Automakers Help Commercial Fleets Leverage Data to Boost Productivity

When fleet managers can access the telematics data from their vehicles through their fleet management system, they can see where their vehicles are, how those vehicles are being driven and when those vehicles will be due for maintenance.

When they can do so by tapping the embedded telematics that were installed at the factory, they can do these things without having to add an aftermarket device to the vehicle.

Beginning later this year, commercial fleets will be able to do this with vehicles from the Stellantis brands, including Ram, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler. This follows the announcement of a partnership between the Stellantis connected data company Free2Move and the connected transportation platform Geotab.

“We are focused on innovation and improving mobility,” Benjamin Maillard, general manager at Free2Move North America, said in a statement. “With the new solution for Stellantis vehicles, we are delivering unique value by merging traditional fleet management with enhanced mobility solutions.”

Meeting the Demand for Commercial Connected Services

With this announcement, Stellantis joins rival automakers — and proponents of software-defined vehicles — Ford and General Motors in enabling commercial customers to opt in to share their fleet’s data with telematic service providers and fleet management companies.

These services are seeing growing demand from commercial fleets. Ford Pro, the business within Ford Motor Company that focuses on products and services for business and government customers, recently reported that the total addressable market for the commercial connected services business in North America will grow to $5.5 billion in 2025.

Read more: Automakers Pursue Projected $5.5B Commercial Connected Services Market

This solution, arriving later this year, will be compatible with eligible connected Stellantis vehicles, including all 2022 and newer models as well as select models as far back as 2018. It will be available through a basic or premium connectivity plan.

Enabling Better Management of Fleets

Utilizing real-time telematics data, fleet management systems can track hours and miles traveled, fuel consumption, maintenance and servicing alerts, driving behavior, routes taken, vehicle downtime and location.

By generating reports and measuring key metrics, fleet managers can use this data to improve productivity, compliance and safety. They can also reduce costs and maximize vehicle uptime.

“As one of the top operating systems for connected fleets, the solution from Geotab, in collaboration with Free2Move, will supply fleets with a telematics solution that is simple to activate, cost effective and will help fleet managers better manage their fleet,” Rob Minton, associate vice president of connected car development at Geotab, said in the statement announcing the partnership.

Leveraging Aggregated Data

Stellantis executives had announced in December that fleet services would be one component of the company’s software strategy through 2030, adding that they expect software-enabled product offerings and subscriptions for connected vehicles to generate about $4.5 billion in annual revenues by 2026 and $22.5 billion by 2030.

Read more: Car OEMs Use Subscription Services to Boost Resale Value, Drive Personalization

During the Software Day event at which those plans were laid out, executives said the aggregated data collected through the Free2Move cloud platform would have value to fleets.

“We are the No. 1 light commercial vehicle provider in Europe and one of the largest in North America,” said Mamatha Chamarthi, senior vice president, software business and product at Stellantis. “We will leverage that leadership together with Free2Move, which is our car-sharing service, fleet and data services business, to help fleet operators increase overall productivity while reducing total cost of ownership, continuously updating their fleets and helping manage their businesses much more efficiently.”