Looking for a roundup of the latest and most important news from the automotive world? You’ve found it in the Daily Drive-Thru. Check it out every weekday to see what you missed and what you need to know.  FOLLOW DAILY NEWS AUTOS ON FACEBOOK. 'LIKE' US HERE.  If you’re reading this while sitting in traffic, we probably know why.  With gas prices remaining reasonably low heading into Memorial Day weekend, AAA is predicting that a whole lot of Americans will kick off their summer by sitting in traffic. The insurance company is projecting that 34 million people will travel by car this weekend, so you might want to get your playlists ready, your audiobooks queued up and your cars stocked with snacks on snacks on snacks.  If AAA’s prediction holds true, this will be the second-busiest travel weekend on record, featuring the most travelers since 2005. So, when you’re sitting in traffic on the Sunrise Highway in Long Island or waiting to cross the Delaware Water Gap into Pennsylvania, you’re actually part of history.  Facing billions in recall costs, not to mention potential lawsuits, the Takata family is reportedly considering selling their eponymous automotive parts company. The Takata family is engaged in discussions with KKR & Co., a New York-based multinational company, to sell the company outright. Currently, the Takata Corporation has a market capitalization of 38.1 billion yen, or $347 million.  SEE A LIST OF ALL THE CARS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL HERE.  KKR & Co. already pledged financial support and to take the lead on Takata’s post-recall restructuring. Other companies are also interested in buying the embattled airbag-maker, according to Bloomberg. Takata shares rallied  Citing unnamed sources and LinkedIn activity, Reuters is reporting that Apple is exploring the opportunities available in the electric car charging market. Apple has been at the center of many an automotive rumor in recent years, and though the consumer electronics giant probably isn’t looking to put any cars on the road it’s clearly dabbling in the field.  While it wouldn’t make sense for Apple to start mass-producing full electric cars, it’s very conceivable that it would want some piece of the ever-growing plug-in pie. Accessible charging stations are currently a scarcity in many parts, including New York City, so it makes sense that Apple would want to capitalize on that need.  Speaking of charging stations, Ford announced that it’s latest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will have to make much fewer stops at them than most of its competitors. The 2017 Energi boasts a 610-mile gas-electric combined range thanks to EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 43 mpg city and 41 mpg highway for a combined average of 42 mpg on top of 21 miles of all-electric range.  Ford has added 60 miles of total range compared to the 2016 Energi to give it the longest projected range of any hybrid EV for sale in America. What does that do to your range anxiety?  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to start putting crash-test dummies in the backseats of vehicles it evaluates starting in 2019. The shift in protocol comes as regulators place a greater premium on the safety of rear seat passengers, especially children. It also doesn’t hurt that companies such as Lyft and Uber are putting more adults in the backseats of cars.  The NHTSA began its 5-Star Safety Rating Program in 1978, but it has only ever examined safety as it relates to drivers and front-seat passengers.  Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the "Join the Conversation" buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.
We've also got a report about Apple's EV charging ambitions, Ford's 610-mile Energi range, and more in today's Daily Drive-Thru.