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DETROIT — The vehicles that Rivian Automotive builds in Normal ranked last for reliability among new cars in the latest survey from Consumer Reports , though the nonprofit organization reported improvements in dependability of electric vehicles overall. Rivian, which makes all of its electric pickup trucks, SUVs and commercial delivery vans at a facility on the community's west side, came in last out of 22 auto brands evaluated. The result offers a stark juxtaposition with a different Consumer Reports survey released in February, when Rivian was found to be No. 1 in customer satisfaction for the second straight year . Jake Fisher, head of Consumer Reports' automobile test center, noted the California-based automaker is a new company with new electric models that have more glitches. As a startup, it can't use proven powertrains from prior generations yet. "It's expected that you're going to have issues when you have nothing to carry over" from previous model years, Fisher said. A long line of unsold 2024 R1S electric utility vehicles sits at a Rivian service center Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in east Denver. Steven Elek, senior automotive data analyst, offered a similar explanation in a video posted online with the survey results. "They never built cars before a couple years ago," he said of Rivian, which began production in Normal in 2021 , "and now they're building EVs. Well, you're seeing EV powertrain problems — like the battery packs; the charging system; the climate system, which is different in EVs." The interior of a 2023 R1S sports-utility vehicle is shown at a Rivian delivery and service center Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Denver. Rivian fared better, however, in Consumer Reports' road tests, where it earned a No. 16 ranking out of 32 brands . Analysts reported that vehicles were "comfortable, startlingly fast, and very capable off-road," with a "practical" range and plenty of cargo room. Drawbacks cited in Consumer Reports' analysis included the screen-based control of some essential functions, like adjusting air vents, and "an aggressive regenerative braking system that makes its vehicles difficult to drive smoothly." A spokesperson for Rivian did not respond to a request for comment. EV reliability grows overall Overall, Consumer Reports concluded vehicles with internal combustion engines and gas-electric hybrids remain far more dependable than EVs — but that gap is narrowing. Consumer Reports subscribers, who filled out surveys during much of 2024, reported electric vehicles had 42% more problems than gas autos on average. But that was down from 79% more in the 2023 survey. The survey released Thursday measured reliability of vehicles mainly from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 model years. Plug-ins, which travel a short distance on battery power before a hybrid powertrain kicks in, had 70% more problems than gas vehicles, but that was less than half the difference found in last year's survey. The reason for the improvement? EV and plug-in technology are maturing, Fisher said. "As the automakers get more experience with the new technologies and new platforms, they will improve." He said he expects plug-in and electric vehicles to keep getting better, further closing the gap with gas vehicles. But one thing may stand in the way: Automakers often test new automation and other features on EVs, and the new stuff is prone to glitches. "Until we get to where an EV is just a car that does practical things with their own powertrain, I'm not sure they'll ever catch up totally" to gas vehicles, Fisher said. The new technology may offer more than the next wave of EV buyers would like, as EVs move from early adopters to more practical mainstream buyers, Fisher said. "There are people who just want a car that's easy to maintain," he said. "I don't use gas. I don't need this automation feature and electric door handles or whatever the heck they are putting out." Consumer Reports has noted that concerns about EV and plug-in quality add to issues that may have buyers hesitating before switching from gasoline engines, including concerns about higher up-front costs, too few charging stations and long charging times. Gas-electric hybrids, which switch from internal combustion to electric power to get better mileage, were about as reliable as cars with combustion engines. While the technology is pretty technical, it has been refined for a quarter century, mainly by pioneer Toyota, Fisher said. "CR's tests have shown that they are often quieter, quicker and more pleasant to drive than their gasoline-only counterparts," he said. Through September of this year, the last month for which all automakers have reported results, electric vehicle sales are up 7.2%, plug-in sales rose 11.6%, but hybrids led with a 32.6% increase, according to MotorIntelligence.com . So who made the top of the list? Consumer Reports said its 2024 survey of subscribers representing about 300,000 vehicle owners found Subaru was the most reliable brand for the first time, followed by perennial top finishers Lexus and Toyota. Rounding out the top five were Honda and its Acura luxury brand. It was the first time since 2020 that neither Toyota nor its Lexus luxury brand were in the top spot, Fisher said. The highest-ranked brand from a U.S.-based automaker was General Motors' Buick at No. 11. The lowest, after Rivian, were GM's Cadillac luxury brand, GMC, Jeep and Volkswagen, Consumer Reports said. The magazine and website didn't get enough data this year to rank Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Ram. Electric vehicle sales leader Tesla finished 17th, down three spots from last year's survey. Used 2024 Subaru Outback sports-utility vehicles at a Honda dealership Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Subaru took first place in the survey by following the same formula that Toyota uses to get high reliability scores: It doesn't make huge changes when updating or unveiling new vehicles, Fisher said. Instead of going with new engines or transmissions, Subaru carries parts over from the prior generation. "They don't fix what's not broken," he said. "They continue to refine their products, and because the products perform quite well, they don't have to have big changes." The survey found the gas-powered Toyota RAV4 small SUV was the most reliable vehicle, followed by the Toyota Corolla compact car. The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid was third, followed by the RAV4 gas-electric hybrid, Fisher said. Consumer Reports' survey of its subscriber base does not represent all vehicle purchasers in the U.S. or the population that bought specific vehicle types. The survey results were released at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association of Detroit. Mateusz Janik contributed to this story. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.Shady Shores resident Julio “Jay” Garcia Lence died on Thursday, December 5, 2024 after a short recurrence of lymphoma. He had battled Alzheimer’s disease for the last 5 years. Julio was born in Havana, Cuba on January 28, 1934 to Jesus Ramon Garcia Gimenez and Dr. Yda Lence y Barnet. He and his brother, Ramon (exactly 1 year older) never had to attend school on their birthday (Jose Marti’s Birthday). He graduated from Colegio de La Salle del Vedado in 1951. He attended Universidad de la Habana, working as a TV cameraman (known as “El Jefe”) before coming to the US with his brother to further his education. He attended Milwaukee School of Engineering, achieving an AAS degree in Radio and Television Technology in 1956 followed by a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1963. While in college, Jay was drafted by the US Army and served from 1959 to 1961 at Ft. Sill, OK where he taught mathematics as a Specialist 4th Class. He remained on reserves through July, 1965. He proudly became a naturalized citizen in 1963 and took his mother ́s maiden name (Lence) as his surname. He met his future wife, Marlene (Thiel) at Marquette University, and they married in Campbellsport, WI on September 22, 1962. Upon graduation, Jay worked for Collins Radio, Inc., first in Cedar Rapids, IA then in Richardson, TX as a technical writer and computer systems analyst until 1970. The couple welcomed their daughters, Elena Marie, Linda Kay, and Cynthia Ann during those years. In 1970, Jay opened Denton Datsun (later renamed Lence Nissan). He and Marlene owned and operated the dealership in Denton until 2000. After moving to Denton in 1973, they attended Immaculate Conception Church and were charter members of St. Mark Catholic Church. Jay was a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus in Cuba and Iowa. Jay loved family, cars, the latest gadgets and technology, travel, Cuban food, good jokes, British TV, Guinness beer, and fixing broken items. From soldering to sewing, woodworking to electrical wiring, it brought him great joy to be able to fix things for others. He also patiently spent many late evenings tutoring his kids in math. Friends that he made, especially while in the car business, were like extended family. Jay is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlene, daughters Elena Lence Talley (Douglas), Linda Lence Thoms (Darell), Cynthia Lence Tanabe (Hitoshi), as well as grandchildren Mario, Cecilia, Keita, Julia, and Luna. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10am on December 27, 2024 at St. Mark Catholic Church (6500 Crawford Rd., Argyle, TX 76226); reception to follow at the church. The family suggests donations to the St. Mark Catholic Church Building Fund or Ann’s Haven Hospice ( https://www.vnatexas.org/ ).OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Fresh off one of its best showings of the season, the Baltimore defense now has another problem to worry about. Roquan Smith missed practice again Friday because of a hamstring injury. Although the Ravens didn't officially rule him or anyone else out — they don't play until Monday night — the All-Pro linebacker's status seems dicey. “Definitely it will be a challenge if Roquan can’t go,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We’re holding out hope and everything like that. I think it’ll just be by committee. Not one person is going to replace Roquan. Roquan’s an every-down linebacker.” Although the Ravens lost 18-16 last weekend, Baltimore didn't allow a touchdown. That was an encouraging sign for a team that ranks 26th in the league in total defense. Baltimore is on the road Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens appear to have dodged one potential nightmare. Star safety Kyle Hamilton injured an ankle against Cincinnati on Nov. 7, but he was able to play almost every defensive snap the following week against Pittsburgh. But Smith was injured in that game and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. Linebacker Malik Harrison had a season high in tackles last weekend and figures to have a significant role if Smith can't go. “We tell these guys, ‘You’re one play away to going in there — you never know, so you got to stay ready.’ Malik — he was ready,” Orr said. “I thought he went in there and did a good job, especially after the first series, he settled down. That’s what we expect from him.” It's hard to tell whether last week can be a significant turning point for Baltimore's defense. The Ravens allowed only 10 points in a dominant win over Buffalo in Week 4, then yielded 38 against Cincinnati the following game. After allowing 10 against Denver, the Ravens were picked apart by the Bengals again a few days later. So they still haven't shown they can play a good game defensively and then build on it. “I think it’s easier said than done. It’s something that we kind of got caught up saying against Buffalo and then coming up the next week and not doing," Hamilton said. "We’re aware of it now and know that we played a good game, but I think we can get a lot better, and I think that’s kind of the mindset everybody on defense has right now.” Hamilton's ability to make a difference all over the field is part of what makes him valuable, but positioning him deep is one way the Ravens can try to guard against big passing plays. Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson threw for only 205 yards against Baltimore. That's after Joe Burrow passed for 428 and four touchdowns in the Ravens' previous game. “I’ve always seen myself as a safety. A versatile one, but at the end of the day, I think I play safety,” Hamilton said. “If I’m asked to go play safety, I feel like that’s not an issue for me to play safety if I’m a safety.” NOTES: In addition to Smith, WR Rashod Bateman (knee), DT Travis Jones (ankle), S Sanoussi Kane (ankle) C Tyler Linderbaum (back) and CB Arthur Maulet (calf) missed practice Friday. WR Nelson Agholor (illness) returned to full participation after missing Thursday's practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLsuper g 。

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LOS ANGELES — My first meeting with Aescape, the AI-powered massage robot, was benign enough — if a bit eerie. As if HAL had gotten a job in the Valley. I stepped into the austere spa room at Pause , a wellness center in Studio City, and a sturdy massage table commanded the space. It was deep-sea blue and plush, glowing from LED lights that lined its base. Its enormous, sculpted robot arms promised a unique spa experience. Yes, I was about to get a transformative butt massage by an AI-powered masseuse. Aescape sparked a media frenzy when it debuted in New York in August at a handful of Equinox gyms. This week, it arrives in Los Angeles. Aescape will open its robotic arms for business Friday at Pause. I got a sneak peek, however, the day before Thanksgiving. Upon arrival, I slipped into specialized compression wear that the Aescape company provided for optimal friction; no oil is required for this massage. After lying on the table belly down, my face nestled into a padded cradle, I selected my playlist on a touch screen (beach house to start, then relaxing piano music). I quickly forgot about the overhead depth sensors and surrounding robotics and drifted into calm. And although I longed for the intimacy of a human masseuse, I found it to be a surprisingly decent session. Here's how things went. First, four high-resolution infrared sensors took a 3D scan of my body from above, mapping 1.2 million data points — every curve and asymmetric point on my frame, much to my chagrin — so Aescape could pinpoint where I was on the table and better target my specific body parts. Then its hulking robot arms reached up and around my torso, before beginning to massage me. Aescape has heated "hands," which look like giant pads with touch points on their undersides. They're modeled after the way a massage therapist uses their body parts as tools, kneading with the blade of the hand at one point, then pressing or rolling with the heel of the palm, the elbow or forearm. I'd selected gentle intensity, so Aescape kneaded slowly and deliberately around my scapula at first, then applied light rolling pressure along my spine, mid-back. It didn't feel exactly like a human hand; but surprisingly, I wasn't creeped out, either. Instead, the experience mirrored that of a sophisticated massage chair in horizontal — not as effective as an actual person but still providing much-needed relief in key areas. The Aescape massage is totally customizable. You dictate the kind you want — I chose "total back and glutes," but "upper and mid-back focus" and "lower back, glutes and hamstrings focus" were also offerings. You can also use the touch screen to control the intensity of your massage as it's underway, increasing or decreasing the pressure, or pausing altogether. Aescape is the brainchild of Eric Litman, a self-described serial entrepreneur who suffered from neck pain due to a bulging disc and needed daily massages, even while traveling internationally. That's a headache to schedule, especially when there's a shortage of massage therapists in the U.S., according to the International Spa Association . As a solution, Litman imagined a "fully automated, customizable massage experience," with the goal of "bringing personalized wellness robotics to the masses," as the Aescape company describes its mission . Litman founded the robotics company in 2017 and by November 2023, it had $85 million in funding from technology, wellness and hospitality backers. "The intent was to build a product that addressed the needs of people like myself who struggled with getting the specific massages that their body needed — whether that's because of a lack of therapist availability, a lack of consistency among therapists or just the desire for a very personalized experience," Litman said in an interview. "So what we've built is something that caters remarkably well to all three of those needs. It's accessible in many ways: It's easily booked, it's usable by people who wouldn't otherwise be comfortable getting a massage [by a human] and it puts you in control, allowing you to get the specific massage you want at that moment in time." Then there's this — for better or worse, AI masseuses don't need breaks to rest their hands. They're the ideal employees. "It can operate 24 hours a day," Litman said. "So it can be available at 11 at night, hours when you're unlikely to find a masseuse available." The Aescape company plans to roll out tables at spas, hotels and fitness centers as well as at corporations, for office workers, nationwide. In addition to its New York and L.A. locations, Aescape tables are now operating in Miami, Baltimore, Nashville, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Orlando, Florida. One will debut at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara on Dec. 16. Users can find nearby Aescape tables and book sessions on an app . Software engineers offer frequent updates to the Aescape tables on the types of massages available or the music you can listen to. A holiday playlist was added just this week, for instance. However, Aescape is not cheap: $60 for half an hour, $120 for an hour. It's also not as intelligent as I'd hoped. Aescape knows where your body parts are located in space, so as to target the areas you've selected for your massage. But the feature allowing it to intuit areas of tension that need massaging hasn't been rolled out yet, Litman says. However, it is getting smarter, he adds. "It will continue to learn from all the massages that we give, across all our tables," Litman says, "and allow for people to get a much more customized, precise massage experience." As a massage junkie, I prefer the warmth and responsiveness of human touch. Even so, Aescape gave me a pretty decent massage. I had run stairs the day before for exercise and my glutes were sore. The robot masseuse kneaded my butt in just the right spots and even relieved shoulder tightness from hours of typing at my desk. And as a bonus, it didn't interrupt my massage with chitchat. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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