Nissan-Infiniti Outage Leaves U.S. Dealers in the Dark
A system outage has hobbled Nissan and Infiniti dealer operations, leaving them unable to report sales, process warranty claims or locate available vehicles at other dealerships, reports Automotive News. A power outage on Sunday at a Nissan North America data center in Denver has shut down a key communications system that Nissan and Infiniti dealers rely on to order cars and parts, obtain product rebate information, check on recalls, and file warranty claims. A Nissan North America spokesman on Tuesday could not say when the system, referred to as NNANet, will be restored. The outage has hobbled Nissan and Infiniti dealer operations, leaving them unable to report sales, process warranty claims or locate available vehicles at other dealerships. It was not clear late Tuesday how many of the automaker's approximately 1,280 Nissan and Infiniti dealers are affected. Read more here (subscription required).
Autonomous Vehicle Company Waymo to Test in Florida Rain
Google autonomous vehicle spinoff Waymo says it will start testing on public roads in Florida to better experience heavy rain, reports The Detroit News. The Mountain View, California, company says tests will begin this month in the Miami area and include highway driving to Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers. The Florida test vehicles will be driven by humans. They’ll collect data with laser and radar sensors. Heavy rain can affect image quality. In this March 27, 2018 file photo, the Jaguar I-Pace vehicle outfitted with Waymo's suite of sensors and radar is introduced in New York. Google autonomous vehicle spinoff Waymo says it will start testing on public roads in Florida to better experience heavy rain. Read more here.
U.S. News Unveils the Best Cars for Teens
On Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Cars for Families and Best Cars for the Money, unveiled its annual list of the Best Cars for Teens. "Inexperienced teen drivers are more at risk for an accident, and the car they drive can either contribute to or help mitigate that risk," said Jamie Page Deaton, executive editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "The Best Cars for Teens have top-of-the-line safety features, including accident prevention and crash protection technologies, as well as features that allow parents to track their new drivers. All that tech can not only protect teens but also help them develop safe driving skills." All 2019 Best New Cars for Teens have available forward collision warning and forward automatic emergency braking. Nearly every winner has lane departure warning – which alerts the driver if the car strays out of its lane – and lane keeping assist, which can help keep the car in its lane. Almost all winners also have teen driver controls or available smartphone apps that send parents alerts when the car goes over a set speed or is driven outside a set geographic area or after a certain time of day. Click here to read more and to see the full list.
Care by Volvo Faces Calif. Probe for Possible Franchise Breaches
The California Department of Motor Vehicles will investigate Volvo's Care by Volvo subscription program for violations of state franchise laws following arguments by the California New Car Dealers Association before the state's New Motor Vehicle Board last week. According to Automotive News, the board unanimously voted Aug. 15 to direct the state DMV to investigate Care by Volvo and four claims that the program violates provisions of the state vehicle code, according to the dealers association. If violations are found, it may constitute disciplinary action against Volvo's DMV license, according to dealers group. The dealers association submitted its petition to the New Motor Vehicle Board in January and a public hearing was held last week. Before petitioning the board, the dealers association late last year asked Volvo to immediately halt its program in California after its review of Care by Volvo found what it alleged were violations of California franchise and consumer protection laws. Read more here (subscription required).
Ferrari Will Expand Its Lineup of Road Cars, But Not Too Much
Italian premium sports car maker Ferrari NV will expand sales of easier-driving grand touring cars, but will not try to chase rival Porsche’s annual sales volume, Ferrari Chairman John Elkann told an audience of classic car enthusiasts gathered at this storied golf resort on the Pacific coast. Reuters reports that Elkann also reiterated that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, of which he is chairman, remains open to opportunities to combine with other automakers, but is positioned to remain independent. Fiat Chrysler in May proposed a merger with French automaker Renault SA, but the deal fell apart after the French government intervened and Elkann withdrew the proposed merger. Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Mike Manley sent the same message to Renault and other would-be partners earlier this month. Read more here.
Federated Insurance's Claim of the Month – Could It Happen to You?
While listening for a problem with a vehicle he was driving, a mechanic got distracted and rear-ended another vehicle, seriously injuring the occupants. The dealership’s management had not run a motor vehicle record (MVR) check on the mechanic. If they had, it would have revealed accidents, speeding violations, and a drunken-driving conviction.
CLAIM AMOUNT: $850,000
Do you know who’s driving your vehicles? Federated recommends several best practices to help protect your business and manage risks.
A business might be only as safe as its drivers. Ensure your driving policies are as robust as they can be. Help keep your business and bottom line safe by ensuring you have an accurate and complete picture of all your drivers’ histories.
Federated Mutual Insurance Company is recommended by 19 state and national auto dealer associations for customized insurance programs and value-added risk management services, such as Federated’s Shield Network®, the Risk Management Resource Center, and the Federated Employment Practices Network®. Visit federatedinsurance.com or contact your local marketing representative for resources you can use to create or enhance your own risk management program.
This article is for general information and recommendations for risk prevention only and should not be considered legal or other expert advice. The recommendations herein may help reduce, but are not guaranteed to eliminate, any or all risk of loss. All products and services not available in all states. Qualified counsel should be sought with questions specific to your circumstances and applicable laws.
© 2019 Federated Mutual Insurance Company.
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