Latest news with #ToyotaHighlanders
Hamilton Spectator
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Car theft drops in Ontario and across Canada: Here's what's driving the decline
It appears government action against auto theft might be paying off, with a sizeable drop in stolen vehicles across Canada during the first six months of 2025. Équité Association , a national, not-for-profit organization that tracks auto theft rates and Canada's most stolen vehicles, says auto theft fell 25.9 per cent in Ontario over the first six months of this year, compared to 2024. Nationally, theft rates fell 19.1 per cent. The number of vehicles stolen across Canada dropped significantly over the first six months of 2025, compared to the first half of last year. The Équité report shows auto theft numbers have continued a steady decline since spiking in 2023. Over the first six months of 2025, 9,600 private passenger vehicles were stolen in Ontario, down from 12,949 stolen in the first half of 2024. Bryan Gast, vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, credited auto theft teams led by the Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and dedicated auto theft prosecutors for helping to lower the numbers. Provincial and federal governments have also contributed to an auto theft action plan , with added resources for the Canada Border Services Agency to intercept stolen vehicles destined for export. 'It's that collaboration, co-operation and everybody working together. I think we're starting to see the trend going in the right direction,' said Gast. Federal and provincial politicians recently met for a crime prevention roundtable in Oakville. A joint statement said the meeting reinforced the need for a stronger Criminal Code and stricter They noted that while auto thefts across Halton dropped 20.9 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year — and Halton continues to be recognized as the safest regional municipality in Canada — there is still much to do. Project Ghost investigators said 13 individuals face almost 200 charges, including robbery and Peel Regional Police said they recently dismantled an organized crime ring responsible for a string of home invasions and BMW thefts in the Greater Toronto Area. According to Durham police, there have been 608 motor vehicle thefts reported in the region Durham Regional Police said auto theft dropped 18 per cent in 2025, but added theft numbers remain high. While the latest statistics are positive, Gast noted organized crime groups continue to view auto theft as a high-reward, low-risk activity. 'If they get caught with a $100,000-vehicle versus $100,000 worth of drugs, there's less of a probability that they're going to have significant consequences with the vehicle,' said Gast. Larger, high-value vehicles continue to be among the most frequently stolen, such as Toyota Highlanders and Dodge Rams. Auto theft remains a key funding mechanism for organized crime, including drug and firearm trafficking, said Gast. The latest auto theft trend report shows about 44 per cent of vehicles stolen in Canada are not recovered, which means they may have been shipped overseas, re-vinned or sent to a chop shop to be dismantled for parts. Re-vinning occurs when a criminal creates a false vehicle identification number (VIN) or duplicates a VIN from another vehicle to mask the identity of a stolen vehicle. While neither are new, Gast said chop shops and re-vinning warrant continued emphasis from government agencies and law enforcement. Earlier this year, Carfax, a company that provides vehicle data reports, launched a new tool to combat VIN fraud. The system is designed to alert vehicle dealers when a VIN contains data indicating potential fraud, or if the vehicle has been reported stolen in North America. If you're planning to buy a vehicle, Gast said it's important to know your seller and be cautious of the sales platform. Check the vehicle and ensure it's not being offered for sale somewhere else. Run a Carfax report and get a used vehicle information package. Purchasing a vehicle from a registered dealer offers added protection for consumers versus a private sale, Gast added. Provincial governments across Canada are also working on a national VIN registry, Gast added, that could make it significantly harder for criminals to fraudulently register vehicles. Gast recommends a layered approach to help prevent auto theft. The time a criminal would need to defeat these anti-theft measures may force them to look elsewhere, Gast added. 'Anything you can do to add a layer or two to make your vehicle less of a target is a good thing,' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Driverless disruption: Tech titans gird for robotaxi wars with new factory and territories
As three key players vie for dominance, the race to put driverless taxis on roads across the country is heating up. Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, already offers paid autonomous rides in a handful of cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Amazon's robotaxi effort, known as Zoox, opened a new production facility in the Bay Area this week. The company has been testing its unique pill-shaped vehicles in California and Nevada since 2023. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, Elon Musk just started testing driverless Teslas with the hopes of launching a commercial service soon. Musk unveiled a prototype for Tesla's Cybercab late last year, touting his vision for an autonomous future and "an age of abundance." The arrival of self-driving tech could eventually affect society as much as the internet and smartphones did years ago, some experts predict. With Waymo leading the way and Tesla and Zoox trying to catch up quickly, a new status quo could be on the horizon, said Karl Brauer, an analyst with "Tesla has tried to catch up, and Zoox is a more recent competitor that's hoping to be a serious player," he said. "Waymo has been slow and steady and, as a result, is winning the race." According to some industry insiders, the U.S. is about 15 years from seeing widespread use of robotaxis, Brauer said. While Waymo taxis have become a common sight in the cities where they operate, weather conditions and charging infrastructure still limit their expansion. On Wednesday, Waymo expanded its service area in Los Angeles County, where its vehicles now roam an area of more than 120 square miles. The company also increased its service area in San Francisco, expanding access to suburbs and Silicon Valley. Days after Waymo's announcement, Zoox opened a 220,000-square-foot facility in Hayward, Calif., that the company says will be able to produce 10,000 robotaxis per year. Zoox is preparing to launch its public ride-hailing service in Las Vegas and San Francisco this year. Unlike Waymo vehicles, which are retrofitted Jaguars, Zoox is developing a purpose-built taxi with no steering wheel or gas pedals. Zoox also has a manufacturing plant in Fremont, Calif., where the company develops its test fleets of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders. Tesla has a manufacturing facility in Fremont as well. Musk has promised for years to deliver autonomous vehicles and a robust ride-hailing service. Lawmakers in Austin requested this week that he delay the rollout of his service in the city. Tesla, Zoox and Waymo are the three remaining major U.S. companies in what was once a more crowded field, Brauer said. General Motors' autonomous taxi company Cruise suspended operations in 2023 after one of its vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. Last year, Uber and Cruise announced a partnership that could put Cruise vehicles back on the road. A company called Argo AI, backed by Ford and Volkswagen, was also developing driverless technology until it shut down in 2022. The continued expansion of robotaxis depends on safe and successful testing, Brauer said. There have been several incidents related to Tesla's Full Self-Drive mode, a technology currently available but still in development. Waymo has issued recalls of some of its vehicles on multiple occasions. "If there's a tragic result for any of these three companies during the testing and development process, it would likely slow down the entire industry," Brauer said. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Driverless disruption: Tech titans gird for robotaxi wars with new factory and territories
As three key players vie for dominance, the race to put driverless taxis on roads across the country is heating up. Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, already offers paid autonomous rides in a handful of cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Amazon's robotaxi effort, known as Zoox, opened a new production facility in the Bay Area this week. The company has been testing its unique pill-shaped vehicles in California and Nevada since 2023. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, Elon Musk just started testing driverless Teslas with the hopes of launching a commercial service soon. Musk unveiled a prototype for Tesla's Cybercab late last year, touting his vision for an autonomous future and 'an age of abundance.' The arrival of self-driving tech could eventually affect society as much as the internet and smartphones did years ago, some experts predict. With Waymo leading the way and Tesla and Zoox trying to catch up quickly, a new status quo could be on the horizon, said Karl Brauer, an analyst with 'Tesla has tried to catch up, and Zoox is a more recent competitor that's hoping to be a serious player,' he said. 'Waymo has been slow and steady and, as a result, is winning the race.' According to some industry insiders, the U.S. is about 15 years from seeing widespread use of robotaxis, Brauer said. While Waymo taxis have become a common sight in the cities where they operate, weather conditions and charging infrastructure still limit their expansion. On Wednesday, Waymo expanded its service area in Los Angeles County, where its vehicles now roam an area of more than 120 square miles. The company also increased its service area in San Francisco, expanding access to suburbs and Silicon Valley. Days after Waymo's announcement, Zoox opened a 220,000-square-foot facility in Hayward, Calif., that the company says will be able to produce 10,000 robotaxis per year. Zoox is preparing to launch its public ride-hailing service in Las Vegas and San Francisco this year. Unlike Waymo vehicles, which are retrofitted Jaguars, Zoox is developing a purpose-built taxi with no steering wheel or gas pedals. Zoox also has a manufacturing plant in Fremont, Calif., where the company develops its test fleets of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders. Tesla has a manufacturing facility in Fremont as well. Musk has promised for years to deliver autonomous vehicles and a robust ride-hailing service. Lawmakers in Austin requested this week that he delay the rollout of his service in the city. Tesla, Zoox and Waymo are the three remaining major U.S. companies in what was once a more crowded field, Brauer said. General Motors' autonomous taxi company Cruise suspended operations in 2023 after one of its vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. Last year, Uber and Cruise announced a partnership that could put Cruise vehicles back on the road. A company called Argo AI, backed by Ford and Volkswagen, was also developing driverless technology until it shut down in 2022. The continued expansion of robotaxis depends on safe and successful testing, Brauer said. There have been several incidents related to Tesla's Full Self-Drive mode, a technology currently available but still in development. Waymo has issued recalls of some of its vehicles on multiple occasions. 'If there's a tragic result for any of these three companies during the testing and development process, it would likely slow down the entire industry,' Brauer said.
San Francisco Chronicle
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Zoox is opening a Bay Area factory to build and train its robotaxis
A Silicon Valley robotaxi company that's angling to compete with Waymo opened a second East Bay factory on Wednesday, aiming to jolt production and pave the way for passenger service in San Francisco and other cities. Zoox, known for its buggy-shaped robotaxis and self-driving modified Toyota Highlanders, has for months been testing its vehicles in the wilderness of San Francisco traffic. The Amazon-owned company has reached an inflection point with its new manufacturing plant in Hayward, which will supply fleets 'at scale' for a commercial launch. While Waymo has built a business by installing its software into retrofitted vehicles that are manufactured by traditional automotive companies — the Waymo robotaxis that have become ubiquitous on San Francisco streets are electric Jaguar I-Pace crossover SUVs — Zoox is vying to be the first company to manufacture robotaxis in-house for commercial use. In addition to the Hayward factory, Zoox runs a small plant in Fremont. Workers there mostly assemble the Toyota testing fleet, along with the cameras and sensors that allow self-driving cars to navigate a complex environment. By contrast, the sprawling facility will encompass 220,000 square feet and serve a variety of functions. Among them: robotaxi engineering, parts storage, shipping, hardware and software integration. Vehicles will glide off the production line and roll through a series of testing stations, including a simulated rain storm, a dynamometer to measure force and torque at speeds up to 75 miles per hour, a light tunnel to check for scratches and an outdoor track to check 'pick-up and drop-off behaviors,' on a sample road with a bumpy stretch. Once Zoox starts offering rides to the public, the company anticipates a spike in demand for vehicles, and a need to rapidly accelerate production. With the new factory, Zoox will have flexibility to respond to market conditions.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Dark web drug bust nets thousands of pills, $400K Ferrari
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say they've dismantled a drug marketplace that operated on the dark web, seizing 27 kilograms of illegal drugs, thousands of dollars in cash and other items including a $400,000 Ferrari. Calling the intelligence-led investigation a first of its kind, OPP launched Project BIONIC in November. The operation was "aimed at dismantling an operation that used a dark web marketplace to ship a high volume of drugs" to numerous locations across Canada, according to an OPP news release issued Tuesday. On March 10, officers from the OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two suspects at a Canada Post outlet in Ottawa and seized 86 packages "containing various drugs ready to be shipped to addresses across Canada." The same day, officers from various OPP units carried out search warrants at three homes and one vehicle in Ottawa, seizing various amounts of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA, heroin, cocaine and other drugs in various forms. OPP estimate the street value of the seized drugs at $2.5 million. Officers also seized a handgun with an extended magazine, about $95,000 in cash, electronic devices including reprogrammable key fobs, and a 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider "valued at more than $400,000." 2nd raid nets 11 stolen vehicles A subsequent raid on March 27 yielded 11 stolen vehicles including Toyota Highlanders, Sequoias and Tundras, as well as a Lexus RX. OPP estimate the total value of the vehicles at $730,000. Four suspects, all from Ottawa and all in their 20s or early 30s, are facing a combined 85 criminal and drug charges including trafficking, possession and firearm offences. OPP describe the dark web as "a hidden portion of the internet … [that] requires special software to access," and say dark web marketplaces "enable the exchange of various illicit items, including stolen credentials, drugs and hacking tools." In the news release, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique praised the operation for exposing "the alarming volume of dangerous drugs being sold through dark web marketplaces, with packages shipped across the country." The arrests "show that law enforcement can track and stop even the most complex online trafficking operations," and the investigation "plainly demonstrates the connections between drug trafficking and other crimes, such auto theft and illegal firearms," Carrique said. Alongside Project BIONIC, OPP announced the separate Project GOLDEN Tuesday. That southwest Ontario investigation, according to police, took 11 months, brought in a haul including 38 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and led to 140 charges against 15 people.
