This was 2019 in global fleet & mobility
From trade wars to new technologies, 2019 was an eventful year for the automotive, leasing and mobility industries. Some highlights to remember, or maybe to forget.
January
- Arval appoints Alain Van Groenendael as the new CEO whilst GM names Mark Reuss as President of the company
- CES and Detroit Motor Show confirm the trend towards autonomous, electric and connected. Flying cars appear at CES
- Carlos Ghosn resigns as head of Renault, announcing a difficult period for the Alliance and especially for Nissan
February
- PSA announces autonomous vehicle tests in China whilst Amazon invests in self-driving company Aurora
- Waze expands to Mexico City
- Airbus reports investments in flying taxis
- GM confirms its interest in alternative mobility and launches e-bikes
- Global automotive continues to invest in China: PSA and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance increase investments. PSA sees potential in the Chinese second hand market
March
- Lyft files its IPO, Uber looks over their shoulders
- Didi kicks off its autonomous vehicle programme and creates a dedicated subsidiary
- VW and Microsoft expand their collaboration
- Sao Paulo aims for automotive income growth and gives tax breaks to OEMs in exchange for investments. GM invests USD 2.6 billion in Brazil
- FCA recalls 1 million cars over emission non-compliance
- ALD appoints new directors in Brazil & LeasePlan finds a new commercial director for Mexico
April
- Honda increases Brazil production
- Geotab acquires BSM Technologies
- Short term rental giant Enterprise and local short term hero Nippon Rent-a-Car team up in Japan
- Uber files its IPO
- TomTom Telematics launches OEM.connect programme for car manufacturers
- Waymo says it will produce its own self-driving vehicle
May
- Major strike by Uber drivers ahead of IPO
- Mexico’s declining automotive manufacturing sector starts looking at Brazil to increase exports
- Masternaut is acquired by Michelin
- Moovel acquires Validated, a mobility incentive company
- Auto Corp announces expansion into Uruguay
June
- VW and JAC launch a mobility JV in China
- Uber Copter brings people to their destination in NYC
- Renault and Nissan open an innovation lab in Tel Aviv
- Mercedes continues developing its subscription programme and launches in Atlanta
- Brazil hands out tax incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles
July
- Apple buys struggling Drive.ai
- Lime expands its footprint in Latin America
- Element-Arval appoints Richard Middleton as VP
- VIA continues its aggressive expansion and launches autonomous bus services in Australia
August
- Didi and BP provide EV-charging
- Mexico announces a green-car legislation
- Sixt says that its US operations will soon be bigger than the German
- Ghana starts to attract car makers and gives tax incentives
- Allianz buys SulAmerica auto insurance
September
- Philip Morris appoints new Global Fleet Manager
- Nissan’s newly appointed CEO needs to step down
- Toyota Mobility Services kicks off in Brazil
- Hyundai Ioniq hybrid arrives in Mexico
October
- Ford announces Geotab built-in telematics for the US market
- Singapore announces flying taxis by 2022
- ALD provides lease services for Citroën in China
- Alphabet enters the Latin American market via partnership
- FCA and PSA agree on merger, after failed trial with Renault
- MaaS Global receives the Good Design Award in Tokyo
November
- Tokyo Motor Show: no cars on Toyota’s stand!
- LoJack and Hertz team up in Mexico
- Ojo takes over Gotcha and are ready to challenge Bird and Lime
- Hyundai and Vulog team up to deliver car sharing services in LA
- Localiza looking for funding through bond offer
- Columbia cuts import taxes on electric and natural gaz