[AnthonyQLD]

A little bit off topic, but the VE Commodore will come with such a system in place designed for fleet cars and private vehicles.

"Drivers of Holden’s new VE Commodore could have their every move monitored and recorded by their boss

Don’t think you can take a long lunch or go for a weekend blast in your next new Commodore: your boss will know exactly what you’re up to.

Holden has expanded its fledgling Telematics system on the new VE Commodore to help fleet owners maximise vehicle usage. But the system and the data it collects could equally be used to monitor employee work habits and driving behaviour.

The new system installed on VE Commodore, says Paul Gibson, Holden electrical engineering manager, can and will send comprehensive information on the use of the vehicle to fleet managers in real time.

Gibson says the system will give fleet managers unprecedented access to usage information on their fleets, with the aim of maximising resources. Information on kilometres covered at various speeds, operating times for the car, fuel consumption data and vehicle location will all be available to fleet managers.

Part of the system uses mobile phone technology that can pinpoint a vehicle's location any time the vehicle is in use. The system also records each time the vehicle is started or stopped, speeds the vehicle has been driven at, and usage statistics like fuel consumption and tyre wear.

In other words, drivers of fleet Commodores will have their every driving move watched, recorded and scrutinised.

Excessive fuel consumption or tyre wear could indicate aggressive driving.

Peak vehicle speeds, usage times, it could all be used to monitor employee vehicle use and potentially job performance.

Three levels of Holden Assist are available when the Commodore is ordered, or they can be dealer fitted at a later time.

GM Fleet View, says Gibson, "enables fleet owners to track and record information on all their fleet cars, and can communicate with the driver via messaging on the radio display".

Holden Assist Secure is a security package which can notify the owner of attempted break-ins or theft. It can then follow the car with satellite tracking.

Holden Assist Ultra takes this one step further, using a built-in mobile phone to contact emergency services in the event of a crash or Holden call centre after a breakdown.

Gibson says the technology itself is not sinister, it all comes down to what it's used for by fleet operators.

He said some fleet managers may choose to disclose to drivers what data will be recorded and what use it will be put to.

But he said Holden would not set operating guidelines, it would be up to each fleet operator to make their own decision."