Peak planning 41 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2025 Data systems keeping business ahead of the curve How expertise in downtime management, cost control and transparent service delivery is driving business performance for a UK fleet operator The pan-European automotive rental, leasing, and mobility provider Drivalia, which is expanding its presence in the UK, has appointed Motor Assist from AX to provide end-to-end accident management and mobility solutions. Motor Assist, which supports fleet and leasing companies and their customers, as well as insurance brokers and their clients, dealerships and OE manufacturers, is a technology-driven, endto-end claims management service — from first notice of loss through to vehicle repair and completion of the claim. Drivalia said that as one of the top 50 contract hire and leasing companies, it is vital for its diverse customer base to benefit from a seamless provision of service. Motor Assist’s expertise in downtime management, cost control and transparent service delivery were also high priorities, Drivalia said. The company will also support Drivalia as the fleet sector embraces the transition to EVs, offering its customers efficient repair and mobility services that reinforces its ambitious growth plans for EV integration. Under the partnership, Motor Assist will offer a range of accident management and mobility solutions. Drivers will also benefit from Motor Assist’s ‘EV-for-EV’ guarantee, ensuring that drivers don’t have to get back into an ICE car if their EV is off the road. According to Motor Assist, the fleet sector is moving into a new era of vehicle incident management, backed by rapid technological advancements and growing data availability. A recent survey conducted by the company of 200 UK fleet decision makers from both commercial vehicle and car fleets showed technology greatly benefits incident management efficiency. Nearly 90% of respondents said using technology to manage incidents reduces vehicle off road time. Over three quarters of those surveyed (76%) said technology saves between one and four days per incident. Over a third of all fleets said they use an incident management platform (which various stakeholders can access). Whereas slightly more commercial vehicle fleet decision makers (35%) than passenger car fleets (27%) said that they use a dedicated fleet dashboard that provides managers with an overview of current and past fleet performance — suggesting that more could benefit from the data that these powerful tools can generate to support decisionmaking. Mark Young, account director at Motor Assist, said: “When we first engaged with Drivalia, we knew our business culture and values were similar. We are delighted to be working with its team, supporting its plans to grow its presence in the UK and build its electric vehicle offering. “For both of these aspects of its strategy, Drivalia required a partner that not only had a similar outlook, but also had proven expertise in the sector and a fresh approach that was not restrained by how things were done in the past.” Drivalia commercial operations director Duncan Green said: “It is refreshing to work with a business that has decades of experience, but which is also offering something different in terms of its service efficiency and technology. “Our fleet operator and other partners expect a full range of fleet management solutions, and working with Motor Assist enables us to present a complete range of services. “This enables us to offer a one-stop solution, while benefiting from the proficiency of Motor Assist in delivering accident aftercare and rapid assessment and repair of vehicles to reduce downtime and costs.” Drivalia announced in February that it was expanding with two new franchise sites in London and Maidstone. The firm is partnering with established independent rental companies and said it is also discussing collaboration with other businesses to offer flexible access to vehicles.
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