Tagged: cars

In a state like Michigan, with a history that's virtually inseparable from that of the automobile, it might be hard to imagine a life without cars. But according to  a recent report, an increasing number of the nation's young people are choosing to drive less or not to drive at all.

The report found that:

Love it or hate it, nothing has shaped the American landscape quite like the car.

Tell us how important cars are to you. Do you name your cars? Do you love to drive?  Is your car part of your identity?

Or, could you go a day, a week, or even a month without one?

Be a part of our Public Insight Network of everyday people with a story to tell:

https://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/changing-gears/dc28ee052529/how-important-is-it-to-own-a-car 

New, more stringent fuel economy standards are the topic of conversation in Detroit today at the first public hearing for the proposed 2017 to 2025 model year CAFE standards (Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards).

Today's meeting in Detroit is the first of three meetings. The others will take place in Philadelphia and San Francisco.

So far, the remarkable news for a proposed standard that calls for fleet-wide average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg by 2025 is the lack of any formidable opposition.

O.k. - just because it's old doesn't mean it's a clunker.

There still could be plenty of good miles left on that engine.

A Southfield-based auto research firm says Americans are holding onto their cars and trucks for a longer period of time.

The average age has reached a record 10.8 years, according to Polk.

From the Associated Press:

The Polk research firm said Tuesday that the average age of a car last July was 11.1 years, while the truck average was 10.4.

Unemployment and the sour economy have caused people to put off buying cars and trucks.

Polk says the average vehicle age has been rising since 2008. But the firm says a sales rebound last year is likely to slow the aging rate.

Car companies sold 12.8 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, up from 11.6 million in 2010.

In 2010 the average vehicle on U.S. roads was 10.6 years old, up from 10 years in 2008.

The numbers for the Polk analysis come from national auto registration data.

The group estimates that as of July 2011, there were 240,504,646 cars and trucks on the road - down from a record of 242,081,704 cars and trucks on the road in July 2008.

The average age of vehicles on the road has climbed steadily in just about every year since 1995, when the average age was 8.4 years.

In its press release, Polk said the vehicle market is changing:

Polk expects this trend may change in the coming years as CUV and small SUV populations in the U.S. market have risen in 2010 and 2011 due to their continued success in the market. Additionally, the rebound in new vehicle sales in 2011 and for the next couple of years will most likely slow down the aging rate seen in the market over the past three years, according to Polk.

The front man for the pop music group the Black Eyed Peas, William James Adams, Jr., more commonly known as Will.I.Am, announced that he will start a car company in East Los Angeles, the neighborhood he grew up in.

"I invested my money in building my own vehicle, because I want to bring jobs to the ghetto that I come from, so why not invest like I invested in making a demo to start the Black Eyed Peas," said Adams.

He's not building a car from the ground up - more like modifying a car with existing Chrysler parts.

Here he is announcing the new venture, IAMAUTO, on the Tonight Show (apologies if you have to suffer through a commercial):

Jalopnik, the Gawker website of the automotive world, didn't take the announcement too well.

Here's what Matt Hardigree wrote in his post "Will.I.Am Launches Crappy Car Company":

I didn't watch Leno last night, so all of this is coming via one online report attached to this picture. I'd like to think it's a hoax but it's so bad it seems like it could credibly be a BEP byproduct.

The vehicle will be built using "OEM parts from Chrysler" with a Beats by Dr. Dre audio system. Given he drives a Chrysler 300 in his new video it's likely this is the basis for the car. Lord help us if it's a Chrysler 200.

Will.I.Am wants Leno to test drive the car when it comes out.