Targa Telematics and Politecnico di Milano have published research showing that 73% of fleet managers in Italy are assessing the use of artificial intelligence in fleet operations. The study points to growing interest in AI across fleet management and mobility services.
Predictive maintenance was the leading use case identified by respondents, cited by 38% of fleet managers. Anomaly detection followed at 24%, while 19% pointed to predictive analytics dashboards and 14% chose consumption analysis and optimisation.
Just 23% of fleet managers surveyed said they had ruled out introducing AI-based tools in the near term. The findings suggest most operators in the Italian market are at least considering where automation and data analysis could fit into day-to-day vehicle oversight.
The study was carried out through Targa Telematics' Fleet Management Watch in collaboration with the Connected Vehicle & Mobility Observatory at Politecnico di Milano School of Management. It drew on analysis from fleet and mobility managers involved in the Osservatorio Top Thousand and Osservatorio Top Hundred, two long-running Italian monitoring groups focused on mobility issues.
These observatories include companies managing large and mid-sized fleets. Together, they cover nearly 60,000 vehicles across corporate, operational, commercial and field service fleets, giving the survey a broad base within the Italian business vehicle market.
Priority areas
The strong interest in predictive maintenance suggests fleet operators are first looking for ways to anticipate faults and reduce unplanned downtime. The focus on anomaly detection also points to a growing emphasis on identifying unusual vehicle behaviour or data patterns before they become larger operational problems.
Interest in predictive dashboards and fuel or energy consumption analysis highlights another pressure on the sector: extracting more value from telematics data already generated by connected vehicles. Fleet operators have spent years installing monitoring systems, and the latest findings suggest many are now examining whether AI can help them interpret that information more effectively.
The research also looked beyond fleet managers to vehicle users. Among those respondents, 46% said the main benefit of telematics was ease of use, while 23% highlighted operational support and assistance features.
This suggests practical, day-to-day usability remains central to how drivers and other users judge in-vehicle digital tools. Support functions also matter, though they ranked well behind simplicity.
Michele Cipullo, Go to Market Manager at Targa Telematics, said the survey showed AI was moving from a trial phase towards wider adoption in fleet operations.
"Artificial Intelligence represents the main driver of evolution in fleet management, as it unlocks a truly proactive approach centred on early identification of potential issues and enhanced support to decision-making," said Michele Cipullo, Go to Market Manager, Targa Telematics.
"Data from the Top Thousand and Top Hundred observatories confirms that the market is ready to fully embrace AI. We are no longer at the experimentation stage, but rather rapidly advancing along the adoption journey," Cipullo said.
UK context
Targa Telematics also linked the Italian findings to broader market conditions in Britain, where fleet operators face pressure over costs, driver safety and route efficiency. These factors are helping to shape interest in AI tools in other markets as well.
"Artificial Intelligence is the next frontier in fleet management across every market, and the UK is no exception. From enhancing fuel efficiency, a crucial priority at a time of economic uncertainty, and optimising routes to improving driving behaviour and reducing incidents, AI is having a transformative impact on the sector," said Chris Horbowyj, UK Commercial Director, Targa Telematics.
"Vehicle misuse prevention is yet another area where AI has already left its mark. Recent research from Targa Telematics Observatory showed that recovery rates may exceed 90% for operators capable of harnessing Agentic AI. Indeed, AI has redefined our ability to leverage data and turn it into actionable insights that take performance, safety and sustainability standards to new heights," Horbowyj said.
Targa Telematics operates in connected mobility, telematics and fleet management services across several European markets and Chile. Its customer base includes rental companies, finance groups and large fleet operators, spanning uses from insurance telematics and asset tracking to remote vehicle diagnostics and specialist vehicle management.
The latest survey adds to evidence that AI is becoming a central topic for fleet managers as they decide how to use vehicle data in maintenance planning, operational monitoring and consumption control. In the Italian market covered by the study, nearly three in four fleet managers said they are now assessing that shift.