December 8, 2015
Hyundai Considers Developing Chips for Autonomous Driving
According to Automotive News, Hyundai Motor Co. is considering developing its own computer chips and sensors used in autonomous driving to gain fuller control over components seen as being crucial to future development of cars. South Korea’s largest carmaker currently buys parts for autonomous driving-related technologies from affiliates and other suppliers, Kim Dae Sung, director at the automaker’s automotive control system development group, said at a forum in Seoul on Tuesday, without naming the companies. Hyundai expects fully self-driving cars to be available in 2030 and has completed the development of technology for partial automation, he said. The company is currently in the development phase of cars with a high degree of automation, he said. Most major carmakers are working on autonomous driving and related technologies that help improve safety, from keeping cars in lanes to avoiding collisions with the use of radar sensors. The average car had $333 worth of chip content as of 2014, an increase of 11 percent in the past four years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. For coverage of Hyundai’s plans for autonomous driving, click here.
More People Are Surfing the Web Behind the Wheel
In the ongoing battle to get more drivers to put down their phones while they're behind the wheel, a new report from State Farm insurance company is a sobering reminder that there's still a long road ahead. But while the biggest culprit for these distractions continues to be texting and driving, another dangerous habit is becoming more prevalent: Accessing the Internet from the driver's seat. According to CNBC, State Farm's latest survey, released Tuesday, found an increase in the percentage of drivers who are using their phone to surf the Web, when they should be keeping their eyes and mind on the road. Chris Mullen, State Farm's director of technology research, attributed this trend to the prevalence of smartphones, saying 88 percent of the survey's approximately 1,000 respondents owns one of these devices. According to State Farm, 29 percent of drivers surveyed access the Internet while driving. That compares to just 13 percent who admitted to surfing the Web while driving in 2009. Meanwhile, 36 percent admitted to texting, a number that's remained relatively steady over the study's seven-year history. Read more about what drivers are doing behind the wheel here.
Auto Dealer Websites Get Better
According to WardsAuto, dealer websites are getting better. And they’re getting more car-shopper visits as a result, says a market researcher who tracks such online activity. Visits to dealer websites have increased 73 percent in the past decade, a time during which those sites visually and functionally have improved, says Arianne Walker, J.D. Power’s senior director-automotive media and marketing solutions. At first, typical dealer websites were nothing more than electronic brochures with little or no functionality. Modern versions offer the likes of real-time inventory, pricing, trade-in estimators, credit scoring, photo galleries and videos. “Dealer websites have become more robust and easier to navigate,” Walker says, adding that 83 percent of new-car buyers go to them before visiting a dealership itself. Consumers go to various websites during their online car shopping. They mainly use third-party sites for reviews and product information, then go to dealer sites for pricing, inventory information, as well as potential specials and incentives, according to J.D. Power. Good dealership website content is in synch with the content and brand messages of respective automakers’ websites. But strong dealer sites also stand out on their own. For more on what makes a strong dealership website, click here.
The Best 2016 Cars and Crossovers for Snow
Now that a good chunk of the nation has gotten its first hard slap of winter weather, Forbes says there are probably more than a few motorists out there who’ve already grown weary with their vehicles’ inherent slipping and sliding though the snow. Rear-wheel-drive, typically favored by luxury automakers for its more refined ride and handling qualities, inherently fares worse in the white stuff than does the more-common front-drive configuration, which places more weight over the drive wheels. Forbes scoured automakers’ spec sheets to compile a list of 20 affordable cars/station wagons and car-based crossover SUVs from the 2016 model year – featured in the accompanying slide show – that can be expected to handle the worst Mother Nature can dish out this winter. Each can be fitted with AWD for less than $50,000 and feature a much-higher-than-average ground clearance (the distance between the pavement and the lowest part of a vehicle) that enables them to traverse moderately snow-packed roads or driveways without unduly scraping the undercarriage or becoming snowbound. In addition, all offer winter-friendly amenities like heated seats, and are every bit as enjoyable to pilot on dry pavement as they are capable in the snow. Read more about the best cars and crossovers for winter 2016 here.
Audi's Stadler Says Automaker Will Stay Focused on 2020 Goals Despite Diesel Scandal
Audi will not adjust its key long-term goals in the aftermath of parent Volkswagen Group's emissions-cheating scandal – a crisis that has affected at least 11 million vehicles worldwide, including more than 2 million Audis. CEO Rupert Stadler, 52, said Audi remains focused on increasing global sales to 2 million annually by 2020 and significantly boosting its fast-growing SUV lineup by the same year. Stadler spoke with Automotive News Europe Editor Luca Ciferri at Audi's headquarters last month. When asked what has been the effect of the emissions-cheating scandal at Audi, he replied, “We take the irregularities that have been discovered very seriously, and we deeply regret that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public. We are cooperating openly and fully with all authorities. With regard to the market, the priority now is to get in touch with our loyal customers who love their product, who are really satisfied with the product despite what happened. This is our absolute priority.” Read the rest of Audi CEO Rupert Stadler’s interview with Automotive News by clicking here.
Odometer Rollbacks Making a Comeback
One of the oldest car scams in the book is still giving car buyers and sellers fits. It may seem like an ancient and forgotten practice, but as the WBZ I-Team in Boston finds out, people are still rolling back odometers at an alarming rate. In fact, Carfax data suggests there are more than a million vehicles in operation across the country with a potential odometer rollback, and 200,000 new cases of this fraud happen every year. Walter Lewis of Boston thought he was buying his Honda Accord this past spring with 100,900 miles, but the Carfax Report shows it had 187,000 back in the summer of 2013. Lewis told the I-Team that he felt cheated. Despite common misconceptions, the use of digital odometers has failed to curb criminals from altering the mileage on vehicles and selling them to unsuspecting consumers or trading them in at local dealerships. Instead, equipment that’s easily obtained online can change the odometer reading on practically any vehicle within seconds and leaves no physical evidence of tampering. So for the unfortunate dealers and individuals who unknowingly wind up with these rolled back cars, the annual losses can amount to approximately $800 million. As a Carfax Advantage Dealer, you can run as many Carfax Reports as you need to help avoid odometer fraud wherever and whenever you purchase vehicles. Plus, Carfax Used Car Listings lets people on carfax.com shop your inventory with confidence and the added peace of mind they won’t be another victim of this scam. Protect your business and your customers – become a Carfax Advantage Dealer and get your inventory up on Carfax Used Car Listings today by calling 877-721-6551.
Around the Web
December AutoTalk Webinar: 2015 in Review and What to Expect for 2016 [Register]
2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder First Drive [MotorAuthority]
Gas Prices Haven't Been This Low Since 2007 [Autoblog]
Debunking Myths About the Car-Selling Process [CBT News]