What is Driving the European Fleet Market?
We were delighted to have had the opportunity to interview Samuel Kellner-Steinmetz, the chief sales officer of Bavaria-based Fleet Logistics Group, the largest independent fleet management supplier in Europe.
His insight into what is driving the European fleet market is particularly timely in the wake of yesterday’s release of the latest IPCC climate change report, a “code red for humanity”, according to the UN Secretary General.
We are relieved to learn that President Biden’s much-needed $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill has passed the Senate today. It is now headed for the House of Representatives, so if you have an opinion about the bill, do let your Representative know how you feel.
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
Congress Could Mandate Anti–Drunk Driving Technology in New Cars
The U.S. Congress is working on a $78 billion surface transportation bill as part of the larger $1 trillion infrastructure package. The bipartisan bill includes a significant safety provision that will aim to reduce the number of impaired drivers behind the wheel if it becomes law. Around 10,000 people are killed each year due to alcohol-related crashes in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Alongside funding for Amtrak and electric vehicles (among many other things), the bill would establish a new “advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology safety standard.” This standard would go into effect at least three years after the bill is signed and will require new vehicles to have technology that prevents impaired drivers from being able to operate them. This new legislation is similar to previous bills introduced in Congress, such as one in 2019 that aimed to install alcohol detection systems by 2024.
The bill doesn’t specify what kind of anti-impaired driving technology would be part of this standard, just that NHTSA will verify that it’s effective. Currently, ignition-interlock devices with breathalyzers that prevent the driver from starting the car if alcohol is detected are commonly used in the U.S. for those who have been convicted of drunk driving.
Read the article at Car and Driver.
Bridgestone Acquires Fleet Tracking Platform Azuga for $391M
Bridgestone Americas today announced that it has acquired Azuga, a connected vehicle platform for fleet operators, for $391 million in cash and stock. As a part of the deal, Bridgestone says it’ll take ownership of all of Azuga’s assets and integrate the team, including CEO Ananth Rani, into the parent company’s mobility solutions division.
The move comes as Bridgestone pivots to technology and logistics services, which the company aims to grow to 25% of its global revenues by 2025. While mobility and transportation firms — which are involved with the movement, storage, and flow of goods — have been impacted by the pandemic, Bridgestone is betting on a rosy future in the fleet management and telematics space, which is forecasted to grow to more than $10 billion in the U.S. over the next 3 to 5 years.
San Jose, California-based Azuga, which Rani founded in 2013, leverages GPS, vehicle diagnostics, and driver rewards to help survey and manage vehicle fleets. Its platform records miles, stops, and vehicle and driver alerts, using analytics to track metrics like driving behavior, fuel consumption, accident risk, and more.
Read more at VentureBeat.
Mobile Phone Asset Management: What Your Company Should Know
By Jennifer Warren, Sales Executive, Motus
Mobile phones play an important role in the way many employees function within their company. But just as important is how the company manages those mobile phones.
If the business isn’t using a bring your own device program, they are tasked with mobile phone asset management. Unfortunately, depending on the approach, it can be expensive and difficult to track and manage those assets. In this post we’ll share some challenges to implementing the right mobile phone asset management system and potential solutions.
Corporate-Liable Devices
When a company provides employees with mobile phones to be used for business, these are called corporate-liable devices. Also referred to as company-provided devices, businesses face the biggest challenge trying to manage this program in-house.
The reasons are simple. Companies naturally expect IT departments to manage, support and trouble shoot these devices. However, these departments are rarely equipped with the knowledge, experience or manpower to provide adequate support. As a result, in house mobile phone asset management results in an excess of unused phones that quickly become outdated.
AFLA Announces New Board Leaders
Four members have been elected to serve on the AFLA board. The new leaders will officially begin their terms at the close of the AFLA 2021 Corporate Fleet Conference, Emerging Stronger, which will be held October 3-6, 2021 in San Antonio, TX at the La Cantera Resort & Spa.
Secretary: Matthew Betz, Expert – Fleet Optimization at DTE Energy
Director of Allied Service Providers: Caroline Costello, Vice President, Business Development for Auto Driveaway
Director of Dealers: Don Wright, Commercial Sales Director at Five Star Ford
Director of Remarketers: Debbie Struna, National Account Manager at Fleet Street Remarketing, LLC was re-elected to serve a second term
