Yesterday's keynote event saw the return of the OEM Fireside Chat.This opportunity brought together NAFA President Claude Masters, CAFM and four executives in auto manufacture's fleet segment in a conversation based upon questions submitted by NAFA members in early-2014.
Automaker representatives Fritz Ahadi, General Manager-Commercial & Government Operations, Ford Fleet; Frank Dankovich, Director-Fleet Sales, Fiat Chrysler; Paul Jontig, National Fleet Sales Manager, Toyota Motor Sales, USA; and Ed Peper, U.S. Vice President, Fleet and Commercial Sales, GM participated in this panel discussion, informing attendees of their companies' vision for the future of the auto industry and the role the fleet segment plays.
Subjects that were raised by NAFA membership included the automakers' ongoing efforts toward sustainability and alt fuels, start-stop technology, E85 as a fuel type for future models, global fleets and how manufactures will target vehicle types to accommodate such varied needs, and much more.
The morning's session was enlightening and surely offered each attendee with a greater perspective into the vehicles they may be adding to their selector lists in the near future.