Kyle Larson again wins at Las Vegas to keep Chevrolet undefeated on NASCAR season
Kyle Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday to keep keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Hendrick Motorsports its second victory in the first three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.
Toyota is not advising people to park recalled RAV4 SUVs outdoors despite reports of engine fires
Toyota is not advising owners of 1.9 million recalled RAV4 SUVs to park them outdoors, even though U.S. safety investigators have four complaints about engine fires that can start with the vehiclesโ ignitions turned off.
Martin Truex Jr. wins NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway
AVONDALE, Ariz. โ Joey Logano has won a few times at Phoenix Raceway and knows a good restart when he feels one. Truex blew past Logano on the final restart and pulled away for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 28th overall. Logano โ who led 143 laps โ won the second stage after leading the final 35 laps during a long stretch of green-flag racing. But he couldn't hold back Truex, who won his ninth race with JGR. Hamlin was fast early in the race, leading for 31 laps until the competition caution midway through the first stage.
US probing engine fires in nearly 1.9M Toyota RAV4 SUVs
The U.S. government is investigating complaints of engine compartment fires in nearly 1.9 million Toyota RAV4 small SUVs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating after getting 11 fire complaints involving the 2013 through 2018 model years. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)DETROIT โ The U.S. government is investigating complaints of engine compartment fires in nearly 1.9 million Toyota RAV4 small SUVs. In documents posted Monday, the agency says fires start on the left side of the engine compartment. The agency says the RAV4 has a higher number of fire complaints in the battery area than comparable vehicles.
Thinking of getting a new car? Check out these Consumer Reports top picks
SAN ANTONIO โ If youโve got the itch for a new car, truck or SUV, Consumer Reportsโ annual list of its top picks may help steer you. Consumer Reports is out with its recommendations on new models based on more than 50 track tests as data on predicted reliability, owner satisfaction and safety equipment. โWe put thousands of miles on each test car and actually evaluate them for how people actually use them in their day-to-day lives,โ said Mike Quincy, auto editor. โTo make CRโs list, the vehicle must come standard with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.โToyota made a strong showing with three on the list. Here is their list of top picks in various categories:
Rights groups target sponsors like Airbnb for Beijing Games
(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)In one corner are the 15 leading Olympic sponsors, many household names like Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Visa, Toyota, Samsung and General Electric. They have branded these the โGenocide Gamesโ and are pressuring sponsors, the IOC and world sports federations to investigate. AdThousands of Olympic athletes are caught in the middle. โOnce again athletes are being used as pawns,โ said Rob Koehler, director general of Global Athlete, an advocacy group for Olympic athletes. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded to Blinken: "The most important thing should be repeated three times: China has no genocide; China has no genocide; China has no genocide, period.โAdPolak pointed out that the United Nations Genocide Convention spells out much of the behavior taking place in China.
Wallace becomes 1st Black driver to lead lap at Daytona 500
Bubba Wallace checks his helmet before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ Bubba Wallace ran into trouble early and late in his first Daytona 500 driving for Michael Jordan. He still came out of NASCAR's marquee race with another milestone, becoming the first Black driver to lead a lap in the Daytona 500. Wallace dipped to the low line late in the second stage to grab the lead on lap 129 in the No. Wallace got caught up in a fiery, chaotic last lap and finished 17th in a race won by Michael McDowell. Wallace had a solid first two-thirds of the rain-delayed race at Daytona International Speedway after a tumultuous start in Jordan's debut race.
Semiconductor shortage forces automobile production cuts
A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)DETROIT โ A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns. Toyota was forced to slow production of the full-size Tundra pickup at a factory in San Antonio, Texas. "This will minimize the impact of the current semiconductor shortage while ensuring we maintain production at our other North American plants,โ Fiat Chrysler said in a statement. The firm lists major players in the automotive chip market as STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductor, Texas Instruments and Toshiba.
Toyota working on hydrogen-powered car
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular, as car makers are looking for ways to think outside the box and look to the future of the industry. Toyota released a new version of their Mirai, a hydrogen-powered car, and it could be the first step towards a hydrogen trend in the car industry. The Mirai takes in hydrogen gas, charges in under five minutes and travels as far as a gasoline car while only emitting water vapor. Toyota first released the Mirai back in 2014, but according to Bloomberg the company, has only sold about 11 thousand units in six years. Toyota increased the carโs range by 30% to last about 528 miles per charge by adding a third fuel tank below the vehicle floor.
Oracle says it will move HQ from Silicon Valley to Texas
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. โ Tech giant Oracle Corp. said Friday it will move its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas, and let many employees choose their office locations and decide whether to work from home. The business software maker said it will keep major hubs at its current home in Redwood City, California, and other locations. This month, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, one of the early companies in Silicon Valley, said it will move to the Houston area and build a campus with two five-story buildings by 2022. In 2018, Toyota shifted its U.S. headquarters from Southern California, to Plano, Texas, a Dallas suburb. In its most recent fiscal year, which ended May 31, Oracle reported earnings of $10.1 billion on revenue of about $39 billion.
GM flips to California's side in pollution fight with Trump
DETROIT โ General Motors is switching sides in the legal fight against California's right to set its own clean-air standards, abandoning the Trump administration as the president's term nears its close. CEO Mary Barra said in a letter Monday to environmental groups that GM will no longer support the Trump administration in its defense against a lawsuit over its efforts against California's standards. Already at least one other large automaker, Toyota, said it may join GM in switching to California's team. About a dozen other states follow California's standards. The Trump administrationโs plan increased fuel economy by 1.5% per year, backing off an earlier proposal to freeze the requirements at 2021 levels.
Mazda No. 1 in Consumer Reports 2020 auto reliability survey
DETROIT โ Mazda beat traditional winners Lexus and Toyota to win top honors as the most dependable auto brand in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey. Mazda took top honors for the first time in the survey, which this year included Consumer Reports organization members who own more than 300,000 vehicles from model years 2000 to 2020. Consumer Reports said that the Ford Explorer SUV, redesigned for the 2020 model year, is among the lowest-scoring models of any manufacturer with transmission, electronic, and engine issues. Only the company's Model 3 small car was rated as reliable and recommended by Consumer Reports. Nearly half of the new models have much worse than average reliability, Consumer Reports said.
Wisconsin trooper stops driver hauling snowmobile atop car
CLAYTON, Wis. โ The Wisconsin State Patrol had a little advice for a guy who transported a snowmobile by strapping it to the roof of his Toyota Corolla: Bad idea. A trooper pulled over the driver on Highway 63 in northwestern Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon after seeing the snowmobile perched sideways on top of the sedan. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation tweeted a photo of the car with the Polaris topper on Monday with a message: โFolks, don't try this at home.โThe 23-year-old driver was issued a warning about the hauling technique and cited for failing to buckle up, according to DOT spokeswoman Christena OโBrien. The driver, Matthew Schmit, of Clayton, told the trooper he had just bought the snowmobile and was driving it over to a friendโs house to show him, the Star Tribune reported. โI know it looks sketchy, but we had it strapped down and shook it,โ he said.
Automotive plant gives back to 6 local school districts to encourage digital learning
The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. As the coronavirus pandemic has led to digital learning for students, some families are unable to access the internet at home. To help the community access the proper technology with at-home learning, Toyota Texas has stepped up by donating $500,000 that will be split between Somerset ISD, East Central ISD, Harlandale ISD, South San ISD, Southwest ISD and Southside ISD. โWeโve been here in Toyota for almost 17 years, and we make it a priority to give back to the community that welcomed us with open arms," said Kevin Voelkel, Toyota Texas president. "When this hit, we knew we needed to do something to help the school district.
6 San Antonio school districts receive donations totaling $500,000 from Toyota
SAN ANTONIO โ Six San Antonio-area school districts facing a digital divide were given donations totaling $500,000 to help students with e-learning. Somerset ISD received the largest chunk of the donation โ $300,000 โ and the rest was dispersed to Southside, East Central, Harlandale, South San and Southwest ISDs. The districts surround the Toyota manufacturing plant south of San Antonio. San Antonioโs digital divide was thrust into the spotlight this year as parents had to choose between educating their kids at home or sending them back to class during the pandemic. KSAT explains: Digital divide in San Antonio amid the pandemic
Toyota adds 1.5M US vehicles to recalls for engine stalling
DETROIT โ Toyota is adding 1.5 million U.S. vehicles to recalls from early this year to fix fuel pumps that can fail and cause engines to stall. The company says the latest recall brings the total to 5.8 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles that need to be repaired worldwide. The recall affects more than 40 vehicles in the U.S. dating to the 2013 model year, covering much of the Toyota and Lexus model lineup. Toyota said in a statement Wednesday that the fuel pumps can suddenly stop operating, and that can cause the vehicles to stall. Toyota began recalling the vehicles in January with about 700,000, and added 1.2 million in March.
BiblioTech Public Library connects Bexar County residents with free digital resources
Connection with others is more important than ever right now, and one way to connect to the world is through reading. Bexar County BiblioTech, an all-digital library that is free, started as the first bookless library in the world. BiblioTech is free for all Bexar County residents, employees and taxpayers. BiblioTech offers active learning through free access to Lynda.com, Mango Languages, Treehouse and Universal Class. Toyota is helping to spread awareness about BiblioTech in its partnership to serve the community during the pandemic.
Suarez on the move again after parting with Gaunt Brothers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Daniel Suarez, who landed a ride two weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500, will not return to Gaunt Brothers Racing next season and is seeking a new team for the third time in three years. Gaunt Brothers said Tuesday it was a mutual decision for the Mexican driver to leave the team. โIโm extremely thankful to my entire Toyota family for everything they have done for me, especially this year," Suarez said. โI will always be grateful to them for having my back.โSuarez has struggled with Gaunt Brothers, which is in its first full season of Cup competition. His long relationship with Toyota helped Suarez get the job with Gaunt Brothers, a team that began in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2010 and the Canada-based NASCAR Pintyโs Series.
Japan's 'flying car' gets off ground, with a person aboard
This photo taken at the beginning of August, 2020 and released by SkyDrive/CARTIVATOR 2020, shows a test flight of a manned '"flying car" at Toyota Test Field in Toyota, central Japan. Japans SkyDrive Inc., among the myriads of flying car projects around the world, has carried out a successful though modest test flight with one person aboard. Japans SkyDrive Inc., among the myriads of flying car projects around the world, has carried out a successful though modest test flight with one person aboard. Tomohiro Fukuzawa, who heads the SkyDrive effort, said he hopes the flying car can be made into a real-life product by 2023, but he acknowledged that making it safe was critical. Of the worlds more than 100 flying car projects, only a handful has succeeded with a person on board, he told The Associated Press.
China auto sales rise in July, as market regains momentum
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported that sales of passenger cars jumped 8.5% from a year earlier to 1.67 million. Weakness in the China market has hurt global automakers that are looking to China to propel sales growth. Demand for electric vehicles weakened last year after Beijing reduced subsidies that helped to make China their biggest market, accounting for half of global sales. In the first seven months of the year, sales climbed 14.3% from a year earlier to 2.8 million. SUV sales in July rose 14% from a year earlier while sales of sedans rose 4.6%.
Driver of pickup truck hit, killed by train in San Marcos
SAN MARCOS, Texas The driver of a pickup truck was hit and killed by a train Sunday morning in San Marcos, the San Marcos Police Department said. Joe Antonio Quintero Sr., 80, was driving a red 2006 Toyota Tundra pickup truck around 9 a.m. when he was hit and killed by a train at the McCarthy Lane railroad track intersection. Witnesses told police that the train crossing arms were down when the truck went through the intersection. Initial reports showed that all components of the crossing arms were functioning properly, police said. The SMPD Collision Investigation Team is now working with Amtrak to investigate the collision.
Abbott: 175 Texans have died from COVID-19; nearly 1,500 hospitalized
During a news conference at the State Capitol, Abbott said 1,491 people have been hospitalized across the state, and more than 96,250 Texans have been tested for COVID-19, with 9,107 positive results. Abbott said as of Tuesday, there were 21,066 hospital beds, 2,225 ICU beds and more than 7,000 ventilators available in Texas. Abbott said the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is under siege trying to process unemployment benefits for millions of Texans who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Abbott said TWC will likely process more claims in a five-week period than it did for all of 2019. COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019.
Toyota postpones manufacturing operations again
Toyota plants, including the one in San Antonio, will reopen โin compliance with federal health and safety guidelines,โ according to a statement. Read the full statement below:โBased on an extensive review with our supplier and logistics network, Toyota will postpone its ramp up of its North American manufacturing operations from the week of May 4 to the week of May 11 . As previously stated, Toyota intends to gradually resume its manufacturing operations in compliance with federal health and safety guidelines, and local and state ordinances where our facilities are located. Toyota plants, including the one in San Antonio, will reopen โin compliance with federal health and safety guidelines,โ according to a statement. We will continue to follow all safety guidelines and monitor vehicle demand as we carefully ramp up production.โThe Toyota plants temporarily closed in late March.
News @ 9 Business Briefing: Economic forecast; Changes to Toyota plant; USAA decreasing employee bonuses
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio Express-News Business Editor Greg Jefferson stopped by KSAT News at 9 to discuss the 2020 economic forecast, the changes coming to the local Toyota plant and the decrease in bonuses for USAA employees. Jefferson is also a columnist at the San Antonio Express News. You can read more of his work by clicking here. News @ 9 Business Briefing: 2020 economic forecastNews @ 9 Business Briefing: Changes coming to local Toyota plantNews @ 9 Business Briefing: Decrease in USAA employee bonusesAPP USERS: Click here if you experience issues playing the individual videos
Sequoia in, Tacoma out at San Antonio Toyota manufacturing plant
SAN ANTONIO โ The Toyota manufacturing plant in San Antonio will undergo some major production changes in the next couple of years. The Tacoma has been built in San Antonio since 2010. Toyota to invest $391 million to expand San Antonio plantBeginning in 2022, the plant will build the Toyota Sequoia. The production changes are not expected to affect employment at the San Antonio plant, which currently has 3,200 employees. The San Antonio plant will continue manufacturing the Toyota Tundra.
The 9@9: Boeing plane crashes in Iran; Husband of missing CT woman charged with murder; Smoke scare at Toyota plant
The 9@9: Boeing plane crashes in Iran; Husband of missing CT woman charged with murder; Smoke scare at Toyota plantPublished: January 8, 2020, 8:40 pmThe 9@9 features some of the biggest stories making headlines at home, around the country and across the globe. Here's what's trending tonight.
Firefighters respond to smoking equipment at Toyota plant
SAN ANTONIO โ Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the Toyota Texas plant in South San Antonio early Wednesday morning. The fire was called in around 7:40 a.m. at the manufacturing plant located on Lone Star Pass, not far from Applewhite Road. A battalion chief said a piece of equipment inside a supplierโs building began smoking. Toyotaโs own firefighters are now leading an investigation into the incident. San Antonio firefighters helped to remove some of the smoke.