driving – PressAP

ACN Newswire

As Mentor by eDriving Passes 3.5 Billion Miles Driven, Analysis Confirms Program’s Ability to Reduce Risky Driving Behaviors

January 26, 2023

CAPE MAY, NJ, Jan 26, 2023 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - eDriving's digital driver safety program, Mentor(SM), featuring the FICO(R) Safe Driving Score, helps risky drivers become safer behind the wheel in just six months - and further improves behaviors over longer periods of time - according to findings from an analysis of the program. The analysis was performed after the program reached the milestone marking 3.5 billion miles driven in Spring 2022. The eDriving study identified the initial risk level of active[1] business drivers using the Mentor app (i.e., Very High Risk, High Risk, Medium Risk, Low Risk or Very Low Risk[2]), based on their first month's FICO Safe Driving Score - a score derived from smartphone-based driving behavior telematics. It then measured progress[3] over periods of six months, 12 months, and 18 months of using the app.Over a six-month period, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced up to a 51% increase in their FICO Safe Driving Score, moving them up into the Medium Risk category. Over a longer period of 18 months, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced an even greater average increase in their FICO Safe Driving Score of up to 70%, moving them up into the Low Risk category.While FICO Safe Driving Score improvement was the most significant for drivers who were initially identified as Very High Risk or High Risk, those identified as Medium Risk also improved, and Low-Risk drivers maintained their good performance levels.The study also showed there was a significant decrease in the negative driving behaviors measured by Acceleration, Braking, Cornering, Phone Distraction, and Speeding events for business drivers using Mentor's patented approach involving driver scoring, eLearning, gamification, and coaching.Speeding Reduction- Over a six-month period, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced up to a 57% decrease in Speeding events.- Over a period of 18 months, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced up to an 85% decrease in Speeding events, confirming a sustained improvement in driver behavior when using the Mentor app over a longer period.Distraction Reduction- Over a six-month period, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced up to a 60% decrease in Distraction events.- Over an 18-month period, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced up to an 88% decrease in Distraction events, again demonstrating a significant and sustained improvement in driver behavior when using the multi-faceted Mentor program over a longer period.Other significant findings:- Mentor use showed a reduction of in-vehicle calls among Very High-Risk or High-Risk drivers by up to 53% over a six-month period and 85% over 18 months. Phone manipulations (i.e., texting or handling the phone while driving) were reduced among these risky drivers by up to 62% over 6 months and 89% over 18 months.- Over a six-month period, those initially categorized as Very High Risk or High Risk experienced up to a 62% decrease in Hard Acceleration, Hard Braking and Hard Cornering events, with up to an 89% decrease over 18 months."Mentor was designed from the ground up to support our global clients who made the safety of their employees driving for work purposes a strategic imperative," said Ed Dubens, Founder and CEO of eDriving. "Over 20 years of driver risk management combined with the FICO Safe Driving Score, delivers the perfect combination of leading and lagging indicators to help Mentor proactively identify the most at-risk drivers for further support and coaching. 3.5 Billion Mentor miles later, it is incredible to see how quickly we have been able to turn smartphones from villains into catalysts for positive change that can save the lives of not just drivers, but also those they share the road with including pedestrians and cyclists."Launched globally in 2018, Mentor by eDriving is used by organizations around the world to help improve driver behavior among employees driving for work purposes, and has been shown to reduce collisions by up to 67%. The digital program uses smartphone sensors to collect and analyze data on the driving behaviors most predictive of risk. These include Acceleration, Braking, Cornering, Speeding, and Phone Distraction, one of the biggest threats to road safety today.Through eDriving's partnership with industry analytics leader FICO, driver on-road performance is converted into an individual FICO Safe Driving Score, which has been validated to help predict the likelihood of a driver being involved in a collision. Personalized insights are provided privately to drivers after each trip, showing both positive and negative driving events and exactly where they occurred. Additionally, engaging, interactive micro-training modules are delivered directly to the driver in-app to help promptly remediate identified risky behaviors. At the time of the 3.5B mile analysis, over 7.7 million eLearning modules had been viewed by Mentor users. Gamification and rewards are also employed by Mentor to promote driver engagement and friendly competition, while coaching support is included to help sustain behavior improvements over time."The FICO Safe Driving Score continues to provide a consistent and objective measure of driver risk," said Rachel Bell, Vice President of Scores and Analytics at FICO. "We are pleased to see that the FICO Safe Driving Score continues to help organizations keep their drivers safe and limit risks on the road."About SoleraSolera is the global leader in vehicle lifecycle management software-as-a-service, data, and services. Through four lines of business - vehicle claims, vehicle repairs, vehicle solutions and fleet solutions - Solera is home to many leading brands in the vehicle lifecycle ecosystem, including Identifix, Audatex, DealerSocket, Omnitracs, LoJack, Spireon, eDriving/Mentor, Explore, cap hpi, Autodata, and others. Solera empowers its customers to succeed in the digital age by providing them with a "one-stop shop" solution that streamlines operations, offers data-driven analytics, and enhances customer engagement, which Solera believes helps customers drive sales, promote customer retention, and improve profit margins. Solera serves over 300,000 global customers and partners in 100+ countries. For more information, visit www.solera.com.About eDrivingeDriving, a Solera company, helps organizations around the world improve safety, reduce injuries, license violations, carbon emissions, and total cost of fleet ownership through its patented digital driver risk management programs. These include the Mentor by eDriving(SM) smartphone app with FICO(R) Safe Driving Score; the patented, five-stage Crash-Free Culture(R) risk reduction program; and the Virtual Risk Manager(R) platform, all designed to work together within a privacy-first, data-secure environment that supports drivers and their managers every step of the way. eDriving is the digital driver risk management partner of choice for many of the world's largest organizations, supporting over 1,200,000 drivers in 125 countries. Over the past 25 years, eDriving's research-validated programs have been recognized with over 125+ awards around the world. For more information, visit www.edriving.com.Press contact, eDriving:Sheila Leveronepress@edriving.comAbout FICOFICO (NYSE:FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail, transportation and supply chain, and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of rental cars are in the right place at the right time. Learn more at https://www.fico.com/.Press contact, FICO:Julie Huangpress@fico.com+1 925-405-7803[1] At least one trip per month[2] FICO(R) Safe Driving Scores were initially categorized as Risky, Poor, Average, Good and Great. These were updated to the new corresponding categories on July 29, 2020.[3] Analysis used data from trips classified as 'Business' only (no 'Passenger' or 'Personal' trips)Mentor Product Sheet https://www.edriving.com//wp-content/themes/edriving/images/pdf/ProductSheets/mentor_ENT_product_sheet.pdfSOURCE: eDriving Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

Mazda reveals Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV in Europe

January 16, 2023

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jan 16, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, a plug-in hybrid model that uses a rotary engine as a generator, at the Brussels Motor Show(1) today.The leading product for Mazda electrification, the Mazda MX-30 launched in 2020 as Mazda's first mass-production battery electric vehicle, with a mild hybrid model joining the product lineup for some markets. With "living true to yourself" as the product concept, the MX-30 has offered pure, pleasant drive, an exterior with a familiar, approachable look, and a cabin space that settles the mind and heart through the use of materials with a warmth to them--all elements that make time spent with the car and experiences enjoyed alongside it creativity-inspiring for owners.The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a series plug-in hybrid that continues to deliver the same customer value as the original MX-30 while simultaneously offering owners new ways of using their car as a battery electric vehicle. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV has an 85 km battery electric driving range(2) sufficient for a wide range of everyday driving needs as well the ability to use a generator to enable long distance drives. On top of this, the entire driving range is motor-powered.Mazda chose to use a rotary engine to power the generator system. Levering the unique way in which rotary engines can produce the required output with a small power unit, Mazda developed the new rotary engine(3) to work as a generator and positioned it on the same axel as a high-output motor and a generator in the motor room. Mazda then paired this compact electric power unit with a 17.8 kWh lithium ion battery and a 50 L gas tank to achieve the unique series plug-in hybrid system.The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV also supports customers with an active lifestyle by offering features including compatibility with both normal and fast charging, 1,500 W power supply functionality, and three drive modes drivers can choose from to suit different driving situations: Normal, EV, and Charge modes.Additionally, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV will be available in a special edition model: "Edition R." Edition R vehicles feature black-based exterior and interior trims with Maroon Rouge Metallic, a remake of the roof color of Mazda's first passenger vehicle, the Mazda R360 Coupe, as an exterior accent color. It also includes exclusive design elements such as a rotor-shaped emblem sewn into the floor mats and embossed on the seat headrests.In moving toward 2030, Mazda will aim to continue research based on its human-centered philosophy, create more moving experiences for people to enjoy while driving in their daily life, and deliver more enjoyment to everyday life which will uplift and energize people.(1) Press day is January 13 and public entry is between January 14-22.(2) Electric-only driving range: The European WLTP test cycle value when EV mode is selected as the drive mode. This value is based on specific test conditions and actual electric-only driving range will vary depending on actual driving conditions. Additionally, in situations such as if the driver needs to accelerate suddenly and purposefully depresses the accelerator pedal significantly beyond a certain point (equivalent to the kickdown switch function on a standard automatic transmission vehicle), the power generation system will activate and generate the energy for the required output.(3) The engine type is 8C. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

Toyota Launches All-New Prius HEV in Japan

January 10, 2023

Toyota City, Japan, Jan 10, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announces today that it has commenced sales of all-new Prius Series Parallel Hybrid (HEV) models. It will also launch Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) models around March this year.Launched in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid car, the Prius has driven uptake of HEVs as a new-generation eco-car with outstanding fuel efficiency. These days, hybrid technologies are employed in a wide range of different models that are loved and enjoyed by people all around the world.With a range of powertrain options being developed to promote carbon neutrality, Toyota wanted to create a new Prius HEV that customers would enjoy and cherish as the car of choice for generations to come. Developed under the "Hybrid Reborn" concept, this new model is an exhilarating package that adds a design inspiring love at first sight and captivating driving performance to its core strength as an environmentally friendly car.The main features of the new Prius are as follows.Vehicle outlineA design inspiring love at first sight- Inheriting the signature monoform silhouette of the original Prius, the new Prius has been reborn with a lower center of gravity and even more stylish proportions. The simple yet sculpted body expresses exhilaration that appeals to the senses and a universal beauty that will remain popular into the future.- The "island architecture" concept achieves a low-stress, spacious interior with a cockpit that makes it easy to concentrate on driving. Altogether, the interior offers intuitive operation and an enjoyable driving experience.- A total of eight body colors are available, including two newly developed, solid base colors of Ash and Mustard that create a sporty impression, bringing touches of color to the daily lives of customers to create a stronger sense of attachment.Captivating driving performance- The new Prius is equipped with the latest fifth-generation hybrid system in both the 2.0-liter and 1.8-liter models.- Compared to the previous model*1, the 2.0-liter Prius (Z and G grades) achieves improved fuel efficiency of 28.6 km/L*2 and maximum system output of 144 kW (196 PS), which is 1.6 times higher than the previous model*1. This model achieves a high level of balance between the outstanding environmental performance of a Prius and the captivating driving performance of a car that reacts as expected with satisfying acceleration and responsive driving.- With a long list of improvements, including updates to all electric modules, the 1.8-liter Prius (U and X grades) achieves great fuel efficiency of 32.6 km/L(3). The refined driving performance and seamless acceleration of a hybrid provide feelings of agility when starting off and the responsiveness of direct driving power.- The second-generation TNGA platform was developed as part of continuing improvement of the matured TNGA platform to achieve the exhilarating styling and driving performance of the new Prius, allowing for a lower center of gravity and large-diameter tires.- This version comes with the latest E-Four system. Employing a high-output motor and other features, it offers improved uphill performance on low-friction road surfaces, like snow-covered roads, and greater stability when turning.Advanced Safety and Driving Support SystemsToyota Safety Sense, the latest active safety package, is a standard inclusion. Including the Advanced Safety System with an expanded range of detectable objects, the new Prius also comes with the following added features.- Rear vehicle proximity notification [first for a Toyota brand vehicle(4)]Using the Blind Spot Monitor's rear millimeter-wave radar, this feature detects vehicles in the rear and, if another vehicle is approaching, it alerts the driver via the Multi-Information Display and buzzer.- Approaching vehicle proximity support (recording function and vehicle reporting suggestions) [first for a Toyota brand vehicle(4)]If a vehicle approaching from the rear is too close, this system offers the driver suggestions for dealing with the issue, including contacting the police or the HELPNET emergency call service. In vehicles equipped with a drive recorder, in addition to automatically recording the event, the system stores the data in a dedicated area that makes it difficult to record over.- Secondary Collision Brake (rear impact mitigation when stopped) [first for a Toyota brand vehicle(4)]Using the Blind Spot Monitor's rear millimeter-wave radar, this system detects vehicles in the rear and, if it determines a very high possibility of a collision while the vehicle is stopped, it applies the brakes to reduce speed if a rear collision occurs. Compared to the previous model, this system enables an earlier reduction in speed by applying the brakes prior to a collision.KINTO Unlimited: New car subscription service launched- The new "KINTO Unlimited" car subscription offered by Toyota and KINTO opened for subscribers on January 10. To start, the new Prius U grade will be available on this service, which will be the only service offering it.- KINTO is a subscription service(5) which includes insurance, tax and other costs combined into a monthly subscription charge. Using new Toyota technologies, KINTO Unlimited will be provided with two additional values in the form of upgrades that ensure evolution of the vehicle's software and hardware and connected services that ensure protection of cars and people using the customer's driving data. These additional values will help maintain the value of the car, which is considered in advance to reduce the monthly subscription charge to start at 16,610 yen per month (including tax)(6).- The Prius Z and G grades will be available on the usual KINTO subscription service.- More information on KINTO Unlimited and KINTO's other services is available here (https://kinto-jp.com/lp/prius/).Base sales volume for Japan4,300 units per monthProduction PlantTsutsumi Plant, Toyota Motor Corporation(1) Comparison with previous model Prius A Touring Selection (1.8-liter HEV 2WD with 17-inch tires), which achieved WLTC mode fuel efficiency of 27.2 km/L.(2) 28.6 km/L is the WLTC mode fuel efficiency for the Z grade (2.0-liter HEV 2WD with 19-inch tires), as evaluated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.(3) 32.6 km/L is the WLTC mode fuel efficiency for the U grade (1.8-liter HEV 2WD with 17-inch tires), as evaluated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.(4) As of January 2023. According to Toyota research.(5) A service that packages automobile insurance, automobile taxes, periodic maintenance, repair expenses, registration expenses and taxes, mandatory inspection fees (in cases of the five- and seven-year plans), and other costs for a fixed monthly fee.(6) When selecting the cheapest U grade package (2WD with standard interior specifications), with no additional options, when using the seven-year lease plan with no initial payment and added bonus payments of 165,000 yen (including tax). The total price paid over the seven-year subscription period is 3,705,240 yen (including tax).For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/38482540.html. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

Lexus to Exhibit at the SEMA Show, an Automotive Suppliers Trade Show

November 2, 2022

TOKYO, Nov 2, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Lexus will exhibit a total of six vehicles including the Lexus Electrified Sport and a variety of customized models at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, USA, which starts on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. The Lexus Driving Signature, a combination of design, advanced technology, electrification, and the unique Lexus driving experience, will be presented at the largest automotive customization enthusiast event in North America.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/lexus/38177181.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

Honda Holds World Premiere of the All-new Civic Type R

July 21, 2022

TOKYO, Jul 21, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today held the world premiere of the all-new Civic Type R, which is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in September 2022. At the world premiere, which was held online, Honda unveiled the exterior and interior designs of the all-new Civic Type R and announced advancements made to the vehicle's dynamic performance. The archived video of the world premiere is available for viewing at the followingURL: https://youtu.be/PnkdgZHJDBo.Overview of the all-new Civic Type RGrand Concept - "Ultimate SPORT 2.0"By further advancing the concept of the predecessor model - Ultimate SPORT - the all-new Civic Type R was developed with a goal to achieve pure sports performance that attains the ultimate in speed and the joy of driving. The value proposition of the Type R is to realize both speed, which is the essential value of a sports model, and driving pleasure, which appeals to the emotion of the driver.DesignBased on the Civic Hatchback, which has been well received in the market, low & wide packaging was further pursued to elevate driving performance for the Type R model. Moreover, a forward field of vision with a wide view of the road was featured with an aim to provide information directly to the driver even while driving at a high range of speed. The exterior design team strived to create styling for both overwhelming speed and beauty. The wide fenders, which are integrated with the body, are shaped to flow beautifully from the side panels and enhance aerodynamic performance by controlling air flow that continues uninterrupted from front to rear. As for exterior color options, in addition to Championship White, which has been an iconic Type R color, Sonic Gray Pearl was newly added to the lineup. The interior design features red seats and floor carpets that lift the spirit of the occupants from the moment they open the door, and "noiseless," black-toned interior panels that enable the driver to focus on driving. The front seats are designed with a three-dimensional polyhedral form to firmly support the body so that the driver and front passenger can feel complete confidence even while driving on a racing circuit at the vehicle's full potential. Moreover, the adoption of a suede-like seat surface material with a high friction coefficient reduced body slippage in high-G situations such as cornering and sudden acceleration/deceleration.As for the meter design, in addition to the standard display, +R mode-exclusive designs were adopted. Placing the primary focus on enabling the driver to instantaneously recognize necessary information during sporty driving, including on a racing circuit, the upper part of the meter displays key information such as the engine rpm, rev indicator and gear position indicator, while the lower part functions as a multi-information display that can show vehicle information selected by the driver. By adopting an illuminated rev indicator, the driver can obtain information intuitively without keeping close watch on the indicator, along with instantaneous visual recognition of the information and a stimulating meter design. DynamicsThe development team set three goals for the dynamic performance of the all-new Civic Type R: 1) "Fastest", representing the pursuit of overwhelming speed and being the fastest FF (front engine/front-wheel-drive) vehicle by refining and perfecting every aspect of driving feel offered by the vehicle; 2) "Addictive Feel" representing the goal to achieve dynamics that make the driver feel "addicted" to driving the vehicle by offering a thrilling driving experience; and 3) "Secure Feel", representing the goal to ensure high-speed stability and a complete feeling of trust.FastestAiming to realize an all-new Type R which outperforms all previous Type R models, the 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine designed exclusively for Type R was further refined to achieve higher output and responsiveness to the upper limit.Addictive FeelIn addition to achieving the ultimate in speed, the development team strived to create a car that makes the driver passionate about driving the vehicle. To this end, a thrilling driving experience was pursued by refining drivability with highly-responsive handing developed with an aim to realize driving at the will of the driver, a throttle that reacts immediately to driver input, and also by further advancing a feeling of control of the 6-speed manual transmission and the rev match control system. Secure FeelOn the premise of ensuring highly-sophisticated design, aerodynamics was further advanced to achieve well-balanced downforce both front and rear and a reduction of drag. Moreover, the lightweight and highly rigid body contributes to the high stability of the vehicle at high speeds.Furthermore, through utilization of Honda LogR, which provides real-time information on the mechanical movements of the vehicle and vehicle behavior resulting from the driver's input, the all-new Civic Type R will provide the driver with enhanced driving pleasure with a sense of oneness between the driver and the vehicle, which includes the sharing of driving videos and helping the driver improve their driving skills. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)