BMW and Daimler Merging Mobility Services Operations
Mercedes’ parent Daimler and rival BMW have announced an array of new joint venture projects that will include car and ride-sharing operations that could challenge upstarts like Uber, Lyft and China’s Didi Chuxing.
Under their agreement, the parent of both the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands will combine its Car2Go car-sharing service with BMW’s three mobility services operations. The BMW/Daimler partnership is aimed at establishing a firm stake in the industry’s transformation and ensuring that their vehicles will continue to have a market
Read the article at The Detroit Bureau.
A Quick Switch to Electric Vehicles Would be ‘The Suicide of the German Car Industry’
The debate about the future of cars - diesel or electric - is emotional for many Germans, as the auto industry and its dependent companies employ 1.8 million people, hundreds of thousands of whom work directly with internal combustion engines.
New carbon emission limits and pending bans on diesel and gasoline cars in major markets threaten their livelihoods. German cars are big business, bringing in almost $500 billion annually. And a successful switch to electromobility will cost 114,000 jobs in Germany by 2035, according to predictions from the Institute for Employment Research.
Read the article at The Verge.
Can Teens Learn Better Driving Skills With An Xbox Driving Game?
Founder and chief executive Bob Davis, created Virtual Driver Interactive in 2004 after he researched how to manufacture and scale a system to be affordable for families and usable with an ordinary teen's skills. His son suggested Xbox.
Virtual Driver Interactive offers simulation-based driver training for a range of vehicles and watercraft, for multiple industries. Clients include the United States Postal Services, utility companies, law enforcement agencies and the American Automobile Association.
Read the article at Forbes.
The Journey Toward Driver Safety Excellence
By Erik Bousquet, Behind-the-Wheel Driver Safety Instructor at Driving Dynamics
Fleet operators today face the daunting task of mitigating risk in a tough economic environment.
Recent analyses continue to show an uptick in the number of traffic crashes. What is needed to get control over these escalating costs?
Organizations that employ drivers have a responsibility to ensure those employees are equipped with the highest level of skill and knowledge when it comes to: handling their vehicles, understanding the use and limitations of vehicle safety technologies, safely carrying loads and managing external influences effectively.
Equally important is sustaining responsible attitudes and behaviors toward safety behind-the-wheel. Consider that most fleet drivers have been driving for several, if not many, years and those years on the road represent the preponderance of their driving education.
Webinar: Is Leasing Right for Your Fleet?
Do you ever find yourself wondering if it makes more sense for your company to lease vehicles rather than buy them outright?
Sign up to join Donlen for a free webinar that could help you decide if leasing vehicles is right for your fleet. Thursday, March 7, 3:30 - 4:30 pm EST.
You can expect to hear about: The leasing/finance options that exist and their differences; Pros and cons of owning your fleet vehicles; The tell-tale signs that leasing could be saving you major $$$; When reimbursing drivers makes sense.
