Welcome to our round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.
Here’s what you missed while you were away.
Why Ontario insurers are giving away free tracking devices
A car thief using a relay attack to access a vehicle Photo by Getty
Some Ontario drivers may be receiving a $400 tracking system for free, due solely to the fact that they own highly stealable cars. Two of the province’s insurers, Aviva or Traders Insurance companies, are issuing Tag trackers to the owners of some of the most commonly stolen vehicles in Ontario. The company cited a similar system already in place in Quebec.
“Tag has existed in Quebec for several years and has been highly successful at tracking down and recovering vehicles across North America by using unique recovery technology,” Aviva wrote in a bulletin. “Aviva would like to offer the extra protection of Tag to [Ontario] customers with certain high-risk vehicles.”
The company doesn’t name the models included in the security buff, but says it’s customers who drive them will be instructed to take their vehicle to a Speedy Auto Glass for a free installation appointment before July 1.
Hyundai dumps supplier after child labour practices exposed
A view shows the SMART Alabama manufacturing facility in Luverne, Alabama, U.S., December 4, 2022 Photo by Cheney Orr /Reuters
An Alabama-based supplier has been dumped by Hyundai after it was discovered that the organization was employing children as young as 12 years old. Investigations into the labour practices of parts plant SMART, which makes chassis parts for Hyundai, began in August of last year and resulted in the South Korean company saying it will completely cut ties. Currently, according to a letter from Hyundai Chief Executive Jaehoon Chang, the brand is “in the process of divesting its ownership interest in SMART”
“The use of underage labor at a supplier or any operation is unacceptable, and we are committed to making sure non-compliance never happens again. This is a zero-tolerance issue,” wrote Hyundai Chief Executive Jaehoon Chang in a letter, adding that all 29 of the company’s recently audited Alabama plants are “now in full compliance with underage labour laws.”
Ford’s latest patent permits vehicles to repossess themselves
An illustration from Ford’s patent for a vehicle repossession system Photo by U.S. Patent Office
It takes a special type of person to enjoy the job of repossessing vehicles. Soon, if Ford gets its way, the nasty task of taking back somebody’s purchase because they’ve failed to meet payments may fall to the vehicle itself.
The Blue Oval recently filed a U.S. patent for a system that would shut down certain vehicle functions, or even order it to drive itself autonomously to the repo centre. It’s called Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle, and the setup will allegedly send a note from one’s financial institution to one’s device that, if not responded to, will trigger the shut down of things like A/C, heat, or other features that may “cause a certain level of discomfort to a driver and occupants of the vehicle,” if not functional. Or, if it escalates and the vehicle is capable of autonomous driving, it may just up and drive away.
The most fuel-efficient SUVs of all sizes
Ford Escape SEL Hybrid Photo by Graeme Fletcher
It should go without saying, but the only real way to spend less money on fuel for your car is to use less. And because we’d never advise our readers to drive less, we’ve done some number crunching and found the most fuel-efficient SUVs from subcompact to luxury-large available in Canada.
Ford is the only North American brand that made the cut. Its compact Escape Hybrid is as efficient as Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid. And same for Europe with BMW whose X5 XDrive40i sips the least amount of fuel in the lux-lrg category. The rest are from Asia, mostly from the house of Toyota, Lexus included. But if it’s ultimate efficiency you’re after and stature isn’t a limiting factor, then take a look at the Kia Niro — technically not an SUV, but hey — and its 1.6L gas engine, which at 4.8 L/100 km, is the most frugal out there.
These were Canada’s best-selling ‘affordable’ electric vehicles last year
2021 Tesla Model 3 Photo by Graeme Fletcher
Transport Canada made out a lot of cheques to new-EV buyers last year. The Zero-Emission Vehicles Program doled out a total of $195 million to the buyers of Canada’s then-23 available BEVs, up 10 per cent from 2021. But which of those 23 electric vehicles were most popular among consumers?
Well, the top two positions are held by a pair of EVs that have been silently driving around the block for some time now: the Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt. Tesla sold 10,992 of its sedans in Canada last year, despite the rebate only applying to some of the Model 3s sold. That means our government spent $54.6 million on Model 3s last year. Down below the top four which dominate in terms of models sold is the Ford Mach-E. The electrified, SUV-ified Mustang also had a strong finish to the year, making nearly half of its sales in the last quarter. Peep the full list of Canada’s best-selling EVs from 2022 right here.
Is this 1950 Mercury the hot rod of the year?
There is perhaps no honour more great in the hot rodding community than to receive the Don Ridler Memorial Award. This year, the title went to a 1950 Mercury dubbed “Maximus” at the Detroit Autorama, and it’s not hard to see why. Max is a looker!
Built on a modified Art Morrison chassis and boasting air suspension,10-spoke wheels, a hand-built grille and hood scoop, and a tan leather interior, the car shines bright with a Candy Root Beer finish. Power comes from a Ford Coyote V8 with an eight-stack fuel-injection system, and connected to an AOD transmission.
Its owner, Luigi Deriggi of New Jersey, looked to Bruce Harvey of Pittsburgh’s Pro Comp Custom for the build. Pro Comp Custom was also responsible for the Riddler-winning build at last year’s Detroit Autorama. More images of the gorgeous Rootbeer-Rod in the link above.
Keyword: News Roundup: Free trackers for oft-stolen cars, Canada’s top-selling EVs, and more