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Fix the Hog: Harley, Westinghouse ordered to fix warranties:
Federal regulators have accused Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse of imposing illegal warranty terms on customers and ordered them to fix their warranties and ensure that their dealers compete fairly with independent repair-makers.
The companies have imposed illegal warranty terms that voided customer warranties if they used anyone other than the companies and their authorized dealers to get parts or repairs — restricting their options and costing them more money, the Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday in actions against the Milwaukee motorcycle maker and MWE Investments, which makes Westinghouse-brand outdoor power generators and related equipment.
Under a proposed consent agreement with the agency, the companies will be prohibited from telling customers that their warranties will be voided if they use third-party services or parts, or that they should only use branded parts or authorized service providers.
The companies also will be required to add specific language to their warranties recognizing consumers' right to repair: "Taking your product to be serviced by a repair shop that is not affiliated with or an authorized dealer of (company name) will not void this warranty. Also, using third-party parts will not void this warranty."
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Monday June 27 2022, @03:58AM (1 child)
So look at it the other way around - What does the Corolla gain by having a smaller bolt circle, rather than using the same sturdier arrangement as the Toyota? A few bucks less manufacturing cost maybe? I bet you more than that would be saved in economies of scale.
I can see your point for commercial and industrial vehicles, which come in a huge range of sizes and loadings - but I'd be willing to bet that one, *maybe* two, sizes of bolt-circles would serve all consumer vehicles with minimal operational penalties. And there's no reason at all for slightly different number of bolts - e.g. make everything 6 bolts, and the ultra-light, budget, NEVs, K-cars, etc. can still use only three.
Similarly, I seriously doubt there's a good reason for having dozens of slightly different sized consumer tires - encourage manufacturers to adopt them in 2- or 4-inch increments and nothing of value would be lost, while the improvements in compatibility and mass-production would generate real wealth and convenience.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 27 2022, @05:43PM
Unsprung mass has significant effects on handling - larger heavier hubs and wheels on the Corolla will have some effect on handling, fuel efficiency and tire life spans. Worsening those three aspects of a much more popular car so it has a bolt pattern (and maybe tires) that matches the less popular Matrix seems like a huge hit for overall efficiency of the system as a whole.