Blecker: GM Recalls Show Need for Harsher Penalties for "Red Collar" Criminals
Join us for a timely seminar focused on current issues affecting those who practice in the automotive space. Gain perspective from in-house counsel regarding their business and legal concerns. Increase your...more
Airbags play a crucial role in automotive safety. In recognition of their significance, in 1999, the federal government mandated that all new vehicles—cars, trucks, and SUVs—must come equipped with front airbags for both...more
After conducting an audit of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General recently issued a report concluding...more
A group of 18 Democratic AGs wrote a letter to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSTA) asking the agency to initiate a recall of certain vehicles manufactured by Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc. that are...more
On December 1, 2022, nationwide used car dealer CarMax Auto Superstores, Inc. (“CarMax”) and 36 state attorneys general announced a $1 million multistate settlement that will require CarMax to disclose open recalls related to...more
That delivery van making its slow creep through your neighborhood could pose a car accident risk—even when there’s no one behind the wheel....more
Mercedes-Benz should be issuing a recall of over 800,000 vehicles for a defect in the cooling pump which has led to numerous fires in their cars. They are not issuing a formal recall because they say they cannot fix the...more
This report helps automotive suppliers inform their legal and operational decisions to help address challenges and opportunities. Key Developments GM scheduled downtime for the week of July 26 at three pickup truck...more
Vehicle owners and drivers who have been hurt in accidents involving defective automobiles that have not been recalled should be aware of their legal rights and options. Legally, some accident victims may be entitled to file...more
Saudi Aramco’s slow trickle of IPO-related information continued this weekend, including its goal of setting overall company market value at a staggering $1.7 trillion. The figure, though massive, is still well short of the...more
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to be active in investigating potential safety-related defects and noncompliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). As the deployment of...more
Although the number of total vehicle recall campaigns is likely to be down this year, lower volume recall campaigns are expected to continue to trend upwards, including those involving electrical system components. ...more
Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges yesterday against two former Goldman Sachs investment bankers for their alleged role in the Malaysian 1MDB scandal....more
In a sweeping, and arguably results-oriented opinion, the district court overseeing the General Motors ignition switch multidistrict litigation recently ruled that in roughly half of the nation's jurisdictions, a plaintiff...more
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn recently decided that a fully-negotiated agreement would not be enforced in the absence of required signatures. The agreement contemplated a settlement between the General Motors bankruptcy...more
One of the more bedeviling problems for the automotive industry (and for manufacturers in general) is how to alert consumers to pending recalls, and getting consumers to comply with those recalls. According to NHTSA, only 70%...more
Lyft, armed with a fresh billion from Google’s venture investment arm (CapitalG), is looking seriously at a 2018 IPO. The CapG money raises Lyft’s valuation from $6.9 billion to more than $10 billion....more
Porsche rolled out its line of Cayenne sport-utility vehicles with carefree cruising in mind. Volkswagen did the same think with its Touareg models. Now, about 125,000 of the upscale SUVs have been recalled because of fuel...more
Massive automotive recalls continue to grab headlines and raise concerns industry-wide. Recalls of light vehicles topped 50 million units in 2016, representing the third consecutive year of elevated – and record setting –...more
In the next five years we will see more and more self-driving vehicles, or autonomous vehicles, hit the market. An “autonomous vehicle” is a vehicle capable of navigating roadways and interpreting traffic-control devices...more
As autonomous vehicles move toward mass implementation, businesses in this industry segment are studying product liability questions that will arise, some of which are likely to be distinctly different in character from the...more
While the jury is out on whether 2017 will be a peak year for new vehicle sales, elevated OEM warranty and recall costs are likely to continue. OEMs, likely will continue to pay the largest share of these expenses, but...more
A recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) internal controls enforcement action drew my attention. It was not a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement action but it certainly does have implications for a...more
When unraveling a major corporate scandal, especially multi-year schemes involving senior executives, the blame game or lessons learned approach can easily turn into a fruitless exercise. The VA and Takata scandals are...more
In my continuing review of corporate misconduct in the automobile industry, today we examine the Takata Corporation scandal for its airbag scheme. Takata is a manufacturer and supplier of automotive safety equipment. It...more