NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (Kyodo) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has agreed to settle a lawsuit with U.S. investors over massive recalls of its vehicles from late 2009 to 2010 due to acceleration problems, which caused its shares to plummet. The automaker will pay $25.5 million (about 2 billion yen) to settle the […]
Automotive/Transportation
Toyota Recall Update
Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall a total of 2.76 million vehicles worldwide due to steering wheel and water pump problems, including 1.5 million in Japan in what will be the largest-ever domestic recall by a vehicle maker. The total figure is equivalent to Toyota’s domestic production in 2011, which declined 15.9 percent […]
Mitsubishi Fuso to Recall 170,000 Trucks, Buses
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. notified the transport ministry on Thursday that it will recall 170,845 Fighter and Canter trucks, and Rosa microbuses produced between July 2003 and July 2011 over possible fuel leaks due to defective and improperly installed fuel pipes, the ministry said. Nissan Motor Co. also reported to […]
This “smart” traffic light could cut commutes by 60 percent
Were you aware of the fact that you waste one week per year sitting in traffic? One week per year. That is 7 days, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes, stuck in traffic. Not only is it a huge waste of time, breathing in the exhaust fumes while you sit and mentally-fume can actually be dangerous to […]
Toyota Unveils New Safety System to Avoid Crash in Parking Area
NAGOYA, Nov. 12 (Kyodo) — Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled on Monday advanced safety technology to help avoid a crash in the event of pedal misapplication in a parking lot. The safety system sounds an alarm when it detects obstacles by using sonar introduced on the vehicle’s body. When judged that a driver is not aware […]
Honda Starts Producing Larger Displacement Motorcycles in Thailand
BANGKOK, Nov. 12 (Kyodo) — Thailand’s subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. on Monday began a new production line of mid-displacement motorcycles at its factory in the Thai capital. Thai Honda Manufacturing Co. President Shunichi Eguchi said the new CBR500 motorcycle production is a “challenge” for Honda in Thailand, where only small-displacement motorcycles have been produced […]
Photos of the Day: It’s Not a Minivan
For a vehicle to be called a minivan is just not cool anymore. The Transit Connect Wagon from Ford will debut later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s set to go on sale late next fall. This undated image provided by Ford shows the Transit Connect Wagon. (AP Photo/Ford, Steve Petrovich) To […]
The Economic and Environmental Advantages of High Capacity Vehicles
Award-winning research by a transport and logistics expert at the University of Huddersfield has shown that there would be economic and environmental benefits to individual companies and the country if the UK changed the rules to allow high capacity vehicles (HCVs) on to its roads. At 25.25 metres, they would be around a third as […]
$700K Survival Home on Wheels
UNICAT manufactures self-contained expedition vehicles for the client craving off-road adventure and a two-month supply of all the modern comforts of home. This heavy duty vehicle can get about 8 miles per gallon while going 60 miles per hour. With 200 gallons of on-board fuel, that means drivers can go 1,600 miles without refueling. For […]
Aging Drivers Present New Transportation Challenge
WASHINGTON (AP) — Baby boomers started driving at a young age and became more mobile than any generation before or since. They practically invented the two-car family and escalated traffic congestion when women began commuting to work. Now, 8,000 of them are turning 65 every day, and those retirements could once again reshape the nation’s […]