Tag: Possible_Terrorism_Warfare

GM tops Tesla in ranking of automated driving systems

GM beats Tesla in Consumer Reports ranking of automated driving systems
5:51 PM ET Thu, 4 Oct 2018 | 01:45

As more automakers develop automated driving systems that allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheels for short periods of time, a new report says General Motors has developed the best system.
Consumer Reports tested four of the most popular systems and says Cadillac's Super Cruise does the best job of ensuring the vehicle is driven safely while making sure drivers pay attention when they take their hands off the steering wheels.

“Super Cruise has a camera that looks at the drivers' eyes and warns them if they look away for too long or fall asleep, and that's a game changer,” said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.

“This is definitely a shot across the bow of Tesla, which already has Autopilot,” said Michelle Krebs, analyst for AutoTrader said.

Consumer Reports ranks Tesla's Autopilot as the second-most effective automated driving system, criticizing it for not doing enough to keep the driver engaged when the vehicle is in Autopilot mode.

“Autopilot is a strong system, but it doesn't have enough safeguards,” said Fisher.

GM Super Cruise tops Tesla in Consumer Reports' automated driving tech tests
8:23 AM ET Thu, 4 Oct 2018 | 03:52

Consumer Reports rated Nissan's ProPILOT Assist as the third-best system and Volvo's Pilot Assist as the least effective of the four it tested. Nissan says ProPILOT Assist is a “hands-on” driver-assist system rather than a “self-driving” feature. Volvo echoed that response.

“Pilot Assist is not an autonomous driving system. It is a driver assistance system designed to keep the driver in the loop at all times with hands on the wheel, eyes on the road and the mind on driving,” said Johan Larsson, a Volvo spokesman.

The systems were evaluated at Consumer Reports' test track and on public and highways. The reviews are based on five criteria: capability and performance, ease of use, if the systems made it clear when it was safe to use, whether they kept the driver engaged, and how they alerted or handled an unresponsive driver.

Consumer Reports is not warning people to avoid using any of the automated driving systems it tested, but it wants drivers to better understand the limits of the technology.

Ever since Tesla unveiled Autopilot in 2015, it's been controversial technology. When it first came out in “beta” mode, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, “It is important to exercise great caution at this early stage.”

Not everyone got the message. Within months of rolling out, Tesla owners posted videos on YouTube showing themselves driving hands free and not always paying attention.

In 2016, a Tesla driver was killed when his Model S in Autopilot mode crashed into a semi-truck in Williston, Florida. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded limitations in Tesla's Autopilot system played a major role in the crash. NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt bluntly summarized the case saying, “System safeguards were lacking.”

Two years later, as more vehicles and more automakers develop automated driving systems, Consumer Reports is worried drivers will become too complacent and not be ready to grab the steering wheel if their car or truck steers itself into trouble.

“The big concern is putting too much trust in these systems,” said Fisher of Consumer Reports. “Drivers are not always paying attention when these systems are in use.”

WATCH: GM demonstrates its hands-free 'Super Cruise' system

General Motors shows off new hands-free ’Super Cruise’ system in highway demo
12:08 PM ET Wed, 28 June 2017 | 05:10

UPDATE 2-Tesla worried by China even as deliveries surge

(Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) announced record quarterly car production numbers on Tuesday but warned it was facing major problems with selling cars in China due to new tariffs that will force it to accelerate investment in its factory in Shanghai. FILE PHOTO: A row of new Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles is seen at… Continue reading UPDATE 2-Tesla worried by China even as deliveries surge

Ford wants ‘certainty’ in any U.S. trade deals -chairman

DEARBORN, Mich. (Reuters) – As the Trump administration negotiates new trade pacts with Canada, China and other countries, Ford Motor Co (F.N) Executive Chairman Bill Ford said on Thursday the automaker wants deals that allow it to plan and invest with “certainty.” FILE PHOTO: Newly assembled Ford 2018 F1-50 pick-up trucks are loaded on to… Continue reading Ford wants ‘certainty’ in any U.S. trade deals -chairman

The 100th Anniversary of the Rouge: Ford’s Legendary Automotive Factory Readies its Next Act

After making more than 28 vehicle models, including the innovative aluminum-bodied F-150, the Rouge’s Dearborn Truck Plan will soon make electrified F-150 models The Rouge helped build America’s middle class with the $5-a-day wage, provided jobs for disabled workers and profit sharing. Today, Ford and UAW are investing $35 million to expand a nearby facility… Continue reading The 100th Anniversary of the Rouge: Ford’s Legendary Automotive Factory Readies its Next Act

Tariffs cost Ford $1 billion in profit and hurt sales in China

Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images
An employee works on a Ford Expedition sports utility vehicle on the assembly line at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

President Donald Trump's tariffs are hitting Ford's finances hard.

The second-largest U.S. automaker has suffered $1 billion in lost profits from tariffs on metals imported to the United States, said Ford CEO Jim Hackett in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Wednesday.

The U.S. has a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imported from several countries, an early step in an escalating trade war that threatens to raise prices on goods and deal a blow to firms in a wide range of industries, including autos.

The tariffs come at a time when Ford is trying to improve its financial health, raise its share price and sink money into developing new propulsion technologies, such as electric powertrains, autonomous driving technology, cloud computing technology for transportation and other mobility businesses.

Ford shares were down nearly one percent Wednesday morning.

“From Ford's perspective, the metals tariffs took about $1 billion profit from us,” he added. “The irony is, we source most of that in the U.S. today anyways. So we are in a good place right now, but if it goes on longer there will be more damage.”

The trade war is also creating difficulties for Ford's U.S. factories. Ford exports Lincoln vehicles from a plant in Louisville, Kentucky to China, where Hackett said the brand is popular. China's tit-for-tat 25 percent tariff hike, which raises the total duty to 40 percent on U.S. autos, has raised the price of the Lincoln MKC sport utility vehicle in China.

In July, Ford cut its full-year outlook, citing in part heavy losses in China in the second quarter.

“We have had to move people in that factory to other functions because of that trade problem,” he said.

BMW warns of lower profits on new emissions rules and an escalating trade war ‘distorting demand’

Andreas Gebert | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
A visitor of BMW World walks past a BMW car during the annual accounts press conference of German car manufacturer BMW at the BWM World in Munich, Germany.

BMW said Tuesday its 2018 sales and profits will likely fall due to the costs of implementing new emissions standards in Europe and rising uncertainty stemming from the escalating global trade war.

Automotive revenues are now expected to fall slightly from the 88.6 billion euros ($104.4 billion at the current exchange rate) it generated last year, the company said. It previously told investors sales would rise.

BMW had also previously forecast profits to be on par with last year, but now expects a “moderate decrease,” the company said. The company earned 10.7 billion euros ($12.6 billion at the current rate) in 2017.

“The continuing international trade conflicts are aggravating the market situation and feeding uncertainty,” BMW said in a statement. “These circumstances are distorting demand more than anticipated and leading to pricing pressure in several automotive markets.”

The German automaker also said the industry's shift to a new laboratory test for emissions, the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, has created “supply distortions in several European markets and an unexpected intense competition.”

BMW had already expected 2018 to be a challenging year, due to the more than 1 billion euros in investments it is making in mobility, along with currency headwinds.

Fellow German automaker Daimler had warned at the end of July that the heightening trade war between the U.S. and China could affect its profitability this year. Both automakers have factories in the United States, where they build vehicles for both the U.S. market and for export.

Out of juice: Infiniti Q50 Hybrid luxury sedan dropped

2016 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid
The long-running Infiniti Q50 Hybrid luxury sedan won't return for 2019, the automaker said Thursday.

Infiniti spokesman Kyle Bazemore confirmed the demise of the Q50 Hybrid this year for Green Car Reports. The automaker axed the Q70 Hybrid in July.

Although Infiniti didn't report sales for the Q50 Hybrid and Q70 Hybrid models separately, it's likely that the hybrid-battery powered sedans were a small fraction of overall sales for both.

The Q50 Hybrid sedan was powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 and electric motor combo that produced 360 horsepower. According to the EPA, the Q50 Hybrid was rated at 29 mpg combined for front-drivers, 28 mpg combined for all-wheel-drive versions. The Q70 Hybrid sedan was powered by a similar hybrid powertrain and returned 30 mpg combined, compared to 21 mpg for V-6-only versions.

The Q50 Hybrid first appeared in Infiniti dealers in 2013.

DON'T MISS: Infiniti announces new electric car lineup based on Q Inspiration

Last year, Infiniti quietly killed its slow-selling QX60 Hybrid crossover after relegating it to special-order only for buyers.

The move leaves Infiniti without an electrified powertrain in its vehicle lineup, for now.

Infiniti announced most new models coming from the luxury automaker would be electrified by 2021. The company also announced it would build a range of electric cars based on its Q Inspiration concept before 2023.

This year, the QX50 debuted a new variable-compression turbocharged engine that can change its operation for better efficiency or better power. The turbo-4 found under the hood of the popular crossover contributed to an overall fuel-efficiency improvement of more than 20 percent, compared to prior generations.

The US Secret Service just ordered a Harley-Davidson motorcycle despite Trump’s call for a boycott

Drew Angerer | Getty Images News | Getty Images
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence walk together on their way to greet Harley Davidson executives on the South Lawn of the White House, February 2, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Less than a month after President Donald Trump called for a boycott of Harley-Davidson Inc. motorcycles, the organization charged with his protection has ordered one.

The U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division placed an order for a Harley-Davidson police motorcycle last week, a move which documents connected to the order refer to as an organization requirement for “protective motorcade support functions.” That could include protecting the president, who called for a boycott of Harley-Davidson in August in his continued Twitter campaign to discourage his supporters from patronizing the Milwaukee motorcycle company following a June announcement of an overseas production move.

“Many @harleydavidson owners plan to boycott the company if manufacturing moves overseas,” Trump wrote on Aug. 12. “Great! Most other companies are coming in our direction, including Harley competitors. A really bad move! U.S. will soon have a level playing field, or better.”

According to the purchase order documents, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are required for motorcades to ensure the “consistency of appearance, performance, training and parts with the currently existing motorcade motorcycle fleet.” Furthermore, the motorcycle order achieves consistency with the Metropolitan Police and U.S. Park Police in Washington, D.C.

Ordering a different brand of motorcycle would also require the Secret Service to spend time training its support technicians “at a cost of thousands of dollars,” and motorcade support officers would also need training. The Secret Service would have to “duplicate an inventory of spare parts” if the brand was switched as well.

Moreover, the Harley-Davidson police motorcycles come outfitted with a side car, and the Secret Service would need to purchase additional sidecars to equip with a new brand were a switch made.

As for when a switch away from Harley-Davidson could realistically happen for the Secret Service, the document indicates an evaluation could take place “when the current fleet is deemed worn out and economically unviable.” However, the current fleet should last “for years to come” if properly maintained.

Harley-Davidson representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the order. President Trump hasn't mentioned Harley-Davidson on Twitter since Aug. 12.

WATCH: How big Harley-Davidson is and why it's a trade-war target

Here’s how big Harley-Davidson really is
7:20 AM ET Wed, 18 July 2018 | 04:18

More from Milwaukee Business Journal:
Vincent Lyles resigns as president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Milwaukee Startup Week co-founder Ed Javier named WEDC's new entrepreneurship program director
Good City secures $1 million MEDC loan for taproom next to Fiserv Forum

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