IIHS-HLDI: As Vision Zero Hopes Fade, a 5-Year Goal Can Help Us Reset
(photo: IIHS-HLDI)
By David Harkey, President, IIHS-HLDI
Many countries and some U.S. communities are making good on their Vision Zero commitments, gradually chipping away at the number of people needlessly killed on the roadways. But in the U.S. as a whole, the goal of zero fatalities has been moving farther and farther out of reach.
Confronting the road safety crisis requires all hands on deck, now more than ever. We challenge all our partners — other research organizations; advocacy groups; state, local and federal policymakers; vehicle manufacturers; transportation engineers; public health and safety officials; law enforcement; and insurers — to think about what they can contribute.
J.D. Power EV Study: Owners of Battery Electric Vehicles Satisfied – Likely to Buy Another Next Time
By Dave Bean, Content Editor, FMW
The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study shows something last year’s study did not: an uptick in owner satisfaction with both mass market and premium battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Further bolstering optimism in the future of EVs is the coinciding improvement of market share of electric vehicles in 2024, the likely result of more makes and models available.
Optimism is somewhat tempered, however, by the fact that the new White House administration is doing all it can to discourage ownership of alternative fuel vehicles.
“The elimination of EV tax incentives and public charging funding has the potential to affect two critical barriers to EV adoption: public charging availability and vehicle prices,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power.
Indiana to Produce Honda Civics Starting in 2028 to Avoid Tariffs, Sources Say
Honda has decided to produce its next-generation Civic hybrid in Indiana, starting May 2028, to avoid potential U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods, according to Reuters.
The decision marks a shift from Honda’s initial plan to manufacture the Civic in Guanajuato, Mexico, beginning November 2027. This move is a response to the proposed 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada.
Mexico has been a cost-effective production hub for many automakers, with Honda exporting approximately 80% of its Mexican output to the U.S., the world’s second-largest auto market.
Preview: Work Truck Week 2025
By Tod Trousdell, Partner, RobertsTrousdell Marketing and Communications
Excitement for NTEA's Work Truck Week 2025, which arrives just next week, is palpable and quite possibly at an all-time high as the industry prepares for what has become the “It” event of the work-fleet conference season.
“The amount of new and innovative things planned for this year’s show is staggering,” said Steve Carey, NTEA President and CEO, who points out that Work Truck Week is “the one week of the year where the industry fully showcases what it has to offer.”
Work vehicle upfitters – a group that has seen steady consolidation over the past few years – will again make a strong showing, with long-time behemoth Adrian Steel, Masterack, and newly-sold Ranger Design all sporting impressive booths.
WTW25 kicks off Monday, March 3 in Indianapolis, with the popular Green Fleet Summit while the main exhibit floor opens on Wednesday morning. The event runs through Friday, March 7 at noon.
Fueling the Future
“Data-driven fuel management is a game-changer for fleet managers,” says FuelCloud’s Tristan Kruth in today’s top feature story.
In fact, fleet management software now delivers more accurate and timely data than ever before, and that is revolutionary for fleet management best practices. READ MORE
Meet Us at Work Truck Week
The Fleet Management Weekly team is currently attending Work Truck Week in Indianapolis! If you’d like to set up a meeting, please contact me HERE.
Ted Roberts
President
