After years of not being able to get them, Americans want their wheels — no matter the cost

Jul 6, 2023
New light vehicle sales, including cars, SUVs and pickups, were up about 20% in June from this time a year ago.
Lots of consumers feel confident they’ll have the money to buy vehicles they might have once considered unaffordable.
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Why are used car prices still so high?

Jun 13, 2023
The microchip shortage of recent years put the brakes on the production of new cars. That's making for a low supply of used cars now.
While used car prices are down from their pandemic peak, they're still about 40% higher than before COVID, according to government data.
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What's driving car prices ever higher?

Apr 6, 2023
The new entry-level price for a new vehicle is $25,000, auto research site Edmunds says.
Ford is one automaker that has moved its focus from smaller, more affordable sedans to trucks and SUVs.
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Automakers have a lot more chips now, but buyers may be in short supply

Jan 3, 2023
Dealers are figuring out how to balance the supply of vehicles with softer consumer demand.
Rising prices and interest rates have pushed buyers into the used vehicle market or out of the  automotive market entirely.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Demand for electronics is falling. But some types of semiconductors are still in short supply.

Oct 7, 2022
Samsung and AMD say demand is weakening for high-end devices like laptops and smartphones. But vehicles still face semiconductor shortages.
While chips for computers are no longer in high demand, supplies are tight for lower-end chips that go into vehicles.
Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images

Adaptive headlights will soon make night driving brighter without blinding others

Sep 14, 2022
The technology, new to the U.S., can potentially make driving at night safer, says David Aylor of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Adaptive beam headlights use a forward-looking camera to detect other vehicles and "create a shadow in the area of that car," says David Aylor of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
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Apple would like to be the OS of your next car

Jul 25, 2022
Apple has big plans for CarPlay.
"Everybody’s looking to monetize these digital dashboards," says journalist Thomas Hundal.
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For public good, not for profit.

Looking for a used car? You might have better luck ... soon.

Jul 21, 2022
Prices are still high, but demand is slackening and inventory is catching up, AutoNation reports.
Used car prices are up more than 40% since before the pandemic, says Michelle Krebs of Cox Automotive.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Modern parking "meters" give cities the power to reduce congestion

Jun 28, 2022
Parking charges based on timing or vehicle type, for example, can encourage drivers to consider other forms of transit.
A frustrating public parking experience may make drivers reconsider driving in the first place.
Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images

The minivan is kind of making a comeback this summer

Jun 22, 2022
As travel picks up, the minivan is seeing a surge in popularity — and not just with families.
Looking to buy a minivan? Buckle up because prices have increased dramatically.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images