Global consolidation is a reality that many companies frequently face in today’s internationally focused society. But what does this mean for fleet managers? For many, it means a rapidly expanded fleet that is much more complex and time-consuming to manage than a local fleet.

In part one of this Q&A series, Esther Calvo Bolaño, vice president international sales for LeasePlan International, explains why it’s important to understand global fleets and how to manage one.

READ MORE

Toyota and Acura retain their original value better than any other brands after five years of ownership, according to the fifth annual Edmunds.com Best Retained Value awards.

Toyota won in the non-luxury division with a projected 52.4 percent residual value after five years. Acura won the luxury division with a projected five-year residual value of 46.9 percent.

“Smart car shoppers who are likely to sell their car within five years should always stop and consider projected residual values before making a new car purchase,” said Edmunds.com Consumer Advice Editor Carroll Lachnit. “Whether you are leasing or buying, the retained value of a car can make a big difference in your wallet.”

READ MORE

By Jeofey Bean

If The American Customer Satisfaction Index were to measure your business, competitors and alternatives, how would you do in an era of rising customer expectations and no middle ground?

As you may know from reading this column I really admire the companies that know what they “Do For” customers that is highly valued and have the results to show for it.

And I am dismayed about the companies that reside on the other side, the dark side, of the Do For coin. These companies consistently “Do To” customers things that they dislike and do not value, erasing customer loyalty.

Some of these companies have done this for so long and so poorly they are helping to grow competitive alternatives by distressing their customers emotionally and economically. There’s plenty to learn about what not to do from these businesses.

READ MORE

For the first time in nearly three decades, Japanese brand vehicles fell below industry average on initial quality, according to a consumer survey by J.D. Power & Associates.

The surprising result is less a measure of faltering by the Japanese and more a reflection of how must faster other brands are improving. The Japanese brands improved marginally, but failed to keep up with the rest of the industry.

J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study, which measures problems experienced by vehicle owners during the first 90 days of ownership, was released today at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association.

READ MORE

In a new study from AAA, eight of 10 drivers surveyed report that they get better fuel economy than the window-sticker ratings provided by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Overall, the respondents said their real-world fuel economy averages 12 percent higher than the combined city/highway EPA ratings for their vehicles.

Those who drive diesel-powered vehicles reported fuel economy that was 20 percent better than the sticker; owners of manual-transmission models said they got 17 percent higher mileage; drivers of V6-engined sedans reported 9 percent better fuel economy; and owners of V8-powered trucks found that they improved on the sticker rating by 5 percent.

READ MORE

While it may be best known for its gambling industry, the State of Nevada has been making a push to take leadership in the future of the auto industry, as well.

The first state to officially license autonomous vehicles, and the home to the new Tesla Gigafactory battery plant, Gov. Brian Sandoval this week announced plans for the Nevada Electric Highway. The project will set up a network of charging stations on U.S. 95, the highway between Reno, where the Gigafactory is being built, and the gaming center of Las Vegas.

“We’ve all driven this road before and have anxiety (just) getting gas,” said Sandoval. “Now we can have confidence to charge our electric vehicles and drive them from place to place.”

READ MORE

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are proposing controversial new standards that would improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including the largest pickup trucks sold by General Motors, Ford and FCA U.S.

The proposed rules would apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, and all types and sizes of buses and work trucks.

The rules would require a 24% carbon dioxide emissions cut and fuel consumption less than an equivalent vehicle scheduled for sale in 2018, based on the fully phased-in standards for the tractor alone in a tractor-trailer vehicle. The proposed rules would cover model years 2021-2027.

READ MORE

When driving behind big semi-trailers, people regularly take risks overtaking them because they often have to first move out from behind the truck to see if the road ahead is clear before passing. This is particularly dangerous on single-lane highways because such a maneuver can mean driving into the path of oncoming traffic.

Now Samsung Electronics has come up with a way to help reduce this problem by mounting cameras on the front of a truck and large screens on the rear to display to following drivers a clear view of the road ahead.

READ MORE

By Janice Sutton

Tell me what I need to know, when I need to know it, and how I need to see it!

Laura Jozwiak, Vice President of Client Relations at Wheels, leads a dynamic team of client relations and account management specialists. In this interview, Laura gives us insight into how this company has positioned itself to deliver on the promise of its founder.

Laura says, “We don’t fight change – we’ve embraced the sourcing and we’ve embraced all of the changes. Let’s start with what hasn’t changed at Wheels. The clients have always come first, that hasn’t changed in 75 years. We started because a client had an issue that our founder Zollie Frank listened to; developing a solution that nobody else even thought about and delivered. That solution created this industry. That philosophy of listening and adapting to change has never wavered. That is what we do, and that is all we do.”

READ MORE to learn how the Wheels’ client relations team is structured to deliver service — not just for today, but three to five years from now, and what exactly their clients are asking the team to deliver.

The “significant threat” of distracted walking injuries, which are on the rise, is “so alarming,” that for the first time this year the trend is included in the National Safety Council’s annual statistical report.

Fifty-two percent of distracted walking incidents involving cell phones happened at home, not on or near roads, as many believe, and most of the injuries affected women and people 40 years old and younger, the nonprofit advocacy group announced.

“More than half of all unintentional injuries each year happen at home, so don’t take your safety for granted,” Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and chief executive of the National Safety Council, said in a statement. “No call, text or update is worth an injury.”

READ MORE