Cox Automotive Forecast: Fleet Sales Bounce Back with Overall New Vehicle Market
By Dave Bean, Editor, FMW
When the final December 2023 figures come in, sales of fleet vehicles are predicted to ride the cresting wave of overall new vehicle sales, which have improved markedly from 2022.
This after fleet sales were negatively affected in October and November 2023, chiefly a result of the UAW strike against the Big Three automakers in Detroit.
“With the strike now in the rearview mirror, December is expected to show a return to stronger fleet activity, and these sales could have a big impact on the month’s final tally,” said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive.
NuPropel: The Future of Commercial Vehicle Advanced Fuel Education and Resources Has Arrived
Comvoy.com, the automotive industry’s first structured searchable marketplace for work-ready trucks and vans powered by Work Truck Solutions, announced the launch of NuPropel, a commercial vehicle-centric advanced fuel resource center.
NuPropel is a brand-agnostic clearinghouse of information with a mission to provide all commercial vehicle stakeholders a forum to share and compare the myriad of topics relating to advanced fuel vehicles.
Attend the NAFA Green Garage Contest Announcement Webinar
Join NAFA on January 11, 2024, when we announce the 2024 Green Garage Contest winners! Find out which fleet took the top spot, and learn new best practices from operations with innovative eco-friendly maintenance facilities.
2024 Green Garage Contest Announcement Webinar
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET on January 11, 2024
To reserve your free spot, click here.
Safety Experts Concerned as Cars Track Drivers
Many of today’s cars maintain permanent connections to the internet. These enable automakers to provide remote software updates that fix safety problems and add new conveniences. But they also introduce new safety risks.
Cases of technology-enabled stalking involving cars are emerging as automakers add ever-more-sophisticated features, such as location tracking and remote control of functions such as locking doors or honking the horn.
The New York Times reports, “Domestic violence experts say that these convenience features are being weaponized in abusive relationships, and that car makers have not been willing to assist victims.”
Ranger Design Opens New Ship-Thru Facility
By Ted Roberts, President and Chief Content Officer, Fleet Management Weekly
On December 5th, I attended the grand opening of Ranger Design’s new fleet-upfitting and manufacturing facility in Ladson, South Carolina.
The new facility boasts 15,000 sq. ft. of dedicated warehouse space with six continuous production lanes that can average 10-15 units per lane.
The base output was established at an impressive maximum of 24,000 vehicles per year, that is also scalable by adding shifts or moving sub-assembly work offline.
According to Ron Cowie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ranger Design, “Our geographic expansion into the Southeast U.S. and the build-out of our fleet upfit solutions capabilities are a significant part of our overall growth plan. It positions us for new opportunities and enables us to better serve our current customers."
