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At $2.85, the national gas price average is five cents cheaper than a week ago, 12-cents less than a month ago, but 58-cents more than a year ago. Gas prices have consistently been declining since Memorial Day. On the week, 49 states saw pump prices drop with and motorists in Indiana and Michigan saw double-digit declines.

Gas prices may be poised to drop even more following OPEC’s announcement that the cartel will increase production by 1 million b/d in the second half of 2018. However, that number may be revised closer to 600,000 b/d, as there is speculation that some producers – including Libya, Venezuela and Iran – will not be able to meet the quota increase. Regardless, the production increase is expected to decrease crude prices and in turn drive down gas prices later this year.

“The OPEC production increase will help to offset concerns of shrinking global supply caused by high global demand this year,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “For drivers in the U.S., pump prices likely will not see an impact immediately. Changes, and most likely not dramatic ones, are anticipated to hit pump prices late summer or early fall.”

The cartel made the production decision after the U.S., China and India voiced support for an increase to prevent an oil deficit that could stifle economic growth in the latter half of 2018. The production increase will occur ahead of this December’s expected dissolution of OPEC’s production reduction agreement, which has worked to reduce global oil supplies and increase the global price of crude since the beginning of 2017.

The following is an opinion editorial provided by Glen De Vos, Aptiv's chief technology officer and president, Mobility and Services Group.

DUBLIN, June 22, 2018 - In 1999, Aptiv (then Delphi) put the first radar on a car. Ever. It was a 1999 Jaguar, and we joked that if you bought the radar, you got the car for free. With that first system, we took a technology from aerospace and put it on a car. It was a revolutionary break-through, and is one that has since saved countless lives. But, as the joke implies, it was very expensive at the time.

That's how it goes with most technology when it's first introduced – expensive and only available on premium or select vehicles. But over time as the technology proliferates, production volumes increase, and continuous improvement in the technology makes its impact, prices invariably come down. Just think of flat-screen TVs. When they were first introduced, they were astronomically expensive. Now, flat-screens are norm and affordable for all market segments. We call this phenomenon the democratization of technology – a progression in which the tech becomes available and affordable to all. The phenomenon is no different with automotive technology.

When the radar was introduced to the automotive space, it was a radical leap forward from the anti-lock braking and traction control systems that represented the early steps in 'active safety' technology. It also represented a completely different approach from 'passive safety' systems – e.g. seatbelts and airbags, where the technology worked to keep passengers protected during a crash. Now, we have technology that proactively helps prevent crashes.

VW Group and Audi CEO Rupert Stadler have been arrested. Volkswagen has been trying to protect top brass in the emissions cheating scandal. Find out more on the scandal, diesel fuel, a Tesla car on fire and other auto industry news with The Car Coach, Lauren Fix.

MCLEAN, Va., June 21, 2018 -- In the June 2018 Used Car and Light Truck Guidelines Industry Update, analysts at J.D. Power Valuation Services note the used vehicle market turned a typical performance in May. As a result, the J.D. Power Valuation Services' Seasonally Adjusted Used Vehicle Price Index remained flat, compared to April at 117.0. May's index increased 3.1 points year over year, and 2.5 points above where it sat in January.

Highlights from the free monthly report also point out:

Wholesale Prices Decline in May

Prices fall by an average of 1.7%

Used Vehicle Price Index Remains Unchanged

Index holds at 117.0

INRIX predicts travel times during the holiday week will double compared to normal trips

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 21, 2018) – A record-breaking 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Independence Day holiday, an increase of more than 5 percent compared with last year and the highest number since AAA started tracking 18 years ago. For the 39.7 million Americans planning a Fourth of July road trip, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be twice as long than the normal trip, with Tuesday being the busiest day.

“This Independence Day will be one for the record books, as more Americans take to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways than ever before,” said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president, AAA Travel and Publishing. “Confident consumers with additional disposable income will look to spend on travel this holiday, building on an already busy summer travel season.”

In addition to strong economic variables, the expected increase in travelers this year is helped by Independence Day falling on a Wednesday, giving travelers more flexibility to schedule a trip the weekend before or after the holiday. The Independence Day holiday period is defined as Tuesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 8.

By the Numbers: 2018 Independence Day Holiday Travel Forecast

Durango Pursuit now features a new front fascia with integrated brake-cooling air ducts for improved brake performance and durability

A performance-tuned, load-leveling suspension joins Durango Pursuit for 2019 and bolsters control and stability

Dodge is taking its new Durango Pursuit to the Big Easy, introducing the new 2019 model at the 2018 National Sheriffs' Association Show, June 15-19 in New Orleans.

"Dodge already leads the police pursuit sedan business with the proven Charger Pursuit, and we believe the 2019 Dodge Durango Pursuit SUV will expand our appeal to an even broader audience and take our game to the next level in terms of performance," said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge//SRT, Chrysler, and FIAT, FCA - North America. "The Durango gives law enforcement agencies even more of what they want: a more spacious interior room, a higher ride height, HEMI® V-8 performance and efficiency."

New for 2019, the 2019 Dodge Durango Pursuit features a new front fascia with integrated brake-cooling air ducts for improved brake performance and durability. Durango Pursuit also now features a performance-tuned, load-leveling suspension to bolster control and stability, enhancing its Pursuit-level driving capabilities.

China dominates the market with over half of global sales

Next frontier of growth will be battery-electric/fuel-cell hybrids

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2018 - Over 70 million light-duty battery-electric vehicles will be sold in 2032 compared to less than a million sold in 2017, according to a market research report published by Information Trends. The battery-electric vehicle sales in 2032 will be almost half of the overall light-duty vehicles sold that year.

"We are witnessing a seismic shift in the auto market that parallels the mobile phone revolution," said Naqi Jaffery, the lead author of the report. Besides the transition to electrified vehicles, this shift encompasses autonomous driving and connected vehicles.

The report, "Global Market for Battery-Electric Vehicles," says that the primary factor contributing to the phenomenal growth of electric vehicles are government incentives and subsidies. The economies of scale resulting from the swift uptake of these vehicles, however, will lead to considerable declines in costs, making government incentives and subsidies unnecessary.

"While battery-electric vehicles are the short-term beneficiaries of the transition to clean energy, we will eventually see widespread adoption of battery-electric/fuel-cell hybrid vehicles," Jaffery said. These hybrid vehicles will have more than double the range of internal combustion engines, besides offering all the other advantages of electric mobility.

COSTA MESA, Calif., June 14, 2018 -- Despite steadily increasing premiums, auto insurance customers are more satisfied with their carriers than ever. The reason? According to the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,SM released today, insurers are beginning to get the customer interaction formula right, offering a mix of digital and live interactions that keep customers engaged with their brands across all channels.

"Cost is not the sole indicator of customer satisfaction in the auto insurance industry," said Robert Lajdziak, Insurance Practice Business Consultant at J.D. Power. "Low prices may attract new customers, but it's service that keeps them. The auto insurers that increase customer satisfaction across all facets of the customer experience make price just one part of the overall relationship."

More frequent use of digital interaction channels—particularly for monthly billing—also has played a major role in driving higher levels of satisfaction. "Customer satisfaction is at its highest when customers take care of transactions themselves and save the high-value interactions for live channels," Lajdziak said. "However, the increasing demand and use of digital self-service options is putting pressure on agents to evolve their value proposition to offer more products and services to help customers with complex needs and risks."

Following are some of the key findings of the 2018 study:

WASHINGTON (June 13, 2018) – Consumers are spending $69 more a month to fill-up compared to last summer. According to AAA, gasoline expenses are accounting, on average, for seven percent of an American’s 2018 annual income, a one and half percent increase since summer of 2017. With strong summer consumer gasoline demand expected in the months ahead, AAA says motorists can expect little relief at the pump with the national gas price average ranging between $2.85 – $3.05 through Labor Day.

“Motorists can expect to spend at least $250 more on gas this season, but that won’t stop them from traveling. Summer is synonymous with road trips and vacation and we are not going to see Americans are giving up this pastime this year,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “The higher gas prices may just encourage travelers to shorten their driving distance. While others may pinch pennies by eating out less or finding more free family-fun activities while on vacation.”

According to a AAA survey conducted earlier this year, only one in three (33 percent) respondents said they would change travel plans if gas prices hit $3, while nearly half (47 percent) say $3.50 would be the game changer for their summer plans.

As vacationers hit the road, they will find a quarter (25 percent) of all gas stations across the country are selling gas for more than $3/gallon. That is a stark difference from one year ago when only 5 percent of stations touted the $3 or more mark. The chart below compares the percentage of stations per state selling gas for $3.01 or more today versus one year ago.

Don’t Let Your Tank Break Your Bank.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jun. 7, 2018) – Afternoon downpours could spell disaster for millions of road trippers this summer, thanks to an unlikely suspect – tires. New research from AAA reveals that driving on relatively worn tires at highway speeds in wet conditions can increase average stopping distances by a staggering 43 percent, or an additional 87 feet — more than the length of a semi-trailer truck — when compared to new tires. With nearly 800,000 crashes occurring on wet roads each year, AAA urges drivers to check tread depth, replace tires proactively, and increase following distances significantly during rainy conditions.

“Tires are what keep a car connected to the road,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “Even the most advanced safety systems rely on a tire’s basic ability to maintain traction, and AAA’s testing shows that wear has a significant impact on how quickly a vehicle can come to a stop in wet conditions to avoid a crash.”

In partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, AAA conducted testing to understand performance differences at highway speeds between new all-season tires and those worn to a tread depth of 4/32” on wet pavement. AAA research found that: