Fleet briefs: Latest from VRA, Venson, Quartix and VisionTrack

Speakers named for VRA’s EV remarketing meeting

Speakers have been named for the Vehicle Remarketing Association’s (VRA) March meeting, which will focus on issues surrounding used electric vehicle (EV) operation, preparation, marketing, and sales.

The meeting, ‘The Questions About EVs Remarketing Must Answer’, will feature Lorna McAtear, fleet manager at National Grid; Stuart Chamberlain, head of B2B remarketing and partnerships at Arval; Alex Johns, business development manager at Altelium; Jason Miller, managing director at Central Car Auctions; and Audrey Little, research and development executive at Arnold Clark Innovation Centre.

The event will be held at Cox Automotive, Bruntingthorpe on March 23 and will include a presentation and panel discussion on a national charging infrastructure; an independent, industry standard method of checking battery health; reduced energy costs to make charging cheaper, further improvements in EV range; and government support to help encourage adoption of used EVs.

Philip Nothard, VRA chair, said: “Everyone knows that electrification must happen, but everyone can also foresee issues that are difficult to resolve and for which solutions need to be found.

“This seminar is designed to dig down into some of those questions and start to formulate some answers with the help of an expert panel that has huge experience in all keys areas of EV remarketing and operation.”

Quartix launches vehicle check app

Quartix has launched a new app for fleets looking to improve safety and support compliance requirements around vehicle checks and driver safety.

The ‘Quartix Check’ app enables drivers to report vehicle health checks to the fleet manager, as well as incidents/accidents.

Quartix said the app covers standard vehicle walkaround checks to ensure a vehicle is safe to drive. Phase 2 of the app will also allow fleet managers to customise the items to be inspected to tailor the checklist to their specific needs.

Richard Lilwall, chief executive officer (CEO) at Quartix Technologies, said: “The introduction of Quartix Check supports our aim to provide fleet managers with a paperless solution to run vehicle checks without breaking the bank. Providing our customers with a simple, effective great value solution is a key part of our strategy.”

The app is available on Android and the Apple store and is available initially in the UK market, before launching in the US and Europe.

VisionTrack sees increasing demand for video telematics

VisionTrack has reported it achieved growth during 2022 and experienced strong demand from commercial fleet operators in the UK and internationally.

The number of cameras connected to its IoT platform, Autonomise.ai, increased by 43%, with the expanding US market making up more than 10% of the overall devices.

“Vehicle operators are increasingly targeting road safety, fleet risk and insurance improvements, so there are huge opportunities for us with our proven and industry-leading video telematics software,” said Simon Marsh, CEO of VisionTrack.

“The functionality, scalability, and capacity of Autonomise.ai is making it possible for us to develop sophisticated AI technologies. This is keeping us at the forefront of the marketplace.”

VisionTrack also increased its global workforce by more than 40% and doubled its operation in the US.

Senior appointments were made to the company’s management, professional services, and development teams, with focus on strengthening its computer vision and machine learning capabilities.

AX to move to new premises

AX will move into new premises at the Fort Dunlop building in Birmingham as it continues its next phase of growth in 2023.

AX said its new headquarters sits between junctions five and six of the M6 and is half a mile from Spaghetti Junction.

The company said it will gradually migrate to its new headquarters from March and will be fully operational from April 2023.

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, managing director of AX Automotive, said: “Collectively we are very much looking forward to transitioning to our new home at Fort Dunlop. It’s an impressive building full of history, epitomising our approach whereby we learn from the past but also look forwards and innovate.

“Ahead of the decision, we chose a consultative approach with colleagues from across the business and the outcome is that we will evolve again from becoming a fully remote workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic to a hybrid operation now.

“This enables our colleagues to enjoy the benefits of flexible working while taking advantage of co-working, including aspects which boost productivity and collaboration, foster company culture and support wellbeing.”

AX said the new headquarters can accommodate more than 150 people and adds to AX’s existing network of depots across the UK.

Venson celebrates completion of first insurance apprenticeship

Venson Automotive Solutions (VAS) has announced that Corey Jacques, a member of its accident management team, has completed his Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship.

The company said that Jacques is its first employee to undertake the apprenticeship, gaining a CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance.

Alison Bell, operations director at Venson, said: “Corey’s hard work and dedication to expanding his knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry and the accident management process has been inspirational, and we look forward to seeing how his new skills and behaviours will not only benefit Venson and our clients, but also the fleet sector.”

Topics taught within the course included risk and regulation, commercial awareness, technical ability, governance, and professionalism.

Jacques accreditation comes as the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) recently announced it is considering introducing an apprenticeship scheme for the fleet industry.