Opel is beefing up its commercial vehicle offerings with the addition of pre-installed telematics equipment. With a goal to reduce complexity and streamline operations for fleet managers, the telematics systems can be installed before vehicle delivery to mark one less variable from companies’ to-do lists.
Both the Movano and Vivaro now offer the option for the pre-installed telematics systems, which come in base and premium packages. The pre-installed systems can reduce the time for deliveries by keeping drivers in contact and letting managers track the location of fleet vehicles; it can lower fuel consumption, and it can even make drivers safer by providing real-time driving data.
The base system provides the essential elements required for telematics including live and past vehicle and journey information. The premium system adds the efficiency functions to coach drivers on fuel consumption. The system uses green, yellow and red LED lights to represent a driver’s actions—just a little reminder to go easy on the throttle.
“Pre-installed telematics services are extremely practical, especially for fleet managers,” said Steffen Raschig, Director Commercial Vehicles Opel & Vauxhall. “As the hardware comes with the vehicle, there is only one invoice. Once activated, a world of new possibilities for fleet management becomes available. Telematics helps with environmental sustainability while reducing costs. And it’s not just large companies that can benefit from the increased efficiency and improved cost management.”
The base package costs €250, while stepping up to the premium package warrants €295. The option is on sale now across the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg with France to follow this summer.
Comment
This is commonplace in commercial off highway equipment. Komatsu, Volvo are examples of machinery that already have these.