Crash-Test Dummies, Would-Be Carjackers, and the Most American New Cars

Jill and Tom opened this week’s show quickly covering a number of topics, including Jill’s take on Toyota hybrid refinement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) potentially inadequate use of crash-test dummies, and Tom’s recent encounter with would-be carjackers. Jill also shared her take on the freshened-for-2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport midsize crossovers. In the second segment, Jill and Tom are joined by Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Newman. Jennifer shared the fundamentals of Cars.com’s 2023 American Made Index. Surprises include the dearth of American-brand products near the top of the list. Jennifer noted that the country of origin of drivetrain components, such as a vehicle’s engine and transmission, can have a profound impact on a vehicle’s placement on the list. Tesla’s performance on the list was a surprise. Jennifer elected to join Jill for this week’s quiz, which focused on new-car sales during the first half of 2023.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.