News & Views

Updates to this research will be published monthly to track the impact and response to COVID-19. View Previous Wave.

Following on from the disruption of 2020, many businesses are conducting structural reviews into their fleet, seeking initiatives that can increase efficiency, and reduce costs. From our perspective, telematics systems, and the insights they provide should play a key role in this process, grounding decisions in verifiable business intelligence.

But are telematics living up to this ideal? As can be seen in the table below, the proportion of Corporate Fleets using telematics has declined since 2018, with only the largest (250+ vehicle) fleets increasing usage. Alongside this, our small and medium-sized Corporate Fleets have seen significant increases when it comes to former telematics users.

Australia ended 2020 with over 100,000 fewer new vehicle sales than the year before. While this is understandable given the impact of COVID-19, we feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Australian new car sales (as at Feb '21) have now risen for the fourth consecutive month, with the market recording a 5% YoY jump in February off the back of almost 85,000 new vehicles sold. Encouragingly, this growth is almost entirely driven by consumers (YoY sales up 16%), as they regain the confidence to start spending on big-ticket items.

The Australian economy is poised for recovery as we leave behind a traumatic 2020. The combination of an extended period without new community cases, and the start of the vaccine rollout have brought a note of optimism to the community, driving increased confidence among both consumers and businesses as we look to the year ahead.

Updates to this research will be published monthly to track the impact and response to COVID-19. View Previous Wave.

January 2021 saw the new year start with a bang, as almost 80,000 vehicles were sold off the back of further easing in COVID-19 restrictions, and the Australian economy returning to a more ‘normal’ business setting. Year on year, this resulted in double digit growth (up 11.1% vs. January 2020). While that appears strong at face value, does it hold true once we dig a little deeper.

Updates to this research will be published fortnightly to track the impact and response to COVID-19. View Previous Wave.

Updates to this research will be published fortnightly to track the impact and response to COVID-19. View Previous Wave.

According to the Creating Connections report, based on a survey of more than 300 businesses, most have maintained or increased budgets in all major areas of marketing and communications except physical events. This has led to more competition in fewer channels.

Updates to this research will be published fortnightly to track the impact and response to COVID-19. View Previous Wave.