McLEAN, Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA’s 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept 1, 2022.

Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA. The unprecedented commitment means that this important safety technology will be available to more consumers more quickly than would be possible through the regulatory process.

AEB systems help prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying the brakes for the driver. The systems use on-vehicle sensors such as radar, cameras or lasers to detect an imminent crash, warn the driver and apply the brakes if the driver does not take sufficient action quickly enough.

LONDON, March 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide demand for tires is projected to increase 4.1 percent per year to 3.0 billion units in 2019. In value terms, sales of tires are forecast to grow 7.1 percent per annum to $258 billion. Increasing incomes in developing regions will spur growth in the number of vehicles in use, fueling demand for tires. Higher income levels and expanding economic activity will also contribute to increases in average annual vehicle mileage, boosting the frequency of tire replacement. However, growth will be constrained somewhat by rising tire quality, which will exert downward pressure on replacement rates.

Motor vehicles to remain dominant market for tires

The motor vehicle market will remain the largest outlet for tire demand, accounting for over half of the total in 2019. Demand for tires in this market will rise to 2.0 billion units, at an annual rate that will trail the global average. Western Europe and North America are particularly significant in the motor vehicle market, representing 40 percent of demand in this market compared to 10 percent in other markets. This is a reflection of the wealth of these regions, which support high levels of motor vehicle ownership and consequently sizable replacement tire demand. Demand for tires in motorcycle and other applications is projected to outpace the global average and reach 990 million units in 2019. Tire sales in this market are concentrated in fast growing developing regions, where motorcycles see heavy use as a low-cost substitute for motor vehicles. Sales of tires in other applications, such as aircraft, tractors, and industrial vehicles, will also grow at a healthy pace as manufacturing and usage of these vehicles increase.

The 2016 New York International Automobile Show is a treasure trove of this year’s most amazing new vehicles that feature every conceivable technological enhancement, making them more fuel efficient, safer, more convenient and more fun to drive than ever before.

Car Care Inspections Reveal 80 Percent of Vehicles Need Service

Bethesda, MD – March 31, 2016 – Analytics are big these days in business, sports and politics. When it comes to auto care, the numbers tell a very revealing story as 80 percent of vehicles need service, a new part and/or repair, according to the non-profit Car Care Council.

“With so many vehicles in need of service, National Car Care Month in April serves as an important reminder to take action today so you can depend on your vehicle down the road,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “It’s easy to postpone vehicle maintenance when things get busy, but don’t put it off. Addressing minor service needs before they become major will help you avoid unexpected car trouble and unplanned costly repairs.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 24, 2016)- Older drivers with a history of falling are 40 percent more likely to be involved in crashes than their peers, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Falls limit an older drivers’ ability to function behind the wheel and can make driving risky for themselves and others on the road. These findings are important since annually a record 12 million older adults will experience a fall.

“Drivers age 60 and older are involved in more than 400,000 crashes each year, and it’s important that we find ways to keep them and others safe on the road.” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “This research is critical because it shows that we can now use an older driver’s fall history to identify if they are at greater risk for a crash.”