Article Summary - Verizon is now the connectivity provider for new BMW, MINI, and other BMW Group vehicles built for the US, powering Connected Drive and other digital services. - KDDI's Global Communications Platform routes the data, giving BMW Group control over connectivity while Verizon's 5G and LTE network carries the traffic. - These are the first vehicles on Verizon's nationwide 5G Standalone network, built on 3GPP Release 16 standards with future potential for network slicing and V2X features. Verizon is now the telematics connectivity provider for new BMW, MINI, and other BMW Group vehicles built for the U.S. market, under a collaboration with KDDI announced today. The deal gives BMW Group vehicles direct cellular connectivity through Verizon’s 5G and LTE networks, replacing or supplementing prior telematics arrangements for cars built for U.S. roads. Every new BMW, MINI, and other BMW Group model manufactured for the American market is covered. The connectivity itself runs through KDDI’s Global Communications Platform, which the Japanese carrier has built over two decades of work with automakers on connected car services. KDDI’s platform lets BMW Group manage its own connectivity and data packets rather than handing that control entirely to a carrier, while Verizon’s network carries the traffic. The BMW Group vehicles are also the first to run on Verizon’s nationwide 5G Standalone for Connected Vehicles offering, which uses a dedicated 5G core built to 3GPP Release 16 standards rather than piggybacking on 4G infrastructure. That distinction matters for automakers betting on over-the-air updates, real-time diagnostics, and remote features that need a network built for them rather than adapted to them. Speaking to Light Reading, Daniel Lawson, senior vice president for global solutions at Verizon Business, said telematics under this deal covers firmware and map updates, subscription services, and everything else BMW tracks about the
Jul 9, 2026 · via bmwblog.com
When I first bought my Ioniq 5 EV a couple of years ago, I was surprised to find out that it didn't support wireless Android Auto or CarPlay. It was late 2022, and while wireless, phone-powered in-car infotainment was becoming more common, for some reason Hyundai opted for wired connectivity in the first version of its flagship EV. Looking back, this was a really strange decision on the part of the South Korean automaker. While plugging my Android device into my car's front USB port isn't exactly a chore, it can be pretty annoying sometimes, especially when I'm in a hurry. Also, if you've experienced the convenience of wireless Android Auto in a vehicle before, it's sort of difficult to go back to a wired setup. This is where the Carlinkit 5.0 (2air) comes in. As long as your vehicle supports wired Android Auto or CarPlay, this tiny $66 dongle easily added wireless Android Auto to my car in just a few minutes. There are several wireless Android Auto adapters out there, but I ultimately landed on the Carlinkit 5.0 (2air) because the price is right, and it comes from a relatively reputable company in the space. There are far more expensive, arguably better adapters out there, like Motorola's MA1 for example, but for me, the Carlinkit 5.0 strikes a decent balance between performance and price. It's worth noting that, in addition to Android Auto, the Carlinkit 5.0 also works with Apple's CarPlay The Carlink 5.0 (2air) adds wireless Android Auto to your car in just a few minutes I encountered one key issue, though Setting up the Carlinkit 5.0 with Android Auto was mostly straightforward. In the box, you get two cables, including a USB-C-to-USB-C and a USB-C-to-USB-A. In my case, I used a USB-C-to-A cable since my Ioniq
Jul 9, 2026 · via xda-developers.com
Noregon launched CAN Mentor, a vehicle network diagnostic software application designed to help technicians diagnose communication issues on commercial vehicles. Noregon CAN Mentor measures voltage and resistance without requiring a multimeter or oscilloscope. The software connects to a vehicle through Noregon’s DLA+ 3.0 XBT adapter. It checks the CAN network for out-of-spec issues. Then it directs the user to the affected area of the vehicle to begin troubleshooting. “This new technology makes network diagnostics accessible for technicians of all skill levels,” said Jason Hedman, product manager at Noregon. “Without having an extensive background in network analysis, technicians can use CAN Mentor to diagnose communication issues and know where to begin troubleshooting the issue.” Tool Guides Network Troubleshooting Noregon said CAN Mentor is designed to help technicians work through vehicle network issues as trucks become more complex and connected. The company said the software is part of its broader maintenance and service technology portfolio. That includes JPRO diagnostics, shop management software, compliance tools, and remote technician support. “Vehicles are more complex and connected than ever, making it essential to give technicians access to technology and services that make it easier to work on them,” Hedman said. “We develop tools that train technicians while they use the application, so unfamiliar repairs quickly become routine work for them.” CAN Mentor Available Now Noregon CAN Mentor is available now and can be purchased directly from Noregon. If customers already have a DLA+ 3.0 XBT adapter, they can purchase the standalone software. Alternatively, they can choose a bundled version that includes the adapter kit.
Jul 9, 2026 · via fleetequipmentmag.com
Cities are under increasing pressure to reduce transportation emissions, but most solutions being discussed require years of planning and significant investment. What if you could quantify and start reducing emissions today, using infrastructure already in place? With INRIX Green Calculator, you can do exactly that for free. See the Impact of Congestion on Emissions The INRIX Green Calculator gives agencies and planners a simple way to understand: - How much emissions are tied to congestion and delay - The real impact of idling at intersections and along corridors - Where operational improvements could drive measurable reductions What makes it powerful Unlike traditional modeling tools, the calculator lets you interactively test real‑world scenarios by adjusting key levers such as: - Average delay reduction (e.g., what happens if signals are optimized by 10–20%?) - Traffic volume changes across corridors - Speed and flow improvements - Corridor length or network size - Vehicle mix assumptions (commuter vs freight-heavy routes) With just a few inputs, agencies can quickly see: How reducing idling and stop‑and‑go conditions directly lowers emissions. No complex setup. No internal data lift required. Just instant, directional insight for free. The Hidden Driver of Emissions: Idling at Intersections Once you start using the calculator, a clear pattern emerges: a significant share of transportation emissions comes from vehicles sitting still or constantly stopping and starting. This happens every day: - Cars waiting unnecessarily through cycles - Corridors with poor signal coordination - Freight vehicles losing time and fuel at bottlenecks The result: - Higher emissions - Wasted fuel - Increased driver frustration - Reduced network efficiency - Wasted money The question becomes: What’s the fastest way to fix it? Turning Insight into Measurable Emissions Reduction The Green Calculator shows the opportunity. INRIX Signals Analytics is how agencies capture it. Signals Analytics transforms traffic
Jul 9, 2026 · via inrix.com
Verizon and KDDI will combine assets to provide 5G telematics connectivity to new BMW Group vehicles running in the U.S. The work will use Verizon’s 5G standalone (SA) and 4G LTE network supporting KDDI’s Global Communications Platform to power BMW’s Connected Drive system within those vehicles, services that include digital infotainment, remote, and application support. This includes connectivity for BMW, Mini, and other BMW Group vehicles manufactured for the U.S. market, providing the auto manufacturer with complete control of the connectivity and data transmitted over Verizon’s network. “Verizon is committed to delivering seamless connectivity for customers,” Verizon Business CEO Kyle Malady noted in a statement. “Our collaboration with BMW Group and KDDI prioritizes innovation and capability to advance the connected experience for drivers across the U.S.” Verizon had previously linked with KDDI to provide similar services to Sony and Honda’s Afeela electric vehicle joint venture, which was discontinued earlier this year. The effort appears to have usurped T-Mobile US as BMW’s in-car connectivity provider. BMW had been offering 5G-based in-car connectivity through T-Mobile US for vehicles produced beginning in the 2022 model year and embedded with a “personal eSIM.” Verizon noted the BMW agreement was significant as it’s the first to tap the carrier’s nationwide 5G SA network to support connected vehicles. This includes use of its 5G core and 3GPP Release 16 5G SA standards. The carrier has been slowly introducing services that can take advantage of that 5G SA network, including enterprise-related services like fixed-wireless access (FWA) using network slicing technology. Former CEO Hans Vestberg noted last year that the carrier’s 5G SA core was supporting between 60% and 70% of Verizon’s 5G wireless network traffic. Comments
Jul 9, 2026 · via sdxcentral.com
The Senate Commerce Committee will take up legislation next week that would permanently bar Chinese vehicles and their connected components from the American market. The committee, chaired by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, will consider the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 during a full committee executive session set for next Wednesday. The bill was introduced by Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin. The legislation would prohibit the importation, manufacture, sale, and resale of connected vehicles, software, and hardware linked to China or other foreign adversaries. It would also empower the Commerce Department to identify and block high-risk vehicle technologies. Vehicle and software restrictions would take effect in 2027, with hardware restrictions following in 2030, according to Senator Moreno's office. The measure would give permanent legal standing to rules finalized under President Joe Biden in early 2025, which blocked Chinese automakers from the U.S. passenger vehicle market by citing risks to national security posed by data-collecting vehicle technology. The legislation is designed to make any future policy reversal politically and legally difficult. A companion bill has been introduced in the House. "Chinese cars are a serious threat to America's national security and Michigan's economic security," Slotkin said in a statement. "Chinese cars are surveillance packages on wheels, with the ability to collect on American citizens and sensitive sites." The bill has drawn support from General Motors $GM, the UAW, and the CAR Coalition, among others. UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement that the legislation "puts common sense guardrails on a major threat to our nation's auto industry." The vote comes as the U.S. government has moved to restrict Chinese-affiliated automakers from the American market. Polestar, owned by Chinese automaker Geely, was forced to stop selling vehicles in the U.S. after the Commerce Department declined
Jul 9, 2026 · via qz.com
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Jul 9, 2026 · via youtube.com
On the Dash: - The proposed legislation would reinforce barriers preventing Chinese automakers from entering the U.S. retail market. - Dealers should continue to monitor federal policy as national security becomes a greater factor in automotive trade decisions. - Restrictions on Chinese-connected vehicle technology could influence future sourcing, software and supply chain strategies across the industry. The Senate Commerce Committee will vote July 15 on bipartisan legislation aimed at permanently strengthening restrictions that prevent Chinese automakers from entering the U.S. passenger vehicle market. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced the legislation in April. The bill, the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, would codify a rule the Biden administration issued in January 2025, which blocks Chinese automakers from selling connected passenger vehicles in the U.S. However, lawmakers argue the measure addresses national security risks posed by vehicle software and connected technologies that can collect sensitive driver data. Specifically, the legislation would prohibit the sale of vehicles designed in China with advanced connectivity systems or vehicle software. House lawmakers have introduced companion legislation with similar provisions. In March, major automakers, suppliers and dealer organizations urged the federal government to maintain restrictions on Chinese automakers. The coalition contends Chinese manufacturers pose risks to U.S. national security, the domestic automotive industry and long-term competitiveness. Global context adds pressure Chinese vehicles remain largely absent from the U.S. market, but they’re gaining market share in Europe and Mexico. Consumer interest in lower-priced Chinese electric vehicles is also growing despite existing tariffs. Last month, Swedish automaker Polestar announced it will leave the U.S. market for future model-year vehicles following the Trump administration’s expanded restrictions on Chinese-built and Chinese-connected vehicles.
Jul 9, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Verizon’s 5G and LTE networks will be plugged into KDDI’s Global Communications Platform to provide connectivity for new BMW, MINI, and other BMW Group vehicles made for the US market. It will serve up cellular connectivity directly to BMW Group vehicles, powering BMW Connected Drive and other digital infotainment, remote, app and telematics services. Verizon’s has an existing relationship with KDDI, which provides IoT services through its platform to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in “demanding” industries. The platform enables a “programmable connected experience” for BMW Group, we’re told, which is supposed to give it control of the connectivity and data packets going through Verizon’s 5G network. The service is available for all newly manufactured BMW Group vehicles in the US, and the vehicles are the first to be connected to Verizon’s 5G Standalone for Connected Vehicles offering, which uses its 5G core and 3GPP Release 16 industry standards for 5G standalone, we’re told. "Verizon is committed to delivering seamless connectivity for customers. Our collaboration with BMW Group and KDDI prioritizes innovation and capability to advance the connected experience for drivers across the US,” said Kyle Malady, CEO, Verizon Business. Satoshi Oishi, President & CEO, KDDI America added: "At KDDI, we are honored to support BMW Group’s next generation connected vehicle services with our Global Communications Platform. With over two decades of experience in connected car telecommunications, we understand the critical importance of performance and reliability. Together with BMW Group and Verizon, we are committed to delivering an exceptional connected driving experience to customers across North America." Connectivity is becoming commonplace on new car models. Last month rival US operator AT&T extended its partnership with EV maker Rivian which involved expanding the content offering on its infotainment platform. Rivian’s new motor, the R2, is described as a software-defined vehicle (SDV), and
Jul 9, 2026 · via telecoms.com
Hyundai Motor Philippines launches the refreshed Staria. With a starting price of P 1.999-million, it now sports a hybrid powertrain as well as elevated comfort and connectivity features. Distinguished by its futuristic design, the new Staria Hybrid has been updated with new 18-inch alloy wheels, a revamped front grille, and distinctive cube projection LED headlamps. More importantly, under the hood, the 2027 Staria now sports a 1.6-liter turbo hybrid engine with a 1.48-kWh battery. Combined, it makes 245 horsepower (180 horsepower from the combustion engine and 73 horsepower from the electric motor) and a torque of 367 Nm (265 Nm from the gasoline engine). The electric motor is mounted in line to a 6-speed automatic with cruise control allowing it to move on electric power alone at varying speeds, including highway cruising. It also helps it achieve a best-in-class fuel efficiency of 17.7 km/L. Also, thanks to its HEV powertrain, the Staria now gains e-Motion Drive which bundles two suites of tech: e-Comfort Drive and e-Dynamic Drive. The former has e-Ride which minimizes vehicle shake when crossing speed bumps by controlling the motor further improving its comfort and stability. The latter has e-Handling which controls drive torque to maintain optimal traction during turns, e-EHA which maximizes evasion performance, and e-Traction which enhances vehicle grip and cornering stability. The 2.2-liter Smartstream Diesel is carried over unchanged in the Staria Cargo variant. Elsewhere, the refreshed Staria, in the Premium and Premium Plus variant, is the first Hyundai model to be equipped with Bluelink—Hyundai’s advanced Connected Car Service platform. The Bluelink system supports online voice recognition, supporting users to send and receive text messages while keeping their focus on the road. Using a smartphone app, it also keeps owners informed of their vehicle status, diagnostics, and health reports, while also enabling remote control
Jul 9, 2026 · via carguide.ph
Safer cars, safer roads: New rules take effect European roads are among the safest in the world, but the number of deaths and injuries from road accidents is still too high. Thanks to the EU’s General Safety Regulation, many safety systems have already been mandatory for all newly registered cars and vans since 2024. Starting on 7 July 2026, these vehicles will now be subject to even more advanced safety requirements. All new passenger cars and vans across the EU must now have these life-saving systems: - Advanced emergency brake detecting pedestrians and cyclists - Advanced driver distraction warning system to keep drivers focused - Better forward vision - New tests for worn tyres to ensure safer performance - Expanded safety glass area to protect pedestrians during accidents Manufacturers were given more time to develop these more technically demanding features, which is why the legislation was rolled out in multiple phases. The long-term EU goal is to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050, which it calls Vision Zero. These new mandatory requirements will help the EU achieve this. Moreover, they will help to better protect pedestrians and cyclists, address crashes caused by driver distraction, and encourage widespread adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems. For more information
Jul 9, 2026 · via eeas.europa.eu
Drivers who have been in a car accident can now have their vehicles, depending on make, help file a claim with their insurance company. The technology is available to Toyota and Lexus drivers with State Farm insurance and allows them to instantly share crash data from their vehicles, speeding up the claims process. State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the country, and its partner Connected Analytic Services, a Toyota affiliate, will let eligible customers with 2020 or newer Toyota and Lexus models authorize a one-time transfer of crash data after an accident using the State Farm app. This feature is part of a larger trend in the insurance industry, in which companies use connected-car technology to verify crashes, send help faster, and settle claims more quickly. However, it comes after a series of high-profile controversies over connected-car data, including FTC allegations that General Motors collected and sold drivers’ location and behavior data without obtaining adequate consent. Different from telematics programs “Our service helps make the claims process easier by providing faster insight into what happened and what needs to happen next,” Jennifer Megargell, State Farm vice president of property and casualty claims, said in a news release announcing the program. State Farm says this new service is only for handling claims, unlike conventional telematics programs that constantly monitor driving behavior. If customers give clear consent through the Claims Hub in the State Farm app after an accident, claims representatives can access information from the vehicle, including: - Direction of travel - Vehicle speed - Point of impact - Crash location displayed on a map State Farm says it accesses only data from the specific date and time of the accident. It then uses this information to resolve that claim and doesn’t use it to set a driver’s future rates
Jul 9, 2026 · via swiowanewssource.com
NHTSA cites a pattern of robotaxis blundering into fires, blocking ambulances and ignoring flares, and gives developers until month’s end to explain how they will fix it. In a two-page letter addressed simply to “Driverless Automated Driving System Developers,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s administrator, Jonathan Morrison, told the industry that a recurring failure had become impossible to ignore — autonomous vehicles that do not know how to behave around police officers, firefighters and paramedics. The agency said it had documented multiple instances of driverless cars driving into active emergency scenes and blocking the paths of ambulances and firefighters, or failing to recognize and respond to basic safety conditions like flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire and traffic cones. In the letter, Mr. Morrison did not mince words about what that means for the technology’s credibility. “An AV that cannot safely interact with first responders is a danger to the general public,” he wrote. A pattern the agency says it can no longer treat as background noise The letter arrives after months of scattered but mounting incidents involving robotaxi fleets, most of them operated by Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company that has become the most visible face of driverless ride-hailing in American cities. Local media in Texas reported that a Waymo vehicle in Dallas partially blocked a route fire trucks were using to reach a burning apartment building in late May. Other videos have circulated showing Waymo vehicles blocking an ambulance and driving through an active police scene. Both NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating separate incidents involving Waymo vehicles, including one in which the cars passed stopped school buses with their lights activated, in violation of Texas law, and another from January in which a self-driving Waymo struck a nine-year-old girl in a Santa Monica school
Jul 9, 2026 · via autoconnectedcar.com
The learnings in this blog post are based on the session, “How Mercedes turns Teamwork Graph into an AI advantage”, presented at Atlassian’s Team ’26 conference. You can check out this session and others on demand. Foundation models have become astonishingly capable over a very short period. At the beginning of this decade, they could barely look up facts online. Today, they can produce work that would take a human engineer more than an hour, and the pace of improvement has been exponential, especially over the last 18 months. And yet, something strange is happening. When you ask individual users whether AI tools have helped them, more than 50% say “yes”, that they’ve actually saved time and effort. But when you zoom out and ask companies whether they’ve seen dramatic improvements to their business, 96% report that they have not. The technology is there, but unlocking the enterprise-level value has been stubbornly difficult. Now, Mercedes-Benz’s recent experience proves the harder enterprise challenge is not whether AI can generate output; it’s whether that output can connect to the messy reality of work across tools, teams, data, and decisions. The real bottleneck isn’t the model Work inside organizations depends on collaboration, so when enterprise AI treats it like an individual activity, it will always fall short of its promise. The average large enterprise runs over 367 SaaS applications, since often multiple teams use their own tools and follow their own rituals. When teams need to collaborate, people find themselves navigating unfamiliar interfaces, reconciling different planning cycles, and chasing down context scattered across a dozen systems. Goals developed in isolation can leave teams rowing in opposite directions, even when everyone has the best intentions. “You have to use at least 11-plus tools to accomplish a task, or even more — like, I don’t
Jul 8, 2026 · via atlassian.com
Why electric cars cost more to insure - and what's being done about it It's hot and bright beneath the high intensity lights in a cavernous crash and safety testing laboratory, hidden away in a business park outside Newbury. A siren blares and a disembodied voice counts down: "Three, two, one." A small white car trundles into view, rolls across the floor, and bumps into a barrier set against the wall. As crash tests go, this one is hardly spectacular. There is no torn metal or flying glass. At just 6mph, it replicates the kind of annoying prang you might well get in a car park or at a traffic light. But raise the slightly bent bonnet to look underneath, and it's a different story. This is an electric vehicle (EV) – a Dacia Spring – and the hidden damage is significant. As senior test engineer Sean Hoad points out, the high-voltage charging port, mounted at the front of the car is badly broken, as are components it's attached to. "This is all one big unit, meaning we can't just replace the front charge port. We have to replace the charger itself, the inverter, and some of the cabling," he explains. Repairing all of that, he says, would cost about £4,000, and there is other damage to consider as well, so the chances are an insurer would not bother getting it fixed. "It's more than likely this car would be written off," he adds. Thatcham Research, which works on behalf of the insurance industry, is carrying out tests like this to understand why EVs typically attract higher insurance premiums. On average, it says, EVs cost 30% more to repair than petrol or diesel models, and it takes 14% longer to fix them. This then feeds through to the insurance price.
Jul 8, 2026 · via bbc.com
This illegal alien has been deported THREE times WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer asking North Carolina officials to not release from jail a criminal illegal alien charged with causing a car crash that killed a 6-year-old girl in Pitt County. According to local reporting, the crash occurred on July 3 when a truck ran a stop sign and struck an SUV. The driver of the SUV was a mother who had her two children with her, ages 6 and 4. The mother and the 4-year-old were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, while 6-year-old Calli Toler was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim: 6-year-old Calli Toler The driver of the truck was Jaime Santiago Corona, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was arrested and charged with death by vehicle, failure to stop for a stop sign, careless and reckless driving, and driving while license is revoked. His criminal history includes convictions for driving under the influence of liquor and obstructing police. The suspect: Jaime Santiago Corona “This monster caused a car crash that killed a 6-year-old girl, and injured a mother and a 4-year-old,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He had previously been deported THREE times, and has a criminal history for driving under the influence of liquor. This tragedy was 100% preventable. Our prayers are with Calli Toler and her family. DHS lodged a detainer requesting this criminal illegal alien not be released from jail and allowed on our roads again.” Santiago had illegally entered the United States at unknown dates and locations THREE times before, and was deported in 2019, 2023, and 2024. He illegally entered the United States for a FOURTH time at an
Jul 8, 2026 · via dhs.gov
WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 to defend the American auto industry from the existential threat of predatory Chinese automobiles by banning them and their connected components from the American market. This bill would prohibit the import, sale, and operation of vehicles manufactured in China—or any other country of concern—and ban the use of Chinese-developed connected vehicle technologies, such as software, and data systems on American roads. “The American auto industry is the backbone of the American industrial economy, we cannot afford to make the same mistakes globalists have made for decades and see these great American companies devastated by predatory and massively subsidized Chinese state enterprises hellbent on the destruction of our economy,” said Senator Moreno. “As Europe, Mexico, and others allow their markets to be overrun by Chinese predators, the U.S. must act before it’s too late. The answer is simple: Chinese vehicles can never be allowed into the U.S. market—the fate of the American auto industry and countless autoworkers depends on it.” “Chinese cars are a serious threat to America’s national security and Michigan’s economic security,” said Senator Slotkin. “Chinese cars are surveillance packages on wheels, with the ability to collect on American citizens and sensitive sites. The Chinese Communist Party’s playbook of heavily subsidizing their product, underselling the competition, and then having a monopoly over that sector puts Michigan’s auto industry and our millions of workers at risk. We need to act now, and get this right. I look forward to continued work on this bill with Senator Moreno, our workers, our manufacturers and anyone else to stop Chinese vehicles from ever coming into the United States.” “Our national and economic security relies on a strong US auto industry,” said UAW President Shawn
Jul 8, 2026 · via moreno.senate.gov
Drivers who have been in a car accident can now have their vehicles, depending on make, help file a claim with their insurance company. The technology is available to Toyota and Lexus drivers with State Farm insurance and allows them to instantly share crash data from their vehicles, speeding up the claims process. State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the country, and its partner Connected Analytic Services, a Toyota affiliate, will let eligible customers with 2020 or newer Toyota and Lexus models authorize a one-time transfer of crash data after an accident using the State Farm app. This feature is part of a larger trend in the insurance industry, in which companies use connected-car technology to verify crashes, send help faster, and settle claims more quickly. However, it comes after a series of high-profile controversies over connected-car data, including FTC allegations that General Motors collected and sold drivers’ location and behavior data without obtaining adequate consent. Different from telematics programs “Our service helps make the claims process easier by providing faster insight into what happened and what needs to happen next,” Jennifer Megargell, State Farm vice president of property and casualty claims, said in a news release announcing the program. State Farm says this new service is only for handling claims, unlike conventional telematics programs that constantly monitor driving behavior. If customers give clear consent through the Claims Hub in the State Farm app after an accident, claims representatives can access information from the vehicle, including: - Direction of travel - Vehicle speed - Point of impact - Crash location displayed on a map State Farm says it accesses only data from the specific date and time of the accident. It then uses this information to resolve that claim and doesn’t use it to set a driver’s future rates
Jul 8, 2026 · via fwbusiness.com
Polestar is clearing its remaining US inventory with discounts of up to $25,000, packaging its forced departure from the market as an upbeat marketing push it calls the “Summer of Clarity Event.” The Sweden-based brand, majority-owned by China’s Geely, is running the incentives through the end of July, after which it can no longer sell new cars in the US under a federal ban. A banner across Polestar‘s US site sums it up: “Get up to $25,000 off a new Polestar 4 cash purchase or finance at 0% APR. Available until July 31.” The campaign ranks among the largest single discounts seen in the US EV market, where incentives have grown as demand cooled and the federal tax credit was removed, though few rival a $25,000 cut on one model. The company disclosed in a June 25 filing that the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security had declined to grant it authorization under the Connected Vehicle Rule, which bars manufacturers owned or controlled by China from selling connected vehicles in the US from the 2027 model year. The Cash Incentive The deepest savings come from the “Polestar Clean Vehicle Incentive,” a discount off the sticker price reserved for cash buyers. Polestar is offering $25,000 off the 2026 Polestar 4 and $23,000 off the 2025 Polestar 3, cuts that push both models to prices normally associated with mainstream EVs rather than the premium segment they compete in. The rear-motor Polestar 4 drops to about $32,800, and as low as $31,400 on the configurator, from a starting price near $57,800 — a reduction of more than 40% on a 272-horsepower, roughly 310-mile luxury crossover, leaving it near the price of a mid-trim Toyota Camry. The dual-motor Polestar 4, with 544 horsepower and about 280 miles of range, falls to between
Jul 8, 2026 · via eletric-vehicles.com
England’s dramatic World Cup win over Mexico did not just keep fans awake into the early hours of Monday morning. According to INRIX data, it also appears to have changed the shape of the next morning’s commute. The Round of 16 match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca was already a punishingly late fixture for British viewers, with kick-off scheduled for 1am BST on Monday 6 July. Thunderstorms and lightning around the stadium delayed the start by a further hour, pushing kick-off back to 2am BST and turning a late night into an all-nighter for many England fans. England went on to beat Mexico 3-2, with the match drawing record overnight audiences for the BBC of 9.1 million views despite the lateness of the hour. The timing immediately prompted national discussion about what Monday morning would look like. Ahead of the game, media coverage focused on whether fans could take the day off, arrive late, or request flexible working, while the TUC called on employers to show flexibility where possible. The following morning, school attendance data suggested a visible football effect too, with estimates that around 332,000 fewer pupils were in school than the previous Monday. INRIX observed a similar pattern on the roads. Across a number of English cities, AM rush-hour traffic was notably lighter than normal, with average speeds rising as fewer vehicles competed for road space. In the Monday morning peak, INRIX recorded traffic speeds approximately 4 mph faster than usual in Leeds and Newcastle, 3 mph faster in Birmingham and 2mph better in Manchester and London. “Major sporting events often reshape travel behavior, but this was a particularly clear example,” said Nathan Nekrews, Data Analyst at INRIX. “The match finished at exactly the wrong time for the morning commute. The result was a quieter rush hour across
Jul 8, 2026 · via inrix.com