Tesla Autopilot users rate feature’s safety high, even after close calls, crashes

2018 Tesla Model 3 Peter Bleakney photo The vast majority of Tesla Model 3 owners consider the cars Autopilot feature a real safety benefit, despite the fact the systems sometimes put them in danger.The overwhelming consensus about Autopilot is that it made owners feel safer while driving, according to a survey of Model 3 owners conducted by Bloomberg. Of the 5,000 owners polled, over 90 per cent touted the safety benefits of the system.The survey also found 13 per cent of owners say the Autopilot mode has put them into a dangerous situation before.Perhaps most interestingly, the overlap between Model 3 owners who answered those two questions that way was pretty big most of the drivers who reported being put in a dangerous situation by the system also said it made them feel safer. Were not sure what is going through those peoples minds, exactly.One owner surveyed, for example, admitted their car didnt slow down enough to take a bend in the road and ended up hitting a truck; they rated Autopilots overall safety four stars out of five. To be fair to to the capability of Teslas software, some 28 per cent of owners also say Autopilot has saved them from a dangerous situation.It would be interesting to see what other drivers think of Teslas Autopilot when they are driving down the same stretch of road as a Model 3. Do they feel more nervous that the Tesla might be driving itself? Or do they feel safer knowing that there is a second set of eyes on the road?For more on electric vehicles, listen to Drivings EV podcast Plugged In. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google
Origin: Tesla Autopilot users rate feature’s safety high, even after close calls, crashes

Government to close mobile phone use ‘loophole’

Transport secretary Grant Shapps is aiming to “urgently” tighten the laws surrounding mobile phone use while driving to ensure motorists can be prosecuted for taking photographs or for using the internet. The current law prevents drivers from using a hand-held mobile phone for ‘interactive communication’ – essentially to make calls or text – without a hands-free system. A number of people caught using their phones to take photos or film while driving have escaped prosecution because their lawyers successfully argued such activity does not fit that description. The government will now take forward a review that will tighten up the law to ensure that any driver caught texting, taking photos, browsing the internet or scrolling through a music playlist while driving can be prosecuted. Shapps said: “We recognise that staying in touch with the world while travelling is an essential part of modern-day life but we are also committed to making our roads safe. Drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone are hindering their ability to spot hazards and react in time – putting people’s lives at risk.” The change to the law, which follows recommendations in a report by the Transport Select Committee, will prevent “reckless driving and reduce accidents on our roads”, according to Shapps. Government research shows that a driver looking at a phone for two seconds while travelling at 30mph will travel blind for 100 feet. Ministers are also looking at the current penalties in place for hand-held mobile phone use while driving. However, there are no plans to ban hands-free phone use.The government expects the new proposals to be in place by early
Origin: Government to close mobile phone use ‘loophole’

Ford will close six European plants as part of global downsizing

A contractor works on the yet-to-be-completed engine production line at a Ford factory on January 13, 2015 in Dagenham, England.Carl Court / Getty Ford will eliminate about 20 per cent of its workforce across Europe and close six factories in a sweeping overhaul aimed at reviving the money-losing region as the company also moves to prepare for the future of electric and self-driving cars.The restructuring will involve reducing its manufacturing footprint in Europe to 18 facilities by the end of 2020 from 24 at the beginning of this year.Germany, the U.K. and Russia will be hardest hit by the cuts, which total about 12,000 regular staff as well as workers employed at joint ventures, Ford said Thursday.Separating employees and closing plants are the hardest decisions we make, Stuart Rowley, Fords president of Europe, said in a statement. We are moving forward and focused on building a long-term sustainable future.The cutbacks are a key part of Chief Executive Officer Jim Hacketts US$11-billion restructuring, which also includes 7,000 salaried job cuts worldwide. Hackett, 64, is trying to boost Fords bottom line by exiting the slow-selling sedan market in the U.S. to focus on high-profit sport-utility vehicles and trucks.In Europe, where Ford is the top-selling brand in the U.K., the automaker also is backing away from the traditional passenger-car business to focus on commercial vans and trucks.We have a winning hand in Europe and its called commercial vehicles, then-Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said at a May 15 Goldman Sachs conference in New York. Well have a smaller portfolio of passenger vehicles.Ford is cutting costs as it pours billions into electric and self-driving cars that are seen as the future of the auto industry. The company is close to sealing a deal with Volkswagen to join forces to develop these
Origin: Ford will close six European plants as part of global downsizing

Jaguar Land Rover owner denies deal to sell firm to PSA is close

The owners of Jaguar Land Rover have denied reports that they are close to finalising a deal to sell the car firm to the PSA Group. The Press Association has reported seeing a ‘post-sale integration document’ that has been circulated within JLR, highlighting the benefits of the company being sold by Tata Motors to PSA, which comprises Citroën, DS, Peugeot and Vauxhall/Opel. A source also told the PA that “things are moving quickly behind closed doors.” In reponse, Tata Motors re-affirmed a previous statement saying that “there was no truth to rumours that Tata Motors is looking to divest its stake in JLR.” A PSA Group spokesperson told PA that it was in “no hurry” to make any acquisitions, but added it would “consider” any oportunities that came along. PSA boss Carlos Tavares has been open in recent months about his desire to expand the group, either through acquisitions or partnerships with other car firms. Tavares led PSA’s purchase of Vauxhall/Opel from GM in 2017. The Peugeot family, which owns the largest stake in the PSA Group, also recently said it would back future mergers or acquisitions, including with the FCA Group. In an exclusive interview with Autocar India recently, Tavares was asked about the firm’s interest in Jaguar Land Rover. He said that it would be good for PSA to have a luxury brand, and that the company was “considering all opportunities,” adding he would be interested “as long as it’s not a distraction.” Tavares said that there had been no discussions with Tata Motors about Jaguar Land Rover yet. He also said that “we don’t have a specific target but if there are opportunities, of course, we will consider it.” Asked further about adding a luxury brand that would sit about DS, Tavares said: “Why not? Why shouldn’t we discuss it? It depends on what kind of value creation we could generate.” Jaguar Land Rover has struggled in recent months, hit by falling demand for diesels and the decline of the Chinese market. Recent heavy losses, including an asset writedown, also caused the Tata Group to post a quarterly loss. Tavares cited PSA’s success in turning around Vauxhall/Opel, which posted its first profit in 20 years recently, suggesting it could have a similar impact on the strugging British firm: “With Opel, we have demonstrated that we can turn around a company that was in the red for 20 years, in 12 months. So this is something we know how to do.” Tavares said the group’s current focus was on its ‘Push to Pass’ strategic growth strategy to expand the company’s global presence, including expansion into the US, Russian and Indian markets. In a statement to Autocar India following its interview with Tavares, Tata Motors said that Jaguar Land Rover was not for sale. Following Jaguar Land Rover’s 2018 losses, Tata’s boss had previously affirmed its commitment to the
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover owner denies deal to sell firm to PSA is close