Features
31 déc 18

Outlook on 2019 fleet management trends in Latin America

As 2018 comes to an end, some of the fleet management and vehicle leasing trends seen for Latin America next year and beyond include increasing telematics, higher vehicle safety standards, more hybrid and electric vehicles (EV), and an increase in mobility solutions.

In today’s age of using big data to track and improve performance, the use of telematics to increase safety and efficiency in vehicle fleets throughout Latin America looks promising in 2019.

In Latam’s largest vehicle market, Brazil, the largest trigger to the maturing market is probably technologically related, whether it is referred to as telematics, connectivity or the intelligent use of data, says Fleet LatAm Advisory Board member Jose Luis Criado.

Among the international telematics companies making their move in the region are Geotab, MiX Telematics, Galooli OTO, and Teletrac Navman.

Meanwhile, to further boost safety in your fleet, vehicle safety standards in Latin America will be improving in the coming months and years, something that will affect vehicle acquisitions.

With the exception of Ecuador and Chile which already have fairly good standards, among the changes to be expected over the short to mid-term in some regions are side and front impact airbags, headrests, ABS braking, traction control, and Isofix child-safe seats.

Better structured vehicles are also expected in Latin America due to the increasing requirement for side impact vehicle crash tests. In the end, these safety standards coupled with the implementation of telematics will help fleet managers reduce or even eliminate fatal accidents in their fleet.

Another trend seen in Latin America is the increasing use of hybrids and as electric recharging infrastructure improves, plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and EVs towards the end of 2019, more for utility vehicles driving 200km or more per day.

Among the vehicles to be available in Latin America next year are the Toyota Prius hybrid, Volvo XC60 PHEV, and EVs such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, Renault Zoe, and Kia Soul.


2019 Toyota Prius (Source: Toyota)

Finally, more mobility solutions are expected to be offered in corporate policies, supplementing the need to give transport to employees. Among those on the rise are corporate car-sharing and even bike-sharing services.

Authored by: Daniel Bland