A new survey from AAA found that this holiday season, an estimated 84 million (33%) Americans plan to purchase a real Christmas tree and will be faced with the task of getting it home safely. Just like moving furniture, appliances or other large objects, transporting a tree is no different. If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals or distorted window frames. Even worse, it could fly off or out of the vehicle and become a danger to other drivers.

AAA’s survey revealed that 44% of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods. This includes 20% who will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle without using a roof rack and 24% who plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck unsecured.

Among those planning to purchase a live Christmas tree this year, 16% have previously experienced a Christmas tree falling off or out of their vehicle during transport. Previous research from AAA found that road debris caused more than 200,000 crashes during a four-year period, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.

Transporting a real Christmas tree home is easy as long as you have the right tools and follow AAA’s simple tips:

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2019 -- The 2020 Honda Fit arrives in showrooms Dec. 16 as the clear benchmark in the subcompact car category, with unparalleled versatility, premium feature content, fun-to-drive performance, and an available 6-speed manual transmission. Honda Sensing®, standard on EX and EX-L trims, makes Fit one of the most affordable new cars to offer such a comprehensive package of safety and driver-assistive features. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)1 for the 2020 Fit LX with a manual transmission starts at of $16,190, while Fit EX with standard Honda Sensing® starts at $19,060.

The 2020 Honda Fit arrives in showrooms Dec. 16 as the clear benchmark in the subcompact car category, with unparalleled versatility, premium feature content, fun-to-drive performance, and an available 6-speed manual transmission. Honda Sensing®, standard on EX and EX-L trims, makes Fit one of the most affordable new cars to offer such a comprehensive package of safety and driver-assistive features. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2020 Fit LX starts at $16,190.

The 2020 Honda Fit arrives in showrooms Dec. 16 as the clear benchmark in the subcompact car category, with unparalleled versatility, premium feature content, fun-to-drive performance, and an available 6-speed manual transmission. Honda Sensing®, standard on EX and EX-L trims, makes Fit one of the most affordable new cars to offer such a comprehensive package of safety and driver-assistive features. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2020 Fit LX starts at $16,190.

For 2020, the Fit lineup starts with the affordable but fun Fit LX and the more aggressively styled Fit Sport, both available with a 6-speed manual transmission. Fit EX comes standard with Honda Sensing® and an automatic transmission, while Fit EX-L adds leather upholstery and more. For the 2020 model year, Honda Sensing® is no longer available on LX and Sport trims.

All Fit trims are powered by a 1.5-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder i-VTEC™ engine producing peak output of up to 130 horsepower (SAE net) and 114 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net). In LX and Sport trims a slick-shifting 6-speed manual is standard, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT[2]) available; the CVT is standard on EX and EX-L trims. The 2020 Fit carries an EPA fuel economy rating of 29/36/31 mpg (city/highway/combined)[3] for the manual transmission LX, and 33/40/36 mpg for the CVT-equipped LX.

2020 Fit Pricing & EPA Ratings

The Honda Fit continues to blend fun-to-drive performance with outstanding fuel efficiency and comfort in a high-quality, affordable package. Clever packaging, such as the fuel tank mounted underneath the front-row seats, gives the 2020 Fit unequaled cargo capacity, boasting a class-leading 52.7 cubic-feet of space with the rear seats folded down. Standard features on all Fit models include rearview camera, liftgate spoiler, auto on-off headlights, LED taillights, Bluetooth®, and a multi-function center console. Fit's vibrant palette of exterior color consists of seven choices: Orange Fury, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Milano Red, Aegean Blue Metallic, and Platinum White Pearl.

For the latest in-vehicle connectivity experience, Sport models and up include Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration through a high-resolution, 7-inch touchscreen. The available Honda Sensing® suite of technologies includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and pedestrian detection, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and auto high-beam headlamps.

Honda Fits for the U.S. market are manufactured in North America, at Honda's Celaya, Mexico plant.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Insight, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2018, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 22, 2019 - Neuron EV answers questions about the history, vision, brand essence, outlook, and role of the innovative automotive company in expanding the EV landscape.

Q: What exactly is Neuron EV?

A: Neuron EV is a global company founded in California, driven to expand sustainability through practical and desirable electric utility vehicles.

Q: Why do we need Neuron EV?

A: We've come to a point when environmentally friendly is not just a feature anymore. It has become a requirement. Governments worldwide are set to be carbon neutral. People need quality electric vehicles that offer more value. Neuron understands the problems and has a unique approach to solve them quickly and effectively.

Q: What makes Neuron EV special?

A: Our values and our products. Neuron is about creating solutions for a better future. There is no compromise to our values or the quality of our products.

Q: Why is Neuron's vehicle named T-ONE?

A: The letter T signifies that it's built on a truck platform. The word ONE was used in combination because it's built as an all-in-one multipurpose vehicle. The platform can take on various truck bodies as well as a van. It's more than a simple pickup truck, it's an Electric Utility Vehicle that offers value through modular technology.

November 20, 2019 – As leaders in consumer advocacy, traffic safety and industry advice, four organizations – AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and the National Safety Council – have come together to adopt standardized naming for advanced driver assistance technology in an effort to reduce confusion. To help educate consumers on the benefits, limitations and proper use of these technologies, the four organizations are calling on all safety organizations, automakers and journalists covering the automotive industry to join them in adopting these terms.

Automotive technology continues to evolve quickly with 93% of new vehicles offering at least one advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) feature. Earlier this year, AAA research found that consumers are faced with as many as 20 names for a single ADAS feature, varying by vehicle manufacturer. This can cause confusion. And while the technology has the potential to improve safety and save lives, the terminology often seems to prioritize marketing over clarity.

As a result, the four organizations have agreed on standardized naming that is simple, specific and based on system functionality. It is believed that, by adopting common terminology across systems, consumers will have a better understanding that this technology is intended to assist and not replace an engaged driver. These terms are not meant to replace automotive manufacturers’ proprietary system or package names; rather, they are meant to achieve clearer and consistent information on window stickers, owner’s manuals and other marketing materials on generic system components.

LendingClub survey finds blissful ignorance towards auto financing costs Americans billions in potential savings

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2019 -- LendingClub (NYSE: LC), America's largest online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors, today released findings from its survey on consumer awareness of auto loan financing. The study, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of LendingClub, found that auto financing is among the lowest of priorities for buyers.

The key takeaway: Many car buyers are not researching how to finance their vehicle and this misguided strategy is costing them far more in the long run – approximately $37B in potential savings, to be exact.1

The LendingClub study also illustrates the knowledge gap among buyers when it comes to basic auto finance:

• One-third (33%) of recent auto loan borrowers don't know their APR

• A sizable portion of intenders (40%) aren't sure what APR to expect

• Almost half of all buyers (48%) say they're more likely to research what to watch next on TV/streaming than inquire about payment options for a new vehicle

• Almost half of all borrowers (43%) also said they know more about shopping with smart home devices than they do about refinancing auto loans

• Many buyers (44%) incorrectly believe that in order to refinance, you have to wait at least one year after you take out the initial car loan

"When you consider the fact that auto loan debt is the third-largest type of household debt (behind mortgages and student loans), it's alarming how little attention is given to auto loans when people purchase vehicles," said Todd Denbo, Senior VP & General Manager, Auto at LendingClub. "Nearly half of car buyers rely on financing. It's clear that we need to provide more accessible education and resources on auto refinancing to make it a less daunting part of the car-buying process."

Good Intentions Are Not Always Good
The study found that intenders (those somewhat likely to purchase, finance, or lease a vehicle in the next 12 months) have the right intentions at the outset, with a majority (81%) saying they will do some kind of research into financing; however, in reality, a much smaller number of recent buyers (59%) actually did any kind of research about financing. Many also have an apathetic view on the actual monetary impact loans will have, leading them to believe the time spent researching their options isn't justified. In fact, only 35% of buyers (those that have either purchased, financed, or leased a vehicle in the past 12 months), spend time looking for the best financing options versus the best price on their vehicle."