Industry Issues

Automobile recycling

Automobile recycling

January 11, 2012: Over 75 per cent of an automobile is recyclable, and in Europe and Japan, they’re aiming for 95 per cent. Read Article

Driving in the future

Driving in the future

August 24, 2011: By 2020, experts predict that advanced internal combustion engines will still be the dominant powerplants in the marketplace, reports Jim Kerr. Read Article

A Mazda mule

A Mazda mule

August 17, 2011: Jim Kerr drives a Mazda “mule”, a prototype used to evaluate technologies to be used in future vehicles. Read Article

Saab back on track in Canada

Saab back on track in Canada

April 11, 2011: Under the new ownership of Dutch luxury maker Spyker, Saab is poised for a full return to selling cars internationally, including in Canada. Read Article

Ford’s Michigan assembly plant

January 19, 2011: Join Autos's Facebook group Follow Autos on Twitter By Jim Kerr What does it take to make a new car? The answer is hundreds of millions of dollars, years of time and thousands of people. Ford’s new 2012 Focus started rolling off the production line on January 3rd at their Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. Ford spent 550 million dollars converting this former SUV ... Read Article

50 = 37?

50 = 37?

December 1, 2010: Hyundai has pledged to meet the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) rating of 50 mpg U.S. by 2025, but due to different testing methods used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CAFÉs 50 mpg only equals 37 mpg at the EPA. Read Article

CAFE and you

October 27, 2010: Join Autos's Facebook group Follow Autos on Twitter By Jim Kerr Many Canadians may think of a café as a place to get a bowl of soup and a sandwich, but in the auto industry, CAFE is the acronym for Corporate Average Fuel Economy, a standard set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States. Manufacturers who don’t meet the average fuel e... Read Article

Kia’s new U.S. manufacturing plant

Kia’s new U.S. manufacturing plant

February 24, 2010: Technical Editor, Jim Kerr, took a tour of Kia's new billion-dollar vehicle manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. He reports it is one of the most modern, and cleanest, plants he's ever seen. Read Article

From concept to production

February 3, 2010: Join Autos's Facebook group Follow Autos on Twitter By Jim Kerr It now takes about two years for some vehicle manufacturers to bring a new vehicle from the initial design stage to the showroom floor. When you consider the number of parts that need to be created, the complexity of assembling them into a vehicle, and the safety and emissions testing that vehicles must undergo be... Read Article

Buying a vehicle from the U.S.

October 7, 2009: Join Autos's Facebook group Follow Autos on Twitter By Jim Kerr With the Canadian dollar up again against the American dollar, some vehicle buyers are looking to the U.S. market again to buy a vehicle. This may seem to be a valid option, but there are several things to consider before venturing south to make a purchase. First, when you are comparing vehicles, are you compa... Read Article

Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors

May 27, 2009: Based in California’s Silicon Valley, Tesla Motors is the only company that builds highway-capable electric cars, reports Technical Editor Jim Kerr. Daimler AG recently bought a 10% stake in Tesla. Read Article

Buying another vehicle: Part two

Buying another vehicle: Part two

February 18, 2009: When shopping for a new vehicle, don’t buy the first one you test drive, warns Technical Editor Jim Kerr. “Any newer vehicle will feel far superior to your old worn out one.....test drive as many vehicles as possible.” Read Article

CAMVAP - Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan

November 19, 2008: CAMVAP is for lemons. Related links CAMVAP.ca You've heard of lemons. Have you ever driven one? In reality, the vehicles produced today don't often fit the "lemon" tag, but there are sometimes problems with individual vehicles that are difficult to repair, or involve a defect in materials. Usually these problems are quickly resolved at the dealership level and contacting them ... Read Article