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RAC enters telematics partnership

The RAC’s telematics division, RAC Connected, has claimed that it is offering business vehicle operators a safer method of fleet management through its partnership with Continental Automotive.
(Left–right) Continental Automotive’s UK head of CSV sales and marketing, Ben Klarich, and the RAC’s head of telematics and connected solutions, Geraint Jones
(Left–right) Continental Automotive’s UK head of CSV sales and marketing, Ben Klarich, and the RAC’s head of telematics and connected solutions, Geraint Jones - (Image credit: Continental Automotive/RAC)

The collaboration will allow Continental Automotive customers to choose from the RAC’s suite of telematics products, all of which are said to help fleet managers reduce vehicle running costs.

One of these is the ConnectOne, which plugs into vehicles’ 12v sockets to track trips, locations and driver behaviour. All this data, which is displayed in the RAC Telematics app, can be used to optimise routes taken by drivers and to coach staff on improving their fuel economy and reducing vehicle wear and tear.

Complementing ConnectOne is Connect360, which requires professional fitting but provides an even greater depth of vehicle data for fleet managers, including notifying drivers of dangers on the road, sharing real-time speeding and crash detection alerts as well as vehicle fault tracking.

Connect360 also features the RAC’s CCTV dashcam technology, which captures forward, rear-view and live-streams from vehicles, monitors drivers’ gestures using artificial intelligence (AI) technology for signs of fatigue, and scans the road ahead for dangers. The combination of dashcam footage, AI driver gesture monitoring and telematics data provides fleet managers with an understanding of any incident which may occur.

Continental Automotive will offer RAC Connected telematics solutions to light commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicle fleets.

RAC head of telematics and connected solutions Geraint Jones said: “Securing this contract with Continental Automotive is a huge milestone for us as we can now offer even more businesses a bespoke and affordable solution to fleet management.

“Using Continental’s channels, vehicle operators can easily benefit from the host of data and insights RAC Connected products provide – whether that’s an improved understanding of vehicle health, to minimise downtime for maintenance or to check road safety alerts that keep drivers safe. Having better visibility of a fleet also means reducing costs in the long-run, which organisations can easily monitor through the RAC Connected smartphone or web-based app.

“Combining more than 280 years in the motoring industry, we have complete trust in Continental scaling our telematics products to keep even more fleets safe on the roads.”

 

 

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