Latest news with #FederalMotorVehicleSafetyStandards
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dodge's Electric Car Has Been Recalled For A Hilarious Reason
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Dodge is recalling its electric car, the Charger Daytona, for a hilarious reason involving software, not the hardware. Yes, we're talking about the vehicle like it's a computer or phone because in a way it's more akin to that then the preceding Dodge hasn't sold many of these so-called 'electric muscle cars' so it only has to recall just under 8,400 of them. Unfortunately, for reasons we don't really understand, this update can't just be done in an over-the-air download. After all, that would be the big advantage to driving a giant iPhone on wheels – a lot of things you fix either by turning off and back on or through automatic updates that start when it's plugged in overnight. The recall centers around a safety regulation the Dodge Charger Daytona violates. More specifically, the violation falls under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 141 'Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.' In other words, the Dodge is too quiet for pedestrians to hear. That's especially problematic for the blind, but it's still a safety risk for everyone else. The issue is the amplifier on the outside of the EV might not make any noise thanks to a software problem. We get it since in the past we've been walking through parking lots only to be startled that a Tesla suddenly backs out of a spot with no warning or is following right behind us, making no noise. If you're one of the unfortunate few who have bought or is leasing a Dodge Charger Daytona EV, your local dealership should be able to take care of this software problem. At least it should be able to, although we've heard some dealers struggle doing anything with these things. Too bad it isn't just an over-the-air update. Image via Stellantis Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Over 92,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles recalled. See impacted models.
Over 92,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles recalled. See impacted models. Show Caption Hide Caption Car recalls: Why they happen and what buyers should know Why do car recalls happen? Here's what to know if your car has an open recall. More than 90,000 Mercedes-Benz cars are being recalled due to a structural issue that could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. According to a notice reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 9, the recall covers 92,851 cars with model years 2023 through 2025. The affected vehicles are equipped with panoramic sunroofs. In certain crashes, passengers' heads could come in contact with the C-pillar, or one of the rearmost structures in the car, and the pillar may not absorb the impact to the extent required in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Cars are designed to withstand and absorb certain kinds of hits to reduce the chance of injury to the people inside. In cases where impact standards are not met, passengers are at higher risk of harm. Here's what to know about the recall. Which Mercedes-Benz cars are being recalled? Certain vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof in the following models are included in the recall: 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 S E 2024–2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 4MATIC 2023–2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 2023–2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC What to do if you have a recalled Mercedes-Benz Anyone who owns a recalled model can take their vehicle to a Mercedes-Benz dealer to get the roof lining and C-pillar trim modified for free. Owner notification letters for both recalls are expected to be mailed on August 4, 2025. Owners can also contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Check to see if your car is recalled Car owners looking to check the status of their vehicles, car parts or car accessories can enter their information into the NHTSA recall database or check USA TODAY's recall database for car and motor vehicle recalls.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Legislation aims to jump-start rollout of driverless vehicles
WASHINGTON — New legislation introduced in the Senate attempts to spring the U.S. Department of Transportation into regulatory action that will lead to commercial rollout of driverless cars and trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have initiated rulemakings to establish a regulatory framework for driverless cars and trucks but have yet to issue final rules. 'For nearly a decade, Washington has talked about autonomous vehicles without meaningful action,' remarked Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., when she introduced her bill, the Autonomous Vehicle Advancement Act of 2025, earlier this month. 'This legislation cuts through the red tape and establishes a clear path forward for getting safe autonomous vehicles on American roads where they can save lives, create jobs, and maintain our technological leadership. Wyoming is a highway state and ensuring that autonomous vehicles are integrated in the safest way possible remains my number one priority.'The bill specifies two components for advancing autonomous vehicles: Require the secretary of transportation to address autonomous vehicle certification challenges identified in a 2016 federal report by the Volpe Center, a research arm of DOT. Establish a comprehensive road map for achieving commercially viable Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles – those that are equipped with self-driving systems that require minimal to no human intervention. The purpose of the report cited in Lummis' bill was to 'identify instances where the existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards may pose challenges to the introduction of automated vehicles,' according to the report's abstract. 'It identifies standards requiring further review – both to ensure that existing regulations do not unduly stifle innovation and to help ensure that automated vehicles perform their functions safely.' The report also considered the concept of truck platooning, technology that allows autonomous trucks to follow each other in close formation to reduce drag and improve fuel economy.'What's encouraging is that we're seeing a convergence of regulatory and technological readiness both at the federal and state levels to unlock safe deployment,' Earl Adams, VP of public policy and regulatory affairs at Plus, a developer of driverless trucks, told FreightWaves in an email seeking comment on the Lummis proposal. 'The bipartisan support for a safety-case-based approach is laying a solid foundation for AV adoption. The industry is ready to meet the challenge, but it's critical that we keep pushing for a national framework to ensure consistent rules across all states.' Driverless-truck lobby urges federal action toward full autonomy Regulators deny roadside warning exemption for autonomous trucks FMCSA proposes new requirements for driverless trucks Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Legislation aims to jump-start rollout of driverless vehicles appeared first on FreightWaves.
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Attorney Amy Witherite: Finally Some Common Sense About Driverless Trucks on Texas Highways
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite is glad to see human beings back in the cabs of autonomous trucks on Texas highways. Aurora Innovations reversed course less than three weeks after it said it would let the trucks operate at speeds up to 75 miles an hour between Dallas and Houston without anyone in the cab. 'Common sense has finally prevailed,' said Amy Witherite an attorney and truck safety expert who has been warning about the dangers posed by driverless trucks for months. 'There has been nowhere near the amount of testing required to show these trucks can operate safely in the challenging environment on Texas highways,' said Witherite. 'With billions of dollars at stake and little or no government regulations federal and state officials are letting the fox guard the henhouse by allowing for-profit companies to determine whether their technology is safe.' Even organizations formed to support the deployment of autonomous vehicles recognize the need for federal standards to be in place. According to the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, 'only the federal government can uniformly regulate the design, construction and performance of the vehicle.' Currently, autonomous vehicles must only follow National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which were written before automated systems were developed. This creates a regulatory gap between traditional vehicles and newer vehicles equipped with emerging technology. According to the Washington Post, the 'NHTSA, a small, specialized team focused on autonomous vehicles has lost most of its staff, according to two former agency employees. NHTSA has recently lost many of its employees to Trump administration budget cut.' 'The amount of damage that can be caused by an 80,000-pound tractor trailer far exceeds the severity of accidents involving cars and SUVs,' noted Witherite. 'Texas highways are often crowded and full of complex and unpredictable situations from sudden changes in the weather and ongoing construction to accidents and dangerous drivers.' 'At this point, it took another company PACCAR, Inc. which manufactures the trucks to demand humans remain in the cab of these vehicles,' said Witherite. 'We can only hope that regulators and the public will demand that this commonsense approach continues as this new technology is developed in the future.' The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website.
Globe and Mail
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Tesla Stock (TSLA) Turbocharged as U.S. Makes Self Driving Rule Changes to Race Past China
Shares in troubled EV maker Tesla (TSLA) revved up higher today after it received a rare bit of good news on the future of self-driving cars in the U.S. Stay Ahead of the Market: Discover outperforming stocks and invest smarter with Top Smart Score Stocks. Filter, analyze, and streamline your search for investment opportunities using Tipranks' Stock Screener. Easier to Deploy It seems President Donald Trump has listened to his buddy, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, and made changes to federal rules on autonomous vehicles to make it easier to deploy the vehicles and even loosen requirements around accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it will continue its requirement that vehicles equipped with certain advanced driver assistance systems or self-driving systems report safety incidents but it said will streamline reporting requirements. The NHTSA will also expand its Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP) to include domestically produced vehicles. The program previously allowed only certain foreign vehicles to be deployed on U.S. roads without fully complying with NHTSA's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for research or demonstration purposes. However, vehicles built in America can also now submit requests for similar exceptions. Challenge China U.S. transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the new framework will slash red tape to spur innovation and challenge China. 'We are in a race with them to out-innovate and the stakes couldn't be higher,' he said. Musk had called for these changes in part to help the rollout of his fleet of Cybercabs in Texas this June. According to the Financial Times, to win approval Tesla needs an exemption from the agency to operate a non-standard car on American roads. Tesla stock has swerved off track in 2025 battered by rising Chinese competition, concerns over tariffs and the reputational hit to the company given Musk's close relationship with the colourful Trump administration. Following a woeful set of first quarter results when profits slumped by 71%, Musk has promised to refocus on his day job and spend less time working for Trump as head of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. An easing in self-driving rules could be a good way to kickstart those Tesla batteries. Is TSLA a Good Stock to Buy Now? On TipRanks, TSLA has a Hold consensus based on 17 Buy, 11 Hold and 12 Sell ratings. Its highest price target is $465. TSLA stock's consensus price target is $284.74 implying an 9.72% upside. See more TSLA analyst ratings Disclaimer & Disclosure Report an Issue
