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10 automakers sued over keyless ignitions

Keyless ignition has rapidly proliferated throughout the auto industry to become a fairly normal feature on new cars. It's supposed to offer the convenience of keeping the fob in your pocket and just pressing a button to drive away. However, ten major automakers are now being sued in US District Court over claims that the system is dangerous, Reuters reports. The suit alleges that people are forgetting to shut off the engine, and the lack of an idle timer is the cause for 13 deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning and multiple injuries. The suit currently includes 28 plaintiffs, according to Reuters, but the lawyers are asking for class-action status to potentially add many more. The case goes after a major swath of the industry, including BMW, Daimler, FCA, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, plus their related brands like Acura, Infiniti, Mini, and Lexus. In all, over five million vehicles are affected. The assertion here is that people walk away from their vehicle without shutting it off because they believe the engine shuts off automatically. If parked in a garage, carbon monoxide can build up, leading to poisoning. The lawyers claim automakers know this is a problem and also cite 27 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the issue, according to Reuters. The plaintiffs are asking for an automatic shut-off and damages from the companies. These concerns have come up before, though. Toyota previously faced a lawsuit over a carbon monoxide death after a woman accidentally left her Lexus running. Also earlier this year, GM recalled 64,186 examples of the 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt because owners weren't shutting them off. The problem resulted in two injuries, and the company released a software update to limit the idling time.

Recharge Wrap-up: Model X pinch sensor update, Karma plans first store

Tesla has improved Model X pinch sensor function in its latest over-the-air update. As we've seen, the pinch sensors already stop the falcon wing doors from completely shutting when they sense an obstruction. Now, though, the doors retract slightly after the sensors are triggered. While the pre-update doors didn't appear to do as much damage to human fingers as they do to various foodstuffs, it definitely looked uncomfortable, especially when one's hand is stuck in the partially closed door. Now, any pinch that does occur should be brief. See the updated sensors at work in the video above, and read more from Teslarati. Karma Automotive will move to Kawasaki's former headquarters in Irvine, California where it will also open its first store. The revival of the now defunct Fisker will sell its Revero plug-in hybrid through both dealerships and company-owned stores like the one planned for its new two-building campus. The property owner, Bixby, had planned to renovate the site, but now says Karma will make its own improvements. Bixby said it was seeking, "a progressive-minded tenant that would value the unique configuration," and appears to have found just that in Karma. Read more at Electrek, or from the OC Register. San Francisco is asking residents for help in expanding its subways. Using an online tool called Subway Vision, users can draw their own subway lines and stations that they'd like to see built and submit them to planners. Listening to the public is a useful tool for the city because, as Grahm Satterwhite, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's principal planner, admits, "Transportation planners may be too close to a problem to see the solution." This approach allows the subway expansions to "reflect the vision of not just a few transportation planners, but of all San Franciscans," he says. Read more from FastCo.Exist. Toyota is continuing its commitment to Yellowstone National Park with a sustainable Youth Campus for environmental education. The automaker donated $1 million to Yellowstone for the facility, which is seeking Living Building Challenge certification. It will have onsite wastewater treatment for its locally sourced water usage, and will generate all of its electricity needs from photovoltaic panels, with excess to put back into the grid. The campus will have classrooms and residences for students and staff for its youth programs.

Toyota and Mercedes begin the Super Bowl ad teases with dads and hares

Advertising Age says pregame buzz is where Super Bowl advertisers really build momentum for their Big Game commercials, so let the teasing continue. We've seen the 30-second spot for the Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are next out of the tunnel with campaigns that focus on a fable and fathers, respectively. The Mercedes tease gets former NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice lining up a talking-heads debate with eight-year-old Andrew Hunter about whether Hunter's hare could beat a tortoise in a race, but it's a disaster before it even begins. In what will be a continuing storyline, a social media component lets people side with #TeamTortoise or #TeamHare, with "a Big Race viewing party" going to a lucky winner. Mercedes also promises there'll be a hero at the end, which we imagine will something in the Three-Pointed-Star family as opposed to the Testudinae or Leporidae families. Toyota's all about the biological family, rolling out a series of tweets and Vine videos showing off ex-NFL'ers and their kids to hype the "One Bold Choice Leads to Another" campaign for the Camry. The profiled paterfamiliae will be examples of those "who have contributed to their families' lives in bold ways." A 60-second spot during the pre-game will feature Paralympic athlete Amy Purdy, then those stand-up dads will get their own 60 seconds during the second quarter. The social media tag for this one is #OneBoldChoice. You can watch Mercedes' opening salvo above, and check out a Toyota tweet with ex-quarterback Kurt Warner below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req., Mercedes-Benz, Toyota via YouTube (M-B), Twitter (Toyota) Celebrities Marketing/Advertising Mercedes-Benz Toyota Super Bowl Commercials Videos