Note: Look for normal updates to the FFC 2026 agenda here.
Today, the connection between fleets and automakers extends well beyond ordering and delivering vehicles.
On the 2026 Fleet Forward Conference, a number one fleet operator and technology leaders from three major automakers will come together for “What Fleets Want: The Way forward for the Fleet-OEM Relationship,” a plenary session examining what fleets expect from their OEM partners today — and what they’ll need from them next.
The session takes place Thursday, Oct. 22, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Fleet industry veteran Diana Holland, founder and managing director of Cavis, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Bob Adamsky of Arrow International; Eddie Nath of Mobilisights (Stellantis); Matt Krukin, Ford Pro’s global head of fleet solutions; and Jeff Shields, head of fleet growth at OnStar Services.
The panel is designed to bring the fleet customer directly into the conversation. Adamsky will offer the fleet operator perspective alongside leaders liable for developing the connected services, data platforms, and technology increasingly becoming a part of the OEM-fleet relationship.
“We’ve got three leaders who’re deeply involved in where OEM technology and connected services are headed, but Bob is there to maintain them honest from the fleet manager’s perspective,” said Chris Brown, conference chair. “He can bring every conversation back to the questions fleet managers care about: Does this solve an actual problem? Does it make my operation easier? And does it deliver value in the actual world?”
Customer Experience Beyond the Vehicle
Fleet managers still need vehicles that meet the demands of the job. Increasingly, nonetheless, they’re also what comes with those vehicles — and the way well those capabilities fit into the larger fleet operation.
Connected vehicle technologies, embedded telematics, and OEM data platforms are giving fleets latest ways to observe vehicle health, improve visibility, reduce downtime, and make operating decisions.
The panel will explore where those capabilities are delivering value today, where gaps remain, and the way fleets and OEMs can work together more effectively as vehicles grow to be increasingly connected.
The conversation may also take a look at the growing “digital thread” across the vehicle lifecycle. Slightly than treating ordering, upfitting, maintenance, connected services, and remarketing as separate stages, technology is creating opportunities to attach information across them.
About Fleet Forward Conference
Fleet Forward Conference convenes fleet operators and industry leaders to explore the technologies and methods transforming fleet management. The 2026 conference will likely be held Oct. 20-22 at National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotive-fleet.com
