Australia's privacy watchdog is investigating Toyota and Hyundai over how their connected vehicles collect, use and retain customer data, as the Federal Government says it is working to ensure upcoming privacy reforms better protect Australians. Advocacy groups in Australia such as the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) has recently started lobbying the government to strengthen data privacy laws for cars that could be spying on owners. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is investigating whether Toyota and Hyundai are collecting, using and managing customer data from connected vehicles in accordance with Australian privacy laws. The investigation was first revealed by privacy commissioner Carly Kind during Senate estimates earlier this year, when she confirmed two unnamed Asian vehicle brands were under investigation. The OAIC later identified Toyota and Hyundai in response to questions from Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie. According to a report by consumer advocacy group Choice, investigators are examining whether the two manufacturers are collecting more personal information than is necessary for connected vehicle functions. It’s also looking at whether customer data is being shared with third parties for purposes including marketing without adequate consent, and whether personal information is properly destroyed or de-identified when it is no longer required. An OAIC spokesperson told Choice the office "aims to complete investigations within 18 months", although the timeframe may vary depending on the complexity of the findings. The investigation comes as the Federal Government continues work on the next stage of Privacy Act reforms. A spokesperson for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland told Choice that "Australians want their privacy respected," adding that people handing over personal data "expect it will be protected". The spokesperson also said the government is working to ensure the next round of privacy law reforms is "workable and in the best interests of Australians", although no timeframe
Aug 7, 2026 · via carsales.com.au
| News - General News - Technology BMW under fire over in-car Spider-Man ads Owners furious as connected cars become advertising platforms 7 Aug 2026 BMW has come under fire after pushing a Spider-Man-themed promotional experience to the infotainment systems of eligible vehicles in more than 70 countries, reigniting debate over how far car-makers should be able to use connected-vehicle technology after a vehicle has been sold. The campaign, developed as part of a global marketing partnership with Sony Pictures to promote the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day film, appeared as a banner on the control display of compatible BMW models built from July 2020 and equipped with BMW operating systems 7, 8, 8.5, 9 or X. Selecting the banner launched a 19-second animation featuring Spider-Man swinging around BMW's iX3 electric SUV, accompanied by music and synchronised ambient lighting on suitably-equipped vehicles. BMW described the promotion as an optional “brand experience” rather than conventional advertising, stressing that the animation did not play automatically when the vehicle was started. “The animation does not automatically play when the vehicle starts. Drivers are presented with a banner in the control display and can choose whether they would like to activate the experience,” a BMW spokesperson said. If ignored, however, the Spider-Man icon remained available within the infotainment system for later viewing throughout the campaign period, which ran from July 27 until August 10. The initiative was deployed across more than 70 global markets, but Australian owners were not included. BMW Australia said the local subsidiary had elected not to participate after considering domestic customer expectations. “Market participation was assessed locally,” a BMW Australia spokesperson said. “Based on our understanding of Australian customer preferences, we did not participate in this particular activity.” The company added there are currently no plans to introduce similar campaigns
Aug 6, 2026 · via goauto.com.au
Xperi’s expanding connected-car business helped power second-quarter growth as the company added new automotive partners, expanded the reach of its DTS AutoStage platform and posted stronger financial results driven in part by increasing advertising revenue. The entertainment technology company reported Q2 revenue of $114 million, up 8% from a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 61% to $24.5 million. Advertising and related revenue surged 54%, reflecting continued expansion of the company’s media and automotive platforms. “The results of the second quarter clearly demonstrate strong execution against our strategic plan, including accelerated advertising and related revenue growth of over 50%,” Xperi CEO Jon Kirchner said on a Wednesday (Aug. 5) earnings call. “We continued to scale our platforms in both the home and automotive markets, which we believe provides sustainable competitive differentiation and drives long-term growth.” For broadcasters and automakers, the quarter underscored Xperi’s growing emphasis on connected vehicles, where the company sees opportunities to combine in-car entertainment, broadcast radio and advertising. The DTS AutoStage platform reached 17 million cumulative vehicles shipped during the quarter, a 42% increase from a year earlier. The platform is now deployed across 13 automotive brands, with Chinese EV giant BYD becoming the 14th automaker to join the program. Under the agreement, BYD plans to deploy Xperi’s audio and video platform across export models in its lineup, expanding the company’s reach in international markets. Xperi also continued building services around AutoStage that extend beyond the dashboard. During the quarter, Cumulus Media became the first customer for advanced analytics available through the DTS AutoStage broadcaster portal. That service provides broadcasters with data on listening behavior in connected vehicles. It also represents an advertising-related revenue stream for Xperi. The company also strengthened its HD Radio business. “In another win supporting the long-term adoption of our technologies, we signed a
Aug 6, 2026 · via insideradio.com
Several Scripps Ranch neighbors are reporting attempted car thefts and vehicle break-ins after incidents over the weekend were captured on home security cameras. Surveillance video from about 4:30 a.m. Friday shows three people wearing masks and hoodies walking through the Scripps Highlands neighborhood. One resident said the group appeared to be trying to steal cars or break into them. Stream San Diego News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC 7. The suspects were first discovered after the alarm on a sports car went off. The vehicle's owner, who asked to be identified only as Jessica, said someone broke a window and started the car, but an anti-theft device prevented it from being stolen. "They have masks on, so their faces can’t be seen. They each have a different hoodie," Jessica said. Jessica said she spent about four hours that day collecting surveillance videos from neighbors in an effort to piece together what happened. "So violated. Absolutely so violated," she said. Jessica later found video showing what she believes may have been the suspects' getaway car, a dark-colored sedan parked around the corner. Local She also began looking into other reported crimes and found reports of break-ins just a few blocks from her home the following night on Farmingdale. Jessica said she also saw a video posted to a Riverside-area neighborhood group that later appeared on Instagram. She believes the person seen kicking a home's front door in that video may be the same individual who tried to steal her car because of a similar hoodie. "I audibly gasped because I felt that was the same hoodie," Jessica said. Jessica said she worries the recent incidents resemble a pattern that affected the neighborhood in 2023, when a Chilean gang of home invaders targeted Scripps Ranch. During a three-month period
Aug 6, 2026 · via nbcsandiego.com
Elon Musk opened SpaceX's first ever earnings call with an explanation of its connections to Tesla — the other major company he helms. Demand for SpaceX's internet service Starlink will rise dramatically over the next few years due to humanoid robots and AI-connected cars, Musk said. Tesla, of course, makes electric vehicles equipped with AI-enabled software and is developing the…
Musk Says These Tesla Products Will 'Dramatically' Increase Starlink Demand
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Aug 6, 2026 · via investors.com
The July Collision Industry Conference (CIC), held July 22 in Schaumburg, Ill., focused on the ways collision repair decisions affect the consumer. CIC Chairman Dan Risley, vice president of quality repair and market development at CCC Intelligent Solutions, opened the meeting. Post-Collision Safety Inspections: Standards, Risks and Real-World Gaps Bud Center, co-chair of the CIC Talent Pool and Education Committee, led a panel that included Mike Anderson, president of Collision Advice, Nader Akbari, managing partner of Central Florida Paint & Body, and representatives from vehicle engineering, repair and insurance backgrounds. Panelists emphasized that hidden damage to steering columns, seat belt mounting points, airbags and other safety components may not produce a diagnostic trouble code or warning light, making physical inspections and documentation essential after a collision. The discussion also highlighted the tension created when OEM procedures require extensive inspections but repairers encounter questions over necessity and reimbursement. Shops remain responsible for the completed repair, panelists said, even when the work needed to verify a vehicle’s safety is disputed or declined. Understanding Personal Data in Vehicles Trent Tinsley, assistant vice president of business development at Entegral, and Shaughn Kennedy of Spark Underwriters, representing the data access, privacy and security committee, introduced a presentation by Andrea Amico, founder and CEO of Privacy4Cars. The session demonstrated that connected vehicles can retain significant amounts of personal information and urged repairers to recognize that protecting a customer now includes protecting the data stored in the vehicle. The speakers encouraged businesses to establish clear procedures for handling vehicle data, obtaining permission and removing information when appropriate. As vehicles become more connected, data privacy was presented as both a consumer-protection responsibility and a growing source of business risk. The Forgotten Total Loss: Protecting Consumer Data in Connected Vehicles Liz Stein, vice president of strategic initiatives for North
Aug 6, 2026 · via bodyshopbusiness.com
I Love The Slate, But The Ford Fathom Just Killed It As Jalopnik's resident maker and DIY pervert, the Slate truck feels perfectly targeted at Me Specifically. It's cheap, it's dead-simple, and it can fit a motorcycle in the bed — what more could I, or any buyer, possibly want? But then Ford came along this morning and announced that its own compact electric pickup, the Fathom, would start at just $3,545 more after destination fees. Even for me, that's tough for the Slate to come back from. The Slate is mechanically simple in a way I love. It's not a connected car the way so many modern vehicles are, which also appeals to me — I don't love when my data is sold out from under me. I don't even care that it doesn't have a radio, since I'm happy to install a head unit and 3D-print some enclosures for nice aftermarket speakers. But the Slate lacks the Fathom's real killer app, a pickup feature many deride that I've come to love: A rear seat. I'd take the Ford I don't want to downplay the price difference between the Slate and the Fathom. Breaking both down into monthly payments, the Fathom costs an extra $66/month over a five-year term — as someone who makes $70,000 a year in New York City and has cut out all streaming services for budgetary reasons, I can confirm that's not nothing. But I'm also someone who has friends, and the ability to haul them around — to climbing trips with a bed full of ropes or pads, to the beach with sun shades in the back, to new apartments with their furniture in tow — is worth $66/month to me. The Fathom really has the Slate beat here, and I say that despite
Aug 6, 2026 · via jalopnik.com
Soon, your car will talk to other vehicles near it, exchanging their relative speeds and locations and making quick decisions to avoid collisions. But imagine in a highway convoy if an attacker spoofs the lead vehicle’s brakes — it could create a lethal domino effect, sending a shockwave of forced braking through every car behind it. A system designed to avert disaster could become the very weapon that triggers it. Serious Threat The wireless channels that facilitate vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication can create a new attack surface for hackers, who can manipulate, spoof, or even jam messages. False or manipulated messages could pose serious challenges to vehicular safety, while message jamming could delay decision-making. While welcoming the government move to mandate V2V communication, Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director, Quick Heal, a cybersecurity solutions company, points out that even a small cyberattack in a connected traffic environment could create confusion and increase the risk of accidents. “Unlike traditional IT systems where the impact is often limited to data loss, cybersecurity failures in connected vehicles can have direct physical consequences,” he said. India records one of the highest numbers of road accident fatalities globally. In 2025 alone, the country reported over 1.8 lakh road crash fatalities, averaging more than 500 deaths every day, highlighting the scale of the challenge. To improve road safety, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently introduced a phased framework for V2V communication that will enable vehicles to exchange real-time data such as speed, position, and acceleration. Rigorous Testing “Strong V2V communication is genuinely needed for autonomous driving,” said Pankit Desai, Co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity solutions company Sequretek. “But the moment you build a system like this, you have to ask which wireless channel is being used and whether that channel is open to
Aug 6, 2026 · via thehindubusinessline.com
Safety standard unveiled for autonomous driving systems China Daily | Updated: 2026-08-06 09:19 China has released a mandatory national standard regarding safety requirements for autonomous driving systems, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Tuesday. The standard is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027. It applies to M and N-category vehicles equipped with Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving systems, but does not cover automated parking systems, the MIIT said. The standard requires vehicle manufacturers to improve safety assurance mechanisms throughout the product life cycle and carry out simulation, field and road tests during the development and verification of autonomous driving systems, according to the MIIT. It also calls for stronger capabilities in performing dynamic driving tasks, while specifying requirements for human-machine interaction and user notification to prevent misuse and abuse. For Level 3 systems, vehicles must be able to monitor drivers' readiness to take over control. Looking ahead, the ministry said that it will strengthen market access management for intelligent connected vehicle products, improve testing methods for autonomous driving systems, and build a sound regulatory mechanism for intelligent connected vehicles to ensure the sector's high-quality development. China's inaugural step into conditional automated driving is a characteristically strategic and guarded one. It is a controlled experiment designed to accumulate real-world data, refine technologies and standards within a safety-centric framework, and steadily build the foundation for the responsible integration of autonomous driving, experts said. XINHUA-CHINA DAILY
Aug 6, 2026 · via global.chinadaily.com.cn
The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Automotive 08-06-2026 4-minute read Summary - Direct-to-device (D2D), enabled by new standards introduced in 3GPP's Release 17, is bringing satellite and terrestrial connectivity together in a single, interoperable ecosystem for the first time. - To understand what this means for drivers and automotive manufacturers, Viasat and the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) surveyed 1,606 drivers across 10 markets to explore how they experience car connectivity today and how their expectations shift when satellite connectivity enters the picture. - This report, NTN in Automotive, explores consumer demand for connected-car services, the terrestrial coverage gaps that satellite can fill, and the revenue opportunity this represents for automotive OEMs. What's driving demand for NTN across automotive? In a world where drivers depend on their vehicles not just for transportation, but for communication, navigation, entertainment and staying reachable in emergencies, the connected car has quickly transformed from a novelty into an expectation. Yet with significant portions of everyday driving taking place on highways, in rural areas, or across borders, connectivity drops away precisely when drivers need it most. Satellite connectivity offers a path to extend service continuity beyond terrestrial networks and to provide an additional layer of resilience when cellular networks are congested or down. But until recently, specialist hardware requirements limited this to fleet and logistics contexts. The Great Connectivity Convergence changes this dynamic. Underpinned by 3GPP's Release 17, which wrote satellite into the global mobile rulebook, a single SIM can now connect to both terrestrial and satellite networks, marking the emergence of direct-to-automotive (D2A) satellite services. Our research shows that driver demand for always-on connectivity is real, with safety services the most at risk of failing when coverage drops. Read the full report Discover how satellite and terrestrial networks are reshaping connectivity for drivers and automotive OEMs
Aug 6, 2026 · via viasat.com
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Aug 6, 2026 · via stamfordadvocate.com
Toyota announced, that the 2027 Toyota bZ carries over unchanged from the prior model year, arriving at dealerships this September in XLE and Limited grades, each offered with front- or all-wheel drive. That lack of change is itself a kind of statement. In a segment where electric SUVs are frequently reworked year to year to chase range numbers or software upgrades, Toyota is signaling confidence that the bZ’s current formula already works. The vehicle now sits as one of three battery-electric models in a Toyota lineup that leans heavily on hybrids — fifteen of them — and two plug-in hybrids, underscoring the company’s continued preference for offering customers multiple paths to electrification rather than pushing everyone toward a single technology. Range and Charging Built for Real Life The core pitch of the bZ has always been usability, and the 2027 model leans further into that idea. The XLE FWD Plus, paired with a 74.7-kWh battery, carries a manufacturer-estimated range of 314 miles, the longest in the lineup. The Limited AWD and Limited FWD trims land at 299 miles, while the XLE AWD comes in at 288 miles. A smaller 57.7-kWh battery is available on the base XLE FWD model, with a 236-mile estimated range for buyers prioritizing a lower entry price over maximum distance. Charging infrastructure compatibility has been one of the more consequential shifts in the EV market over the past two years, and Toyota has followed the industry toward the North American Charging System port, giving bZ owners access to most DC fast chargers in the United States. Under ideal conditions, the battery can go from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. Preconditioning technology adjusts the battery ahead of a charging stop, which should help mitigate the slowdowns EV owners often encounter in cold weather. Toyota
Aug 6, 2026 · via autoconnectedcar.com
The dystopian future that sci-fi books warned us about is here. I remember reading Fahrenheit 451 in school, and the part that stood out to me most (for some reason) was the concept of 200-foot-long billboards. This allowed speeding cars to see the message. And with cars getting faster and faster, this doesn’t seem too far off. But Fahrenheit couldn’t predict exactly how the future would be, and it may actually be even more dystopian than Ray Bradbury assumed. Cars are becoming increasingly connected, featuring features like WiFi, data sharing, over-the-air updates, AI assistants, cloud connectivity, and more. This has allowed for more invasive policies, illegally collected and sold data, and apparently more advertising right inside your vehicle. You don’t even need the massive billboards. BMW drivers get Spider-Man banner against their will BMW drivers are in an uproar after a Spider-Man: Brand New Day advertisement was beamed right into everyone’s beamers. As part of BMW’s partnership with Sony Pictures’ new movie, BMW blasted a promotional banner right onto the dashboards of its vehicles in over 70 countries. The message appeared on the Control Display when the vehicle started up. Drivers could then select to see a full-screen animation with music and ambient lighting. It’s not as dramatic as some of the headlines I’ve been seeing, which make it sound as if the Spider-Man animation is just suddenly swinging around people’s BMWs without any warning. However, the idea that BMW can shoot over advertisements on the dashboard has made drivers rightfully angry just the same. Vehicles are privately owned and considered someone’s property. The idea of BMW shooting advertisements onto its vehicles feels invasive, similar to a company bombarding your home with promotional banners. People already feel commercial fatigue from TV, streaming, YouTube, and even just being outside. Your car
Aug 5, 2026 · via autonocion.com
By proceeding, I acknowledge that I have read and agreed to the Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, consent declaration, and the sharing of my information with lending partners, dealers, OEMs, and for marketing communication via Phone Calls, SMS & WhatsApp. MG Hector Hawk will be available in EV and plug-in hybrid versions. The EV offers a claimed 530 km driving range. The plug-in hybrid promises over 1,000 km on a full charge and fuel tank. JSW MG Motor India is preparing to launch the all-new Hector Hawk on August 28, and it is bringing something new to the premium SUV segment. Instead of offering a single powertrain, the company will introduce the SUV with both electric and plug-in hybrid options, giving buyers the freedom to choose what suits their driving needs. While the EV focuses on zero-emission driving, the plug-in hybrid combines electric power with a petrol engine for longer journeys without charging worries. The biggest talking point of the Hector Hawk is its dual powertrain strategy. The electric version is aimed at buyers who mostly drive in cities and want lower running costs. On the other hand, the plug-in hybrid is designed for those who frequently travel long distances but still want the benefits of electric driving for daily use. With both versions arriving together, MG is giving buyers two very different ways to experience an electrified SUV. Also Read: Kia's Biggest India Plan Yet - Hybrid, EV and CNG Cars Coming The Hector Hawk EV is expected to use a 69.2 kWh battery pack paired with a front-mounted electric motor. The motor is expected to produce 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque, while the SUV is claimed to deliver a driving range of 530 km under the CLTC testing cycle. The battery will also support DC fast
Aug 5, 2026 · via carlelo.com
'It is not a form of advertising': BMW defends Spider-Man pop-up ads that have infuriated customers BMW hits back at Spider-Man promo backlash - Customers hit out at connected cars as Spider-Man ‘ads’ appear in vehicles - BMW says the Festive App is not a form of advertising - Backlash against connected cars intensifies online Last week, reports emerged in the US of BMW owners receiving “pop-up ads” that promoted the German brand’s involvement with the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie. BMW vehicles appear throughout the super hero caper in typical summer blockbuster product-placement fashion, but BMW pushed things further by running what it calls “themed animations and messages” on the infotainment systems of a select number of connected vehicles. Owners quickly took to internet forums to complain about these “pop-up ads,” which appeared in the form of a message that asked them whether or not they would like to launch the animation. However, BMW has now defended itself against the outcry. “The Festive App in the BMW operating system is designed to provide customers with optional themed animations and messages linked to a range of global and local occasions. It is not a form of advertising,” a BMW spokesperson said when we reached out for comment. According to the German marque, customers can not only choose whether or not they want to see the Spider-Man content, but it is also only available when the vehicle is stationary. The spokesperson we contacted also stated that the Spider-Man tie-in was only available in certain markets, stressing that it was not available in the UK or Ireland. While it can be argued that offering Spider-Man themed videos to showcase the abilities of today's infotainment systems is just a bit of fun, the online backlash so far has been overwhelmingly negative. Sign
Aug 5, 2026 · via techradar.com
Somewhere in Canberra, government lawyers are trying to work out exactly what a Toyota RAV4 knows about the person driving it, who else has seen that information, and whether anyone actually agreed to any of it. Strip away the regulatory language, and that is what a new investigation into Toyota and Hyundai actually amounts to. American readers should recognize the shape of this story immediately, because U.S. regulators already asked General Motors the same question. The answer was ugly enough to end in a five-year federal ban. Australia’s Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has opened a formal investigation into how Toyota and Hyundai collect, use, and obtain consent for the personal data generated by their connected-car systems, according to Choice, the Australian consumer group that first reported it. Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind is leading the probe, after telling Parliament earlier this year that her office was reviewing two brands headquartered in Asia without naming them at the time. Toyota has been Australia’s best-selling brand for more than two decades. Hyundai, marking 40 years in the market this month, finished fifth in 2025. Neither is a boutique player, and that’s exactly why this case matters outside Australia. The connected-car platforms under review are largely the same ones sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, and everywhere else the two brands do business. Three Questions, Eighteen Months The investigation is expected to run as long as 18 months and will center on three specific questions: whether the automakers are collecting more personal information than their vehicles and connected services actually require, whether that data is being shared with third parties such as marketing partners without an owner’s consent, and whether either company is properly deleting or de-identifying data once it’s no longer needed. Toyota declined to comment directly on the
Aug 5, 2026 · via theautowire.com
How to use Android Auto without turning off your VPN You don't have to sacrifice your privacy. You're about to head out for a long drive. You get in your car and expect Android Auto to automatically connect, as always, so you can access your map app and your playlists, but it doesn't. Instead, you get a red error screen that reads "Communication error 21 — Being connected to a VPN may prevent Android Auto from starting." Plenty of people use VPNs to protect their privacy online, so keeping one running on your phone isn't going to be uncommon. Still, as Android Auto blocks VPN connections by default, it's quite annoying for privacy-conscious drivers. Thankfully, the fix is simpler than you'd think. Why doesn't Android Auto work over VPN? While most apps will work just fine over a VPN, Android Auto isn't a traditional app. Rather than making its own network requests, it works as an extension of your phone by routing data through predefined APIs designed for a distraction-free driving experience. Because a wireless connection to Android Auto relies on a direct local Wi-Fi link between the phone and the car, system-level networking features like VPNs and custom proxy configurations can prevent it from connecting. What is split tunneling, and how does it help? Split tunneling is a common VPN feature that lets you choose which apps go through the encrypted tunnel and which ones connect directly to the internet. Therefore, instead of routing all your phone's traffic through the VPN, you can carve out exceptions for specific apps. For Android Auto, this means the app gets the direct connection it needs while everything else hides behind encryption. That's ideal for browsing, banking apps and other sensitive activity. Of course, split tunneling isn't just for Android Auto. Any app
Aug 5, 2026 · via engadget.com
UTA research turns vehicle data into traffic solutions Every time millions of Texans hit the highway, their vehicles collect what’s known as connected-vehicle data—information such as speed, hard braking and seatbelt use—and send it back to manufacturers. Now, a researcher at The University of Texas at Arlington is working to put that information to use in hopes that it leads to fewer traffic headaches. Taylor Li, an associate professor of civil engineering at UTA who specializes in transportation and intelligent traffic systems, has received a research grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). He is developing a faster, smarter way to process connected-vehicle data and deliver it to state agencies that manage Texas roads. The project, a collaboration with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, aims to help transportation officials identify and address traffic issues more quickly. Why it matters for drivers For anyone who has sat in gridlock, the promise of this research is straightforward: fewer surprises on the road, faster responses when problems arise and, ultimately, safer commutes. Consider a common experience across Texas: On winter mornings, the low-rising sun can create a blinding glare at specific points along the highway, forcing drivers to brake suddenly. These hidden danger zones often go undetected by traditional traffic sensors, which only measure cars passing a fixed point. "Those locations will never be captured using traditional data," Li said. "We can find such things, help solve safety issues and make sure vehicles are moving along." The new system can also detect when vehicle speeds vary sharply along a stretch of road—a warning sign that something may be wrong. Identifying and addressing those problem areas quickly, Li said, is a “life-saving matter." Beyond helping transportation agencies spot trouble areas, connected-vehicle data can also be used to provide real-time navigation updates through apps
Aug 5, 2026 · via uta.edu
Nearly two months after Wyoming prosecutors accused a Utah car dealer of orchestrating a scheme to resell hundreds of hail-damaged Wyoming vehicles using fraudulent titles, the criminal case has advanced to district court. After a preliminary hearing Monday, Scott Keith Pryor, 50, owner of The Good Car Dealer in Salt Lake City, was bound over on 15 felony counts of altering, forging or counterfeiting a certificate of title. Laramie County Circuit Court Judge Antoinette Williams found prosecutors presented enough evidence for the case to proceed. Each felony count alleges a violation of Wyoming's title fraud statute, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. The charges stem from what investigators describe as an elaborate title scheme involving vehicles damaged during the historic August 2025 hailstorm that battered Cheyenne. Pryor has remained free throughout the case on a $5,000 signature bond. Nearly $2 Million In Vehicles The affidavit filed by Wyoming investigators alleges Pryor purchased 292 hail-damaged vehicles with an estimated value of nearly $2 million after insurers declared them total losses. Many were purchased through online salvage auctions operated by Copart. Normally, vehicles sold through those auctions receive titles reflecting their salvage status or other branding intended to alert buyers that the vehicles sustained significant damage. Investigators say Pryor instead sought duplicate Wyoming titles that removed those brands, allowing some vehicles to be sold for substantially more money than they otherwise could have commanded. The criminal case centers on 15 vehicles investigators say were fraudulently retitled. The Wyoming Department of Transportation ultimately identified numerous irregularities in title applications connected to the vehicles. Among them, investigators allege, were forged signatures, counterfeit notary seals and fraudulent paperwork submitted in the names of previous owners. Perhaps the most startling allegation involved paperwork purportedly signed by a Wyoming woman who had died
Aug 5, 2026 · via cowboystatedaily.com
GM Builds a $3 Billion OnStar Business as Vehicle Subscriptions Gain Scale Aug 05, 2026 OnStar generated approximately $800 million in quarterly revenue as GM expanded connected services and accumulated $6.3 billion in deferred revenue. General Motors expects OnStar to generate more than $3 billion in revenue this year. GM is turning the vehicle sale into a distribution channel for recurring connected services. OnStar generated approximately $800 million in recognized revenue during the second quarter, up approximately 20% year over year. GM expects to add approximately 1 million OnStar subscribers in 2026, bringing the total close to 13 million by year-end. Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver-assistance service, added approximately 70,000 subscribers during the quarter. Revenue increased approximately 70% year over year. GM expects Super Cruise to exceed 850,000 paid subscribers by the end of 2026. That number needs context. Many of those customers receive a three-year prepaid subscription when they purchase an eligible vehicle. They haven’t necessarily chosen to pay a separate monthly fee. GM Uses Vehicle Sales to Distribute Subscriptions GM introduces OnStar and Super Cruise when customers purchase a vehicle. Customers don’t have to discover the service on their own or sign up before experiencing it. Model-year 2025 and newer GM vehicles come standard with eight years of OnStar connectivity. Available features vary by vehicle and plan. Super Cruise generally comes with a three-year prepaid subscription on newly equipped vehicles. After that period, customers need an eligible paid OnStar plan to continue using the service. A standalone Super Cruise plan currently costs $39.99 per month in the United States. GM reported a 30% to 40% attach rate after the three-year prepaid period. In plain English, roughly three to four out of every 10 eligible customers move to a qualifying paid plan. The prepaid period gives drivers time to
Aug 5, 2026 · via subscriptioninsider.com