AmeriFleet has done a lot of work around customer experience, involving client advisory boards and client focus groups -- and one of the greatest benefits has been the ability to offer much better training.
By Mike Sheldrick, Senior Editor
Call it what you will -- the smart car, the connected car, or maybe even the autonomous vehicle. They all may seem a long way off, but maybe not.
While the automakers, aftermarket hardware manufacturers, and software giants work on the acceptable standards for future cars, a group of start-ups is hoping to get a leg up on the industry by offering devices and applications that will provide many of the functions and features of new cars just hitting the market and those planned for the future.
For NAFA's 2015 I&E in Orlando, the format and schedule are being changed up for the better. One big change is that this year's Expo Floor is being designed to be an extension of the I&E learning experience.
KPMG Partner and automotive industry expert Gary Silberg prefaces their dynamic report on the 'forces that are shaping the entire automotive ecosystem': "Not since the first automotive revolution has there been such stunning innovation in the industry. Autonomous vehicles are only part of the story. The convergence of consumer and automotive technologies and the rise of mobility services are transforming the automotive industry and the way we live our lives."
Read the report
As declines go, Detroit’s has been spectacular. So it’s a little strange to discover—just a short drive north of downtown, past countless deserted office blocks and homes—something that could help make cities safer, more energy-efficient, and generally more pleasant to live in.
Down the road in Warren, Michigan, General Motors is testing technology that lets cars transmit and receive useful information wirelessly across several hundred meters. Vehicle-to-vehicle communications should improve road safety by warning drivers of an impending collision or alerting them to treacherous road conditions ahead.
Eventually, connected vehicles should also benefit cities, acting as mobile sensors within vital transportation arteries and helping prevent accidents, control congestion, and reduce energy use.