Mileage, age, and visual inspections have long served as the foundation of vehicle valuation in fleet remarketing. But as connected vehicle data becomes more accessible, those traditional proxies no longer tell the full story.

That’s the focus of “From Proxies to Performance: How Vehicle Health Signals Could Reshape Valuation,” a session taking place at the 2026 Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR). The seminar will be led by Arun Rajagopalan, CEO and co-founder of Motorq.

Where Condition Assessments and Real-World Vehicle Data Diverge

The session will explore how most remarketing valuations rely on indirect indicators of condition — such as odometer readings and point-in-time inspections — rather than direct measures of how vehicles actually perform and degrade over time. While those proxies simplify decision-making, they can also obscure meaningful differences between vehicles that appear similar on paper.

Drawing on a comparative study, Rajagopalan will examine how the same vehicles were evaluated using both traditional condition assessments and vehicle-sourced health data collected over time. Comparing the two approaches highlights where conventional valuation assumptions still hold — and where they begin to diverge.

Attendees will gain insight into how more precise condition measurement could influence de-fleet timing, readiness decisions, and remarketing outcomes across buyers and sales channels. The session also looks ahead to how vehicle health data could reshape pricing confidence and valuation consistency as data-driven decision-making becomes more prevalent in fleet operations.

For fleet professionals navigating tighter margins and increased scrutiny of asset performance, the session offers a forward-looking view of how valuation models may evolve as vehicle data moves from supplemental input to core signal.

“As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, Motorq operates at the center of the data layer that connects OEM systems, fleet operations, and vehicle lifecycle outcomes,” said Chris Brown, chair of CAR.  

“With the data and analysis Arun will provide, fleets and consignors will be armed for better decision-making and higher values at wholesale.”

About the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR)

Founded in 1995, the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) has long served as a convening point for stakeholders shaping how vehicles move through the secondary market.  

For decades, CAR has brought together consignors, auctioneers, fleet managers, dealers, and service providers to examine the forces that influence vehicle values, remarketing channels, and operational outcomes.

In 2026, CAR returns with a renewed focus on its original audience and purpose: representing the voice of business owners and fleet managers while addressing the full lifecycle of fleet vehicle remarketing.  

Under the theme “Where smart fleet data meets higher vehicle value,” the conference will place greater emphasis on recognizing the value of fleet-maintained vehicles, the role of data and transparency in resale outcomes, and the evolving policies, technologies, and platforms reshaping how vehicles are remarketed today.

CAR 2026 will be held in partnership with the NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) and will coincide with NAFA’s Institute & Expo (I&E), aligning two of the industry’s most influential communities.  

CAR begins with an awards ceremony and reception on April 15, and continues with programming on April 16.  

For more information and to register, visit www.carconference.com.