Stellantis is launching MyTasks, an industry first tool for fleet managers that enables real-time communication, task assignment and status updates with drivers in the field via the vehicle’s built-in infotainment unit.
MyTasks enables fleet managers or dispatchers to assign tasks or change schedules of individual drivers via an online portal. Vehicle drivers then get an instant notification of assignments via a pop-up message in the vehicle’s infotainment screen.
“A breakthrough tool like MyTasks is the result of when we put our customers’ needs above all else,” Stellantis Chief Software Officer Yves Bonnefont said.
The University of Michigan recently conducted an experiment using in-car GPS data to try and alleviate the issue of long traffic signal stops. The 18-month study is claimed to be the world’s first large-scale, cloud-based traffic signal retiming system.
It used GPS data from General Motors cars traversing Birmingham, Michigan. Researches say by using this limited data, they were able to reduce the number of stops by 20-30 percent at signalized intersections. U-M states the study “represents a major opportunity for communities to recalibrate their signal patterns at reduced costs.”
The cost of owning and operating a car has skyrocketed in the aftermath of the pandemic. The latest pinch for drivers is the cost of auto insurance, which is up 20.6% year over year as of February — the biggest jump in the cost of car insurance in government data going back to 1985.
Car insurance accounts for 2.5% of the basket of goods and services the government measures when calculating the overall rate of inflation and is among categories counted towards the "core" inflation measure that the Federal Reserve keeps a close eye on. Core inflation rose 0.4% over the prior month in February and 3.8% over the prior year.
By Jim Perkins, Director of Shell Fleet Solutions, USA
Fleet operators are drinking data from a firehose. From location and route metrics to data around refueling and recharging, the typical operator has thousands of inputs pouring in each day from their collective vehicles. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
The prospect of analyzing all this data, or even just part of it, threatens to overload an already high administrative burden.
Volvo is rolling out a new safety feature that can warn of a crash or breakdown ahead, which could be crucial on winding roads or when there's poor visibility. Called Accident Ahead Alert, the system relies on cloud technology and anonymously shared real-time data gathered by various national traffic management centers.
In compatible Volvo models, the driver will receive a warning about a vehicle ahead while the gap is still hundreds of feet. Compatible Volvo cars can already warn each other of slippery road conditions and other hazards, and the automaker is looking to integrate more traffic information provided by traffic management centers as the information is made available.