Benchmarking Key to Improving Fleet Safety: Insights from NETS Annual Report
Fleet benchmarking is crucial for managing and improving fleet safety programs, as it allows companies to measure their performance against internal metrics or industry peers. The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) conducts an annual benchmark among its members, comparing crash, injury, and fatality rates, as well as fleet involvement in crashes. The report enables comparisons by fleet size, sector, vehicle type, or country and offers longitudinal insights on how program changes impact fleet safety. Key findings show that companies with safety features like electronic stability control and fatigue management programs see lower crash rates. In 2022, only 7.02% of NETS members' fleet vehicles were involved in crashes, significantly below the industry average of 20%. The results will be discussed at NETS' Annual Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference in Atlanta, where Fleet Safety Awards will also be presented.
(CANADA) U.S. & Canada to Propose Ban on Chinese and Russian Tech in Connected Vehicles Over Cybersecurity Concerns
The U.S. Commerce Department is set to propose new rules banning Chinese and Russian hardware and software in connected vehicles, driven by concerns over cybersecurity and the potential for foreign tracking or hacking. The restrictions, stemming from a Biden administration investigation, would target technologies used in automated driving systems and vehicle communication, potentially preventing Chinese automakers from selling in the U.S. if their vehicles use this technology. While focused primarily on software, some hardware will also be affected. The initiative seeks to protect U.S. drivers' data and prevent foreign control over connected car technologies. The final rules are expected by January 2025, following a comment period, and Canada is implementing similar measures. The move also aims to give the U.S. auto industry time to build its own supply chain for connected vehicles.
(CANADA) Stellantis to Replace Dodge Durango with New Stealth SUV Amid UAW Dispute
Stellantis plans to replace the Dodge Durango with a smaller SUV named the Stealth, set to be assembled in Windsor, Ontario, beginning in 2027. Durango production will end in July 2027 at the Detroit Assembly Complex, with no plans for a new Dodge model based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Stealth, a five-passenger crossover built on the STLA Large platform supporting both internal combustion and electric powertrains, revives a name last used for a sports coupe in the 1990s. The United Autoworkers Union (UAW) has filed complaints accusing Stellantis of violating a 2023 labor contract that committed to building the Durango in Detroit. Stellantis denies breaching the agreement, stating it will communicate production plans to the UAW in due time.