By Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly’s Brand Acceleration

To maximize the branding value and create sales opportunities that lead to the success of your exhibit or participation at the April 22 NAFA Institute and Exposition in San Antonio, fleet solutions providers must take a strategic approach.

This approach should be led by marketing in conjunction with sales but involving customer-facing account, customer service, and C-level managers to help strengthen customer relationships.

The first step is for marketing and sales to set clear objectives. The primary goal is most often generating as many leads as possible. The next step is to create a compelling agenda and experience. This involves planning engaging content that aligns with the set goals and resonates with the target audience.

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By Sarah Bechtold, eDriving

February, the month of love, brings with it an opportunity to foster a positive relationship with our daily commutes. Instead of viewing it as a mundane task, let’s transform our mindset and embrace the road with love.

Start your day on the right note by incorporating mindfulness into your morning commute. Instead of rushing, take a moment to breathe and set a positive intention for the day.

Love your fellow commuters by expressing gratitude on the road. A simple wave or a courteous nod can go a long way in creating a positive atmosphere.

By adopting safe driving behaviors, we contribute to a more harmonious and enjoyable driving experience for everyone.

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By Dave Bean, Content Editor, FMW

It appears that guardrails designed to keep vehicles from running off the road are having a tougher time doing their job when struck by EVs. In a test performed last year by the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a Rivian truck and Tesla Model 3 broke through and/or passed under traditionally designed U.S. highway guardrails

This issue not only presents a public safety challenge, but it has also gotten the attention of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), who are concerned that these same guardrails, which are also used for U.S. military defense, might be vulnerable to intentional penetration by hostile vehicles.

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The US-China trade war heats up as the Biden administration has signaled a warning that electric vehicles from China could pose a “significant national security risk” in that the huge amount of data they collect could be sent to China.

The US has imposed extra tariffs on Chinese EVs since 2019, with US officials having long warned that China poses a threat in data security.

Chinese companies MG, BYD, and Chery have been scouting sites in Mexico and talking to officials for better access to the North American market. MG is planning to build a $2 billion factory, while BYD is ramping up investments worth hundreds of millions for its own factory – actions which have set off alarm bells in Washington.

via Electrek

Old cars don’t die, they just get resold. Before you buy a used car, whether from a dealer or private seller, you’ll want to know as much about it as you can.

A vehicle history report prepared by a third party is one way to help know what you’re getting into. The most well-known servicers for vehicle history reports are CarFax and AutoCheck.

The more driveways a car has been in, the less likely it’s been lovingly cared for all its life. Not everyone is equally responsible about car care as you might be. Rental cars and former taxis, for example, will often have undergone a lot of abuse but also can be priced considerably lower.

via Autoblog

In 2022, Hertz said it planned on purchasing 65,000 battery-powered Polestars in a bid to become a global leader in EVs.

But a little more than a year later, Hertz had a change of heart, mostly because its acquired EVs had lost most of their value.

It’s a disappointing turn for Hertz, which had previously set a target for 25 percent of its fleet to be electric by the end of 2024. Last month, Hertz said it would sell 20,000 Teslas, or roughly one-third of its electric fleet. And now its deal with Polestar has been put on pause.

via The Verge

Last year, Ford announced that its EV customers would gain access to Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada beginning in Spring 2024.

As that moment approaches, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said today that eligible Ford EV customers will soon be able to reserve a complimentary Fast Charging Adapter.

The Fast Charging Adapter will provide Ford F-150 Lightning, and Mustang Mach-E owners access to Tesla’s V3 and above Superchargers. Ford will start to transition to the NACS charge port from 2025, removing the need for an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers.

via Ford Media Center

By Ed Pierce, Fleet Industry Editorial & Marketing Consultant

Fleet services companies face stiff competition in creating brand awareness and driving sales leads.

To meet this objective, marketing managers need to determine a proper marketing mix in their marketing plan.

An effective marketing mix requires an understanding of industry challenges, trends and pain points – these insights serve as the cornerstone for developing tailored strategies which resonate with their target audiences.

In this blog we’ll cover key steps and strategies for crafting the ideal mix which not only increases brand recognition but also generates sales leads in this competitive field.

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By Laura Jozwiak

The core of our most successful and rewarding relationships must be a foundation of trust. You don’t walk into a new relationship with trust.

Trust takes time to develop, and if you are not careful, it could be diminished or destroyed in seconds.

Open and transparent communication is foundational in a trusted relationship. The news may not always be positive, but trust grows when people know you will tell them what they need to know, not just what they want to hear.

Trust is about consistency. It is a reminder that every moment matters. Every interaction provides another opportunity to build your brand of being trustworthy. And when you wear that badge of honor, loyalty is returned.

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By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

We recently interviewed Sumit Chauhan, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of CerebrumX, to find out how his company can help fleet managers monitor the range of vehicles in their fleets.

While most fleets consist of a range of connected and non-connected vehicles, CerebrumX’s FleetConnect solution bridges the gap and delivers insights for your whole fleet in one convenient platform.

“We don’t just provide data, but actual insights in terms of total cost of ownership (which entails predictive maintenance)…We’re also very cognizant of the fact that drivers are the most important asset for a fleet management company.  So it’s very important to monitor the drivers’ overall well-being and how they’re driving…”

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