Indy boasts innovations others could copy
It’s tough to look at your own community and figure out what it’s doing that no one else is. But IBJ gave it a shot. Here are four things other cities could copy from us.
Automotive
Articles
Ford ousts CEO, taps head of autonomous-vehicle unit as successor
The departure of Mark Fields comes amid sharp criticism of Ford's strategy by shareholders, and a more than 30 percent plunge in the company's stock price during his tenure.
KAR Auction acquires startup tech company for $43 million
Carmel-based KAR Auction Services Inc. said the acquisition of Chicago-based startup CarCo Technologies Inc., which does business as Drivin, will beef up its technology capabilities.
Truck maintenance firm gears up for growth with new investment
A private equity firm has purchased a stake in a local family-owned company with operations across the country as its two founders retire and the next generation takes the helm.
Ben & Ari’s closes in Fishers after 18 years in business
The owners of the popular miniature golf course, arcade and party-hosting facility have sold the property along busy State Road 37 to a buyer who plans to open a used-car business.
Study: Technology trouble dents car, truck reliability rankings
In its annual rankings of most reliable auto brands, J.D. Power said the audio-communication-entertainment-navigation category caused the most problems in the survey, accounting for 22 percent of complaints.
Lawmakers weigh requiring helmets for minors on ATVs
An 11-year-old Indiana girl died in an all-terrain vehicle crash in 2015, and her mother has been pushing to change laws on helmets and safety education.
Tom Wood moving Toyota dealership to Whitestown
The company has acquired a 10-acre parcel near the southeast corner of Interstate 65 and Whitestown Parkway for $3.6 million, giving it 25 acres at the interchange for the new dealership.
Indy-based auto auction firm acquired by Dallas company
Currently operating in eight states, the firm was founded in 2000 by three executives who had previously worked at another local auto auctioneer, Carmel-based ADESA.
House Republican road plan includes highway tolling options
If approved, the plan would not require any future vote on tollways by lawmakers once a specific tolling plan is in place. Instead, it would leave that up to the discretion of the governor.
Obama’s EPA moves to preserve gas-mileage requirements
Friday’s action keeps in place pollution-reduction targets for the years 2022-2025. That means the fleet of new cars will have to average 51.4 miles per gallon by 2025, up more than 18 mpg from the 33.2 mpg requirement in 2015, the most recent year available.
Indiana lawmakers propose bills to change RV sales tax law
Two proposed bills in the Indiana Legislature aim to exempt out-of-state buyers of recreational vehicles from having to pay state sales tax, even if their states don't have a reciprocal agreement in place.
Legislature served smorgasbord of taxes, tolls, fees as road funding options
An increase in state gas taxes, tolling and a vehicle fee are among many possibilities suggested by a task force to pay for road improvements expected to cost as much as $1.2 billion annually.
BlueIndy parent to launch car-sharing service in Los Angeles
BlueIndy was the first electric-car-sharing service in the United States for France-based Bollore Group. BlueLA will be the second.
U.S. gas prices jump 6 cents over two weeks
The hike mostly results from an agreement Nov. 30 by major oil-producing countries to slash output.
Black Friday deals helped lift U.S. auto sales in November
Black Friday deals — a relatively new phenomenon for the auto industry — are expected to pull November U.S. auto sales out of their recent slump.
Carmel-based KAR Auction buys Michigan firm for $76M
The Flint business will become part of KAR’s Adesa unit, which offers wholesale used-vehicle auction services.
Electric cars slow to catch on among Hoosiers
Through August, only about 1.7 percent of the 170,000 new cars registered in Indiana this year were gas-electric hybrids.
Cash-short cities mull new wheel-tax option
Indiana cities with a population of at least 10,000 are now allowed to impose an excise surtax and wheel tax to fund road projects and maintenance, under legislation passed this year.
Council committee approves BlueIndy franchise agreement
The deal, which still needs to be approved by the full council, would give the city $45,000 per year in franchise fees.