TechMobility Topics

After years of testing and development, humanoid robots are taking their place in warehouses and on or near assembly lines on the factory floor.  Make no mistake, this new generation of robots are in fact replacing actual human beings.  Should we be concerned?  These machines are already replacing human workers in warehouses and factories, offering consistent performance without the "variables" of human needs like breaks, sick days, or fatigue. As AI advances and component costs fall, we're witnessing the early stages of a profound shift in how work gets done.

With the average new vehicle sticker price hovering around $50,000, it would be easy to assume that a good, quality NEW car for much less than that would not be possible.  Consumer Reports brings welcome news for budget-conscious car shoppers, highlighting several excellent vehicles available under $30,000, including the Subaru Forester, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the innovative Ford Maverick pickup.

Have you had this experience:  You visit an actual store looking for a particular item, only to be told that not only is not in stock, but you can buy it online?  Yeah, me too and its not ok.  The retail landscape continues its dramatic transformation as brick-and-mortar stores increasingly function as showrooms rather than fully-stocked shopping destinations. The frustrating experience of visiting stores only to be told items must be ordered online reflects retailers' shift toward e-commerce at the expense of the traditional shopping experience. 

Volkswagen's $1.3B investment in Rivian brings affordable EVs closer to reality. Their upcoming ID.1 electric minicar will cost just $20K and launch in 2027. The EV revolution is finally reaching mainstream price points. What's your price threshold for going electric?

Over the last ten years, no doubt you have hear about the promise of the self-driving car, also called the autonomous car or even the robot-car.  But what exactly is it, and why has it been so hard to actually bring one to market for the general populace?  We explore an industry white paper for a refresher.  

Customer service.  When it comes to “going to the dealership”, most consumers have a negative view.  From having to wait for the vehicle to be serviced, or being shuttled to or from home/work to even perhaps dealing with a loaner vehicle – it seems to be more hassle than its worth.  With this in mind, a growing number of new car dealers, along with their manufacturers, are reimagining the entire service experience.  In some cases, they are bringing a mobile version of the shop to the consumer – on their terms.  

This is really a story about two pickup trucks named Ford Ranger.  Introduced in early 1982 for the 1983 model year, the all-new domestically produced compact pickup truck was developed as a replacement from the Mazda-sourced Ford Courier that was sold in North America from 1972 through 1982.  The production of this pickup was discontinued after the 2011. 

For the 2019 model year, the fourth-generation was introduced.  Designed by Ford Australia, the all-new Ranger is now a mid-size pickup truck, riding on a revised version of its T6 vehicle architecture.  The new Ranger is produced by Ford at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. 

For the 2024 model year Ford introduced the Ranger Raptor, the most powerful, high-performance, and off-road capable Ranger pickup truck ever.   Race-proven in the Baja 1000, Ranger Raptor joins the Raptor family of high-performance, off-road capable vehicles, including F-150 Raptor, F-150 Raptor R, and Bronco Raptor.  I share my impressions. 

The Administration has suspended the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding formula program.  This puts over $1.5B in previously available funding in limbo.  This will directly stall state-level efforts to build out a nation wide EV charging network.  

Despite years of technical advances, traffic deaths and injuries in the United States have remained stubbornly high.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 112 Americans were killed every day on US roads in 2023.  Safety experts equate that to one plane crash a day.  What’s going on?  

The lowly forklift.  Invented in 1917 by Eugene Clark, it is a mainstay in thousands of warehouses, freight depots and manufacturing plants around the world.  However, the persistence of serious injuries and even deaths from mishaps with forklifts have some of the country’s biggest manufacturers backing away from the equipment.  This is big.