Today, Enterprise Mobility has over half a million rental vehicles connected directly through vehicle manufacturer technology in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany, with plans to have a fully connected fleet in the next few years.

By connecting through and accessing vehicle information directly from the manufacturer, we can provide exciting opportunities to our customers and our global operations. A connected fleet can allow for a more seamless experience for rental customers by removing friction from the rental transaction. For example, technology in connected vehicles allows us to streamline fuel level readings, odometer readings and other stats to eliminate the need for a representative to enter the vehicle as part of the rental transaction. This makes the check-in and check-out process more efficient for customers.

The information gained from a connected vehicle can also bring to life critical details, like understanding vehicle health and preventative maintenance. This provides the ability to help improve vehicle downtime, increase safety opportunities and enable new digital and automated customer experiences.

As we continue to add connected cars into our fleet and introduce new technologies and features, the opportunities to bring enhanced experiences to our customers will vastly increase. The future of connected cars not only will advance the driving experience, but also the entire mobility ecosystem.

In the area of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), we are actively engaging with our partners in the mobility space to test, assess and continue learning how autonomous vehicles might create better experiences for everyone – our customers, clients, employees and our business overall.

Through current assessment and collaboration efforts, we are focused on the following:
 

• Understanding an AV Fleet: We are gathering knowledge and insight into understanding various levels of autonomous driving (L2-L4).
• Enhancing our Mobility Solutions: We endeavor to capture a better awareness of how autonomy could enhance our current mobility solutions throughout our broader diverse business network.
• Autonomy and Safety: We see elements of autonomy in our vehicles today, in features such as lane keeping assist, automated parking and automatic emergency braking, and we will continue to evaluate and stay updated on the value AVs can bring to increasing safety. The potential for autonomy to increase road safety is continuing to be explored by many transportation experts, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• Equitable Access to Mobility: We see opportunity for autonomous vehicles to serve parts of the community that might not be served today, providing access to viable mobility to those that currently have limited options.

As with any new vehicle technology, we believe the best approach to introduction and viability is one that maintains a long-term perspective and puts the customer at the center.