Euro NCAP ranks driver-assistance systems for safety
Euro NCAP’s first assessment focused on driver-assistance systems, ranking ten systems on safety, performance, driver engagement and emergency response. Tesla’s Autopilot ranked sixth, while Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi received higher ratings.
Uber granted 18-month licence to operate in London
A judge has granted Uber an 18-month London private hire operator licence subject to 21 conditions; Transport for London has said the licence has enabled close monitoring, and the ruling has resolved a multi-year licensing dispute.
DPD expands electric van fleet to more than 700 vehicles
DPD has expanded its zero-emission fleet to more than 700 electric vans, identifying routes suitable for single-charge operation and offering drivers EV leases. It is also installing depot and home chargepoints and developing all-electric micro-depots in the UK.
EU proposes higher 2030 emissions target
The European Commission has proposed raising the 2030 emissions-reduction target to 55% and industry groups have warned that this has been unworkable without improved charging infrastructure, supporting policies and expanded emissions trading.
Sara Assicurazioni offers telematic policy for historic cars
Sara Assicurazioni has partnered with OCTO Telematics and ACI and has relaunched SaraVintage a Kilometro, a telematics-based insurance product for historic vehicles, offering mileage-based tariffs, expert-driver discounts, renewal bonuses and optional in-vehicle sanitisation.
UK survey finds lasting work-travel changes and rising EV interest
Alphabet’s UK Fleet Streets survey finds two-thirds of respondents have permanently changed their work travel since COVID-19. More than half no longer commute, while 24% say their next car will definitely be electric and 55% want electric delivery vans.
Italy’s transport regulator discusses motorway toll oversight
Mario Valducci of Italy’s Transport Regulatory Authority explains its role in regulating transport markets, including motorway concessions and toll-setting methods introduced after the Morandi Bridge collapse.
Belgium may ban non-electric company cars by 2026
Seven parties have agreed a proposal to ban non-electric company cars from 2026, allowing only pure battery-electric vehicles; industry associations have endorsed fleet decarbonisation but have argued that the 2026 deadline has been premature.
Fleet telematics cuts risky driving and improves vehicle efficiency
Companies are using telematics, camera footage and driver-behaviour data to reduce collisions, improve driving performance, manage fuel costs and support insurance negotiations. Schindler has deployed telematics across about 1,000 vehicles in the UK, Sweden and Turkey, with pilots in Germany, Spain and the US.
Uber targets 100% electric vehicles by 2040
Uber has pledged $800 million through 2025 to support drivers’ transition to electric vehicles, has set 2030 zero-emission targets for the US, Canada and Europe and 2040 globally, and has formed OEM and charging-provider partnerships.
PSA and Total form Automotive Cells Company
PSA and Total have formed a joint venture, Automotive Cells Company, to develop and manufacture high-performance EV batteries, have initiated R&D and pilot sites and have outlined two gigafactories, with total investment exceeding €5bn to meet projected 2030 European demand.
Study identifies planning priorities for connected and autonomous mobility
A stakeholder study examines how planners, engineers, policymakers and communities should prepare for connected and autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, shared mobility and Mobility as a Service, highlighting regulatory, safety, infrastructure, data-privacy and land-use challenges.
EVBox and Mobility House partner on vehicle-to-grid technology
EVBox and The Mobility House will combine charging hardware and energy-management software to develop vehicle-to-grid technology. Their bidirectional charging equipment is already being road-tested in Porto Santo, Portugal.
Toyota and AWS expand mobility services platform
Toyota has expanded its collaboration with AWS and has integrated AWS services into its Mobility Services Platform, has scaled vehicle-data processing, has supported CASE initiatives and has enabled new services such as car-sharing, predictive maintenance and behaviour-based insurance.
Spain’s regulatory challenges for shared electric scooters
Shared electric-scooter operators in Spain face inconsistent city regulations, deployment limits, parking requirements and competition with public transport. The article examines how data-led planning and cooperation with municipalities could improve shared-mobility services.
Telematics to support safe shared mobility
Fleets have adopted telematics-linked air sanitisation and digital key solutions to reduce contact; photocatalytic oxidation units have been promoted for in-vehicle air treatment, and smartphone-based keyless systems have been issued to authorised users for contactless access.
Contactless predictive touchscreen for vehicles
Jaguar Land Rover and the University of Cambridge have developed a contactless predictive touchscreen that has cut driver interaction time and effort by up to 50% in trials and has been designed to reduce surface-borne bacterial and viral transmission.
OCTO-led CEMP project targets connected electric urban vehicles
OCTO, Dell’Orto, Energica and UNIMORE have presented CEMP, a funded research project developing connected electric powertrains for scooters and microcars, with native ADAS, eCall and an urban mobility laboratory planned in Mantova.
Telematics data improves fleet safety and efficiency
Large firms have deployed telematics to collect vehicle sensor and GPS data, and have used it to enhance safety, optimise fleet operations, reduce downtime and inform insurance negotiations, while pilot programmes have produced mixed fuel-saving outcomes.
Survey finds telematics adoption has become mainstream in fleets
The 2020 Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet Barometer, based on 5,600 fleet-manager interviews across 20 countries, found that 37% of companies had implemented telematics. Adoption ranged from 23% in Germany to 58% in Brazil.
Carsharing services reassess operations and business models
Carsharing experts discuss operators’ withdrawals and downsizing, the challenges of making free-floating services profitable, and the potential for peer-to-peer platforms backed by corporate fleets or vehicle manufacturers.
Croatian survey examines public views of smart mobility solutions
Researchers report findings from a 2017 Croatian survey on smart-mobility technologies. Respondents rated real-time public-transport information, e-parking and e-ticketing highly, while navigation, driverless cars and live tracking were seen as influential for future daily life.
OCTO launches distancing and vehicle sanitisation tools
OCTO has launched two solutions to support post-COVID operational reopening: AroundMe, a Bluetooth SmartTag and cloud system to monitor social distancing and capacity; and PurePlace, a vehicle sanitisation system integrated with telematics and mobile apps.
Strategies for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning
Researchers have reviewed strategies for sustainable urban mobility, identifying integrated technology and consumer-focused approaches and the need for multimodal planning, infrastructure investment and regulatory measures; they have warned that delays have risked urban environmental, social and logistical sustainability.
OCTO Smart Talks inaugural Mobility DataLab webinar
Octo Telematics has held the inaugural OCTO Smart Talks Mobility DataLab webinar on 23 April and has featured Octo and Infoblu representatives with moderated discussion on mobility trends.
Blockchain Applications in Autonomous Vehicle Infrastructure
A white paper has argued that blockchain could enable identity, payments, leasing, tolling and immutable data verification for autonomous vehicles, and has identified dependencies on 5G networks, scalability solutions, privacy safeguards and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Octo Telematics' post-COVID vehicle safety solutions
Octo Telematics has presented telematics solutions to support businesses returning to operations after COVID-19, including AroundMe, which has monitored social distancing, and PurePlace, which has enabled automated vehicle sanitisation via an installed purifier.
OCTO Smart Talks: Redesigning Cities Post-Pandemic
A webinar has examined approaches to redesigning urban and suburban mobility after the pandemic and has explored digital technologies' role in enabling smarter cities; OCTO has presented its mobility expertise and hosted an English interactive session.
Infoblu and OCTO launch Mobility DataLab in Italy
Infoblu and OCTO have launched Mobility DataLab, a site that has provided daily anonymised vehicle mobility data for Italy, including light and heavy vehicles, with geo-temporal graphics and tools for public authorities and media.
OCTO Mobility DataLab: Mobility Analytics Webinar
OCTO Telematics has held an Italian webinar presenting Mobility DataLab, which has analysed Infoblu mobility flows, demonstrated the platform live and has discussed use cases and implications for altered travel patterns during the recent emergency.
Toyota announces Woven City prototype at Mount Fuji
Toyota has announced Woven City, a hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered prototype at Mount Fuji that has been designed as a living laboratory for residents and researchers to test robotics, smart homes, artificial intelligence and autonomous zero-emission mobility.
CDP finances OCTO Telematics' US expansion
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and SACE SIMEST have provided €14 million in financing and guarantees to support OCTO Telematics' US expansion, backing technology investment through a bond within the Export Basket Bond programme.
INSIGMA: dynamic map for urban transport systems
The INSIGMA project has developed a Dynamic Map-based ITS that has integrated static, real-time and historical traffic data from video and GPS sensors, and has implemented algorithms for dynamic routing, traffic management and emergency operations in urban areas.
ICBC Pilots OCTO Telematics for New Drivers
OCTO Telematics has been selected as the exclusive telematics provider for ICBC’s one‑year Techpilot for newly licensed drivers, which has been launched to validate telematics’ effect on driving behaviour and inform the insurer’s telematics strategy.
Octo Telematics at Move 2020 mobility event
Octo Telematics has exhibited at Move 2020, has presented its mobility and smart‑city solutions at stand 76 and has offered one‑to‑one meetings to discuss its products and expert perspectives.
TIM and Octo launch TIM BabyPad child-seat detector
TIM and Octo have formed a partnership and have launched TIM BabyPad, a Bluetooth device that has been designed to detect children left in car seats and has been listed at €59.90 through TIM stores and website.
Open Innovation Hub Unveils Mobility Solutions at Motor Show
The Bologna Motor Show featured the Open Innovation Hub, highlighting advancements in shared mobility technology and fostering collaboration between established firms and startups.
Octo Telematics Acquires Nebula Systems for Enhanced Diagnostics
Octo Telematics has acquired Nebula Systems to enhance vehicle diagnostics capabilities, supporting its strategy in IoT data analysis and fleet management solutions.
Energica Partners with Octo Telematics for Connectivity
Energica announces enhanced long-range connectivity for its motorcycles through a partnership with Octo Telematics, enabling real-time monitoring and improved data transmission.
Managing Autonomous Vehicle Fleets with Time-Expanded Networks
Research presents VIPAFLEET framework for optimising the management of autonomous vehicle fleets, evaluating strategies for handling dynamic transport requests in various operational modes.
Nicola Veratelli appointed CEO of Octo Group
Nicola Veratelli has been named CEO of Octo Group to lead its global expansion, focusing on data analytics and IoT solutions in insurance and smart mobility sectors.
Strategies for Fleet Management and Replacement Planning
Adam Redmer's research provides insights into fleet replacement strategies, highlighting the implications of budget constraints on vehicle lifecycle management for efficient cost minimisation.
IoT Architecture for Predictive Maintenance in Fleet Management
Research introduces an IoT framework for predictive maintenance in fleet management, targeting efficiency improvements through data analytics and machine learning methods.
ICBC recruits less experienced drivers for telematics safety pilot
ICBC is recruiting drivers with fewer than four years’ experience for a one-year telematics pilot in British Columbia, starting in November, to assess whether technology can improve driving and road safety.
Omoove Integrates Zuora For Usage-Based Billing Solutions
Omoove employs Zuora's platform to enhance its subscription management and support usage-based billing for vehicle sharing services, particularly for Eni's Enjoy service.
Smartphones overtake dongles in US insurance telematics programmes
Octo Telematics’ 2018 survey found smartphones became the primary sensor in US insurance telematics programmes, while OEM-integrated systems also grew. The findings highlight lower costs and easier adoption, alongside data-consistency and vehicle-data limitations.
Enhancing Insurance Claims Management with IoT Solutions
The integration of IoT technologies is transforming insurance claims management, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction across various lines of business.
