Last month, Avis Budget Group unveiled its first fully connected wireless fleet in Kansas City, Missouri.
All 5,000 vehicles in the local fleet were fitted with wireless connectivity to improve fleet management and deliver real-time data. That live information can be shared with Kansas City transportation officials to refine traffic flow models and enhance the experience for travelers who rent with Avis.
The connected fleet enables renters to control aspects of the reservation through a mobile app, including locking and unlocking doors and sounding the horn to locate a car. Beyond customer convenience, connected vehicles simplify maintenance and lifecycle management by providing timely diagnostics and usage data.
Avis aims to expand connectivity across its entire global fleet by 2020, a target that includes approximately 400,000 cars in the United States.
“As we think about how we’re managing our own fleet, we’re also looking to see how we can do this for others as well,” said Larry De Shon, CEO of Avis. “There’s a lot of learning that will come out of this that will be beneficial as we look at fleet management as a service.”
The shift toward connected vehicles also supports Avis’s move into autonomous mobility. The company has an agreement with Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo to provide fleet management for Waymo’s autonomous vehicles, positioning Avis to integrate new mobility services as the industry evolves.