Cox Automotive Mobility plans to be part of a safety effort started by Arizona’s governor three years ago.
According to a news release distributed on Tuesday, the division of Cox Automotive committed to advancing the world’s fleets to serve the next generation will be joining the Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM), a public-private consortium established by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2018 to shape the future of transportation safety, science and policy.
Officials explained the collaboration will leverage emerging technologies to advance mobility solutions with an emphasis on safety and efficiency. Key focus areas will include systems integration, data capture and sharing and smart infrastructure deployment.
“The future of mobility is being pioneered right here in Arizona, and the Institute of Automated Mobility is leading the way,” Ducey said in the news release. “Critical to IAM’s mission are partnerships from technology leaders like Cox Automotive Mobility.
“We are grateful to have their leadership and expertise as part of IAM to help advance mobility solutions that will make our roads safer and improve Arizonans’ lives,” the governor added.
Arizona has been labeled, “The place where automated vehicles go to learn” by the New York Times, with companies having operated automated vehicle (AV) testing in the state, including:
— TuSimple
— Mobileye
— Nuro
— Imagery
— Waymo
— Uber
— Lunewave
— Udelv
— Cruise
— Local Motors
Cox Automotive Mobility sees the partnership as driving additional economic development opportunities in the advanced mobility industry.
“As a fundamental enabler of the emerging global transportation ecosystem, Cox Automotive Mobility is focused on helping deliver transportation technology that keeps vehicles moving safely, efficiently and sustainably,” said Jim Heffner, associate vice president of product at Cox Automotive Mobility.
“We look forward to collaborating with the Institute of Automated Mobility and its vast network of innovative transportation thought leaders to further facilitate the expansion of driverless technology,” Heffner went on to say in the news release.
In addition, as electric vehicles (EV) increasingly integrate with AV technology, officials mentioned partnership has the potential to bolster Arizona’s rapidly expanding EV industry.
“Our work with Cox Automotive and IAM will bring together those revolutionizing the automated vehicle space,” said Sandra Watson, president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority.
“We look forward to seeing how these initiatives will positively impact driver and road safety and contribute to the state’s thriving innovation ecosystem focused on the future,” Watson added.
Since its inception in 2018, the IAM has worked to address obstacles to AV commercialization. For example, IAM’s safety metrics project is pioneering a new framework for AV safety leveraging existing infrastructure, data capture techniques and experts in the fields of computer vision, machine learning, artificial intelligence, edge computing and traffic engineering.
IAM members include industry leaders, government, academia and transportation communities.
Get Spiffy is based in North Carolina, but the on-demand car care, technology and services company is gaining momentum in an adjacent state.
On Wednesday, the company announced the launch of its latest franchise location in South Carolina. The Greenville franchise opened for business on Tuesday and offers mobile car wash, detail, and oil change services to the Upstate region.
In addition to opening for business in Greenville, Spiffy highlighted in a news release that the South Carolina franchise ownership group has plans to expand throughout the state — including Columbia and Charleston — in the weeks and months to come.
“Our foray into franchising has been a wild ride so far and it’s thrilling to see a group of four energetic entrepreneurs banding together to bring Spiffy to South Carolina,” Spiffy chief executive officer Scot Wingo said in a news release.
Among the group’s co-owners is Paul Clark, managing director at VentureSouth, who invested in Spiffy during a fundraising round back in July 2018.
The company said Clark, Dan Haight, as well as Steve and Connie Lanzl, had their interest piqued by the reveal of Spiffy’s franchising model last July and came together in January to officially sign on as the South Carolina franchise group.
Together, Spiffy pointed out that they are fierce boosters of the Palmetto State, having collectively spent decades living in Greenville and working with local entrepreneurs.
“Greenville has evolved into something that people write about and are deliberately moving to for all sorts of terrific reasons. It’s become a place to be with a growing entrepreneurial community,” Connie Lanzl said. “I think that introducing something new to Greenville and across South Carolina has excited me the most as we prepare to launch these franchises.”
According to the news release, what stood out to the four co-owners was Spiffy’s dedication to innovative car care in a way that positively impacts customers. Rather than dedicating a chunk of time to bring their vehicle into a traditional car wash or oil change shop, car owners can request services at their convenience for their home, workplace or fleet.
Spiffy explained that each service is completely zero-friction, which eliminates the need for customers to coordinate with customers outside of the Spiffy smartphone app.
“To potential franchisees, I would offer my wholehearted endorsement to give it a whirl. It’ll certainly keep you busy, there’s much work involved, but it’s already been an eye-opening experience,” Clark said. “In my opinion, you wouldn’t find a franchisor in any other context as committed to helping the franchisees succeed and providing any advantages to be successful in a new market.”
Since its founding in 2014, Spiffy has expanded from a small mobile car wash and detail startup in Raleigh to provide a multitude of convenient maintenance services for car owners and fleets across the country.
Wingo described his experience working with this quartet to launch Spiffy in South Carolina.
“Paul, Connie, Steve, and Dan have been delightful to work with since our first interactions through VentureSouth. We’re looking forward to helping them succeed as they launch our latest franchise locations,” Wingo said.
Customers looking to bring Spiffy’s mobile maintenance to their home, office, or fleet can visit https://www.getspiffy.com to book their first service.
Business Intelligence Group has named fleet management company Donlen as a winner of its 2021 Excellence in Customer Service Award.
In its announcement on receiving the award, Donlen mentioned its company-wide customer service methodology called AREPA, which stands for "availability, responsiveness, expertise, proactivity and accuracy."
The AREPA process represents important attributes for providing top customer service to the various fleets Donlen manages.
Donlen said it works to empower customers to focus on their core business capabilities and to bring continuous improvement in their fleet’s operational and financial performance.
Organizations from across the globe submitted their recent innovations in seeking consideration for the BIG Innovation Awards. Business leaders and executives judged the nominations, volunteering their time and expertise to score submissions.
“Customer service is one of our key pillars; we are dedicated to making our customers’ lives easier and we are honored to receive this award,” Jim Wohlever, senior vice president of customer experience for Donlen, said in a news release.
“On the frontline of our uncertain times are customer service professionals and suppliers without whom we wouldn’t be able to live as comfortably as we have for the last year,” said Business Intelligence chief operating officer Maria Jimenez. “It is our honor to recognize Donlen as they are leading by example and making real progress on improving the daily lives of so many.”
A trio of executives from ParkMyFleet join the Auto Remarketing Podcast to talk about the company's background, the growing fleet services space, implications for the remarketing business and their partnership with ACV Auctions.
In an effort to grow its commercial and rental business models and increase services for dealerships, ACV announced a partnership this winter with ParkMyFleet to provide flexible property solutions and staging on the ACV platform.
ACV plans to leverage off-site vehicle remarketing with this latest relationship with ParkMyFleet, which offers flexible, agnostic, property solutions for fleet mobility that include parking, servicing, staging and logistic support in its phase one growth structure.
To listen to this episode, click on the link available below, or visit the Auto Remarketing Podcast page.
Download and subscribe to the Auto Remarketing Podcast on iTunes or on Google Play.
Last week, Mike Albert enhanced its vehicle subscription service — Subscribe with Mike Albert — an initiative first rolled out in August.
Along with its other three subscription options, Mike Albert customers now can take advantage of an electric vehicle membership plan
According to a news release, the EV membership plan will feature the Tesla Model 3, allowing subscribers to drive a luxury EV without the hassle of leasing or buying.
Like all Mike Albert subscription plans, the EV plan will include full-coverage insurance, all routine maintenance, concierge delivery, 30-day vehicle swap options, and 24-hour roadside assistance, all in one monthly fee.
“The world is evolving. The automotive industry is evolving. We know that electrification is here now and will continue to grow significantly in the future,” said Tom Guy, general manager of subscription services at Mike Albert.
“We want to make sure our community has a ‘try-before-you-buy’ EV option so they can utilize an electric vehicle for an extended period of time before they choose to purchase,” Guy continued in the news release.
Subscriptions are available to customers living within a 75-mile radius of Mike Albert’s flagship location in Evendale, Ohio. The monthly subscription fee allows customers to swap vehicles every 30 days.
Customers also have the option to upgrade or downgrade to other plans depending on current needs after signing up via the mobile app.
Mike Albert has sought to be a leader in the automotive electrification movement for the past 10 years, from recently creating the sales & fleet electrification director position to introducing this new EV membership plan.
To learn more about Subscribe with Mike Albert’s new membership plan, visit subscribe.mikealbert.com.
RideKleen, a mobile vehicle care provider that’s part of the Cox Automotive Mobility Group, is expanding its partnership with Uber.
The two companies had piloted a vehicle sanitation and maintenance program for five months in Atlanta and Phoenix, and will now bring it to 12 new markets in the coming months, Cox Automotive said Monday.
While timing is subject to change, the plan is to roll the RideKleen-Uber program to these markets in March:
- Orlando, Fla.
- Baltimore
- Houston
- Dallas
- Washington D.C.
- Los Angeles
- Portland, Ore.
- Seattle
April rollouts are slated for San Francisco, Chicago, Miami and New Jersey.
The program allows Uber drivers access to pre-purchase PureProtect vehicle sanitization — which utilizes cleaner from Caring Brands designed to be eco-conscious while sanitizing, disinfecting and protecting the car — along with the traditional RideKleen services of vehicle washing and vacuuming.
Uber drivers can schedule basic maintenance services (oil changes, tire repair, battery replacement, etc.) through the program to be conducted at remote depots in their specific market. Those include dealerships, auto repair service centers, Uber GreenLight Hubs, areas surround airports and more.
“The progression of this collaboration is a testament to Uber’s commitment to the safety of its drivers,” RideKleen president Pratik Patel said in a news release. “Working together with Uber, we’re making it easy for drivers to prioritize vehicle safety. We’re eager for the continued growth of this program.”
Added Shauna Theel, a senior manager of driver operations at Uber: “Safety is a top priority for us. By extending this partnership with RideKleen to new markets, we hope to help drivers and their riders feel safe and confident.”
On Tuesday, Spiffy announced a partnership with one of the most recognized petroleum companies in the world to gain a stronger presence in the fleet space.
The on-demand car care, technology and services company now is partners with Shell Oil Products U.S., one of the largest branded commercial fleet fuel card providers in the world.
The fruit of the partnership is Shell Fleet Solutions customers can access mobile and fixed-site fleet care services provided by Spiffy.
Building on its digital platform, which gives users access to all fleet maintenance data and a network of discounted maintenance providers, Shell Fleet Maintenance Hub customers now can schedule in-fleeting, preventative maintenance and de-fleeting services in select cities throughout the United States.
Key highlights of the service include:
• Access to mobile and fixed-site vehicle wash, detail, oil change, disinfection, tire installation and repair, glass chip repair and de-imaging services for the entire fleet
• Fleet managers can book, track and pay for Spiffy mobile services through the Shell Fleet Maintenance Hub platform, powered by CarAdvise
With more locations to be added later in the year, Spiffy’s services already are available in 17 markets across the country including:
— Atlanta
— Charlotte, N.C.
— Denver
— Dallas
— Durham, N.C.
— Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
— Las Vegas
— Los Angeles
— Orlando, Fla.
— Miami
— New York
— Philadelphia
— Phoenix
— Raleigh, N.C.
— Seattle
— San Francisco
— Tampa, Fla.
— Washington D.C.
“At Spiffy, a central goal is to protect fleet drivers and their vehicles with convenient, on-demand services,” Spiffy chief executive officer Scot Wingo said in a news release. “We look forward to partnering with Shell to provide more accessible preventative maintenance and vehicle disinfection, as well as another layer of safety through zero-contact services.”
Rusty Barron, vice president and general manager of Shell Fleet Solutions, North America, offered this perspective about working with Spiffy.
“We’re excited to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement by giving fleet managers another resource geared towards maintaining their fleets across the vehicles’ entire lifecycle,” Barron said.
“This addition to the Shell Fleet Maintenance Hub is the latest in a line of solutions we will continue deploying to make fleet management operations as seamless as possible,” he went on to say.
For more information, visit https://join.fleetmaintenancehub.com/fmh.
A day before Thanksgiving, Hertz Global Holdings announced that it has entered into a stock and asset purchase agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of its wholly owned subsidiary, Donlen Corp.
However, a bankruptcy court has to approve the deal that could be valued as much as $875 million.
Should the deal go through, Donlen would be sold to Athene Holding, a leading financial services company, for an anticipated cash payment of $825 million subject to adjustments for fleet equity, working capital and assumed debt.
Hertz said that it anticipates that these adjustments will result in a purchase price at closing of at least $875 million.
Hertz said the agreement with Athene was reached following an initial marketing process. If approved by the bankruptcy court at a hearing anticipated for Dec. 16, the company said the agreement with Athene will serve as the “stalking horse bid” in a court-supervised sales process, and the agreement will establish a minimum sale price for Donlen.
Hertz said that it expects to conduct a competitive auction process pursuant to bidding procedures that will be subject to approval by the bankruptcy court to ensure Hertz receives the highest and best offer for the Donlen business.
“The agreement to sell our Donlen business is another significant accomplishment for Hertz during our financial restructuring, following the $1.65 billion debtor-in-possession financing and $4 billion fleet financing recently approved by the bankruptcy court,” Hertz president and chief executive officer Paul Stone said in a news release.
“As we continue to work to position Hertz and our business for the future, we believe this transaction provides significant additional flexibility to help us achieve our strategic and financial objectives,” Stone continued. “At the same time, customers will continue to be able to benefit from Donlen’s commitment to excellence in fleet management solutions and service.”
Donlen president Tom Callahan shared his perspective on what the pending transaction could do for the fleet-management company.
“We are pleased with this opportunity to position Donlen’s business for continued long-term success and appreciate Athene’s commitment to continuing our tradition of high-quality service, customer satisfaction and award-winning fleet management, working with our talented employees,” Callahan said.
“Our fleet customers remain our top priority and we look forward to continuing to be a trusted partner providing high levels of customer satisfaction, impactful technology and fleet solutions,” he added.
Finally, Athene chairman and chief executive officer Jim Belardi touched on what possibly adding Donlen to the company’s portfolio could do to that organization.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the strong team at Donlen to acquire an industry leading fleet management franchise that is well-suited to meet our objective of sourcing attractive, differentiated long-term investments for our growing portfolio,” Belardi said
“In support of the business, strengthening the balance sheet and its significant growth opportunity, we are making an upfront investment of approximately $1 billion, and we are prepared to provide incremental capital that would support approximately $2 billion of additional growth in the fleet,” he continued.
“We plan to support Donlen with resources to invest in technology and grow their team, which will enable them to continue offering best-in-class service to their long-standing customer base,” Belardi went on to say.
White & Case LLP is serving as Hertz’s legal advisor, Moelis & Co. is serving as investment banker and FTI Consulting is serving as Hertz’s financial advisor.
Information related to the Chapter 11 proceedings and access to court documents for Hertz and Donlen can be found at https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/hertz/.
This week, Car Keys Express (CKE) rolled out a new solution specifically designed to help fleet managers who sometimes oversee hundreds of thousands of vehicles across branches spread far apart.
The key and title asset warehousing, tracking, and logistics service is called FleetHero, which can manage fleet vehicles’ backup keys, as well as title documents.
When a key is needed, CKE can ship it via expedited delivery to the vehicle location. FleetHero services also include:
— Key asset storage, tracking, recovery and recycling
— Emergency key replacement via mobile dispatch
— Vehicle title cataloging, retrieval and fulfillment
The company highlighted FleetHero leverages CKE’s expertise in automotive key replacement to reduce vehicle downtime and lower costs.
Recently, Car Keys Express secured a major contract to provide its FleetHero system to one of North America’s largest fleets, resulting in an immediate savings on its key replacement spend.
“Travelers return rental cars to the airport and fly away with keys all the time. This takes the vehicle out of service for days, even weeks until the key is replaced. So add up the costs: there’s the tow to the dealership; the cost for the key; some fleets require two keys on the vehicle; add lost revenue. It’s not unusual for each incident to cost many thousands of dollars,” Car Keys Express vice president of sales and marketing Mike Bliss said in a news release.
“With FleetHero, we eliminate those costs. Our system allows our clients to just click the mouse and we ship them a key they already own. Now our fleet partners can avoid the headaches, expense, and distraction of being experts at warehousing and logistics, and get back to doing what they do best,” Bliss continued.
CKE acknowledged some fleets, like those in the car rental industry, extensively leverage one-way deployments. Often, fleet managers have difficulty keeping track of keys and titles.
FleetHero can give operators maximum operational simplicity and cost effectiveness, while providing total visibility to fully track their key and title assets. They can now replace them via an easy-to-use online portal, searchable by VIN 24/7.
With CKE’s emergency mobile service, they can dispatch a CKE mobile technician to immediately replace a key.
And with CKE’s recycling program, at the end of the vehicle’s life-cycle, CKE will even pay the fleet operator for unused keys.
“Our fleet clients, large and small, are facing the same set of challenges. Key technology has greatly increased over the years and so has their replacement cost — so much so that fleet operators now consider them significant assets,” said Mark Lanwehr, founder and chief executive of Car Keys Express. “So we developed a completely new approach to replacing keys, with the added benefit to our customers of managing their vehicle titles.
“As the leader in automotive key replacement, we already supply thousands of businesses and consumers using our mature warehousing and distribution infrastructure,” Lanwehr continued. “Once you add our nationwide network of technicians, it’s a unique suite of services that extends our already deep reach into the fleet services space.”
To learn more about FleetHero, visit CarKeysExpress.com/FleetHero.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Spiffy has continued to grow its mobile car care operations throughout the United States.
And according to a news release distributed last week, the company expanded into six new markets; locations stretching from coast to coast.
Spiffy’s Fleet Management as a Service (FMaaS) model providing a one-vendor solution that covers in-fleeting, preventative maintenance and de-fleeting for each client now is available in:
— Baltimore
— Dover, Del.
— Palm Springs, Calif.
— San Diego
— St. Louis
— Tucson, Ariz.
“Fleets of all sizes are dealing with the unique circumstances caused by COVID-19, which has made preventative maintenance into a more challenging task,” said Zach Zeller, senior vice president of fleet business development at Spiffy. “As a result, our clients are asking us to bring our fleet management services to cities where they need to get vehicles back on the road quickly and safely.”
Zeller also noted that this comprehensive approach launched with rental car fleets last June has since evolved to cover medium and heavy-duty trucks and include vehicle disinfection.
“Medium and heavy-duty trucks make sense for both sides.” Zeller said. “There’s an increased demand for domestic shipping, which requires a flexible mobile option to ensure these vehicles are ready for the road. Our clients want to protect their drivers and their vehicles.
“A well-maintained and disinfected fleet is key to making that happen,” he went on to say.
Spiffy has grown into a leading vehicle disinfection provider for both U.S. fleets and consumers. Its offerings include decontamination of known infections and disinfectant treatments of hard surfaces, soft surfaces like upholstery and ventilation systems, with antimicrobial protection for up to three months.
The company went on to mention fleet managers and individuals can also order hospital-grade products, EPA-approved against COVID-19, via its Disinfection Store, which features instructional videos for the DIY crowd.
“Announcing a new phase of expansion is always exciting, but this, in particular, is a thrill when you consider the road we took to recover and get here,” Spiffy chief executive Scot Wingo said.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to be in the position that we’re in and look forward to keeping up this momentum, especially for our clients in these new cities," Wingo added.
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