Rivian Wants Out of Exclusive Amazon Electric Van Deal
An exclusive agreement between Amazon and Rivian for 100,000 electric delivery vans is reportedly on its way to being scrapped. Rivian is negotiating its way out of the deal after Amazon asked for only 10,000 electric vans this year, below the electric carmaker’s expectations.
Ending the agreement would allow Rivian to shop its delivery vans to other buyers in a bid to shore up more business to stay afloat. Electric commercial vehicles are expected to boom by more than 30% this year, compared to last year, according to analysts. That would bode well for Rivian to supplement its retail market with commercial vehicles that aren’t tied to Amazon.
Spiffy CEO Explains How Its On-Demand Technology Will Disrupt the Car Care Services Experience
Fleet Management Weekly recently had the opportunity to speak with Scot Wingo, CEO of Spiffy, the mobile auto service provider that offers a variety of hand car washing, advanced detailing, oil change, tire install and repair, brakes, and many other preventative maintenance services.
Spiffy is a modern automotive services company. We are applying the technology and convenience of e-commerce to car care. We come to you, so we're mobile first. We're digital, so we interact with our customers in a more digital way. Requests can be made through an app or a fleet portal.
The Future of Automotive Data Collection and Safety: Tires Take Center Stage
Industry experts predict that tire sensors will become smarter and offer more vital data for drivers as electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity. Since EVs are generally heavier than gasoline-powered cars and possess greater torque, the need for safe tire wear rates is higher.
Major tire manufacturers are developing advanced sensors and experimenting with products to help tires last longer, provide drivers with advance warning about when they need servicing or replacement, and ultimately reduce the risk of tire blowouts and increased braking distances. Continental, for example, has developed intelligent sensors that go beyond merely monitoring tire pressure by also gauging temperature and detecting punctures.
Whether EV or ICE, Today’s Vehicle Tech Presents New Challenges for Collision & Repair Shops
By Brian Herron, President and CEO of Opus IVS
Based on actual insurance claims for small, non-luxury-brand cars with front-end damage that were still drivable, the average EV model cost $4,041 to fix.
This represents a 27% increase compared with the average gas-powered unit seeking similar collision repairs.
Regardless of whether it’s a gas-powered vehicle or an EV, today’s technicians must be properly trained to run diagnostic system and network checks on the technology now in vehicles, including ADAS systems.
With the right collision and repair technology from strategic partners, collision and repair shops can service each vehicle appropriately and help ensure each customer that the job was handled properly.
Keeping Up with the Times
There’s a lot of change in the fleet industry, and one of the best ways to keep up with the times is to stay engaged via our industry associations - AFLA, NAFA, NETS and NTEA, for example.
Speaking of NAFA, have you registered yet for their Institute & Expo in Baltimore next month? You can do that right here. Also, NAFA CEO Bill Schankel has a nice video clip this week highlighting some of the reasons you should attend!
The New Wheels
This week we have an insightful interview with Wheels President Matt Dyer on the organization’s integration journey, explaining how they have united their team and their customers under “one name, one brand, one mission.” READ MORE
Ted Roberts
President
