LCV OEMs Partner with Aftermarket Fleet‑Management Specialists for Integrated Telematics

Today’s commercial‑vehicle makers routinely ship factory‑installed telematics modules that deliver a spectrum of fleet‑management (FM) features—either on their own or in partnership with seasoned FM providers.

In Europe, heavy‑commercial‑vehicle (HCV) giants have long cultivated in‑house FM platforms: Mercedes‑Benz, Volvo, and Scania debuted in the 1990s; MAN followed in 2000; Renault Trucks in 2004; DAF Trucks in 2006; and Iveco in 2008, according to Johan Fagerberg, founder and CEO of Berg Insight.

A clear industry trend has emerged: standardizing FM solutions across the entire product line. Since 2011, Scania has fitted the Scania Communicator on every European market, bundling a decade‑long service subscription. Mercedes‑Benz Actros trucks have carried the Fleetboard vehicle computer as standard in all EU states from 2011 onward.

Volvo mirrors this approach with Dynafleet as the default offering in Europe. MAN now equips new trucks with RIO hardware as a standard feature, replacing its earlier TeleMatics system (launched in 2012). DAF launched its proprietary DAF Connect as an optional FM suite in September 2016.

While most HCV brands rely on internal telematics, light‑commercial‑vehicle (LCV) OEMs increasingly turn to specialized third‑party providers to deliver fleet‑management solutions that plug into aftermarket hardware.

PSA Group began offering fleet‑management services in France in 2014 through a partnership with Orange Business Services. Two years later, PSA and TomTom launched the TomTom WEBFLEET platform for all connected Peugeot, Citroën, and DS vehicles across France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

In early 2017, PSA joined forces with Masternaut to embed telematics across European Peugeot, Citroën, DS cars and LCVs. Opel/Vauxhall, now part of PSA, became the second OEM to pre‑install Masternaut FM modules.

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Ford has partnered with Telogis—now Verizon Connect—to deliver branded Ford Telematics powered by Telogis, launching first in North America and then across Europe, with a global expansion roadmap.

GM’s Telogis Fleet was introduced in 2014, enabling telematics for vehicles fitted with GM’s OnStar hardware. Isuzu Commercial Truck of America also secured an exclusive Telogis partnership that same year. In 2016, Telogis extended its reach to Nissan Europe, covering LCVs, commercial vehicles, and corporate fleets. In 2017, GM broadened its telematics portfolio by adding Spireon to its service lineup.

Across the Southern Hemisphere, Directed Electronics Australia partners with six OEMs—including Isuzu and Toyota’s Hino subsidiary—to deliver telematics across a spectrum of light and heavy commercial vehicles.

Toyota Fleet Management (TFM), a division of Toyota Finance Australia, launched the ForceField Telematics platform in 2017. The solution was co‑designed with Procon Telematics, a leading technology partner. Additional collaborations between commercial‑vehicle manufacturers and specialized FM providers are expected to surface soon.

Author: Johan Fagerberg, founder and CEO of Berg Insight