Offering a programme of high-level speakers, a panel discussion and opportunities for informal networking, the event on 2 March was attended by 240 fleet managers and representatives of the automotive, leasing and services industry from around the world.

Speakers included Jon McNeill, president global sales & service of Tesla, who said that he uses the autopilot function of his Tesla regularly and finds it relaxing for city traffic but prefers to take control on faster and winding roads.

He added that due to the continuous exchange of data on vehicle condition and methods of driving, Tesla is constantly tweaking the software.

The experience gained by Tesla in autonomously driving 1.2 million kilometres has led to the conclusion that autonomous driving is not only safe and secure will, but in future also help to prevent many accidents.

At the subsequent panel discussion, moderated by International Fleet World’s Anne Dopson, Csaba Csiszko, global director environment, health & safety at Philip Morris International, agreed with Mr McNeill's statements.

Comments were made about the attention paid to a recent accident involving an autonomous car and the fact nobody talks about the thousands of accidents happening on the very same day. And that over 97% of all accidents were caused by the 'human factor' especially by distracted drivers.

Mr Csiszko said he was looking forward to the time when vehicles would communicate with each other on the road thus preventing accidents: “Then an algorithm will replace a police report.” This would of course increase transparency and arise the issues of data protection. 

Knut Krösche, director international fleet, after sales & used cars, Volkswagen Financial Services, pointed out that the findings of the commercial vehicle telematics be useful for further development of autonomous driving, as the industry is more advanced there.

Janice Sutton, CEO Fleet Management Weekly USA, also looked forward to the future of autonomous driving: “Why steal a car which then autonomously drives to the next police station?”. The ‘million dollar question’ for the fleet industry of who assumes responsibility in the event of a crash was also mentioned.

This discussion will remain open for a long time, said Mr Csiszko.

Markus A Falk, CFE vice president, head of global car fleet, Global Procurement Organization SAP SE, mentioned during the panel discussion that considering SAP there could and will be done more in the future when it comes to sustainable driving.