By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

Cox Fleet, a Cox Automotive brand, supports fleets of all sizes across the country with a comprehensive service model including scheduled maintenance, emergency roadside assistance, managed care, parts distribution, and equipment sales.

With a network of more than 65K+ service providers, 1,500+ expert Cox Fleet technicians and a 24/7/365 support team, Cox Fleet provides national scale with local accountability.

FMW speaks with Patrick Brennan, Senior Vice President of Operations for Cox Fleet, about how unifying services under one brand, predictive maintenance, and ecosystem-wide data are reshaping uptime, cost control, and long-term fleet performance.

Predictive maintenance starts with access to the full picture… When we can see trends across different vehicle types, applications, and operating environments, we can begin to anticipate what may happen next.

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By Oliver Carpenter, VP Environmental Analytics, Risilience

Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Volvo have all revised their targets for an all-electric portfolio by 2030, conceding that regulatory and market conditions will dictate the pace of transition.

These strategic pivots highlight the financial risk of misjudging the timing and pace of the shift. Nevertheless, conviction in an all-electric endgame remains across the industry.

It is not a matter of if the industry transitions, but rather how to anticipate the rate of change. Adaptability will be decisive to success: companies that understand what’s at stake and best navigate both risks and opportunities will emerge the winners.

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By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor, Fleet Management Weekly

Fleetio’s recently introduced AI Service Advisor aims to improve how maintenance approvals are handled by changing the evaluation process. Instead of relying only on manual review, the system uses data analysis to review repair orders and determine priority.

One of the main functions of the platform is to differentiate between routine maintenance and potential exceptions. Repairs that match expected service intervals, historical cost ranges, and known vehicle conditions can be classified as standard.

Tools like AI Service Advisor illustrate an emerging approach where routine decisions are automated or driven by data, and human oversight focuses on exceptions and significant issues. In this context, the fleet manager’s role may continue to change.

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Electric vehicle owners are in for a treat as Google Maps is bringing new trip planning features to more than 350 vehicles with Android Auto. This promises to make long-distance trips less stressful.

Users can add their current battery level to unlock more features, including recommended charging stops, estimated arrival battery level, and an updated ETA based on charging time. There’s even an option that allows you to select how much battery charge you want left when you arrive at your destination.

With this information in hand, Google Maps can use vehicle information to calculate several important details. For example, when you set a destination, the app will estimate battery usage for the trip.

via CarScoops

War with Iran has pushed up gas prices by $1 per gallon, but there’s another skyrocketing vehicle expense that hasn’t gotten as much attention: car insurance.

Car insurance rates plummeted in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but by the end of 2020, that trend changed course dramatically, according to an analysis by Cox Automotive.

Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jeremy Robb says that 60% increase outpaces the consumer price index by a wide margin. He shared a chart showing that the cost of maintenance and repair, although climbing steadily since the pandemic, is nearly as high as the 60% increase for insurance.

via CarBuzz

Most cars today tend to come in grayscale shades such as gray/silver, white, and black. It’s a sharp contrast to eras like the 1950s, when American models like the Chevrolet Bel Air often wore far more vibrant paint jobs. A new report suggests that colorful exterior finishes may be regaining popularity.

Pantone Color Institute automotive expert Gloria Jover said the data show the color palette is “evolving rather than stagnating,” citing a two-percentage-point increase in recent years.

She noted that buyers often choose colors like gray because they are seen as a “safe” choice for resale, with nearly 80% of American new-car buyers reportedly opting for such shades.

via Autoblog

Workhorse is once again pushing back on affordability concerns and high fuel prices with the introduction of a new, more affordable configuration of the company’s W56 Step Van electric delivery vehicle.

Priced at “just” $169,000, the new 140 kWh W56 Step Van offers an estimated nominal range of 100 miles per charge at its full, 10,000 lb. payload capacity.

“The new 140 kWh version of our W56 step van is a result of listening to customer feedback and purpose-building a product to meet their needs,” said Scott Griffith, CEO of Workhorse. “We’ve been able to balance the functional needs of fleets – range, durability, reliability and performance – with a lower entry price to offer a ‘no-compromise’ electric truck.”

via Electrek

By David Prusinski, CEO, VMS.AI

The shift toward the connected, intelligent automobile has accelerated rapidly, but the real disruption is not simply the growth of connected data; it is the speed at which new capabilities must now be engineered, deployed, and scaled across the vehicle ecosystem.

For fleet operators and the broader automotive ecosystem, the real challenge is no longer access to data; it is turning that data into immediate, actionable outcomes that keep vehicles on the road and reduce operational burden.

It’s not just about adopting new technology, but executing a fundamental “strategy pivot” to a unified architectural model that enables rapid engineering, deployment, and scaling of AI-powered vehicle services.

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By Sarah Bechtold, eDriving

As winter fades and spring approaches, many fleet managers breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Snowstorms subside, daylight stretches longer, and road conditions appear more forgiving.

But beneath the surface, spring represents one of the most underestimated risk periods of the year for fleet operations. Seasonal transitions introduce subtle—but significant—changes in driver behavior, road conditions, and cognitive demand.

Platforms like Mentor by eDriving help fleets see seasonal risk shifts before incidents occur. By analyzing driving behaviors and trends through the FICO® Safe Driving Score, fleets can identify early warning signs.

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By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor, Fleet Management Weekly

Artificial intelligence is quickly transitioning from a technology concept to a practical management tool for fleets.

For fleet managers overseeing vehicle acquisition, maintenance, telematics, driver safety, and fuel management, these tools provide a new way to handle the growing complexity of modern fleet operations.

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