Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Merchants Fleet Hosts Industry Leaders at Fleet Summit

The 2021 summit included a commitment from Merchants to accelerate the EV market, as the FMC made a donation to offset their attendees’ carbon footprint.

September 22, 2021
Merchants Fleet Hosts Industry Leaders at Fleet Summit

Merchants Fleet appears to making headway in its goal to achieve 50% electrification of its mobility fleet portfolio by 2025.

Photo courtesy Merchants Fleet

2 min to read


Merchants Fleet CEO Brendan Keegan provided opening remarks at the summit, which included a continued commitment to the EV market. Keegan says the industry is at a "sustainability tipping point."

Photo courtesy Merchants Fleet

Merchants Fleet shared their commitment to accelerating the EV market as it hosted a range of fleet experts and leaders at its 2021 Fleet Summit, held at the company’s New Hampshire headquarters this week.

Ad Loading...

There, the company promised to lead the fleet management industry with efficient and innovative technologies and solutions with an ecosystem of best-in-class partners. Merchants also announced its commitment to make a donation that will offset each guests’ carbon footprint — making them carbon neutral for one year.

Ad Loading...

“In the months and weeks leading up to this year’s Fleet Summit, it has been abundantly clear that the fleet and transportation industries are at a sustainability tipping point, which made this gathering of the nation’s leading OEMs, charging infrastructures, upfit partners, and industry disruptors imperative,” said Brendan P. Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet. “Now more than ever, ESG goals and values sit at the epicenter of today’s leading businesses and, with every Merchants & sponsor presentation shared over the course of two days, Merchants Fleet reaffirmed our ability to lead our clients into the new world of automotive, providing sustainable practices at every step of the fleet planning process.”  

Among the participants at the event were BrightDrop, a new business of General Motors, Enel X, EVgo, Ford, and Stellantis, along with fleet managers, industry experts, business influencers, and guests. All were able to immerse themselves in discussions and test drives featuring the industry’s most talked about electric vehicle technologies.

This year’s Fleet Summit also included programming to highlight the evolution of the EV market.

Partner Education Sessions

Lead by some of the industry’s leading voices, guests participated in breakout education sessions on a range of topics, like Ford’s Electrification Initiatives & Product Portfolio, GM’s plans to invest in an all-electric future, Subaru’s advantage in this market; how EVgo is equipped to Power Electrified Fleets (Charging Infrastructure) and Best Practices for Corporate Fleet Electrification, with the Enel X team, to name a few.

Vehicles and representatives were available for EV demos and drive opportunities.

Photo courtesy Jeff Carter

EV Demos & Drives

With vehicles like the BrightDrop EV600 making its debut appearance and behind the wheel access to the 2022 Porsche Taycan, 2022 Volvo XC40, 2022 Audi e-Tron and Tesla Model Y, attendees were offered an up-close and personal opportunity to see what’s under the hood of today’s newest vehicles.

Ad Loading...

Last year, Merchants Fleet set a goal to achieve 50% electrification of its mobility fleet portfolio by 2025, and 50% electrification of its managed fleet portfolio by 2030. With the launch of initiatives including Electrify Fleet and AdoptEV, the company is already equipped to lead clients into the next evolution of the automotive industry with the tools and services necessary for a full transition toward EVs. 

More Operations

A transparent blue background of a hand stamping a paper is the background of text that says "What about fleet policy exceptions?" with the Automotive Fleet logo in the bottom right corner.
Operations•by Faith Howell•October 20, 2026

Here's When You Should Make an Exception to Fleet Policy

Fleet policies are designed to create consistency, but not every driver or situation fits neatly within standard rules.

Read More →
A hand writing on an ipad with a transparent AI graphic over it
Operations•October 20, 2026

AI-Native or AI-Acquired: What Should Fleet Managers Look for in an AI Platform?

Six questions can help fleet managers look beyond AI marketing claims to evaluate integration, data access, and real-world operational performance.

Read More →
Chevin 2026 Buyes Guide cover
Sponsored•October 14, 2026

A buyer's guide to fleet management software in 2027

Buying fleet management software in 2027 means looking beyond features and price. As fleet operations, technology and expectations evolve, this guide explores what today’s fleet professionals should consider when choosing a system that can deliver value now and adapt to what comes next.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An overhead image of a freeway system with no vehicles
Sponsored•by Shelley Mika•October 13, 2026

What Will Shape the Next Era of Fleet Management?

EVs, AI, and autonomous vehicles are reshaping fleet management. Discover what’s ahead—and how fleet leaders can prepare for the next era.

Read More →
A Cox Fleet technician working on the left with the rear view of a military man saluting a flag on the right
Operations•October 8, 2026

How Fleets Can Recruit and Train Veterans for Technician Roles

Here's how the technician shortage has affected uptime for fleets, and what to do about it.

Read More →
A transparent toll background with the Automotive Fleet logo and Neology logo on top.
Operations•October 5, 2026

Avis Budget Group Deploys Neology Toll Management Technology Across Major Brands

Neology’s neoFleet platform will manage toll transactions and toll-authority operations for vehicles across Avis, Budget, Payless, Budget Truck and Zipcar.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
wedding album, car, and car keys
Operations•by Chris Brown•October 2, 2026

Fleet Personal-Use Charges Edge Higher in 2026

Nearly eight in 10 surveyed fleets allow personal use of company vehicles, while just over half of respondents report charging employees for the privilege.

Read More →
AF news recap thumbnail
Operations•by Faith Howell•October 2, 2026

The Future of Fleet + What’s Changing Right Now | AF News Recap

Could developments overseas offer a preview of what’s coming for U.S. fleets? This week, we’re looking at the future of AI, autonomy, and electrification, plus Ford Pro’s new certified pre-owned program, smarter vehicle offboarding, and a new way for fleets to manage toll expenses.

Read More →
blue text over top of the top view of cars in a parking lot
Operations•by Faith Howell•October 1, 2026

How to Handle Vehicle Offboarding

What do fleet managers need to do when a driver leaves?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Motorq Whitepaper Cover - Fleet Managers Ultimate Playbook
Sponsored•October 1, 2026

Fleet Manager’s Ultimate Playbook: Navigating the New Standard in OEM Connectivity

Rising operating costs, driver safety concerns, and unplanned downtime are putting unprecedented pressure on modern fleets. Discover how fleet managers use embedded OEM connectivity and real-time vehicle data to cut TCO, prevent downtime, and protect drivers without aftermarket telematics hardware.

Read More →