“When it
comes to achieving a climate-neutral future, additional innovative solutions
for alternative fleet concepts are one of the primary success factors. Our new
fleet management model and app perfectly fit our strategy of achieving a
decisive boost in the use of electric and hybrid vehicles and of completing the
transition by 2030,” said Thorsten Eicke, head of global mobility management at
Siemens.
Siemens wants
its own business operations to be carbon neutral by 2030. The new fleet management
model is expected to make a major contribution to achieving this goal. Therefore,
the company is systematically focusing on electric vehicles. Its fleet of
company cars for executive-level employees currently comprises about 1,500 vehicles.
Electric and hybrid vehicles already account for about 50 percent of this total.
And the company intends to substantially increase this very high percentage yet
further by installing more charging stations at Siemens locations and reducing the
relatively long lock-in period for leasing contracts.
The
company’s locations in Germany, for example, already boast around 450 charging stations.
Another 260 are planned for the summer of 2022. With the Siemens Smart
Infrastructure charging card, employees can access more than 40,000 charging
stations in Germany’s public charging network. For its charging infrastructure,
Siemens relies on its own technology and on infrastructure solutions from Smart
Infrastructure Distribution Systems. Wherever possible, the company will also purchase
electricity from renewable sources so that vehicle charging will further support
its carbon neutrality goal.
In addition,
Siemens’ new fleet management model will provide greater flexibility. Under the
model, the duration of leasing contracts will be reduced to just one year, and employees
will be able to switch vehicles anytime. The cost of leasing contracts will
vary based on the CO2 emissions of the vehicles selected. What’s
more, users of the new model will receive incentives in the form of higher lump-sum
transportation allowances. The model also offers the option of dispensing with company
cars entirely. No leasing fees will be charged during periods of non-use.
Greater
flexibility is required because the basic conditions – and thus the
requirements for company cars – have changed fundamentally in recent years due,
in particular, to new digital capabilities. This change has been further
accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of on-site appointments with
customers, greater emphasis is now placed on virtual communications, thereby
reducing the number and length of car trips.
With its new
model, Siemens is collaborating with Sixt and using a digital process. With the
aid of an app, employees will be able to switch cars on their own with a few
clicks and then pick up their vehicles at the scheduled time at a Sixt location
chosen in advance. The entire process requires no person-to-person contact.
Siemens’ new
fleet management model will be introduced first in Germany. Additional European
countries are scheduled to follow. In addition to company cars for executive-level
employees, Siemens maintains a fleet of 45,000 vehicles for service
personnel and other frequent company drivers.