Kyle Larson again wins at Las Vegas to keep Chevrolet undefeated on NASCAR season
Kyle Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday to keep keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Hendrick Motorsports its second victory in the first three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.
Toyota urges owners of old Corolla, Matrix and RAV4 models to park them until air bags are replaced
Toyota and General Motors are telling the owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because their Takata air bag inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel.
Toyota is not advising people to park recalled RAV4 SUVs outdoors despite reports of engine fires
Toyota is not advising owners of 1.9 million recalled RAV4 SUVs to park them outdoors, even though U.S. safety investigators have four complaints about engine fires that can start with the vehiclesโ ignitions turned off.
โYou are welcomeโ: Most profitable automaker worldwide is in sights of UAW
After the UAW won historic gains with the Detroit Big Three automakers, UAW President Shawn Fain, in an address to the membership Thursday night, had plenty to say about Toyota coming out and raising its worker's wages across the board as well as cutting the time needed to get to the top wage.
United Way of Washtenaw Countyโs latest 21-Day Equity Challenge underway
United Way of Washtenaw County launched the newest edition of its 21-Day Equity Challenge on Juneteenth in order to build community awareness around the biases, privileges, prejudice and oppressions that emerge in our daily lives.
Ann Arbor engineers with Toyota develop app to help parents install car seats safely
In 2019, Jennifer Pelky and Lindsay Babian were having lunch when they began talking about car seat safety. She called in the help of a colleague who was a certified child car seat specialist to install hers. Jennifer Pelky, Toyota principal engineer of vehicle performance development for interior safety, installs a car seat in the 2021 Sienna. Pharris, a mother of two and former marketing specialist for a leading car seat manufacturer, loved the idea. They can then select which seat they would like the car seat to be installed and enter the type of car seat they have.
Ann Arbor SPARK, Michigan House to host panels at SXSW
ANN ARBOR โ Michigan House is again preparing to serve as a platform for the stateโs innovators and creatives to connect with the worldwide audience that attends the South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW) next week. In the moment it was devastating, but even within a couple days it was clear the right decision had been made,โ said Ted Velie, a co-founder of Michigan House. We were thrilled then, that SXSW found a way for us to still connect this year.โAdOver the course of the five day virtual conference, Michigan House will host three Official SXSW Panel Discussions, a virtual meet-up for entrepreneurs, a Michigan Startup Portfolio, and a Michigan House Booth on SXSWโs digital platform. AdSee the schedule below for the panels, organized by Ann Arbor SPARKโs Komal Doshi, and the Michigan-focused SXSW event. Hosted by Start Garden, Ann Arbor SPARK, Detroit Startup Week & MEDCTo attend the free event, register here.
Martin Truex Jr. wins NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway
AVONDALE, Ariz. โ Joey Logano has won a few times at Phoenix Raceway and knows a good restart when he feels one. Truex blew past Logano on the final restart and pulled away for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 28th overall. Logano โ who led 143 laps โ won the second stage after leading the final 35 laps during a long stretch of green-flag racing. But he couldn't hold back Truex, who won his ninth race with JGR. Hamlin was fast early in the race, leading for 31 laps until the competition caution midway through the first stage.
Ann Arborโs Michigan Theater to launch series of films centered around womenโs stories Friday
ANN ARBOR โ The Michigan Theater has partnered with Toyota to add a Diversity Film Series kicking off this month in its Virtual Movie Palace. In celebration of Womenโs History Month, the series will start with four films centered around womenโs stories during the month of March. AdBelow are the four feature films in the series, with synopses by the Michigan Theater. The film opens virtually on March 12. AdThe film opens virtually on March 26.
US probing engine fires in nearly 1.9M Toyota RAV4 SUVs
The U.S. government is investigating complaints of engine compartment fires in nearly 1.9 million Toyota RAV4 small SUVs. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)DETROIT โ The U.S. government is investigating complaints of engine compartment fires in nearly 1.9 million Toyota RAV4 small SUVs. In documents posted Monday, the agency says fires start on the left side of the engine compartment. Most of the fires happened while the vehicles are being driven, but four owners complained that fire broke out with the engine off. The agency says the RAV4 has a higher number of fire complaints in the battery area than comparable vehicles.
Rights groups target sponsors like Airbnb for Beijing Games
(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)In one corner are the 15 leading Olympic sponsors, many household names like Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Visa, Toyota, Samsung and General Electric. They have branded these the โGenocide Gamesโ and are pressuring sponsors, the IOC and world sports federations to investigate. AdThousands of Olympic athletes are caught in the middle. โOnce again athletes are being used as pawns,โ said Rob Koehler, director general of Global Athlete, an advocacy group for Olympic athletes. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded to Blinken: "The most important thing should be repeated three times: China has no genocide; China has no genocide; China has no genocide, period.โAdPolak pointed out that the United Nations Genocide Convention spells out much of the behavior taking place in China.
Shortage of computer chips causes problems for auto industry
DETROIT โ A shortage of computer chips is causing problems for the auto industry. General Motors has warned that it is likely to lose around $2 billion this year as a result. READ: Why you should ask about โdestination feeโs before purchasing a new vehicleFor the auto industry the problem is a supply and demand issue created by manufacturing. Because of the issue many automakers are having to slow or stop production to put the chips in vehicles. Or, if itโs something like a powertrain where every vehicles got it 100 percent of your vehicles have that powertrain chip, then youโre basically stuck,โ he said.
Wallace becomes 1st Black driver to lead lap at Daytona 500
Bubba Wallace checks his helmet before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ Bubba Wallace ran into trouble early and late in his first Daytona 500 driving for Michael Jordan. He still came out of NASCAR's marquee race with another milestone, becoming the first Black driver to lead a lap in the Daytona 500. Wallace dipped to the low line late in the second stage to grab the lead on lap 129 in the No. Wallace got caught up in a fiery, chaotic last lap and finished 17th in a race won by Michael McDowell. Wallace had a solid first two-thirds of the rain-delayed race at Daytona International Speedway after a tumultuous start in Jordan's debut race.
Here are the 21 largest employers in Washtenaw County
Pizza Prep School in the Domino's Pizza World Resource Center in Ann Arbor. The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. ANN ARBOR โ One way to reflect on a regional economy is to check out the top employers and their industries, including public and private organizations. Hereโs the latest list identifying the top employers in Washtenaw County compiled by Ann Arbor SPARK. Ann Arbor SPARK updates the list annually in January.
Semiconductor shortage forces automobile production cuts
A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)DETROIT โ A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns. Toyota was forced to slow production of the full-size Tundra pickup at a factory in San Antonio, Texas. "This will minimize the impact of the current semiconductor shortage while ensuring we maintain production at our other North American plants,โ Fiat Chrysler said in a statement. The firm lists major players in the automotive chip market as STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductor, Texas Instruments and Toshiba.
70-year-old man shot in Detroit overnight by unknown person
Police say the shooting happened at around 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in the area of West 8 Mile Road and Schaefer. DETROIT โ A 70-year-old man was shot in Detroit overnight on Tuesday, according to police. Police say the shooting happened at around 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in the area of West 8 Mile Road and Schaefer. The elderly man was inside a black Toyota Camry when an unknown person pulled up next to him and started shooting, police say. Anyone with information is asked to call the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-1240.
Oracle says it will move HQ from Silicon Valley to Texas
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. โ Tech giant Oracle Corp. said Friday it will move its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas, and let many employees choose their office locations and decide whether to work from home. The business software maker said it will keep major hubs at its current home in Redwood City, California, and other locations. This month, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, one of the early companies in Silicon Valley, said it will move to the Houston area and build a campus with two five-story buildings by 2022. In 2018, Toyota shifted its U.S. headquarters from Southern California, to Plano, Texas, a Dallas suburb. In its most recent fiscal year, which ended May 31, Oracle reported earnings of $10.1 billion on revenue of about $39 billion.
Mazda No. 1 in Consumer Reports 2020 auto reliability survey
DETROIT โ Mazda beat traditional winners Lexus and Toyota to win top honors as the most dependable auto brand in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey. Mazda took top honors for the first time in the survey, which this year included Consumer Reports organization members who own more than 300,000 vehicles from model years 2000 to 2020. Consumer Reports said that the Ford Explorer SUV, redesigned for the 2020 model year, is among the lowest-scoring models of any manufacturer with transmission, electronic, and engine issues. Only the company's Model 3 small car was rated as reliable and recommended by Consumer Reports. Nearly half of the new models have much worse than average reliability, Consumer Reports said.
Wisconsin trooper stops driver hauling snowmobile atop car
CLAYTON, Wis. โ The Wisconsin State Patrol had a little advice for a guy who transported a snowmobile by strapping it to the roof of his Toyota Corolla: Bad idea. A trooper pulled over the driver on Highway 63 in northwestern Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon after seeing the snowmobile perched sideways on top of the sedan. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation tweeted a photo of the car with the Polaris topper on Monday with a message: โFolks, don't try this at home.โThe 23-year-old driver was issued a warning about the hauling technique and cited for failing to buckle up, according to DOT spokeswoman Christena OโBrien. The driver, Matthew Schmit, of Clayton, told the trooper he had just bought the snowmobile and was driving it over to a friendโs house to show him, the Star Tribune reported. โI know it looks sketchy, but we had it strapped down and shook it,โ he said.
Toyota adds 1.5M US vehicles to recalls for engine stalling
DETROIT โ Toyota is adding 1.5 million U.S. vehicles to recalls from early this year to fix fuel pumps that can fail and cause engines to stall. The company says the latest recall brings the total to 5.8 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles that need to be repaired worldwide. The recall affects more than 40 vehicles in the U.S. dating to the 2013 model year, covering much of the Toyota and Lexus model lineup. Toyota said in a statement Wednesday that the fuel pumps can suddenly stop operating, and that can cause the vehicles to stall. Toyota began recalling the vehicles in January with about 700,000, and added 1.2 million in March.
Toyota adds 1.5M US vehicles to recalls for engine stalling
DETROIT โ Toyota is adding 1.5 million U.S. vehicles to recalls from early this year to fix fuel pumps that can fail and cause engines to stall. The company says the latest recall brings the total to 5.8 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles that need to be repaired worldwide. The recall affects more than 40 vehicles in the U.S. dating to the 2013 model year, covering much of the Toyota and Lexus model lineup. Toyota said in a statement Wednesday that the fuel pumps can suddenly stop operating, and that can cause the vehicles to stall. Toyota began recalling the vehicles in January with about 700,000, and added 1.2 million in March.
Suarez on the move again after parting with Gaunt Brothers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Daniel Suarez, who landed a ride two weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500, will not return to Gaunt Brothers Racing next season and is seeking a new team for the third time in three years. Gaunt Brothers said Tuesday it was a mutual decision for the Mexican driver to leave the team. โIโm extremely thankful to my entire Toyota family for everything they have done for me, especially this year," Suarez said. โI will always be grateful to them for having my back.โSuarez has struggled with Gaunt Brothers, which is in its first full season of Cup competition. His long relationship with Toyota helped Suarez get the job with Gaunt Brothers, a team that began in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2010 and the Canada-based NASCAR Pintyโs Series.
Japan's 'flying car' gets off ground, with a person aboard
This photo taken at the beginning of August, 2020 and released by SkyDrive/CARTIVATOR 2020, shows a test flight of a manned '"flying car" at Toyota Test Field in Toyota, central Japan. Japans SkyDrive Inc., among the myriads of flying car projects around the world, has carried out a successful though modest test flight with one person aboard. Japans SkyDrive Inc., among the myriads of flying car projects around the world, has carried out a successful though modest test flight with one person aboard. Tomohiro Fukuzawa, who heads the SkyDrive effort, said he hopes the flying car can be made into a real-life product by 2023, but he acknowledged that making it safe was critical. Of the worlds more than 100 flying car projects, only a handful has succeeded with a person on board, he told The Associated Press.
Mother killed, 2-year-old son injured in crash on I-75 in Monroe Township
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ On Monday at 9:41 a.m. Michigan State Police troopers from the Monroe Post were dispatched to a two-vehicle injury crash on I-75 near Laplaisance Road. A Toyota minivan occupied by a 25-year-old woman and her 2-year-old son were traveling north on I-75. The minivan struck the back of a commercial box truck that was slowing down due to traffic congestion caused by construction. Northbound I-75 was closed for several hours while Michigan State Police investigated the crash. Owen Hall of the Monroe Post at 734-242-3500.
China auto sales rise in July, as market regains momentum
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported that sales of passenger cars jumped 8.5% from a year earlier to 1.67 million. Weakness in the China market has hurt global automakers that are looking to China to propel sales growth. Demand for electric vehicles weakened last year after Beijing reduced subsidies that helped to make China their biggest market, accounting for half of global sales. In the first seven months of the year, sales climbed 14.3% from a year earlier to 2.8 million. SUV sales in July rose 14% from a year earlier while sales of sedans rose 4.6%.
Ann Arbor police seek missing woman last seen Wednesday
ANN ARBOR, Mich. Police are searching for a missing woman named Julie Karabenick who was last seen Wednesday evening. She might be driving a grey 2018 Toyota RAV4 with the Michigan license plate DGV6152. Anyone with information is asked to call the Ann Arbor Police Department at 734-794-6920.