Telematics could become portable

Many questions remain about how connected and autonomous cars will be operated everyday, including on data protection. But data can be used to help change driver behaviour for the better and help people drive more safely, for example through deploying ‘gamification’ to gather valuable voluntary telematics data, which could then be used to deliver savings for both the driver and the leasing business.

The report foresees that telematics data will eventually be integrated into smart apps on wearable devices and smart phones, which can provide information about the user’s lifestyle. It also says other possible opportunities include syncing calendars to vehicles to enable more effective planning of maintenance and servicing.

SMEs to benefit from autonomous cars

Deploying autonomous vehicles could transform the fleet industry, in particular increasing productivity – which the report says is a key challenge in the UK.

Matt Dyer, managing director of LeasePlan, explains: “In SME businesses that use vehicles heavily for example, the driver is often the critical path, it’s all about how much you can expect of them. But imagine what you could do if you took them out of the equation. If they could already be planning their future stops while the vehicle is getting them to the next destination. It could offer an entirely different productivity model for British businesses.”
 
Millenials still open to cars

Although the number of vehicles in the UK continues to increase, the number of younger people passing their driving test has gone down.
However, LeasePlan research shows that people’s mindset on driving can change as they get older. Matt Dyer says: “Some of the research we have done has pointed to the fact that you can
have people who are very generation Y or millennial
in their outlook until they have children but once this happens things change and they start to present more traditional buying behaviour.”

Meanwhile Lauren Pamma, head of fleet consultancy at Lex Autolease, says that this is where leasing will have a real advantage as drivers will be able to switch vehicles to accommodate changing needs.
 
New mobility trends not suitable for all

While the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is becoming more widely known, the switch to business mobility may not be feasible for rural-based companies.

For urban businesses, a flexible mix of mobility solutions and payment methods will be needed although the report says that even in a post-autonomous vehicle world, on-demand services in cities might need to be supplemented with ownership or leasing in suburban areas.

In contrast, provision of public transport in more rural areas is restricted and as such mobility needs are often more critical and personalised.
As a result, the report says that major investment in infrastructure will be needed to reduce emphasis on car usership, but also suggests the leasing industry can help with digital solutions that could be used to pay for all mobility needs.