Audi tells its dealers to get with the (electric-car) program

Audi of America president Scot Keogh with Audi e-tron quattro concept, 2015 Los Angeles auto showAs many electric-car buyers will tell you, franchised auto dealers can pose a large and tedious impediment to actually buying the plug-in car you want. From salespeople with no knowledge of the cars to test vehicles that haven't been recharged and have little battery range left, the hurdles are numerous and frustrating. Now Audi has told its...

Bosch to pay VW diesel owners $330 million in emission scandal too

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEWith a judge set to weigh in on the settlement VW Group negotiated with its 3.0-liter V-6 diesel owners, Volkswagen seems to have settled most of the U.S. legal claims stemming from its diesel-emission cheating scandal. Total costs in the U.S. alone are now more than $20 billion, and among other penalties, VW has pleaded guilty to three felony...

Exxon says coal will endure; other analyses beg to differ

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)Renewable energy sources may eventually render fossil fuels irrelevant in energy generation, but when will the switch between the two energy sources occur? It's a question that fosters much debate among policymakers, environmental advocates, and financial analysts. For its part, ExxonMobil believes fossil fuels—notably including...

Settlement for Audi, Porsche, VW 3.0-liter diesel TDI owners announced

2014 Audi Q5 TDI, Catskill Mountains, Oct 2013Volkswagen today announced that it had reached a settlement with owners of Audi, Porsche, and VW vehicles fitted with its 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine. Different remedies apply depending on the vehicle's model year: 2009 through 2012 cars will be bought back, while 2013 through 2016 vehicles will be modified to comply with emission limits. The...

BMW i3, Tesla Model S electric cars miss top IIHS safety ratings

2017 Tesla Model STwo of the most prominent electric cars have missed out on the highest award given for vehicle safety by the influential IIHS: Top Safety Pick+. Funded by the insurance industry, the IIHS—which operates independently of the federal government—says that neither the BMW i3 nor the Tesla Model S performed well enough in its barrage of...