Connected vehicles to completely change fleet industry, predicts ACFO

Date: 23 May 2017   |   Author: Daniel Puddicombe

"Connected car data will fundamentally change our industry. We have a long way to go, but we must change from a rear-view mirror perspective to using data to predict the future and move from a leasing company that provides management information to a data company that leases vehicles," he said.

However, that transition is going to be far from an easy shift, delegates predicted, with challenges including:

• Liability around data breaches with company car drivers not currently covered by leasing companies' Masterhire agreements, which were contracts with fleet customers
• Manufacturer determination of "who is the customer" - contract hire and leasing companies, end-user fleets or company car drivers
• The addition of new functionality to cars and software downloads by drivers during a vehicle's life meant monthly lease rates would change during a contract period and that presented a 'logistical challenge'
• The ability to continue to direct vehicle SMR work into the location of choice of the leasing company and customer fleet manager - franchise dealer, independent garage or fast-fit - and not just to the garage network of the manufacturer
• The deactivation of vehicle and driver data in the car at end-of-contract so second-hand purchasers could not access it
• The speed at which various manufacturers were introducing vehicle connectivity.

"We are currently at the tip of an iceberg. The arrival of 'big data' will have a major impact on fleet operations and company car drivers," said John Pryor, ACFO chairman. "Today's connectivity is the start of the journey towards the autonomous car and while the secure exchange of data builds the foundations for new business activities and applications, there are significant risks and challenges regarding safety, security and privacy that need to be addressed."

Pryor added: "Fleet managers want clarity on what the issues are; they want to understand how suppliers such as vehicle manufacturers and contract hire and leasing companies will access and use 'big data'; and, critically, they want to know what the law is in respect of managing and using 'big data' sourced directly from 'intelligent' vehicles."

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