City Explorers begin return

Yesterday, the city announced that its fleet of Ford Explorers had begun its return to service, with 44 SUVs back on the road and 18 other vehicles currently being tested for a return. Following suspected carbon monoxide exposure, 439 city Explorers were taken off the roads. According to a press release from the city, the process of transitioning the remaining vehicles back into rotation “is expected to take a number of months” with each vehicle undergoing at least 20 hours of police testing, following repairs, before being returned to the roads. Ford has covered the cost of repairs and, according to yesterday’s press release, “The City of Austin’s Fleet Services department is reviewing its purchasing policies, in consultation with Austin Police Department, and has determined that the City will be moving forward with more diversity in the fleet.”