Wheels: A.I. Is making sure you pay for that ding on your rental car

July 15, 2025

The Wheels newsletter is delivered monthly. The next one will appear on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

A white Jeep S.U.V. parked in a black and yellow scanner shaped like an upside-down U. The words “Hertz” and “UVeye” are painted on the side of the scanner.

via UVeye

A.I. Is Making Sure You Pay for That Ding on Your Rental Car

Hertz and other agencies are increasingly relying on scanners that use high-res imaging and A.I. to flag even tiny blemishes, and customers aren’t happy.

By Gabe Castro-Root

Racecars are speeding along a dark gray track, passing by a covered grandstand that is packed with spectators.

Wan Mikhail Roslan, via Reuters

With Better Cars and Drivers, the World Endurance Championship Turns a Corner

After many manufacturers had bolted from the series, the W.E.C. made changes, and they came pouring back.

By Phillip Horton

A small white truck with a license plate that reads ANARKEI sits near a puddle on pavement with two men looking at it.

Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

They’re Tiny. They’re Slow. And People Are Obsessed.

In an era of supersized pickups and SUVs, Kei cars and trucks bring a (very) little piece of Japan to the United States. Getting one on the road can be complicated.

By Scott Cacciola

Closeup of a car dashboard showing the tachometer and an indicator for whether the "start-stop" feature is engaged

BMW USA

Should the Government Stop Subsidizing a Car Feature That ‘Everyone Hates’?

The E.P.A. under Trump is moving to eliminate credits to carmakers for the fuel-saving start-stop function.

By Ben Blatt

James Vowles stands in front of a black and red wall and is wearing a black zip-up jacket over a white collared shirt.

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

A Reinvigorated Williams Climbs Into Fifth Place in Formula 1

The once-dominant team has languished at the bottom of the standings in recent years, but a new owner and leader have helped turn its fortunes around.

By Phillip Horton

A Toyota RAV4 seen through a dealership window.

Saul Martinez for The New York Times

Hybrid Cars, Once Derided and Dismissed, Have Become Popular

Automakers and car buyers are taking a second, harder look at hybrids after leaving them behind for electric vehicles.

By Neal E. Boudette

NEWS

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Wheels from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Wheels, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: