CUDL, a major auto lending network for credit unions, announced a new initiative with Manheim?s OVE.com and GE Capital Fleet Services. They will cooperate to further expand GE?s remarketing channels and to offer CUDL?s dealer network a new online vehicle buying program. CUDL also has a separate alliance with Open Dealer Exchange.
Toyota has upped fleet sales and incentives to increase US market share for its Camry and other products ? half of its January sales went into daily rental fleets. Toyota says sales went up 7.5% for its redesigned Camry, but rental fleet sales are playing a big role in the numbers as Toyota recovers from months of production shortages.
The NHTSA has tentatively embraced voice recognition to reduce driver distraction, and automakers are working to make conversational commands easier. Ford and GM have embraced software that uses natural language for commands with Sync and OnStar and continue to work on the technology. Guidelines governing voice technology are expected from the NHTSA by 2014.
In his latest budget proposal, President Obama wants to increase the current $7,500 tax credit available to buyers of battery cars and plug-in hybrids to $10,000 with the goal of boosting demand for the high-mileage vehicles. Critics have questioned the credits, but proponents say the credits are critical to encourage the vehicles' development. The President set a goal of having at least one million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2014.
Fleet services provider ARI is implementing the SAP HANA™ platform that will allow clients to analyze data at unparalleled speeds and deliver significant cost savings through its efficiency and analytical capabilities. The SAP HANA™ platform will work with ARI Insights® to process a variety of client interfaces to provide clients with total cost visibility. Implementation is expected by mid-2012.