Category: Fleet News

Owning a car could soon become a thing of the past, with buying outright or on loan set to be replaced by vehicle subscriptions and personalised rentals.

This is the opinion of many motorists questioned by Avis Budget Group for its The Road Ahead: The Future of Mobility Report, with 44 per cent of drivers in the UK saying they would be willing to swap to this type of on-demand mobility in future.

Alternative solutions to showroom purchases

Globally, the firm found 54 per cent of those surveyed are open to alternative mobility solutions, with 68 per cent saying they don’t think car ownership will be the norm within the next decade.

Some 59 per cent suggested they expect to see a growing number of subscription models for cars and vans coming soon – as long as these on-demand services are offered at a reasonable price.

President of Avis Budget Group Keith Rankin said: “People today want to consume and access products and services at the click of a button. It’s imperative that different mobility players work together to ensure the future needs of consumers are met.”

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “We’re so used to our on-demand products like Netflix that it seems many drivers can’t see why the same model can’t be applied to mobility. We’d agree with this and look forward to seeing if these predictions come true.”

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New figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have highlighted a stabilisation in UK commercial fleet production in October.

It marks a return to positivity for the sector after several months of lacklustre performance.

Stable at home and growing overseas

According to the SMMT’s findings, a marginal reduction of 0.2 per cent was seen in commercial vehicle output during October. This compared favourably to year-to-date performance, which has witnessed an 11.8 per cent decline in comparison to the same period of 2018.

Overall, the sector remains strong, even if recent months have taken a toll on confidence across the industry. Indeed, output for UK exports saw a 9.3 per cent increase in October, highlighting continued resilience among manufacturers and a growing appetite for UK vehicles overseas.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes commented: “Some stability for commercial vehicle production in October is welcome, but it’s far too early to tell if this will last, not least due to a fluctuating fleet buying cycles and model changeovers affecting output.”

He went on to add that one of the major factors in any sustained renewal of confidence will be the securing of favourable trading conditions with the EU when the UK finally actions Brexit.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “A return to some form of stable market is great news for the UK’s commercial fleet sector. However, with issues like Brexit still to face in the new year, it’s too early to celebrate this latest upturn.”

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Hyundai Motor Company has completed a landmark test that successfully saw a platoon of trucks travelling autonomously as one.

The test took place earlier this month on the Yeoju Smart Highway and replicated real-world traffic conditions.

A significant step forward for self-driving vehicles

The trial was carried out using two trailer-connected Xcient trucks. The Yeoju Smart Highway is a 7.7 km testbed constantly populated by vehicles for autonomous driving research, making it quite similar to the conditions of an actual highway.

A demonstration of the capabilities of Hyundai’s new platooning system for automated driving saw vehicles moving in and out of the connected trailers with each vehicle maintaining safe distance and connection to the rest of the platoon.

Emergency braking systems were also tested and operated successfully, while communication between the two trailers was monitored at all times and was shown to operate effectively.

The test saw a constant speed limit of 60 mph adhered to by all vehicles, meaning future tests will be required to more closely replicate real-world conditions with shifting speeds.

“We are confident that our industry-leading autonomous driving technology in commercial vehicles showcased in this platooning truck demonstration will lead into a revolutionary paradigm shift in the freight and logistics industry,” commented Jihan Ryu, head of Hyundai Motor’s Commercial Vehicle Electronics Control Engineering Group.

What does it mean to reach Level 5?

There are five levels of autonomous driving, rated as:

• Level 0: No automation – the driver performs all tasks.
• Level 1: Driver assistance – some individual automated assistance available, but the driver is in full control at all times.
• Level 2: Partial automation – some combined automated functions, but the driver must remain in control at all times.
• Level 3: Conditional automation – driver not required to monitor the environment in specific circumstances but must always be prepared to take control.
• Level 4: High automation – vehicle has full automation in some conditions; driver has the option to take over if needed.
• Level 5: Full automation – vehicle is capable of performing all driving functions under all conditions, but driver has option to take charge.

At present, many vehicles can claim to be at Level 3 or 4; Level 5 automation is proving elusive. This latest successful test, however, may mean full automation could be just around the corner.

Mr Ryu concluded: “We will strive to create constructive synergy by sharing our knowhow and experiences of developing autonomous driving technology between commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle sectors to expedite Level 5 autonomous driving technology.”

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “This successful test could be a landmark moment in the development of fully-autonomous vehicles for the freight and logistics sector. It represents a significant step forward in autonomous vehicles.

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Britain’s infrastructure is increasingly unfit for purpose and this is impacting directly upon businesses, according to a new poll.

Research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in conjunction with Stagecoach found that of the 1,200 business leaders surveyed, only 35 per cent feel the UK road network is meeting their needs when it comes to reaching customers, employees and suppliers.

Losing business due to poor roads

This was even lower than the 47 per cent recorded in 2018, with 60 per cent saying they had experienced delays that resulted in issues such as client dissatisfaction and loss of business within the past month.

The BCC is now calling on the government and whoever is in power following the upcoming general election to make significant investments in road and rail schemes and to give companies more say in local decision-making.

Spokesperson Claire Walker said: “Upgrading our road and rail capacity would send a vital signal that businesses are finally being heard, would kick-start business investment across the country and will pay dividends long into the future.”

The National Infrastructure Commission has recommended public spending on infrastructure should make up 1.2 per cent of GDP per year by 2020, but the BCC is keen for this to rise to at least 1.4 per cent to ensure roads are fit for purpose.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “We’ve all seen evidence that Britain’s roads are in a state, but to see this impacting upon businesses in such a tangible way is truly shocking. It’s clear something must be done.”