KAR Auction Services said it has acquired Stratim, a start-up based in San Francisco that alerts and plans when and where vehicles need to be fueled or have maintenance performed.
“Stratim’s first-of-its kind mobility management solution is already supporting the fleets of some of our commercial customers, and this is a natural extension of those relationships,” said Jim Hallett, chairman and CEO of KAR.
“Stratim enables automotive companies to succeed in the new age of use-based transportation,” said Sean Behr, Stratim founder and president. The company monitors more than 10,000 cars and vans from 50 clients including BMW, Ford, and General Motors.
In a recent interview, Behr told Fleet Owner he views the potential development of autonomous vehicles could provide trucking industry technicians new opportunities.
After the KAR deal was announced he said: that "total vehicle management is a key touchstone of freight and trucking. As use-based transportation and autonomous vehicles grow, the owners of the these consumer fleets will need to think about the same total vehicle management. The winners in mobility could really take a page from the freight world."
During January, Goodyear launched an advanced tire maintenance pilot program with Stratim. As part of the program, Goodyear's artificial intelligence technology will assist Stratim customers to manage tire maintenance and repair needs.
Chris Helsel, Goodyear's chief technology officer, said shared mobility is ramping up the number of miles fleet vehicles are running.
"Those increased miles mean increased demand for tire maintenance and repair, especially when you consider customer expectations for comfort and safety from a mobility service," Helsel said.
He added: "As shared mobility and autonomous vehicles get more trial and adoption, Goodyear will continue to innovate with the industry."
