Fleet and fleet management

Together with BYD and Dacia, the upfitter is establishing a consignment stock. As a result, some of the available new vehicles could be delivered within two to four weeks.

For taxi companies that rely on Tesla electric vehicles, the taxi conversion will become easier in the future. The Austrian taximeter manufacturer HALE has presented a technical solution that is intended to speed up installation, reduce costs, and render additional hardware unnecessary.

Member companies can obtain vehicles from Volkswagen, BYD and Ford, including industry-specific upfitting. For BYD, there are three equipment packages to choose from.

The Ioniq 5 can be equipped for taxi operation starting at 1,000 euros. New terms also apply for the i30 Wagon, Tucson, and Staria.

The manufacturer is expanding its offering for commercial fleets and combines electrified vehicles with a nationwide network for taxi conversions as well as vehicles available on short notice.

(dpa) While the real list prices of comparable electric vehicles have fallen significantly since 2020, internal-combustion cars have become more expensive. Researchers see several reasons why this development could continue.

Analyses of driving and charging data debunk widespread concerns about range, battery life, and costs. In particular, rising diesel prices significantly tilt the cost-benefit calculation in favor of electric drives.

More digital visibility for taxi companies – with the launch of the new Taxi.de App, Taxi.de brings a new digital infrastructure for the industry to the market. The aim is to strengthen direct customer loyalty and enable repeat orders without a commission-based platform logic.

As the gates of RETTmobil International 2026 open from May 6 to 8, the industry's focus shifts to the realities of on-the-ground operations. In Fulda, the tradition is to focus on emergency medical services, firefighting, and civil protection. But those who look more closely will identify interfaces that reach into the taxi and rental-car sector—especially where medical transports, inclusion, and digital organization come together.

Geopolitical tensions and volatile fuel prices are making cost planning in European fleets increasingly difficult. And operational inefficiencies such as idle times are driving up costs further. Fabian Seithel of Geotab explains why telematics is becoming the decisive factor for resilience right now.

(dpa/lno) The Senate is increasing funding for electric taxis. Financial subsidies are intended to accelerate the replacement of remaining internal-combustion vehicles and to secure operations with additional charging points.

Schiphol Taxi Network, one of the four new taxi licensees at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, is launching a digital taxi service based on Invers' car-sharing technology. Since November 1, 2025, Schiphol Taxi Network has been operating a fleet of 50 vehicles at the airport.

When Nico Höttges, head of the Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV), recently visited the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Düsseldorf, they spoke not only about new models or sales figures. The focus was primarily on the relationship between the Stuttgart-based automaker and the taxi industry, which had developed cracks in recent years.

The retrofit solutions include technical outfitting, safety equipment and standardized signaling devices. Various package prices enable individual configurations for professional use.

The German Taxi and Private Hire Association (BVTM) is concerned about the growing uncertainty that the federal government’s contradictory approach to the combustion-engine phase-out is causing in the industry. Managing Director Oppermann is calling for greater planning certainty for the taxi industry.

(dpa) Since the beginning of the year, only emission-free taxis can be newly registered. However, the transition is hardly progressing. Charging infrastructure, vehicle availability, and reluctance in the trade are noticeably slowing down progress.

In mid-May, around 900 staff members of the Customs' Financial Control of Illegal Employment department were deployed nationwide to take a closer look at the taxi and rental car industry. Almost 1,600 drivers were interviewed and 260 business documents were examined, with some sobering results.

(dpa/ots) On May 15, customs officers specifically checked taxi drivers in Leipzig and East Saxony. Several potential minimum wage violations were identified— a blow against unfair working conditions in the industry.

(dpa) The deployment statistics of the traffic club's breakdown assistants also suggest that the lead is increasing. The most common cause of breakdowns was the usual suspect - regardless of the drive system.

dpa) Elon Musk is an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump. However, his car manufacturer Tesla warns that the president's tariffs could harm the company.

Shiftmove, a pioneer in digital fleet management, is further advancing its growth following the acquisition of the French fleet management specialist Optimum Automotive – and is strengthening its leadership team with two proven experts.

(dpa) Trump announces tariffs on the import of steel and aluminum into the USA. In response, the EU will impose tariffs of its own, says France's Foreign Minister - and warns of a trade conflict.

PACE Telematics introduces the PACE Drive Business digital fleet card for efficient fleet management.

(dpa) US automakers have expanded production in Mexico and Canada in recent years. Trump's tariffs on goods from these two countries would hit them hard. The Ford CEO is sounding the alarm.

(dpa) Mexico, Canada, China - and soon the EU? US President Trump seems determined to impose additional tariffs on imports from Europe. The EU is preparing - also for the worst-case scenario.

(dpa) Donald Trump's tariff offensive against imports from Mexico, Canada, and China has consequences for German car manufacturers - on the stock exchange.

(dpa) The European automotive industry is in crisis. Now, joint solutions are to be found and presented quickly. In this context, a contentious issue escalated further just a few days ago.

(dpa) German manufacturers have never been in favor of EU tariffs on electric cars from China. The dispute over this will now continue in court.

The premium tire manufacturer Hankook is introducing a new secondary brand called Optimo in Europe. With this strategic step, Hankook aims to further increase its market share in Europe and better meet customer needs with a diversified brand portfolio.

(dpa) The US government fears that electronics in Chinese cars could collect data about their owners. The outgoing president is now announcing a measure.

Vimcar, provider of electronic logbooks, surprises at the beginning of the year with a new initiative: The company is launching its proven digital logbook in print format.

(dpa/tmn) After one of his vehicles was caught by a speed camera, the owner is required to keep a logbook for all his vehicles. Is this legal?