Mapless AI and Aero Corporation have announced an exciting new partnership to trial tele-operations technology, aiming to enhance fleet management and customer services in the car rental industry. The initiative will involve remote human operators managing various aspects of Aero’s rental fleet, with an initial focus on electric vehicles (EVs). This partnership marks a significant step forward in integrating tele-operations into everyday rental operations.
Aero Corporation, one of the largest franchisees of the Avis and Budget brands in North America, manages over 4,000 vehicles across more than 35 locations in five states. With this collaboration, the company seeks to leverage Mapless AI’s cutting-edge tele-operations platform to improve operational efficiency and customer experience.
The trial will focus on two major areas: fleet management and customer-facing services. In terms of fleet management, the companies will test applications like off-rent vehicle shuttling, which involves moving vehicles between locations or service areas without needing on-site drivers. Another critical aspect of the trial is EV charging, where tele-operated systems will help optimize vehicle charging schedules, improving overall fleet readiness and reducing downtime. These capabilities are expected to increase efficiency and allow Aero Corporation to achieve better economies of scale.
For customers, the partnership will explore tele-operated curbside vehicle and passenger pickup and drop-off services. This could dramatically streamline the rental process, especially at busy airports or urban locations. Customers may no longer need to navigate large parking lots or walk to distant rental centers. Instead, a remote operator could drive the rental car directly to the customer’s location, enhancing convenience and potentially boosting customer satisfaction. These additional services could also offer new revenue streams for Aero Corporation by providing more tailored, premium experiences.
Aero Corporation’s president, Solomon Cramer, expressed optimism about the potential benefits of tele-operations for the car rental industry. He highlighted Mapless AI’s unique technology as a key factor in improving operational safety and efficiency. “We believe that safe, efficient tele-operations, specifically Mapless AI’s unique platform, has the potential to significantly improve our business and change the car rental industry in the long-term for the better,” said Cramer.
Philipp Robbel, the co-founder and CEO of Mapless AI, also shared his excitement about the partnership. He emphasized the importance of the pilot programs in paving the way for broader commercial use of tele-operations within the car rental market. “Our goal is that a series of successful pilots will lead to the first true commercial deployments of tele-operations in the rental industry,” said Robbel.
Mapless AI’s tele-operations platform has already seen success in pilot programs at Pittsburgh International Airport and in Detroit, Michigan. The company’s technology is built on the extensive experience of its co-founders, who have previously led safety and engineering teams for autonomous vehicle (AV) development at leading companies such as Uber, Apple, and Aptiv. Their tele-operations platform is the first to incorporate active safety systems specifically designed for commercial use on public roads, which is a key differentiator in the market.
This partnership between Mapless AI and Aero Corporation could potentially redefine the future of car rental services. By using tele-operations to address both fleet management challenges and enhance customer convenience, the collaboration aims to set new industry standards in efficiency, safety, and service quality. If the trials prove successful, they could mark the beginning of widespread commercial adoption of tele-operations technology in the car rental industry, transforming how rental fleets are managed and how customers interact with rental services.
As the trial progresses, the industry will be watching closely to see how this innovative approach can reshape operations and deliver long-term benefits to both companies and customers alike.
