Latest News From Bumper Radio

$1.4 billion investment in Indiana plant brings production of an all-new BEV

Toyota adds up to 340 new, sustainable U.S. jobs

PRINCETON, Ind., April 25, 2024 - Toyota will prepare for assembly of an all-new, three row battery electric SUV in the U.S. as part of a new $1.4 billion investment in its Princeton facility, affirming Toyota's commitment to reinvesting profits in its U.S. operations and bringing total investment in Toyota Indiana to $8 billion. This also brings the addition of up to 340 new, high-quality jobs with long-term stability.

This investment will not only provide plant infrastructure to build the all-new BEV, it will add a new battery pack assembly line using lithium-ion batteries supplied by Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, a $13.9 billion facility slated to begin production in 2025.

Washington, DC – Raising speed limits on highways could lead to more crashes on nearby roads, according to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This “spillover effect” creates unintended safety hazards for local communities that might not be involved in the decision-making process to raise the posted speed limit on a nearby highway. According to NHTSA, speeding is a significant safety concern, contributing to almost one-third of road fatalities in the past 20 years.

AAA Foundation researchers investigated whether changes to posted speed limits on interstate highways could cause drivers to adopt risky speeding behaviors on local streets. The study looked at crash data before and after speed limit increases on interstates in Georgia, Michigan, and Oregon. Hot spot analyses were conducted on roads within a 1-mile radius of interstates. Researchers found many instances where speed-related crashes increased on nearby roads following the interstate speed limit change, suggesting that drivers exiting the highway continued their faster tendencies.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Apr. 4, 2024) – AAA awards the 2023 All Electric Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV with the overall top score for the 2024 Car Guide. This year, all category winners are either electric, plug-in electric hybrids or hybrids. Additionally, the SUV category was divided into small, midsize, and large due to popularity among car buyers.

“SUVs are a popular choice since they are a great option for families and offer loads of additional compartments for storage,” said Megan McKernan, the Automotive Research Center manager at AAA. “To help distinguish between the overwhelming number of options available, we introduced new SUV categories to make the decision process easier for consumers.”

Category Winners
Each of the AAA Car Guide winners has numerous ADAS safety features and performance capabilities. Announced today, the 2023 EV Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV earned the top score overall, best large SUV, and best car over $60k. Researchers noted that the Mercedes-Benz has a very comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, and excellent headlight coverage.

Get ready for the greatest car show on grass!

February 18, 2024
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Mark your calendars for February 18, 2024, and get ready for the 10th annual Concours in the Hills event! We hope you will join us for a day of great cars, food and music in the spectacular setting of Fountain Park. Attendance is free, but donations are welcome.

Funds raised during Concours in the Hills finance innovative research, cutting-edge technology, recruitment of leading physicians, and child-friendly programs that make the hospital environment more comfortable for young patients.

Because of the spectacular venue, this event is deemed “The Greatest Car Show on Grass.” Cars come from all over Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico to participate. The event is supported by leading car clubs of Arizona representing Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, McLaren, Corvette, Viper, Ford GT, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mustang, Jaguar, Cadillac, Lotus, and others.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 1, 2024) —The national average for a gallon of gas rose by a nickel since last week to $3.15. The upward trend is likely a combination of oil costs edging into the upper $70s per barrel and normal seasonal increases as winter eases and demand for gas creeps higher.

“We are in that time of year where pump prices begin to heat up, usually peaking around July,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But unless something shocks the global oil market and causes prices to spike, the national average for a gallon of gas will probably stagger higher, with some flat days or even small price dips along the way.”

Two Volkswagen Beetles were imported in 1949, launching U.S. sales of the worldwide classic and the beginnings of one of America's best-known brands The story is brought up-to-date with the ID. Buzz, the electric re-imagining of the iconic VW Microbus, first sold in the U.S. in 1950. Volkswagen will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a new campaign that highlights key moments and its cultural impact in the U.S. Moments are planned throughout the year to celebrate owner and customer stories, including a return to Super Bowl LVIII

RESTON, Va., Jan. 17, 2024 - Exactly 75 years ago today, two Volkswagen Type 1 vehicles landed on the shores of New York, marking the first attempt to sell the vehicle, better known today as the Beetle, to Americans. Seventy-five years later, the iconic automaker is celebrating its humble beginnings, recognizing those who have woven the brand into the cultural fabric of the U.S. and setting the stage for the next era in its continued transformation.

To celebrate the momentous anniversary, today, the brand is announcing a year-long holistic campaign that will serve as a love letter to the American people, and an invitation to be part of Volkswagen's electric future.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 4, 2024) —The national average for a gallon of gas dipped slightly by three cents since last week to $3.09. One reason could be lower demand, as fewer people are fueling up after the peak of holiday road travel.

“January is a bit of blah time of year, and gas prices are in the doldrums as well,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “Barring some unexpected shock to the global oil market, gas prices will likely shuffle up and down a few cents for a while.”

ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 2023) – In March 2023, AAA conducted a survey to examine consumer attitudes toward adopting electric vehicles (EVs).

RESULTS

One in four U.S adults say they would be “very likely” or “likely” to buy an electric vehicle (powered exclusively by electricity, i.e. not a hybrid) the next time they are in the market for a new or used vehicle, similar to 2022.

Fifteen events are planned for the Goodguys 2024 Event Season including a new northeast event at Dover Motor Speedway and an exciting new partnership and dates for the 14th LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals!

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, the world’s largest hot-rodding association, has announced their 2024 Season Event Schedule. Goodguys will produce 15 events across the country in 2024 bringing America’s Favorite Car Show back to many of the same premium venues and markets as 2023. Additionally, Goodguys will add a new event in the northeast and make a date change and collaboration announcement for the 14th LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals presented by TREMEC to expand the hot-rodding experience for participants and spectators.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 23, 2023) —A new study by AAA found that in-vehicle tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are generally accurate, but drivers should still check their tire pressure manually. Why keep tabs on your tires? They are the only part of your car in contact with the road, and proper inflation is the key to safety and better gas mileage.

“Whether in rain, sleet, snow, or dry conditions, tires are the unsung heroes of your car,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering. “They are designed to work best when properly inflated. Our research found that the pressure monitoring systems that provide data for instrument displays or trigger the amber dashboard warning worked as intended. But we recommend always having a dependable old-school manual pressure gauge to check them once a month because a tire can be more than 20% deflated before it triggers the dashboard warning.”