Connected car technology is increasingly transforming day‑to‑day fleet management
CBVC is currently piloting the direct collection of OEM vehicle data from customer fleets as part of its drive to enhance fleet management. Michelle George, CBVC’s Commercial Director, commented: “The early results are eye‑opening, and crucially there is no requirement to fit additional devices such as trackers, delivering a substantial cost benefit.”
Connected car technology is transforming everyday fleet operations by enabling vehicles to share key data automatically. This removes reliance on driver reporting or fixed service schedules, giving fleet managers real‑time visibility straight from the vehicle.
Although connectivity capabilities and costs differ by manufacturer, vehicles are constantly recording performance and status data that is fed directly into our fleet management platform. This delivers greater transparency around vehicle health and utilisation, enabling fleet operators to act sooner and make better‑informed decisions.
Maintenance is often where the impact is felt first. Early detection of emerging faults allows fleet managers to plan servicing in advance, rather than reacting to breakdowns. The result is reduced downtime, fewer operational interruptions and lower costs compared with last‑minute repairs or emergency vehicle replacements.
Beyond maintenance, connected vehicle data also enhances operational control. With the drivers’ permission, our Fleet teams can monitor vehicle location, activity and condition in near real time, supported by live status updates from the vehicle control unit. On some makes, automated alerts can highlight critical events as they occur, such as low tyre pressures, poor battery condition, indicators that may have been overlooked by drivers, allowing issues to be addressed promptly reducing downtime improving safety.
Cost management is another area where connected data delivers tangible benefits. OEM Telematics, highlights the value of using connected vehicle data to calculate total cost of ownership and assess the financial impact of operational decisions in real time. This level of transparency enables fleet managers to identify inefficiencies, uncover hidden costs and take corrective action with greater confidence and speed.
Connected data is becoming increasingly important for electric vehicle fleets, where availability is closely linked to effective charging and battery management. OEM Telematics describes how live monitoring of battery levels, vehicle status and remaining range can support improved charging strategies, helping fleets protect battery health while maximising vehicle uptime.
A recent example of this capability being delivered at scale is the relationship between Targa Telematics and Volvo Cars, which integrates data streams directly from Volvo vehicles into a telematics platform without the need for additional hardware installation. This approach simplifies access to OEM data and accelerates deployment across fleets.
“Connected vehicles offer a unique opportunity to fundamentally reshape the way fleets are managed,” commented Dimitrios Merkouris, Commercial Manager at Volvo Cars.
“Our collaboration with Targa Telematics allows us to bring Volvo’s hallmark quality, innovation, and values to the commercial fleet sector. We provide immediate access to meaningful data that supports smarter decision-making, improves operational efficiency, and promotes a more personal, sustainable, and safe mobility.”
For more on managing your fleet proactively and reducing your fleet costs
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