Category: Fleet News

The car of the future will be “a home from home”, a place where passengers can relax and unwind in comfort, according to the latest predictions from Auto Trader.

What will cars be like by 2050? Well, Auto Trader’s design team have come up with a thought-provoking concept that does away with the traditions of motoring and embraces a new, automated future.

Full autonomy and a safe space to relax

A key design element of the car of 2050 will be the fact it is fully electric, with all remnants of the petrol/diesel era consigned to the history books.

It will also be fully automated and driverless, meaning connected systems will take over all aspects of the actual driving, meaning the vehicle’s occupants can simply sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

As a result, Auto Trader predicts the interior of the cars of tomorrow will be very different from today, with the driver’s seat completely taken out and replaced with a comfortable, expansive interior that allows all occupants to engage.

Futurologist Tom Cheesewright argues: “Tomorrow’s car takes you from A to B with minimum fuss and in maximum style. Future technologies will give designers free rein to create more space and comfort, so that we can get on with our lives while an AI takes care of the driving.

“While our cars won’t be flying any time soon, we can all benefit from cleaner, quieter, safer roads. In just 20 years, the age of the combustion engine will be well and truly over.”

Innovations in leisure and aesthetics

Another element of the future design for cars in 2050 will be the extent to which owners will be able to customise and personalise their vehicles.

Auto Trader’s Rory Reid commented: “It’s no surprise that the 2050 car will be fully electric, but it’s fascinating to think what these advancements, including driverless tech, could mean for the actual design of cars and how they could be used.”

He added that the advent of technologies like ‘digital paint’ could also prove ground-breaking in terms of vehicle design and satisfaction.

“People are increasingly using technology to express themselves and this tech would remove the need to wait for a colour of car to come into stock or fork out extra to have a car spray painted a certain colour.”

Other innovative aspects of the 2050 concept include voice-activated controls, preferred options for driving style – are you rushing to office or out for a leisurely drive? – and the widening of in-car entertainment, such as internet-connected TVs or in-car gaming.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Trying to figure out what the cars of tomorrow will be like is no easy feat, but the boffins at Auto Trader believe we’ll all benefit from the uptake of driverless technology. It’s certainly something that appears a feasible future, but we will miss the days when the driver was truly at the heart of the driving experience.”

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With Valentine’s Day upon us, many of us will be rushing home this evening (February 14th) to spend time with loved ones, but spare a thought for the UK’s van drivers, who may be unable to do so due to work.

Research published by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has revealed how two-thirds of UK van drivers have had to miss special occasions, like Valentine’s Day, because of their job.

Busy schedules mean heartache for some

The research showed that birthday celebrations were the most common occasion to succumb to many drivers’ busy schedules, but this was closely followed by anniversaries and children’s sports days.

Across the country, the survey revealed that drivers in the north-east were the most likely to have to make these sacrifices, with 83 per cent having done this in the past.

Conversely, drivers in Scotland were at the other end of the spectrum, with 45 per cent of respondents stating they never miss a special occasion because of work.

David Hanna, head of service and parts at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The stereotype is that people forget Valentine’s Day and have to make a late dash to the petrol station for flowers, but we know that sometimes missing out on the occasion is sometimes unavoidable.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “The conscientiousness of the UK’s van operators, who place work commitments ahead of their personal lives, is something to be applauded. However, we do feel for them, as these special occasions are sometimes once in a lifetime events.”

UK fleet operators are being urged by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) to review their policies in relation to upcoming changes in the WLTP standard.

Prior to the introduction of more accurate data on April 6th, businesses will have to rely on less accurate calculations for CO2 figures for their vehicles, which could impact their level of taxation when new rules come into force from April 1st.

Bridging the data gap

Due to the average lead time of between nine to 12 weeks when ordering new fleet vehicles, companies making purchases prior to the release of the new data are being asked to invest in vehicles that may become more expensive to operate in the very near future.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney stated: “The BVRLA and its members are working with OEMs and third-party data providers to bridge this gap, but in the meantime, we would recommend customers consult with their lease providers to assess the impact on their fleet policies and procurement.”

He added that the introduction of new WLTP-based taxation for VED and Company Car Tax means it is important that businesses have a clear understanding of the environmental impact of their fleets.

As a result, the BVRLA has stated it is now in contact with other bodies, including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and HMRC, to support the smooth transition to new WLTP-based costs for fleets.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “With potential disparity between the expected cost to operate new vehicles and their realistic cost after new tax rules are introduced, it may be wise for businesses to hold off on any major fleet purchases until this situation is resolved.”

Rolls-Royce has announced the official opening of applications for individuals to take part in its 2020 Sir Ralph Robins Degree Apprenticeships Programme.

Offering degree-level training for the next generation of automotive engineers, the scheme – now in its 14th year – allows its entrants to gain nationally-recognised qualifications and work alongside world-class craftspeople.

Developing the next generation of skilled professionals

Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “Our Apprenticeship Programme is one of our greatest achievements, providing unique professional and personal development opportunities for talented people.

“I am delighted that so many of our previous apprentices are still with us.”

He added it gives the organisation great pleasure to know that graduates of the programme are contributing to the wider success of British manufacturing.

That said, many graduates of the programme go on to progress into senior supervisory, technical and management roles with Rolls-Royce.

Applications for positions on this year’s programme are now open and the closing date for entrants is March 15th.

All those hoping to make the cut will be subject to a rigorous selection process, designed to assess their individual strengths, aptitudes, personal qualities and potential.

Successful applicants will join the programme in August this year, with the number of available places having been doubled in 2020.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Rolls-Royce should be applauded for its commitment to developing the skills of the next generation of professionals in the UK automotive sector.”

There’s a lively debate taking place in the UK at the moment – one that fleet managers will have a particular interest in – relating to the safety of the country’s busiest roads.

Smart motorways use various methods to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, one of which is to turn the hard shoulder into an active driving lane.

Operating on stretches of the M1, M4, M5, M6, M42 and M62, this practice has raised safety concerns because motorists who break down could be stranded in traffic.

A recent report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Roadside Rescue and Recovery went as far as to call smart motorways “death traps”. This followed a BBC Panorama investigation which found that 38 people have been killed on these stretches of road in the last five years.

Road safety should be the number one priority for fleet managers, who could be concerned by these figures. There are always steps you can take to improve safety, such as introducing telematics to better understand driver habits and behaviours.

‘Shocking and careless’

The parliamentary group, which is made up of MPs from various parties, agreed that the introduction of smart motorways had led to the deaths of road users. It described the change as “shocking and careless”.

Concerns have also been raised by Police Federation chairman John Apter, who told the Daily Telegraph the technology was introduced on the assumption that it would be able to instantly detect any lane obstructions. This would allow help to be dispatched, while overhead gantries would be updated to warn drivers and close the affected lane.

“We … have been completely misled and a poor system has been introduced,” he added.

Sir Mike Penning, the former government minister who approved the smart motorway rollout, said the system is endangering people’s lives.

“There are people that are being killed and seriously injured on these roads, and it should never have happened,” he told the BBC.

Highways England responds

Highways England, which is responsible for managing motorways and major A-roads across England, responded to the recent controversy by releasing an official statement saying that “any deaths on our roads is one too many”.

The agency said the transport secretary had asked the Department for Transport to carry out an urgent “evidence stocktake” to gather the facts about smart motorway safety.

“We are committed to safety and are supporting the department in its work on this,” Highways England added.

As far as regular road users are concerned, RAC research released in November showed that nearly seven out of ten drivers (68 per cent) think removing the hard shoulder puts people at greater risk if their vehicle breaks down in a live lane.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Smart motorway safety is a big issue that – quite rightly – has attracted a lot of attention of late. Fleet managers should be sure to keep up with the latest developments in this area and take all necessary measures to help keep their drivers and other road users safe.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com