|
|
 |
An increasing number of ICE owners are choosing hybrids when it comes time to buy their next vehicle, growing by 3.4 percentage points or 61 percent over the past year.
Once those customers go hybrid, they aren’t quite as likely to go back to a strict ICE vehicle either – hybrid loyalty hit 40.1 percent in August, which is its highest level since May 2021 and an increase of 8.5 percentage points or 27 percent versus a year ago.
A sizable chunk of hybrid sales growth comes from commercial fleets, as 13.3 percent of total hybrid registrations came from that segment in the time period between January and August 2023, and 14.2 percent in July alone – the highest such rate in over three years.
via Ford Authority
|
The achromatic exterior paint hues – white, black, gray, and silver – still prevail as the most frequently purchased in the U.S. used car market, with their popularity increasing as time goes on.
According to iSeeCars study’s findings, the quartet of paint colors, referred to as grayscale colors, account for a whopping 78.9 percent of used cars in 2023.
While white, black, gray, and silver also accounted for the great majority of used cars five years ago as well, the number is actually up slightly from 77.2 percent in 2018. Among the non-grayscale colors, blue is rapidly overtaking silver.
via GM Authority
|
US automakers are looking to boost electric vehicle sales by broadening their horizons. Alongside individual consumers, daily rental, corporate, and government fleets also form a large customer base for carmakers.
With 28,252 units sold in the US from July 2022 to July 2023, the Model 3 accounted for 23 percent of all fleet EV sales, ahead of the Chevrolet Bolt, which accounted for 16 percent of the sales with 19,502 deliveries.
The Model Y ranked third with over 11,000 units sold, followed by the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling electric truck among fleet owners. The Bolt EV alone accounted for 39 percent of government EV registrations, equal to the combined government fleet registrations of Ford.
via InsideEVs
|
Ford EV drivers will have access to 15,000 Tesla Superchargers, higher than initially expected. The company announced it will add an extra 3,000 Tesla chargers as its network grows to over 106,000 stations.
The company said it’s growing its BlueOval Charge Network in North America by 25%. Ford added three new partners this month in Fracis Energy, Blink, and Red E. Between the three, drivers gain access to over 10,000 chargers and 500 new DC fast chargers.
The company also plans for “significant additional DC fast charger growth” starting in early 2024. With 96% of the US population living within 25 miles of a Ford dealer, the automaker will prioritize these locations.
via Electrek
|
|
|
|
|
Cobots, which enable human-robot collaboration, are made to work safely next to human workers. Similar to traditional industrial robots, cobots are mechanical arms powered by sensors and AR/VR.
The secret to success is to carefully examine operations to determine the best places to integrate cobots alongside human workers.
Integrating cobots with AR and VR technologies can lead to increased productivity, reduced errors, improved safety, and a more immersive and interactive work environment.
READ MORE
|
|
| |
Great Experiences with AFLA
|
|
By Steve Bender, President and CEO, Fleet Street Remarketing & outgoing President, Automotive Fleet Leasing Association (AFLA)
As I sit to pen what likely will be the last missive of my AFLA presidency, I have to admit I have a wide range of emotions running through my head.
I am so incredibly grateful to all of the wonderful AFLA board members and staff I have been fortunate enough to work with and who’ve made the past year so special and rewarding.
There was a lot for members to be proud of when it came to this year’s AFLA conference, as well as the future of the organization, including the amazing relationships and meaningful connections we made.
READ MORE
|
|
| |
Benchmarking Sustainability
|
|
By Sara Sweeney, Senior Product Manager, Wheels
Sustainability is now a goal, mandate or mission for almost every organization. It is the reason why, as a fleet management company, we at Wheels embarked upon our first ‘Environmental Sustainability Benchmark Report’ three years ago.
Having led the project for the past three years, we are seeing trends emerge and we think the insights gleaned are increasingly invaluable.
Download Wheels’ ‘2023 Environmental Sustainability Benchmark Report’ to discover more best practices and trends fleets are implementing to not only electrify their fleets, but to also make them more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
READ MORE
|
|
|
|
