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Is the Future of U.S. Fleets Already Unfolding Overseas?
Fleet Forward Conference keynote speaker John Rossant examines how AI, autonomy, and electrification are converging, and why developments in China, Europe, and the Middle East could preview what’s coming for U.S. fleets.
October 1, 2026
- Why fleets are particularly well positioned for AI
- Where agentic AI could take fleet management
- What China can tell us about the future of fleet technology
- How Europe is approaching electrification and autonomy
- Why autonomous operations matter to fleet managers
*Summarized by AI
What can U.S. fleet managers learn by looking beyond the U.S.?
John Rossant, founder of CoMotion and a global mobility leader, joins Automotive Fleet’s Chris Brown for a preview of the issues he'll explore during his keynote at the 2026 Fleet Forward Conference, Oct. 20-22 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center near Washington, D.C.
Rossant argues that fleets sit at a particularly important intersection of two major transformations: artificial intelligence and the energy transition. Fleets are data-rich operations — a natural application for AI — while also managing capital-intensive vehicles and infrastructure.
One development he is watching closely is the shift from individual AI tools for functions such as routing, predictive maintenance, and driver safety to integrated systems that not only recommend actions but also take them.
The conversation also looks at Europe, where Rossant sees electrification and autonomy developing more closely together, particularly in last-mile applications, as well as the rapid expansion of autonomous mobility technology in the Middle East.