How OEM Data Reduces Your Fleet's TCO (and Simplifies Your ESG Reporting)
OEM telematics data enables fleet managers to reduce their TCO by eliminating the need for additional devices, ensuring more reliable tracking of CO₂ emissions, and automating the ESG reporting required by the CSRD. Without the need for hardware integration, it centralizes vehicle data in real time, enabling more accurate and cost-effective management decisions.
For many organizations, the vehicle fleet remains one of the most opaque cost items. We know the fuel bill, and we can (roughly) anticipate maintenance contracts, but the actual total cost, vehicle by vehicle, remains difficult to pinpoint. And when it comes time to produce a CO₂ report or meet CSRD requirements, the race for data begins: Excel spreadsheets, manual records, back-and-forth communication with fleet managers.
This imbalance between the sheer volume of information available in vehicles and its actual use is precisely what OEM data is designed to address.
This article serves as a reference guide to understanding how data obtained directly from manufacturers—without the need for additional hardware or on-site deployment—can help reduce TCO, streamline CO₂ tracking, and improve the reliability of ESG reporting. It is intended for fleet managers and operations departments seeking to transition from reactive management to data-driven management.
What is the TCO of a vehicle fleet?
TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) refers to all the costs associated with a vehicle over its entire lifespan in the fleet, far beyond the purchase price or monthly lease payment.
Basic formula:
TCO = Acquisition Costs + Operating Costs (fuel + maintenance + insurance + administration) + Depreciation – Residual Value
In practice, the components of TCO break down as follows:
| Component | Description | Estimated portion of the TCO |
| Purchase / Lease | Purchase price, long-term lease, lease-to-own, delivery charges | 30–40% |
| Fuel / Energy | Actual Electricity Consumption for EVs | 20–30% |
| Maintenance & Repairs | Preventive Maintenance, Tires, Service Inspections | 15–20% |
| Insurance | Liability Insurance, Comprehensive Coverage, Fleet Insurance | 8–12% |
| Administration | Administrative Management, Software, Training | 5–8% |
| Unavailability | Cost of out-of-service vehicles, replacement rentals | Variable |
The classic problem: most organizations focus solely on visible costs (purchase price, billed fuel) and overlook hidden costs—such as underutilization of vehicles, reactive maintenance, and administrative time spent on reporting. This is precisely where OEM data provides the greatest value.
Why Is OEM Data a Game-Changer?
Native data vs. add-on: What's the difference?
OEM telematics refers to systems installed directly at the factory by the manufacturer. The vehicle natively transmits its data (location, fuel consumption, mileage, fault codes, battery level) to the automakers’ platforms without the need to install a third-party device.
Aftermarket telematics, on the other hand, relies on a device installed after the vehicle is purchased. It involves logistical deployment (physical installation, fleet by fleet), recurring costs, and reliability that depends on the quality of the hardware and its integration with each model.
Here's what native OEM data actually offers:
- Data reliability guaranteed by the manufacturer (at the CAN bus level, non-interpolated)
- Immediate coverage as soon as the vehicle is put into service
- No additional hardware costs, no on-site deployment operations
- Certified data that can be used directly for an ESG or CSRD audit
- Multi-brand compatibility through a centralized aggregation platform
What OEM Data Can Do for Your Fleet
Here are the main categories of data accessible through manufacturer APIs, and their direct utility for fleet management:
- Mileage and Actual Usage: Identify Underutilized Vehicles, Adjust Fleet Size
- Fuel/Energy Consumption Per Trip: Managing Variable Costs and Identifying Drivers Who Need Training
- Engine Data and Fault Codes: Trigger Predictive Maintenance Before a Failure Occurs
- Location and Trip History: Optimize Routes, Reduce Empty Miles
- CO₂ Emissions per Vehicle and per Driver: Supporting CSRD Reporting Without Re-entry
- Battery Status (for EVs and PHEVs): Managing Charging and Anticipating Degradation
Reducing TCO: 5 Actionable Strategies Using OEM Data
1. Eliminate underutilization of vehicles
This is often the most immediate—and most underestimated—opportunity for savings. In many fleets, 15 to 25 percent of vehicles are in use for fewer than 8 days a month. Yet they incur the same fixed costs as the others: lease payments, insurance, and company vehicle tax (TVS).
OEM data makes it possible to accurately identify these vehicles based on mileage and actual usage data. Decisions are then based on facts: early return, sharing with another location, or deferred replacement. A 10% reduction in the fleet often translates to tens of thousands of euros in annual savings for a fleet of 100 vehicles.
What to measure: monthly utilization rate per vehicle, number of days with no movement over a 30-day rolling period, and the ratio of kilometers traveled to kilometers specified in the long-term lease agreement.
2. Switch to predictive maintenance
Scheduled maintenance (changing tires every X km, servicing every 12 months) is a useful but costly approach. It results either in maintenance performed too early (waste) or in preventable breakdowns (high costs, downtime).
OEM data enables condition-based maintenance: alerts are triggered based on actual vehicle data (tire pressure, brake pad wear, engine fault codes, fluid levels). Industry studies show that this model reduces repair costs by 25% and significantly reduces vehicle downtime.
What to measure: frequency of predictive alerts vs. actual failures, average cost per preventive vs. corrective intervention, fleet availability rate.
3. Reduce energy consumption based on driver data
Fuel consumption differences among drivers on comparable trips often reach 15 to 20 percent. This difference reflects driving behaviors such as sudden acceleration, late braking, high engine RPMs, and excessive idling.
OEM data enables the creation of an objective driver scoring system, which serves as the foundation for a targeted eco-driving program. The results are quickly measurable: a 10 to 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption can be achieved within a few months, along with a 20 percent decrease in tire wear and a 30 percent reduction in braking costs.
For a fleet of 100 vehicles, this represents tens of thousands of euros in annual savings on fuel and tires alone.
4. Speed up and ensure the electrification decision
Incorporating EVs or PHEVs into a fleet without usage data poses an operational risk. The actual usage profile (daily distances, variability of routes, time spent on-site) directly determines whether an electric vehicle is suitable for the specific position.
OEM data makes it possible to identify, on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis, those whose profiles are well-suited for a seamless transition to electric: an average of less than 80 km per day, a predictable commute, and a return to the workplace every evening. Without this data, the decision to electrify remains an estimate. With it, it becomes a calculated investment decision with a return on investment (ROI) that can be modeled and justified to the finance department.
5. Ensuring the reliability of CSRD reporting without dedicated resources
This may be the most strategic benefit to date. The CSRD requires companies with more than 250 employees (and, gradually, SMEs) to report on sustainability, including Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions from their own fleet) and Scope 3 emissions (value chain). For most organizations, the fleet is one of the top contributors to Scope 1 emissions.
Without OEM data, this reporting is based on estimates: reported fuel consumption, generic emission factors, and partial readings. The margins of error are significant, as is the risk of an audit.
Using OEM data, CO₂ emissions are calculated based on actual fuel consumption figures certified by the manufacturer. Data entry for CSRD reporting becomes semi-automatic, requiring no field data collection or re-entry, and providing full traceability by vehicle.
CO₂ and ESG Tracking: Structuring Reliable Reporting Using OEM Data
Regulatory Context
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has been phased in since 2024. It requires reliable, auditable, and comparable sustainability reporting, which effectively rules out rough estimates.
For the fleet, the relevant indicators are primarily:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from vehicles owned or controlled by the company
- Scope 3 (Category 6): Business Travel
- Scope 3 (Category 4): Upstream transportation if the fleet is involved in the supply chain
From OEM Data to ESG KPIs: Cross-Reference Table
| OEM data available | Corresponding ESG indicator | Recommended frequency |
| Actual Fuel Consumption (L/100 km) | Scope 1 CO₂ emissions (kg CO₂/km) | Monthly |
| Electricity consumption (kWh/100 km) | Scope 1 CO₂ emissions for electric vehicles (gCO₂/km based on grid mix) | Monthly |
| Total mileage per vehicle | Carbon intensity per kilometer traveled | Quarterly |
| Driving Score (idling, acceleration) | Eco-driving indicator (proxy for emissions avoided) | Monthly |
| Utilization Rate per Vehicle | Asset Efficiency (Useful km / Total km) | Monthly |
| Share of EVs/PHEVs in the vehicle fleet | Share of Low-Carbon Vehicles | Annual |
What a platform like Echoes automates
An OEM data aggregation platform like Echoes Solutions centralizes these manufacturer data streams (across multiple brands and countries) and makes them available in a format that can be used directly by CSR teams, finance departments, or external auditors. This eliminates the three main sources of friction in fleet ESG reporting:
- Manual data collection: no longer necessary to ask site managers or drivers
- Data reconciliation: Data is standardized by vehicle, regardless of make
- Traceability: Each indicator is linked to a timestamped and verifiable source data point
What Fleet Managers Actually See
Scenario 1: Reducing the fleet through an analysis of underutilization
An operations department manages a mixed fleet of 120 vehicles across 8 regional sites. After connecting to the OEM data, the analysis reveals that 22 vehicles have not traveled more than 400 km in the last 30 days—less than 20 km per workday.
By cross-referencing with seasonal usage peaks, 14 vehicles were identified as candidates for restructuring (early return of long-term leases or cross-site sharing). The result: a 12% reduction in annual cost of ownership with no impact on operational continuity.
Scenario 2: Replacing Manual ESG Reporting
An SME with 280 employees and a fleet of 45 vehicles must prepare its first CSRD report. Until now, the CSR manager had spent three weeks a year consolidating CO₂ data based on fuel card statements and manufacturer estimates.
After connecting to the OEM APIs via Echoes, Scope 1 emissions are calculated automatically each month based on actual consumption data. The annual report is generated within 48 hours. The data can be exported directly in the format required by the external auditor.
Scenario 3: Evidence-Based Decision on Electrification
Une direction achat prépare le renouvellement de 30 véhicules de catégorie intermédiaire. Plutôt que d’appliquer un pourcentage arbitraire de VE, elle analyse les profils d’usage OEM sur 6 mois. Résultat : 19 véhicules présentent un profil compatible avec un PHEV (< 80 km/jour, retour sur site quotidien). 11 véhicules ont un usage trop variable pour ce choix.
The purchase decision is documented, the projected TCO is calculated based on actual data, and the return on investment from electrification can be demonstrated to the CFO.
In summary
Reducing TCO is not an 18-month transformation project. It is an ongoing process that becomes an integral part of the organization when driven by reliable, actionable real-time data. OEM data—accessible without a data box, directly from the manufacturers—provides this foundation.
For fleet managers and operations departments, these solutions enable a shift from guesswork-based management to data-driven management: fewer idle vehicles, fewer unanticipated breakdowns, less time spent on reporting, and the ability to meet ESG requirements without requiring additional dedicated resources.
Frequently Asked Questions About TCO
What is the TCO of a vehicle fleet?
TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is the total cost of owning a vehicle over its entire lifespan in the fleet. It includes purchase or lease, fuel or energy, maintenance, insurance, administrative costs, and downtime costs. It is the benchmark metric for comparing two vehicles or two fleet renewal scenarios.
What is the difference between OEM data and aftermarket telematics data?
OEM data comes directly from the manufacturer via factory-installed sensors. It does not require any additional hardware. Aftermarket telematics relies on a device installed after purchase, which entails deployment costs, dependence on a third-party supplier, and reliability that varies by model.
Is OEM data sufficient for CSRD reporting?
For Scope 1 (direct emissions from the fleet), yes, the actual fuel consumption data provided by manufacturers is certified and auditable. For Scope 3, additional coverage may be necessary depending on the organization’s structure. An aggregation platform such as Echoes makes it possible to cover the entire fleet.
How can we reduce the TCO without replacing our vehicles?
Three measures do not require renewal: reducing underutilization (identifying vehicles to be returned or pooled), optimizing driving (an eco-driving program based on real-time data), and switching to predictive maintenance (scheduling maintenance based on engine data rather than a fixed schedule). Combined, these three actions can yield savings of 15 to 30% on operating costs.
Which vehicles natively transmit OEM data?
Virtually all vehicles produced since 2019–2020 come with built-in connectivity (a factory-installed modem). This is true of the major brands found in corporate fleets: Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Škoda, SEAT, Porsche), Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo), Renault Group, Ford, BMW Group, and Mercedes-Benz. The exact scope depends on the markets and models; so it is recommended to verify this by brand at the start of the project.
How long does it take to deploy a boxless solution?
Without any hardware deployment, implementation involves activating the manufacturers’ APIs and configuring the aggregation platform. For a homogeneous fleet consisting of 1 to 2 main brands, the first data is generally available within 2 to 4 weeks. For a complex multi-brand fleet, the timeframe is 4 to 8 weeks, depending on data access agreements.