For San Francisco, a city loaded with entrepreneurs but lacking in public parking spaces, a techie solution to the Bay Area motorist's biggest problem was inevitable.

Last month Business Insider named Monkey Parking one of May's hottest apps. Today, the city of San Francisco filed a cease-and-desist against the Rome-based startup, which lets users auction off the public parking spaces their vehicles occupy to the highest bidder, MarketWatch reports.

The city attorney who filed the cease-and-desist, David Herrera, said this practice is completely illegal, and can land anyone who auctions off a piece of public property a $300 fine. Since Monkey Parking is helping it happen, the startup is liable to upt to $2,500 per offense, MarketWatch reports.

Since an official is claiming it violates the law, Monkey Parking is also at risk for removal from the App Store, since Apple's terms and conditions say all apps must adhere to all local legal requirements.

"Parking is one of the biggest problems in cities like San Francisco, due to the lack of and high cost associated with it," parking app CARMAnation cofounder Ashley Cummings told Business Insider in an email.

CARMAnation is a Bay Area-based driveway sharing app. CARMAnation, and private parking sharing apps like it, will not be affected by the city's ban, and may become the most viable option for the tech-minded driver without a driveway.

Cummings says, "We are very excited to see the city give our approach its stamp of approval."

SEE ALSO: This Bay Area app is the Airbnb of driveways

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Just a week after its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi has won the equally arduous Nürburgring 24 Hours. Audi and its partner team Phoenix Racing celebrated a hard-fought victory Sunday at the Green Hell after its #4 R8 LMS ultra, competing in the top SP9 GT3 class and driven by Christopher Haase, Christian Mamerow, Rene Rast and Markus Winkelhock, drove a total 2507.296 miles (159 laps), and in the process established a new distance record for the event. The same squad drove to victory back in 2012.

Like most of the Nürburgring 24 Hours races (this was the 42nd running), this year’s race was a true thriller. The action started early when Frenchman Kevin Estre stunned the crowds with a magic 8:10.921-minute lap in the #66 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 and established a new qualifying record time. And the race also provided right from the start what the motorsport enthusiasts had hoped for: enthralling battles for positions and many accidents. In the opening stages, the race was dominated by the pole sitter but when the McLaren pitted at the end of lap four, the #25 BMW Z4 GT3 took the lead. Later, it would be a battle between the Audi and Mercedes teams.

With a tenth-of-a-second gap, Audi's Christian Mamerow was battling with the #1 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Black Falcon. Following position battles would take place across several laps, but the Audi squad prevailed and gradually extended the lead in the final third of the race. The #1 SLS AMG GT3, driven by Lance David Arnold, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Christian Menzel and Andreas Simonsen, last year’s winner, finished second, just three minutes behind the leader. Completing the podium was the #22 SLS AMG GT3 of Rowe Racing, driven by Nico Bastian, Maro Engel, Christian Hohenadel and Michael Zehe, two laps behind the leader.

Toyota also enjoyed significant success at this year’s race. The Japanese firm, whose CEO Akio Toyoda was listed among the drivers, took four class victories. A GT 86 developed by Gazoo Racing took out the SP3 class, while the Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA Code X race car took out the SP-PRO class and finished 11th overall. The special LFA, which sportrs a 5.3-liter V-10 engine, was developed to test Toyota’s future sports car technologies under race conditions.

A stock LFA took out the SP8 class and further success for Toyota was achieved by the Toyota Swiss Racing team which dominated the V3 category for the third successive year to claim first and second place in GT 86 coupes prepared by TMG of Germany. 

Below are the top ten results of the 2014 Nürburgring 24 Hours:

1 Haase/Mamerow/Rast/Winkelhock (Audi R8 LMS ultra), 159 laps
2 Bleekemolen/Simonsen/Menzel/Arnold (Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3), + 2m 59s
3 Zehe/Hohenadel/Bastian/Engel (Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3) – 2 laps
4 Henzler/Dumbreck/Ragginger/Imperatori (Porsche 911 GT3 R) – 2 laps
5 Mücke/Turner/Lamy (Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3) – 2 laps
6 Klingmann/Baumann/Hürtgen/Tomczyk (BMW Z4 GT3) – 2 laps
7 Primat/Götz/Heyer/Rehfeld (Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3) – 3 laps
8 Stuck/Sandritter/Brück/Rostek (BMW Z4 GT3) – 5 laps
9 Baumgartner/Werner/Biela/Kaffer (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 6 laps
10 Busch/Busch/Lauck/Landmann (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 7 laps

SEE ALSO: 13 Awesome Pictures From The World's Most Prestigious Sports Car Race

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The never ending quest for top speed supremacy among the world's automakers is alive and well.

Since Ferrari's iconic F40 broke the 200 mile-per-hour barrier in the 1980s, speeds have only continued to escalate, with today's elite hypercars pushing ever closer to the magical 300 mph mark. 

With that in mind, we thought it was time to take a look at the fastest cars you can drive home from a dealership today. Using information from various auto-manufacturers and thesupercars.org, we put together a list of the 10 production hypercars with the highest top speeds on the market. 

Cars on this list are actively marketed and sold by manufacturers in 2014 (waiting list counts) and do not include cars that are out of production, are not series production cars, or whose top speed is not yet verified.

As a result, contenders like the SSC Aero (out of production) and the Ferrari LaFerrari (unconfirmed top speed) were left off of our list.

9. Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - 211 MPH (tie): Picking up where the 599 Fiorano left off, the $316,000 F12 is the latest in a long line of highly competent front-engined grand tourers from Maranello.

9. Porsche 918 Spyder - 211 MPH (tie): The $930,000 918 hybrid, the most advanced production vehicle ever to carry the legendary Porsche badge, is powered by a state-of-the-art 887 horsepower hybrid V8 powertrain.

7. McLaren P1 - 217 MPH (tie): The $1.15 million P1 is the spiritual successor to the legendary F1 supercar that put McLaren on the map. While the P1 can't match the F1's 240 MPH top speed, it should be noted that its 217 mph mark is electronically limited.

Testing automated vehicles is a risky process, which is why Michigan’s Department of Transportation and the University of Michigan have joined forces to create a 30-acre urban environment that will be used specifically for testing driverless cars. If automated vehicles are to become the norm, then testing these new technologies in a realistic off-roadway environment is an essential step before they hit the real roads.

The test facility has been designed for the sole purpose of evaluating the capabilities of connected and automated vehicles and systems. It will occupy 30 acres at Michigan University’s North Campus Research Complex, where the Mobility Transformation Facility (MTF) will simulate the broad range of complexities vehicles encounter in urban and suburban environments.

RELATED: China’s Hongqi HQ3 Takes on Google’s Driverless Cars with 177-Mile Road Trip

This will include approximately three lane-miles of roads, complete with intersections, traffic signs and signals, sidewalks, benches, simulated buildings, street lights, and obstacles such as construction barriers.

“We will actually be writing code for the test facility,” Edwin Olson, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering, said in a statement. “We’ll be able to trigger tricky traffic signal timings, or a pedestrian stepping into the intersection at just the wrong time, for example.

RELATED: Google Succeeds in Making Driverless Cars Legal in Nevada

There will also be other ‘risks’ that are common within cities, such as crosswalks, hydrants and green areas. Buildings will also be ‘moveable’ so as to change the layout of the area if necessary.

“It reminds me of when I was a young boy and used to watch The Jetsons,” said David Munson, the Robert. J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering. “We’re not doing flying cars here, but I think we’re doing something more important … and almost as impressive.” Current plans call for the facility be completed this Fall.

SEE ALSO: Porsche Tops JD Power's List Of Most Reliable New Cars

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People do some crazy things to customize their cars.

From a Swarovski crystal-encrusted Mercedes to a frighteningly realistic insect-shaped motorbike, we found 26 custom sets of wheels that are turning heads around the world. 

And yes, they include a flying car and a crystal-covered Mercedes.

This tricked out stretch Mini Cooper S has 6 passenger seats, 4 doors, 6 wheels and a Jacuzzi for relaxing on those long drives.

This 25-foot-long car shaped like a cricket bat was a huge hit in cricket-obsessed India.

Two custom Mercedes-Benz SL600s, each wearing 300,000 Swarovski crystals, are displayed in Tokyo.

Google just unveiled Android Auto at its annual developers conference in San Francisco. 

With cars compatible with Android Auto, you simply connect your Android phone to your car, and your car's screen will display a modified version of Android with simplified features that are easy to use at-a-glance. 

You can use Android Auto to play music from your phone, send and receive text messages, and use other applications like Google Maps.

So that means you'll be able to see traffic updates, navigation, etc. in your car. And since Android Auto is fully voice-enabled, you'll never have to take your hands off the steering wheel.  

Android Auto will be available later this year. Already, over 40 car makers like Acura, Ford, Audi, and Chevrolet will have Android Auto. The first cars with Android Auto will be available at the end of this year.

Google will soon release an Android Auto SDK so that developers can build additional audio and messaging apps for your car. 

Here's how it works.

The first step is connecting your Android phone to your car.Once it's connected, you'll be able to tap a button and speak commands for navigation, search, and messaging. Since Android Auto is fully voice-enabled, you can navigate without ever needing to take your hands off the steering wheel. And it's all powered by your Android phone, so applications you update through Google Play will update in the car, as well.

SEE ALSO: It's Time To Admit The Amount Of Information Google Gathers About Us Is Terrifying

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Do you ever wonder whether cars are getting too aggressive these days? From sports cars to sedans, everything needs to look angry, with headlight and grille designs seemingly styled to shovel up other vehicles and deposit them in a ditch at the side of the road.

CHECK OUT: Official Details On The One-Off Ferrari F12 TRS: Video

If you subscribe to such a theory, you might like the Carice Mk1, a new sports car hailing from the Netherlands. As if its cute little bug-eyed face, tiny proportions and buxom curves aren't enough, it's also powered by electricity. Carice calls the Mk1 "the realization of technology of the future in a classically styled jacket", or at least that's how its web-page translates--and we don't think that's too wide of the mark.

Stylistically, it's very much like Porsche's first volume sports car, the 356. The 356 is already a small car by modern standards but the Carice Mk1 takes that a step further--parked next to other vehicles, it looks tiny. Despite its electric powertrain, normally an invitation for a bank of heavy batteries and leaden curb weight, it tips the scales at just 771 lbs. Speaking to Autovisie, Carice founder Richard Holleman explains that the sports car uses a backbone chassis (Lotus Elan-style) and the battery pack sits along its central bar, where it's best for optimal weight distribution.

MUST SEE: Jaguar XJ220 Lights Tires On Fire In Ultimate Burnout: Video

The low weight does hint at small battery packs, but Holleman doesn't confirm capacity--only varying outputs, from 15 kW to 40 kW. Range is therefore an unknown, though how far you'd want to travel in a small speedster with no roof is a matter of personal taste. There's a tonneau cover, so at least the seats will stay dry while you're parked up. And the styling? Holleman admits it's a tribute to German design, but also suggests Italian influence. Essentially it's a tribute to "everything that used to be beautiful".

Carice Cars has actually been around since 2009 and has already sold a few vehicles, but Holleman says the company is now ready to sell its cars on a larger scale. All are built in the Netherlands, and start from a not-inconsiderable $36,000 or so, including Dutch sales taxes. The car made its debut at the Concours d'Elegance at Het Loo Palace recently--no aggression required...

SEE ALSO: The 25 Coolest Cars In Jay Leno's Garage

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Soon, your car might slow you down automatically when it detects a speed trap.

At the launch of the Genesis luxury sedan earlier this year, Hyundai spokesman Guido Schenken said, "[The car] knows there is a speed camera there, it knows where the speed camera is and it will adopt the correct speed," according to Drive.

First, the Hyundai Genesis beeps 2,600 feet before you reach a speed camera and it'll show you the legal speed limit. The car will beep at you if you're going too fast. If you're not showing signs of slowing down, the car does it for you with its self-braking systems with camera locations inside its navigation devices.

Unfortunately, the speed trap technology won't initially be offered on the vehicle — which debuts later this year in Australia — but it will be released eventually. And it's unclear whether the technology would have as much of an impact on U.S. drivers as it could in Australia, where the location of speed traps must be legally disclosed. 

The downside to the technology is that it only works on fixed speed cameras. If you happen to drive past a cop holding a speed gun, you might end up getting that speeding ticket after all.

SEE ALSO: Uber's Own Drivers Protested The Company's Policies And Rating System

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The only thing bigger than the explosions you'll see in "Transformers: Age of Extinction" this weekend, is the array of different Transformers that will appear on screen. 

Before they turn into Transformers, they're just a bunch of really cool, expensive vehicles.

We've broken down how much the cars in the new film cost, ranging from $15,000 to $2.4 million.

Let's start out with the most recognizable vehicle. Here's the estimated $150,000 2015 Western Star 5700.

The 5700 won't hit the market until later this year and the exact pricing is unknown, however its predecessor, the 4900, retails for as much as $150,000 depending on configuration.

It will transform into Autobot leader Optumus Prime.

While Optimus Prime opens the film in the form of a rusted out 1973 Marmon cab-over truck, the autobot leader eventually takes the form of an awesome 2015 Western Star 5700-based semi.

We'll see two iterations of the famous Chevy Camaro on screen. This vintage modified '67 Camaro can run up to $60,000.

Even though the autobot scout originally appeared in Transformers canon as a humble VW Bug, Michael Bay's Bumblebee continues to take the form of Chevy's Camaro.

A well maintained version of a '67 Camaro SS can cost as much $60,000.

Even though Ford's 1.0 Litre 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine has been named International Engine of The Year for the third year in a row, I never bought into the hype.

Why? Because the tried and true adage in American car culture has always been "there is no replacement for displacement."

I could never comprehend how the smallest engine on sale in the U.S. could effectively produce 125 horsepower and 148 lb/ft of torque without the high-pitched buzzing of a kitchen blender or the turbo lag of a '80s-era rally car. In fact, the engine block of the diminutive power plant is small enough to fit inside a piece of carry-on luggage. 

But I recently spent a day behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost cruising around the twisty country roads on the northern fork of Long Island, and my preconceived notions of what a small engine should be eroded one by one. Throughout the day, I did my best to push the car as far I could, and it never once backed down from the challenge. 

I was truly surprised not just by the amount of power the engine produced, but also how the German-built engine actually functioned. The 1.0 has an incredibly flat and consistent torque curve that is rare in small engines, let alone one with a turbo. The engine pulled hard from 1,300 revs all the way up to 5,000 rpm. Even when loaded down with four full-sized adults after a heavy meal and air conditioning on full blast, the EcoBoost never felt over-matched. In fact, the motor even left a bit of extra passing power to help me get into the left lane. 

The 1.0 EcoBoost also surprised by producing a rather pleasant sound. Instead of the kitchen blender buzz, I was treated to a muted rumble interspersed with the satisfying whoosh of the turbo's wastegate. 

When paired with the sub-compact Fiesta, the EPA claims the 1.0 EcoBoost will return 32 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.

On a combination of twisty country roads, highway cruising, and Manhattan rush hour traffic, our "green envy" colored Fiesta hatchback flirted with 40mpg even when fully loaded with passengers and equipment. 

As for the Fiesta, Ford has built quite a nice little runabout. With the 1.0 motor, the company has chosen to pair it exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission. Though the shifter was a bit rubbery and the throws a bit long, the gearbox worked well and managed the engine effectively.

The exterior styling is highlighted by the company's signature "salmon face" or "baby Aston Martin" front fascia. The interior is surprisingly spacious, and fit four adults comfortably, though a fifth middle seat passenger would have felt a bit squished. The chic angular front dash evokes the Fiesta's European heritage, though I found the layout to be a bit cluttered.

Overall, the 1.0 EcoBoost and the Fiesta went above and beyond my expectations. The overall package was stylish, economical, and effective. With a price tag of just $17,000, the Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost is a wonderful small car that should definitely warrant at least a look if not serious consideration.

SEE ALSO: Here Are All The Vehicles You'll See Turn Into Robots In The 'Transformers' Sequel

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It’s fast, it’s beautiful…but it has a stick shift.

Automatics, CVTs, dual-clutches—they find their forever homes while thousands of stick shifts are left behind.

It's sad, but it's true. Manual transmissions are on the most-endangered species list. Sales are dropping — only 7 percent of vehicles sold last year were stick — and, well, that's just sad.

We know you love the manuals, but they need your help more than ever now.

Manual transmissions are meant for you to be driving the wheels off it. Running it around on weekend. Commuting in it — just to show you can, just to show you care. Teaching an amateur how to drive one.

We've put together our list of the best manual-transmission cars you need to drive.

Audi R8

Yes, the fantastic R8 sports car got a dual-clutch this year, a dandy seven-speed S tronic. But you want the manual. It's a beautiful gated shifter with a grippy shift lever, a cool-metal touch and the fanatically soothing sound of a "clink" into each gear. It's almost as satisfying as clicking the button on the end of a manual parking brake, swear to God. The best part: you can get it on either the 430-hp V-8 (the lightest R8 you can buy) or on the insane 525-hp V-10, coupe or roadster.

Chevy Corvette

The new Stingray has many charms, and its seven-speed manual is one of them.

The surprisingly slick shifter is one of only two manuals to have that many cogs (the Porsche 911 is the other one)— plus, um, let's not forget that it's attached to one of the best performance-car buys on the planet

Dodge Viper

Yep, the Viper is a Dodge again, and given that it's only offered as a manual-equipped car, it automatically gets a high five.

The six-speed remedies the Viper's long history of long throws, and the 'box is so stout you can harness the Viper's truckload of torque with it, and not worry about the occasional clutch dump (or three).

Ford Fiesta ST

"There have been few times since the original Volkswagen GTI of the 1980s that this sort of 'pocket rocket' formula is better than the sum of its parts. This is one of them."

That's what we said after a first drive of the Fiesta in France. It's only offered in a manual--and the gearbox's shift action's about as short as the attention span of a mosquito living inside a Starbucks full of fat people.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Yes, you can get an automatic in the Miata, but that's considered a capital offense in our quarters.

The MX-5's at its most lovely when one is wringing out its pint-sized four-cylinder with a short-throw shifter that practically defines the art.

Porsche Cayman

Of all the splendid things it did in making the Cayman, Porsche saw fit to outfit it with the best manual transmission money can buy.

The PDK option is a brilliant one — but if you're flinging the Cayman from curve to crest, tapdancing on all three pedals, and choreographing it all with your right hand on that lever, you'll know exactly what we're missing as manuals fade to black.

Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ

The FR-S and BRZ twins have a nicely developed chassis, enough horsepower to get into a little danger, and a snug cockpit big enough for two and some weekend racing gear.

They also have a real manual shifter — and that compiles perfectly with their seductive simplicity.

SEE ALSO: I Was Blown Away By The Brute Force Of America's Tiniest Car Engine

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As we've been pointing out, this is a huge week for the economy, as it's jam-packed with data that will tell us whether the economy is taking off or not.

The highlight of the week will come Thursday, when the June, Non-Farm Payrolls report will come out.

But we should learn something interesting today, when auto companies like Ford and GM report total vehicle sales for June.

In May, auto sales surged to their highest level since the crisis, with sales coming in at 16.7 million annualized unit rate.

But the big May surge may have just been the result of pent up demand after the cold winter, and not actually reflective of economic strength.

So sales are expected to slip a bit from 16.7 million (annualized) to 16.4 million. 

If the slip to June is minimal, then that says the economy is still solid. If car sales fall much lower, then watch out.

Stay tuned. We'll be covering all the numbers live today.

SEE ALSO: This week is going to be huge

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Automakers have announced their monthly motor vehicle sales for June, and they've come in VERY strong.

Analysts had expected that the industry would sell cars at a 16.4 million annualized rate in the month. That would have been a slight dip from the month before. Part of the reason a dip was expected was that May sales saw a huge uptick, and part of that was attributed to pent-up demand from the bad weather in the first few months of the year.

But instead, sales came in at 16.9 million according to Wards Auto, which takes the car-maker sales and then estimates a total industry run rate.

This means the U.S. economy just cleared a huge test. It was very plausible that things would slow down significantly in June, as the post-winter May spurt wore off. That didn't happen. Instead the strength is actually accelerating.

SEE ALSO: Here's how automakers performed in June

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Hailo, the taxi hailing app that got its start in London, is about to give Uber a run for its money in New York City. 

By the end of this summer, Hailo will launch its executive car service in New York, Hailo co-CEO Tom Barr told Business Insider.

Dubbed Hailo Exec, the fleet will have cars like from makers like Mercedes and BMW. Unlike Uber Black, Hailo Exec will use a fixed fare payment system. Yes, that means no surge charging. 

That comes shortly after Hailo launched Hailo+, its sedan and town car service.

With Hailo+, the company says you'll only pay about 15% more than a regular taxi ride in New York City.

Unlike Uber, all of the drivers on the Hailo platform are commercially licensed drivers and are within regulation of the cities they operate in. They're also all fully insured. Hailo's motto is that you don't have to destroy the basis of an industry in order to disrupt it. Hailo calls this "constructive disruption." 

Recently, Uber has found itself at the center of numerous lawsuits over regulations and insurance policies. Earlier this year, a man filed a lawsuit against Uber and an UberX driver for hitting and killing his six-year-old daughter. 

That's likely why the University of California system is considering banning its thousands of employees from using Uber and Lyft. A ban on these services could make sense, however. If a university staff member were in an accident in an Uber or Lyft car, it's not clear which entity would compensate them, and the university could theoretically be liable. That's why UC is still looking for ways to overcome safety concerns.

As Barr notes, zero lawsuits have been filed against Hailo. For the UC system, Hailo would arguably be a safer, less risky option. That said, Hailo has yet to launch on the west coast. 

Hailo also isn't available in as many U.S. cities as Uber (Uber has 10+ "hub" cities in the U.S. while Hailo has just six). But that's mostly because Hailo is taking more of an Apple-like approach, Barr says, while Uber has taken more of a Napster approach. 

Startups like Uber and Lyft can launch faster in cities because they tend to deal with the regulatory issues after the fact. That's why we're also seeing those startups get slapped with cease and desist letters. With Hailo, the company ensures its service adheres to a city's regulations before it launches there.

Before Hailo could launch in New York, it spent six months working with regulators regarding TPEP systems, which are the combined taxi meter, touch screen, and credit card terminal. Integrating these systems into the cars took another three months. 

Hailo has raised over $80 million to date from investors including Union Square Ventures, Accel Partners, Wellington Partners, Atomico Ventures, and Richard Branson. 

Business Insider reached out to Uber for comment on the startup's regulatory challenges. The company declined to comment. 

SEE ALSO: Here's How Much Money You Can Really Earn As An Uber Driver

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Twenty laps into the Coke Zero 500 things got a little crazy and very dangerous.

A 16-car crash led to a huge pileup and some of the race's biggest names getting knocked out of contention.

It started when Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. got loose ahead of the pack. Kevin Harvick told USA Today that he then "got squirrely." Jeff Gordon reportedly tried to avoid a crash and that started the huge wreck.

Along with Gordon, notable drivers Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were all involved in the crash, according to People. And not all of them were able to continue (though Patrick and Earnhardt did).

Aric Almirola ended up winning the race which was ultimately shortened by rain.

You can see the full crash on YouTube here:

SEE ALSO: The 49 Most Mesmerizing Photos From The World Cup So Far

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In the first six months since the Cuban government implemented a policy that would allow average citizen to buy cars without special permits, the country's 11 million inhabitants bought a grand total of just 50 cars and four motorcycles from government-sanctioned dealerships, reports Reuters. 

Why? Because cars in Cuba are insanely expensive. While the average Cuban state worker makes roughly $20 a month in salary, one Peugeot dealership in Havana is asking $91,000 for a discontinued 206 economy car and a whopping $262,000 for a new 508 family sedan. 

For perspective, at $262,000, the Havana Peugeot dealer is asking more for a family sedan than its American counterparts are asking for a Bentley Continental GT ($180,000) or Ferrari 458 ($234,000), and a price on par with a new Rolls-Royce Ghost ($263,000). 

In comparison, a new 508 can be had for a little as $29,000 in the UK, with some used 206 models available for little more than $1,000. The new law, implemented as a means to raise funds to bolster the country's antiquated public transportation system, has led to a staggering 400% mark up over prices before it took effect in January.

"We're speechless, it's a big surprise. I don't know what the government's strategy is," Antonio, a Cuban car buyer, told the BBC in January. "Maybe this is just a test phase, but the prices are excessive."

Suzanne, another shopper, remarked to the BBC, "The prices are crazy. No Cuban who works for the state can afford to buy at that price. They have zero chance of getting a car."

So far, the Cuban government has generated $1.28 million in revenue from the sale of cars and motorcycles with an average transaction cost of $23,700. However, it should be noted that a large portion of these sales have been in the form of second-hand ex-rental cars. 

The 508 in question is Peugeot's latest mass market mid-sized model available throughout the world(except the U.S.) in sedan and wagon form. In production since 2010, power for the practical 508 comes from a variety of gasoline and diesel hybrid power plants that range from an economical 1.6 litre four cylinder to the range topping 2.2 turbodiesel. 

SEE ALSO: Dodge Just Revealed The Most Powerful Muscle Car Ever Produced

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Lyft, the fist-bumping and pink-mustachioed ride-sharing startup, is launching in Brooklyn and Queens this Friday.

This is Lyft's biggest launch to date, with over 500 drivers already on board. That figure is about 10 times Lyft's founding drivers community in other cities. 

To be clear, if you hop in a Lyft car in Brooklyn, you'll be able to go within Brooklyn, to Queens, and even to Manhattan. The only rule is that the ride has to start within Brooklyn or Queens. So, you won't be able to hail a Lyft car in Manhattan and take it back to Brooklyn.

Although Lyft's model isn't covered by any existing city or state law, the startup says it's working with the Taxi Limousine Commission to discuss Lyft's safety measures.

"We have voluntarily engaged with TLC to explain how our peer-to-peer model works and the measures we take for safety," a Lyft spokesperson told Business Insider via email. "This is a continued conversation that started when Lyft's VP of Government Relations appeared on a NYU panel with TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi."

Regulatory issues continue to plague startups like Lyft, Uber, and Airbnb. Just last month, one of the top public university system's in the world announced that it's considering banning its employees from using those services. Meanwhile, the New York Attorney General is investigating the legality of Uber's surge pricing.

Lyft is now live in more than 60 cities across the country. Back in April, Lyft raised a $250 million round of funding backed by Alibaba. To date, Lyft has raised $332.5 million.

SEE ALSO: Uber’s Regulatory Issues Could Be A Godsend For Rival App Hailo

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Volkswagen recently announced that its U.S. auto sales dropped by a staggering 22% in June. This will mark the fourth time in the last six months that the brand has experienced a double digit fall in sales. In that same time, its stock is down more than 5%. 

Even though Volkswagen has sold more that 3 million cars worldwide so far this year, less than 180,000 of them were in the U.S.

As Volkswagen Group, now the second largest automaker in the world, continues to experience worldwide growth, it is troubling that its most prominent mass-market brand is having a hard time in one of its most important markets.

There are four major reasons for VW's struggle in the U.S.:

High Transaction Costs

VW sees itself as competing with Toyota and Ford, but consumers don't see them that way, says Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst at Kelley Blue Book. In the Volkswagen Group family, VW's role is to build mainstream, mass-market transportation while its luxury-oriented siblings like Audi and Bentley build higher priced, fancier models.

But thanks to its European origins and a close association to its corporate siblings, consumers in the U.S. see VW as a near-luxury product. This means buyers shopping for products like the brand's Passat sedan approach the process differently than they would if they were shopping for a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry. A Camry or Accord buyer may be willing to part with his money for a bare-bones base model, but VW shoppers want a German luxury product at a discounted price, leading them to load-up on optional goodies.

As a result, the brand is at the highest point in virtually every segment in which it competes, Gutierrez says. While VW has attempted to make its product more attractive to value shoppers by offering de-contented models, the typical VW still costs more than its competitors.

According to KBB, the average transaction cost for a Passat sedan is $27,300. In comparison, the average midsize sedan on the market costs $25,000, with the Ford Fusion coming in at $26,000 and an Accord $25,200. 

Another reason for VW's higher price point is the brand's inclusion of premium technology even in lower level models. The company chose to include complicated turbocharging systems and advanced DSG automated twin-clutch gearboxes on economy models, while competitors like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Toyota Corolla employ cheaper and more conventional technology. The availability of such options is a boon for consumers, but it prevents VW from competing on price with its less sophisticated competitors. 

Lack of a Competitive Compact Crossover

At 12.9% growth, the crossover SUV segment is the single fastest growing sector of the automotive market, according to The Wall Street Journal. While VW's Tiguan compact crossover is a fairly competent car, it is not nearly as affordable or fuel efficient as segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, says Gutierrez.

And the difference in sales is staggering. According to the Journal, in the first six months of 2014, Honda has shipped almost 155,000 CR-Vs and Toyota has sold 117,000 RAV4s. On the other hand, VW has sold just 13,000 Tiguans this year, and that figure is down 15.1% from last year. 

A History of Questionable Reliability

For much of the past decade, Volkswagen has been plagued with powertrain reliability issues in the high volume four- and five-cylinder engines that power Passat, Jettas, and other VW products, according to Consumer Reports.

In the past few years, the automaker has made significant strides in quality and recieved high marks from reviewers at the publication.

Still, there seems to be a stigma that lingers in the minds of mass-market shoppers who place a premium on reliability. This stigma is further enforced by publications like JD Power's 2014 initial quality and vehicle dependability surveys, where VW scored below industry average in both. 

A Crowded Marketplace

The final factor for Volkswagen's slipping sales is a marketplace that is growing more and more crowded with competitive products. A decade ago, VW's mass-market products only had to contend with challengers from the major Japanese manufacturers and a couple of domestic products like the Ford Focus. In the decade since, the market has changed significantly.

Not only are the Japanese brands still riding high; Volkswagen must now also compete with Hyundai and Kia from Korea, and a major resurgence from Detroit's Big 3. Even though total U.S auto sales have done from just under 17 million units in 2004 to more than 21 million in 2013, such growth can not outstrip the growing intrusion of new competitors. 

How Volkswagen Can Come Back

The potential fixes are many, but one thing the brand can do is simply embrace the image their consumers already have of them, says Gutierrez.

Instead of forcing their way into mass-market segment, VW could change course and become near-luxury manufacturer.

This may be difficult and risky for Volkswagen, because moving into a higher price point could potentially cannibalize sales of Audi's A3 and A4 models, which sell for between $35,000 and $45,000. And a move up-market would risk the brand becoming reduced to a niche luxury manufacturer, which does not mesh with VW's already successful global presence as a major mass-market brand. It remains to be seen how the company will try to change its image — and sales figures — in the U.S.

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Jaguar Land Rover is on its way to making much smarter cars, according to The Telegraph.

The company recently revealed a new self-learning technology that will enable Jaguars and Land Rovers to detect drivers and their preferences while also reminding drivers of upcoming events.

The idea is that the cars will learn from your habits, schedules, and preferences so that it can automatically and independently act.

Jaguar Land Rover has not yet confirmed when this technology will be in the hands of consumers, but it says it could happen in the next few years.

"Our new learning algorithm means information learnt about you will deliver a completely personalised driving experience and enhance driving pleasure," Dr. Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology for Jaguar Land Rover, told The Telegraph.

Here are some of the cool things that the technology will enable:

While you're sitting enjoying a cup of coffee, your car will be heating up or cooling down to your preferred temperature.

It will also send you helpful reminders based on your day's calendar.

As you approach the car, it will detect your smartphone and unlock the vehicle.

It will send you a notification of when to leave for a meeting based on current traffic.

And it will send a message to the person you're meeting with if you're held up in traffic.

The car will also give you smarter alerts for when your gas rill run out and where you can refill.

To learn more about the technology you can watch this video: 

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Uber is hiring — and not just in San Francisco where the car-sharing service has become ubiquitous.

The company's job listings show just how ambitious its plans are. 

Living in Novosobirsk, Russia? What about Ahmedabad, India? Uber has a job for you.

Some of the positions are pretty nebulous. Just what does someone in "Asia Expansion" do? Set up shop wherever it's needed, it seems.

"At base, this job entails being dropped into a city or country where Uber has zero brand and physical presence, quickly figuring out who and what make that city run, and then building a new business from scratch — in a matter of weeks — which sets Uber up for long-term success," says the job description.

It sounds like Uber is looking for Marines with MBAs.

Besides a "unique, ground floor opportunity," Uber offers free rides as a perk.

The company's job listings are so numerous, it's easier to figure out where they're not hiring.

The plurality of job are in either San Francisco or spread across Asia.

Europe isn't out of the picture, though. Uber is looking for employees in far-flung cities like Prague, St. Petersburg and Helsinki.

A handful of jobs are "multi-city," meaning those employees will likely hop from place to place and help Uber get set up across a broader region like Latin America.

You can check out the full listing of jobs at Uber's site >

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