Alphabet Fleet Management: E-Cars Became More Important in 2023

Alphabet is increasingly electrified – in the most positive sense: Almost one in three orders (32 percent) in 2023 was for a vehicle with an e-drive – the largest share being fully electric vehicles. The total fleet of Alphabet Germany grew to over 169,000 vehicles. Uwe Hildinger, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement GmbH, is pleased:

“The past year has once again shown that switching to alternative drives is an important part of the sustainability strategy for many companies.”

Of the approximately 52,000 new orders in 2023, almost one in five (19 percent) was a fully electric vehicle. 13 percent of orders were for plug-in hybrids.

 The entire Alphabet Germany fleet now comprises 169,000 vehicles – more than a fifth of which (22 percent) are already electric. Uwe Hildinger adds:

“Partners, customers, investors, and employees expect companies to think about the long-term consequences of their actions. This also includes the sustainable alignment of mobility. We support our customers in optimizing this for CO2. Therefore, we are continuously expanding our consulting services and have launched our own tool to determine actual CO2 emissions.”

The trend at Alphabet: Electric, but enjoyable to drive

Popular are vehicles that combine sustainability and driving pleasure, which may be partly due to the fact that Alphabet is a subsidiary of BMW. Last year, the Mini E ranked first, followed by the BMW iX1 in second. Most orders for plug-in hybrids were for the BMW X1. Interestingly, the Volvo XC60 ranked second. Among the most popular car colors, non-colors black, gray, and white dominated.

 Flexibility remains important: The share of e-vehicles in the rental fleet continues to grow

 Flexibility remains important for business customers, which is why Alphabet now offers various rental options. In addition to launching a car subscription rate, Alphabet is also continuously expanding the selection of e-models. The total rental fleet grew last year to 4,300 vehicles – including 1,000 new fully electric models. The share of e-vehicles in the entire fleet thus rose to 27 percent.

 Alphabet Carbon Manager helps companies optimize CO2

 As a mobility provider, Alphabet supports its customers in combining economy and sustainability. The basis for individual consultations is the analysis of the circumstances. In 2023, Alphabet launched its own tool for this – the Alphabet Carbon Manager. Hildinger explains:

“The tool helps companies measure, monitor, and plan measures to optimize fleet CO2. The method can be used for emission accounting and reporting according to international standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.”

He also adds:

“Basically, the Alphabet Carbon Manager is relevant for any company that wants to measure their fleet emissions and take optimization measures. Because the basis of a sustainable alignment is to know the status quo and precisely define the measures.”

 Digital tools increase fleet efficiency

 Digital solutions further increase fleet efficiency. Therefore, Alphabet supports its customers with various digital tools such as the Alphabet App – an application for company car drivers. The app supports daily mobility and features self-services such as driver’s license control, payment for fueling and charging, and online appointment scheduling with service partners. In September 2023, it was once again awarded the BEST-OF-mobility award.

Practical: The In-Car-App in BMW models

Through the 360 Fleet Portal, all necessary tools such as online reporting or a damage cockpit can be accessed web-based. This digital ecosystem has included the Alphabet In-Car-App since 2023 – the latest addition to the existing Alphabet App for smartphones. The innovative application serves as a “ticket in the vehicle” to Alphabet’s digital world and completes the customer experience alongside web, smartphone app, and voice assistants. Via a personalized QR code, Alphabet users receive comprehensive information about the leasing contract more easily and quickly, as well as access to various self-services. This makes Alphabet the first leasing provider to integrate its own application directly into BMW vehicles.