Webfleet

Webfleet

Webfleet
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryFleet management, Telematics
Founded1999
FounderThomas Schmidt
Thomas Becher
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jan-Maarten De Vries (President, Fleet Management Solutions)
Number of employees
1,000+
ParentBridgestone
Websitewww.webfleet.com

Webfleet is a fleet management and vehicle telematics company. Originally established as Datafactory, the start-up developed one of the first web-based fleet management solutions under the name Webfleet. The company later became part of TomTom and, since 2019, operates under Bridgestone as a providing fleet management and related digital services.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

Webfleet was founded in 1999 as Datafactory in Leipzig, Germany.[6][7] Its founders, Thomas Schmidt and Thomas Becher, developed one of the early web-based fleet management platforms, branded Webfleet.[8][2][9]

In 2005, TomTom acquired Datafactory.[10][11][4] Under TomTom's ownership, the business expanded across Europe and other international markets.[1][12][13] By 2018, the telematics division reported revenues of €174 million and a net result of €48 million.[14]

In 2007, the company introduced connected navigation services, integrating live data connectivity into fleet operations. From 2015 onward, it expanded its services to include vehicle data analytics focused on fuel management, eco-driving, and operational efficiency.[15][16][17][18][19]

In 2019, Bridgestone EMEA acquired TomTom Telematics for approximately €910 million.[20][5][21][22][23] Following the acquisition, the business was renamed Webfleet Solutions, and later simplified to Webfleet.[24][3][25] In 2020, Bridgestone identified Webfleet as one of its core mobility products businesses,[26][27] and appointed Jan-Maarten De Vries as chief executive of Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.[28]

In 2023, Bridgestone partnered with the Dutch NGO Justdiggit, a partner of the United Nations Environment Programme, to support the re-greening of 15,378 hectares of land in Tanzania.[29][30]

In 2020, Webfleet won the German Telematik Award for its electric vehicle (EV) telematics features.[31] In 2021, the company received the Frost & Sullivan award for European Commercial Fleet Telematics Company of the Year,[32] a designation that was renewed in 2025.[33]

In July 2024, Webfleet set a Guinness World Record by sponsoring a Ford Mustang Mach-E that traveled 916.74 km on one charge. Supported by Bridgestone and the AA, the production EV beat the previous Chinese record by six miles, continuing for 21 miles after the battery reached 0%.[34][35][36][37]

Activities

Webfleet operates in Australia, the Americas, Europe and South Africa.[38][39][40] It provides subscription-based fleet management and telematics services, including vehicle tracking, connected navigation, data analytics, fuel management, and tyre-related services.[41]

As of 2025, the company serves around 50,000 customers, with vehicles monitored in over 150 countries. Its platform tracks daily distances of over 130 million kilometers and more than 3.2 million hours of driving. Webfleet also monitors fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for its clients.[42] Industry analysts at Berg Insight have ranked Webfleet as the second-largest provider of fleet management solutions in Europe, with an installed base of about 735,000 units at the end of 2023.[43][44]

References

  1. ^ a b "TechBrief: Net doubles at Telekom Austria". The New York Times. August 25, 2005. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Gongolsky, Mario (September 16, 2002). "Alles nach Plan: "Flottenbrett" im Internet". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Butcher, Mike (August 13, 2024). "She grew up a gearhead - now her startup, Clearly, has raised $4.3M to cut CO2 from trucking". TechCrunch. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "TomTom N.V.". International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. Retrieved May 7, 2026 – via Encyclopedia.com.
  5. ^ a b Vergauwen, Wout; Jie, Ma (January 22, 2019). "TomTom Sells Telematics Business to Bridgestone for $1 Billion". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  6. ^ Yvens, Claude (June 11, 2024). "Webfleet : 25 ans et un avenir boosté à l'IA". Transportmedia (in French). Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  7. ^ Jungmann, Jens (November 28, 2022). "Thomas Schmidt ist Deutschlands Business Angel 2022" (in German). Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Verkehr. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  8. ^ Middleton, Natalie (June 14, 2024). "Webfleet fleet management solution celebrates 25th anniversary". Fleet World. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  9. ^ Baxter, Cam (September 18, 2024). "Webfleet: 25 Years of Fleet Innovation". Commercial Tyre Business. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  10. ^ "Webfleet cumple 25 años con más de 60.000 clientes que dan servicio en 180 países". Ruta del Transporte (in Spanish). Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  11. ^ "TomTom kauft Telematik-Anbieter Datafactory". VerkehrsRundschau (in German). August 24, 2005. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  12. ^ Bünnagel, Claus (June 12, 2024). "Webfleet turns 25". vision-mobility.de. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  13. ^ "Datafactory nimmt Schweiz ins Visier". Autoflotte (in German). July 17, 2003. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  14. ^ TomTom Annual Report and Accounts 2018 (PDF). annualreports.com (Report). Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  15. ^ "Vehicle Telematics Market Size, Value Industry Growth (2034)". fortunebusinessinsights.com. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  16. ^ "TomTom Telematics launches Webfleet ELD Manager". fleetequipmentmag.com. April 24, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  17. ^ "TomTom Telematics launches new version of WebFleet OptiDrive". Fleet News. March 18, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  18. ^ "Supporting the driver in conserving energy and reducing emissions". European Commission, CORDIS. FP7 grant 288611. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  19. ^ Carsten, Oliver (March 16, 2016). "Using eco-driving support systems in real conditions bring energy saving of up to 6%". University of Leeds, Institute for Transport Studies. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  20. ^ "Webfleet cumple 25 años con la vista puesta en la Inteligencia Artificial para el futuro". diariodelpuerto.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  21. ^ Kawakami, Soma (January 23, 2019). "Bridgestone polishes data analytics with $1bn Dutch acquisition". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  22. ^ "TomTom haalt 900 miljoen euro op met verkoop divisie aan Bridgestone" (in Dutch). NOS. January 22, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  23. ^ Paganoni, Giulia (January 22, 2019). "Bridgestone acquista TomTom telematics per 910 milioni di euro". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  24. ^ Brown, Kenneth. "Bridgestone rebrands TomTom Telematics as Webfleet Solutions". Fleet News. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  25. ^ "TomTom Telematics Renamed Webfleet Solutions". Work Truck Online. October 1, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  26. ^ "Webfleet - Bridgestone Mobility Solutions - Press Office". Agenzia Brand. October 6, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  27. ^ "Bridgestone growth strategy to focus on restructuring, solutions business". Tire Business. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  28. ^ Malinga, Sibahle (December 8, 2020). "New CEO, COO to lead Bridgestone Mobility Solutions". ITWeb. Johannesburg. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  29. ^ Roberts, Gareth (December 23, 2019). "Webfleet Solutions offsets its carbon emissions". Fleet News. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  30. ^ "Bridgestone and Justdiggit 5 years of Partnership". Justdiggit. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  31. ^ "Webfleet Solutions scoops major telematics award for EV technology". Great British Fleet Event. October 1, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  32. ^ "Unstoppable power - Webfleet gains Frost & Sullivan award". Tyrepress. November 9, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  33. ^ "Webfleet gains another Frost & Sullivan honour". Tyrepress. February 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  34. ^ Lewis-Stempel, Freda. "New world record set for longest journey by an EV on a single charge". This is Money. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  35. ^ Hadar, Tomer (August 7, 2024). "שיא עולמי לרכב חשמלי: מעל 900 קילומטרים בין טעינות". Calcalist (in Hebrew). Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  36. ^ Mortimer, Jack (August 8, 2024). "Popular electric family car breaks Guinness World Record for the longest range". Express.co.uk. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  37. ^ "Webfleet celebra su 25º aniversario con innovaciones para flotas más inteligentes y sostenibles". camionactualidad.es (in Spanish). Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  38. ^ "Bridgestone launches Webfleet, its fleet management solution in UAE". Gulf News. February 16, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  39. ^ "Bridgestone's Webfleet debuts in Botswana in expansion drive". ITWeb Africa. April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  40. ^ "Webfleet receives TCA certification". Fleet HV News. February 15, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  41. ^ Miller, James (January 15, 2026). "Webfleet European Awards Showcase Leadership in Fleet Innovation and Sustainability". Transportation News and Trends. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  42. ^ Falls, Caroline (September 30, 2024). "Webfleet growth and focus on the future". Fleet Auto News. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  43. ^ Fleet Management in Europe (Report) (20th ed.). Berg Insight. November 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  44. ^ "The installed base of fleet management systems in Europe will reach 27.6 million by 2028". IoT Business News. December 2, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2026.

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