June/July 2001: German-based DaimlerChrysler Services Fleet Management claims its internet-based fleet management service gave it the competitive edge to win three new contracts and expand its fleet by more than 3,000 new vehicles.

The Stuttgart company, which currently looks after 215,000 vehicles and service contracts worldwide, is now managing the fleets of E.ON Netz, KPMG Deutsche Treuhand and Bertelsmann.

It claims it was able to beat stiff competition with the 'customer-specific nature of its offers and the establishment of a web-based fleet management solution'.

The company has taken over the fleet management of 2,000 vehicles for E.ON Netz, 600 vehicles for KPMG Deutsche Treuhand and 500 for Bertelsmann.

'Thanks to our e-business solution, we were able to dramatically simplify the administration of the vehicles and further improve our customer care,' said company managing director Dr Hans-Ulrich Sachenbacher.

DaimlerChrysler Services Fleet Management said that the system allows for fleets to access information, such as company car assignments, ordering processes and individual driver handbooks, via an extranet.

'This leads to more efficient processes for the company car user, from the choice of vehicle to its delivery, use and eventual return,' said the company.

The Stuttgart-based company, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler Services based in Berlin, was founded in 1997 and offers what it describes as 'brand-independent fleet management, including all fleet-related services, to passenger car fleets numbering upwards of 50 vehicles'.

The 'decisive-factor' for winning the contract with E.ON, said the company, 'was a process costs tool especially developed for the needs of power suppliers that helps in meeting the demand and optimises costs'.

DaimlerChrysler Services also offered E.ON Netz a customised invoicing system and detailed reporting of all vehicle data.

For KPMG Deutsche Treuhand, DaimlerChrysler Services Fleet Management said it 'took over the extranet-based processing and supervision of the newly-introduced employee vehicle model and the fleet management of 600 vehicles'.