20.6%

Cadillac CT5: 20.3%

Lexus RX 350h: 20.3%

There are a few model lines dipping below MSRP again, however, led by the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, which is listed at an average discount of -1.9%.

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The Volkswagen Arteon sedan and new Cadillac Lyriq were discounted -0.4% while the Infiniti QX80 was selling exactly at MSRP.

"The Lyriq is a brand new electric SUV, so it’s surprising to see it priced right at MSRP. Of course, it was recently caught up in the government’s recategorization of which models earn the $7,500 federal tax credit, which likely impacted how dealers priced it," Brauer said.

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Three pickups are among the vehicles with the lowest markups:

Chevrolet Silverado 1500: -1.9%

Volkswagen Arteon: -0.4%

Cadillac Lyriq: -0.4%

Infiniti QX80: 0.0%

GMC Sierra 1500: 0.9%

Chevrolet Malibu: 1.1%

Ford F-150 (hybrid): 1.6%

Chevrolet Traverse: 2.0%

Buick Envision: 2.1%

Mazda CX-9: 2.3%

Classic car theft foiled because crooks couldn't figure out how to drive it

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:03:22 -0400

Manual transmissions have become something of a theft deterrent in recent years, as many younger people do not know how to use them, but how about getting the car started in the first place?

That seems to have been the challenge for a thief or thieves who tried to steal a rare race car near Melbourne, Australia, last week.

The Brabham BT21 was one of about 110 that were built in the late 1960s for use in Formula 3 and other racing series around the world.

The open-wheel single-seater was at a home in the suburb of Toorak, where it was being stored ahead of its entry in the Phillip Island Classic car racing event.

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According to the Victoria Police, it was stolen during the overnight hours of March 9, but found by police abandoned on a nearby street early in the morning.

Apparently, whoever tried to get away with it didn't know the starting procedure, which isn't as simple as turning a key.

Like many competition cars, the BT21 has separate switches for the battery, fuel pump and ignition, and they must be engaged in a particular order to get it to work.

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"I don’t think they knew how to turn on all the switches to be able to start it properly," owner Peter Williams told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday morning, 7News reported.

Police said the cutch for its five-speed manual transmission was also damaged, making the car inoperable and in need of repairs.

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Police released a photo for the car and are asking for tips, but there are so far no suspects or witnesses to the crime.

153,000 catalytic converters were stolen in 2022, and these 10 vehicles are the top targets

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:08:38 -0400

The catalytic converter theft crime wave that's been sweeping America may be even worse than it seems.

A new report from CarFax estimates that 153,000 of the emissions control devices were stolen in 2022, based on repair records.

That's higher than some previous estimates and the situation doesn't appear to be improving.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of thefts increased 1,215% from 2019 through 2022.

CAR THEFTS HIT 1 MILLION IN 2022 DUE TO WEAK ENFORCEMENT AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS, NICB SAYS

Thieves are going after catalytic converters because of the valuable materials used in their construction, including platinum, palladium and rhodium.

They're also relatively easy to steal, the process taking little more than a minute in some cases.

But it's not without risk. One thief in Georgia was recently killed when the vehicle he was working on fell and crush him.

Another in California was run over by a woman who was sleeping in the lifted Ford Excursion SUV he was under and drove off when she was awoken by the noise he was making.

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As part of its review, CarFax identified which vehicles are hit the most often and these are the top 10:

1. Ford F-Series

2. Honda Accord

3. Toyota Prius

4. Honda CR-V

5. Ford Explorer

6. Ford Econoline

7. Chevrolet Equinox

8. Chevrolet Silverado

9. Toyota Tacoma

10. Chevrolet Cruze

As with all automotive theft prevention, experts advise owners to park in well-lit areas or in garages when possible.

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There are also catalytic converter anti-theft devices available on the aftermarket, and Toyota is now offering them as optional accessories on several models, including the Prius, Rav4 and Tacoma.

Acura NSX supercar found in river after 16 years sold for restoration

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:08:09 -0400

A classic supercar found in a river may soon be resurrected.

A 1991 Acura NSX that was sitting on the bottom of North Carolina's Yadkin River for 16 years may soon be on the road again.

The classic mid-engine two-door was discovered during an unrelated missing person's investigation in 2019.

The NSX was Acura's affordable answer to exotic models from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini and is considered one of the best performance cars of all time.

AMERICAN-MADE ACURA NSX SUPERCAR ENDS PRODUCTION

It was reported stolen in 2003, according to The Drive, and was recently released from the impound yard and put up for sale by LSX Salvage in Lexington.

Despite still being filled with debris, it was offered for $6,000, but a short bidding war between several interested parties ensued, and it ended up selling for $8,500. It was purchased by the three owners of Helix Auto Works in Owings Mills, Maryland, a shop that specializes in the NSX.

Co-owner Jay told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that he'd been looking for an NSX for his business partner, Ramzi, who is the only one of the trio that doesn't own one himself, when he came across the listing. Now they and their associate, Nico, plan to take on the task of getting it roadworthy again.

"It’s going to be a lot of work," Jay said.

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He's optimistic thanks to the NSX's largely aluminum construction, which resisted corrosion in the freshwater river. There is some damage to the front roof pillars, but it's nothing that looks insurmountable. Despite having been stolen, Jay said the car doesn't appear to have been stripped of parts, but they'll have a better idea of what's left after they dig out the dirt that's still in it.

It does still have its 270 hp V6 engine, however, and records listed it with just around 32,000 miles on the odometer when it went missing.

The NSX had a list price of $63,000 when it was new and one in perfect shape is worth about $143,000 today, according to Hagerty.

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Just how close the team gets it to that condition is yet to be seen, but they will be chronicling the project on their company's Instagram and YouTube accounts.

These 10 vehicles hold their value the best and Toyota trucks dominate

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 11:26:53 -0500

Toyota is on top.

Kelley Blue Book has released its list of 2023 cars and trucks it projects will hold their value the best over five years, and the top two are from the Japanese brand.

The report says that the average mainstream vehicle will be worth 45% of its sale price after 60 months, but the top 10 retain an average of 65% of their value.

The difference in value for a $35,000 vehicle would be $7,000, with resale values of $15,750 and $22,750, respectively.

TEST DRIVE: THE 2022 TOYOTA TUNDRA IS THE POWERFUL PRIUS OF PICKUPS

Number one on the list for the second year in a row is the new Toyota Tundra, which was redesigned for 2022 and is expected to retain 73.3% of its value over the period. The full-size pickup has starting prices ranging from $39,660 to $77,940, depending on the trim.

The Tundra was followed by the midsize Tacoma pickup, which tied with the Tesla Model X at 66%.

The Ford Bronco was not far behind at 65.4%, which was just ahead of the Chevrolet Corvette's 65.3% projection. Both models are popular and production has not been able to keep up with demand.

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The Toyota 4Runner SUV finished sixth at 64.4% and Toyota was rated the top brand for resale value overall for the sixth time in the past seven years, with its luxury division Lexus atop the luxury brand list.

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Here's a look at the full top 10:

1. 2023 Toyota Tundra: 73.3%

2. 2023 Toyota Tacoma (tie): 66.0%

2. 2023 Tesla Model X (tie): 66.0%

4. 2023 Ford Bronco: 65.4%

5. 2023 Chevrolet Corvette: 65.3%

6. 2023 Toyota 4Runner: 64.4%

7. 2023 Honda Civic: 62.5%

8. 2023 Ford Maverick: 61.7%

9. 2023 Subaru Crosstrek (tie): 61.0%

9. 2023 Jeep Wrangler (tie): 61.0%.

Car thefts hit 1 million in 2022 due to weak enforcement and juvenile offenders, NICB says

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:28 -0500

There were over one million car thefts in the U.S. in 2022 for the first time in 14 years according to a report for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

The estimated 1,001,967 thefts were an increase of 7% over 2021 and the most since 1.05 million were stolen in 2008.

"We are seeing vehicle theft numbers that we haven’t seen in nearly 15 years, and there is very little deterrent to stop criminals from committing these acts as they are just property crimes, like shoplifting," said David J. Glawe, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

"We must reinvest in local law enforcement, provide the necessary resources for prosecution and community policing programs, and implement early intervention programs given the high incidence of juvenile offenders involved in vehicle thefts."

ST. LOUIS HYUNDAI/KIA DEALER INVENTS SECURITY DEVICE FOR CARS BEING STOLEN THROUGH TIKTOK CHALLENGE

The NICB said states that saw the highest increases were Illinois at 35% and Washington at 31%.

Tens of thousands of Hyundai and Kia thefts were driven by videos posted to TikTok and other social media showing how easy it is to start certain models that were not equipped with an immobilizer using just the tip of a USB cable to turn the ignition. Many of the thefts were perpetrated by youths who took the cars for joyrides.

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The automakers have been addressing the issue by providing steering wheel locks and have developed a software solution for many of the vehicles that will be made available to customers in the coming months.

Cars have also been targeted for the valuable materials in their catalytic converters, the thefts of which increased 1,215% between 2019 and 2022, according to the NICB.

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While law enforcement policies are a larger issue, the NICB offers several simple steps car owners can take to better secure their vehicles, including not leaving them running unattended, always closing the windows and taking the keys when leaving the vehicle, and parking in well-lighted areas when it is not possible to park inside.

Rivian trucks and Minis are the most satisfying electric vehicles, study finds

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 08:10:44 -0500

Electric vehicle owners are revved up about their Rivians and big on their Minis.

The Rivian R1T pickup and Mini Cooper Electric topped the charts on J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study.

The survey asked owners to rate their vehicles after a year of ownership across 10 factors that include accuracy of stated battery range; availability of public charging stations; battery range; cost of ownership; driving enjoyment; ease of charging at home; interior and exterior styling; safety and technology features; service experience; and vehicle quality and reliability.

The Rivian R1T had the highest overall score of 794 out of 1,000 points to lead the premium segment, while the Mini was the highest-ranked mass market vehicle with 782, even though it provides just 114 miles of driving range between charges, the least of any EV on sale today.

CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS THESE ARE THE MOST AND LEAST SATISFYING VEHICLES

The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y were next on the premium list and followed by the Audi e-tron and Polestar 2. J.D. Power did not receive enough responses for the other vehicles available in the category for an accurate sample size, so vehicles like the Tesla Model S and Mercedes-Benz EQS were not included.

The Kia EV6 was number two on the mass-market list, with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4 rounding out the top 5.

The premium segment average of 756 was ahead of the mass-market segment's 730 for a variety of reasons, particularly the public charging experience, which was skewed in favor of the premium segment due to the quality of the Tesla Supercharger network.

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One notable point the survey uncovered was that Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning owners who use their vehicles to tow are happier with them than those who do not. Towing owners ranked their vehicles at an average of 779 compared to 753 for non-towers and were also more satisfied with the driving range they provide, even though it is significantly lower than can be achieved with an unburdened vehicle.

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According to J.D. Power, this is thanks to the automakers clearly communicating towing's effect on range, which sets clear expectations.

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