Introducing Elle, the First Voice-Enabled Virtual Assistant for U.S. Fleet Drivers
LeasePlan USA today launched a ground-breaking new feature within its MyLeasePlan mobile app.
Elle is an intelligent virtual assistant that gives fleet drivers quick and easy access to critical vehicle – and fleet – related information in real-time.
This new virtual assistant is 'what’s next' in empowering drivers,” said Felipe Smolka, executive vice president of transformation, who leads on strategy and innovation at LeasePlan USA.
How Often Should I Start My Car and Let it Idle in Cold Weather? Answer: Don’t.
With frigid temperatures sweeping the country, many car owners are asking: How often should I start my car to warm it up?
Turns out, the answer doesn't lie in frequency, says Mike Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA. If a driver were to start their engine in extremely cold weather, Calkins says they would need to get it up to full operating temperature, which is best accomplished through driving the car around.
Read the article at Detroit Free Press.
Uber’s Latest App Update Is Pairing up With Regional Public Transit
In Denver, Uber is now trying to integrate its ride-hailing service with public transit by showing multiple trip options on its app.
Through a partnership with Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD), the Uber app can now show users how to get to their destinations on public transit. A "Transit" option now appears on the app, showing things like real-time departure and arrival times, and walking directions to nearby stations and said users will soon be able to buy digital RTD tickets through its app.
Read the article at The Drive.
Will Autonomous Vehicles ‘Cruise’ to Avoid Parking Fees?
In a new study, transportation planner Professor Adam Millard-Ball of the University of California, Santa Cruz has been researching the way that autonomous vehicles would respond to parking situations.
He points out that autonomous vehicles don’t have the same incentive to park as do manually controlled vehicles and could cause gridlock.
When a driver arrives at their destination, they necessarily have to park their car. But an autonomous vehicle can keep cruising around once its passenger has disembarked, and it may be incentivized to do so by parking costs.
Read the article at Digital Trends.
ACERTUS Promotes Two on Leadership Team
ACERTUS announced the promotion of two key executives on its leadership team:
• Rich Pinnock has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Drive Away.
• Alisha Buelt has been promoted to Vice President, Strategic Services.
Pinnock will lead ACERTUS’ Drive Away division in the US and Canada and Buelt will focus primarily on ACERTUS’ rapidly growing Title and Registration service line.
