Heart & Soul
We met Claudia Smolda, VP of Human Resources at The CEI Group, several months ago and came away from that meeting with a smile and the lightest heart. In a Gallup survey last summer, CEI’s employees were found to be four times more engaged than the average US worker. That’s an awesome achievement – and when you view her video clip you’ll see how their employees are supported to give their best.
We all have much to be thankful for during this holiday season and we at Fleet Management Weekly offer our special thanks to our many friends in this industry. What a great place to be!
Enjoy this issue of Fleet Management Weekly, check out FleetManagementWeekly.com for daily updates, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones.
Janice Sutton
Executive Editor
Consumers Demanding New Safety and Autonomous Driving Features
While traditional attributes, like good fuel economy, remain important to American auto shoppers, the focus is shifting. Buyers are putting more and more emphasis on high-tech safety features and looking forward to a wave of new autonomous technologies coming to market in the near future, according to a new study.
But a second study says it’s a new entrant to the automotive world, tech giant Google, that has taken the lead in self-driving technology.
VW Emissions Scandal Pummels Prices of Used Diesel Cars
Prices for used Volkswagen diesel cars have hit the skids since an emissions scandal broke, but prices for gasoline-powered VWs appear to be relatively unscathed, according to auto industry sources.
On Sept. 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board notified Volkswagen that certain of its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder TDI diesel vehicles did not comply with clean-air standards. Volkswagen has admitted that it tampered with those cars to pass emissions testing.
The average auction price for those VW models has dropped nearly $2,100, or 16.1 percent, since the announcement, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Sofico Sees Growing Market Convergence Between Fleet and Retail
The boundaries between pure fleet and pure retail sales in the European automotive leasing market are blurring as the two markets increasingly converge.
The new developments require flexible, smart systems to help manage the convergence, says leading global automotive finance, leasing and fleet software provider, Sofico.
Sofico, whose systems now manage more than 1m vehicles around the world, has witnessed an increasing convergence trend in the way that fleet and retail markets operate across Europe, as suppliers identify new strategies to try and maximize their market share.
Mazda3 Wins ‘Most Loved’ Vehicle In Its Class Award
The 2016 Mazda3 has been awarded "Most Loved Vehicle" in the small car segment by analysis organization Strategic Vision's Customer Love Index Report.
"Our enthusiasm for the Mazda3 matches that of our customers, and we're thrilled it continues to deliver on what drivers are passionate about for a vehicle," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "Customer feedback helps us create the vehicles that drivers want to drive, and continued excitement for the Mazda3 is our motivation for enhancing the performance and design of the vehicle year after year."
