Used Vehicle Prices Up As Supply Sinks, But Relief Is Coming
When the coronavirus pandemic shut the auto industry down, new vehicles weren't being produced and the supply of used vehicles dried up, driving the prices upwards.
The average asking price of a used vehicle that was 10 years old or less rose more than 9% from $19,800 in May to $21,600 in September. The average retail used-vehicle price has fallen by $100 so far in October when compared with September.
Alex Yurchenko, senior vice president of data science for Black Book predicts the downward trend will continue at least through the end of the year, barring any unforeseen developments with the virus. It’s wise to hold off buying a used vehicle if you can, because prices should drop further by the year’s end.
Read the article at The Detroit News.
Leadership in a Virtual World
We will always remember those leaders that helped us navigate tough times
By Mike Pitcher, Author and Fleet Industry Leader
October 2020
As the CEO of LeasePlan USA, we were one of the hundreds of companies that launched visionary campaigns called “Vision 2020”. It is now obvious that we were all clueless on exactly what 2020 would bring. And yet, here we are.
Let me begin by stating my definition of leadership. In my opinion, it is very simple. Leadership is influence. If you are in a position to influence the thoughts, behaviors and / or attitudes of someone else, then you are in a leadership role. I do not believe that leadership is the private domain of corporate executives and politicians. I know for a fact that leadership is practiced everyday in schools, churches, non-profit organizations, and in our homes. The leadership role we hold in our family might be the most important of all.
In this challenging environment of political unrest, social injustice, economic uncertainty, and that other little issue (a global pandemic named COVID-19), how will you influence those that you lead?
Geotab Delivers Keyless Solution to Help Car Sharing Fleets
Geotab unveiled Geotab Keyless, one of the world’s first platform solutions that integrates a secured digital key function with a comprehensive and data-driven fleet management product.
“We are proud to be the first fully-featured telematics provider bringing a unique data-driven, keyless solution to the burgeoning car sharing market,” said Christopher Mendes, VP, Electric Vehicles at Geotab.
“Geotab Keyless is designed to enhance car sharing across every segment, including in-car delivery services in the future” added Mendes. “Keyless is particularly advantageous for electric vehicle (EV) car sharing fleets, as the solution can reliably manage vehicles’ state of charge (SOC), charging status and range remaining —a capability no other keyless hardware competitor possesses.”
Volvo Using Technology To Cut Down On Distracted Driving — Due To Technology
Distraction has become a fact of life, but Volvo’s safety research and behavioral science work suggests that when used correctly, modern technology inside the car can reduce distraction, boost road safety and help people to be better and more focused drivers.
Volvo Cars actively uses technology to combat the dangers of distraction and build some of the safest cars on the road. For example, its active safety systems with autobrake and steer assist are designed to be on guard to help drivers if they lose concentration or are distracted for a split second.
“Being able to control key features on your Volvo by voice allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road,” said Malin Ekholm, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Center. “Active safety systems such as City Safety, Run-off Road Mitigation and Oncoming Lane Mitigation with steer assist can act as an extra pair of eyes watching over you.”
Read the article at The Detroit Bureau.
Google Assistant Driving Mode Appears To Be Coming To Android At Last
The Google Assistant Driving mode that the company first announced in 2019 has started appearing on some Android devices, XDA-Developers reported.
It’s not clear whether the rollout of this new mode is part of a test or will be coming for all users.
The voice prompt doesn’t appear to work yet even on devices enabled with the new mode, according to Android Police. To see if your device has Assistant Driving Mode, open Google Maps and from the navigation settings menu, and select “Google Assistant settings.” If it’s not enabled, you’ll be taken to the main Assistant settings section.
Read the article at The Verge.
