Safety First

Volvo giving families free access to AAA Online Driver’s Ed

Volvo is helping teens safety get behind the wheel.

Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA

Pandemic or not, teen drivers need to learn how to properly operate a vehicle. Volvo has announced that all Volvo owners with aspiring student drivers can now receive free access to AAA's "How to Drive" online driver education course.

AAA's 30-hour, self-paced course is built on research based-curriculum and featuring interactive exercises and real-world scenarios.

"While Volvo strives to make the safest cars on the road, it is just as important for the safety of all that the driver feel prepared and confident behind the wheel," said Jim Nichols, Sr. Product and technology Communications Manager, Volvo Car USA. "In a year that has seen unprecedented disruption to driver education nationwide, we felt compelled to provide Volvo families with access to the best online learning platform available and tools like Care Key and AAA resources to help make the roads safer for everyone."

Volvo driver's ed analysisPhoto courtesy of Volvo Car USA

In 2019, Volvo released the results of their study into the state of driver's education in the U.S. According to the study, more than half (52 percent) of Americans feel driver education is outdated, while 60 percent feel the driver's test is designed to be passed, as opposed to truly testing one's driving skills.

Volvo owners can receive access to their AAA "How to Drive" course by:

  • Visit the Volvo Car USA Customer Support page
  • Click AAA Driver Education
  • Enter your information including Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email with unique code
  • Click on link to AAA website and use code to redeem course.

Volvo has been on the forefront of automotive safety innovation for decades. The three-point safety belt was launched by Volvo in 1959. The company announced earlier this year that it will limit all its vehicles to 112 mph. The company's Care Key allows owners to set a speed limit for themselves or family members, similar to the way Chevrolet's Teen Driver works.

"AAA is excited to partner with Volvo to help prepare new drivers for the rigors of driving on today's roads, and to use modern vehicle technologies safely and effectively" said William Van Tassel, Ph.D., AAA driver training programs manager. "TeenDriving.AAA.com offers a a variety of tools to help prepare parents and teens. Both the Parents Coaching Guide and StartSmart Parent Session are excellent resources on how to become effective in-car coaches as well as advice on how to manage teen driving privileges."

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New electric SUV

Cadillac kicks off Lyriq EV production

The new SUV is being built in Spring Hill, TN.

General Motors

General Motors is moving more intentionally than most in its goal to become an electric automaker. New GM EVs will start to arrive in rapid succession over the next few years, and even luxury brand Cadillac is getting in on the action. The Lyriq is Cadillac's electric SUV that features sharp styling, an upscale interior, and solid electric range. Today, Cadillac announced that production of the new SUV has begun.

Spring Hill LYRIQ Sizzle Reelyoutu.be

The SUV is being built at GM's Spring Hill, TN plant, where its Saturn brand operated for several years. The facility for a $2 billion overhaul to prepare for production, and the GM team finished the project ahead of schedule. The facility currently produces the Cadillac XT5 and XT6, along with the GMC Acadia. General Motors notes that the factory overhaul took place in the midst of vehicle production, and says that the team pulled off Lyriq prep while still working on the factory's three existing products.

Reservations for the electrified Caddy sold out almost immediately. The SUV is expected to have an electric driving range of more than 400 miles and it will ride on GM's new Ultium architecture, which underpins many of the auto giant's new electric vehicles. Pricing is expected to start around $60,000 when the Cadillac goes on sale this year as a 2023 model.

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Volvo will install 60 ChargePoint chargers at Starbucks locations in the west and Northwest.

Volvo

Volvo plans to be an electric-only automaker by 2030, and along the way to that goal, the automaker is investing in services and infrastructure to support its vehicles. Today, Volvo announced a partnership with coffee giant Starbucks that will provide dozens of chargers at coffee shops in the west and northwest U.S.

As part of the deal, Volvo will install up to 60 company-branded chargers at up to 15 Starbucks stores on the route between Denver and Seattle. Volvo says it aims to install charging locations every 100 miles along the 1,350-mile route between the Mile-High City and Starbucks hometown of Seattle.

Volvo-Starbucks PartnershipVolvo's goal is to install a charger every 100 miles. Volvo

Though they'll have Volvo's name on the front, the chargers are from ChargePoint, and drivers will use a built-in ChargePoint app to access services. The function is available in the vehicle's infotainment system, and will help locate and use the chargers. Volvo says all EV drivers will be able to access the chargers for a fee, but notes that its owners will get free or discounted charging.

A Volvo-Starbucks partnership isn't as crazy as it sounds at first. Beyond the fact that there's likely quite a bit of overlap in both brands' customers, the move furthers Starbucks' sustainability goals and provides Volvo owners with a free or low-cost charging solution. The project should be done by the end of this year, so keep your eyes open if you're getting coffee in a Volvo EV in the area.

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