Hannk And Zubie Join Forces To Shape The Next Generation Of Connected Vehicle Telematics

Strategic technology partnership brings together Hannk and Zubie to accelerate the development of next-generation telematics and create a complete technology pathway for car rental, van hire, transport and mobility operators.

HOVE, U.K. - Oct. 8, 2026 - PRLog -- Hannk Ltd and Zubie today announced a strategic technology partnership focused on the development of next-generation telematics and connected-vehicle solutions for the global vehicle rental, transport and mobility industries.

The collaboration represents a significant strategic move for Hannk ahead of its full public release, bringing the company's advanced digital rental and connected-vehicle technology together with Zubie's established position and experience within the telematics market.

Hannk already incorporates extensive telematics and connected-vehicle capabilities within its technology. The decision to work with Zubie is therefore not about adding conventional telematics functionality to Hannk, but about bringing together two technology companies to accelerate the development of what comes next.

Importantly, the partnership is also designed to create a broader technology pathway for businesses that may not yet require — or may never require — a completely digital vehicle journey.

From conventional fleet telematics and connected-vehicle services through to advanced digital vehicle access, automated rental processes and keyless vehicle control, Hannk and Zubie intend to work seamlessly together to provide operators with access to technology appropriate to their individual requirements.

MOVING BEYOND TRADITIONAL TELEMATICS

For many years, telematics has primarily helped businesses understand where their vehicles are, how they are being driven and what is happening within their fleets.

Hannk believes the next generation will go significantly further.

As vehicles become increasingly connected, telematics has the potential to become an active part of the rental itself — communicating with the rental platform, responding to events in real time and helping automate processes that have traditionally required manual intervention.

Hannk has been designed around this principle.

Its technology brings together the digital rental journey, connected vehicles, digital access and vehicle intelligence within a single ecosystem designed specifically around the requirements of modern vehicle rental.

Working with Zubie provides an opportunity for both companies to build on their existing technology and experience and jointly explore the capabilities that will define the next generation of telematics.

A STRATEGIC DECISION FOR HANNK

Richard Little, Chairman and Co-Founder of Hannk, said:

"Hannk has been designed from the outset as an advanced connected vehicle and digital rental platform, with telematics already forming an important part of the technology we have developed.

"Our decision to work with Zubie is therefore not about filling a gap in our technology. It is a strategic decision.

"Zubie is an established name in connected vehicle technology and telematics, with significant experience and presence in the market. As Hannk prepares for its public launch, we believe there is enormous value in bringing together two companies that share a vision of where connected vehicle technology needs to go next.

"Hannk has been built to challenge what is currently possible in vehicle rental technology. Rather than simply recreating existing telematics functionality, our objective is to develop the next generation of it.

"By working together, Hannk and Zubie have the opportunity to combine our respective technology, experience and ideas to accelerate that development and explore capabilities that go beyond what the market offers today.

"But there is another important part to this partnership. Not every vehicle operator wants or needs to move immediately to a completely digital environment.

"A car rental company may want advanced telematics today but not yet require digital vehicle access. A van hire company may want fleet intelligence and driver information without keyless rental. A transport operator may have an entirely different set of requirements.

"We don't believe those businesses should have to choose between traditional telematics and the most advanced digital technology available.

"By Hannk and Zubie working together, we can create a technology pathway that allows businesses to adopt the functionality they need today while giving them a route towards more advanced connected and digital vehicle technology when they are ready.

"That dramatically broadens what we can collectively offer the industry.

"This isn't simply about where telematics is today. It is about where telematics needs to be tomorrow — and our intention is to help define that future together."

ZUBIE: BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION TOGETHER

Mark Novak, VP of Sales, North America and Europe at Zubie, said:

"What makes this relationship particularly exciting for Zubie is the opportunity to combine what we have already achieved in connected vehicle technology and telematics with the direction Hannk is taking vehicle rental technology.

"Hannk is approaching the market with an ambitious vision for how the customer, operator and vehicle can become part of one connected digital environment. We see a strong opportunity for our two companies to work together, not simply around the technology available today, but around what the next generation of connected vehicle solutions could look like.

"Equally important is that not every operator is at the same stage of its technology journey. There are car rental companies, van hire businesses, transport operators and commercial fleets that want powerful telematics and connected vehicle capabilities without necessarily requiring full digital vehicle access or keyless operation today.

"Working together gives Hannk and Zubie the opportunity to support that entire journey. An operator can adopt the connected vehicle technology that makes sense for its business now, while having a clear pathway towards increasingly advanced digital functionality as its requirements evolve.

"For Zubie, this is about more than an integration. It is an opportunity to work alongside an innovative technology company entering the market with a different approach, while bringing Zubie's experience, scale and connected vehicle expertise to the relationship.

"We believe there is a significant opportunity for Hannk and Zubie to develop new solutions together and to help shape how telematics and connected vehicle technology evolve across the rental, transport and wider mobility industries."

FROM VEHICLE DATA TO VEHICLE INTELLIGENCE

The collaboration will focus on exploring how increasingly sophisticated vehicle data and connectivity can become part of the rental and vehicle-management process itself.

Rather than viewing telematics simply as a fleet-management tool, Hannk's approach is to make the connected vehicle an active component of the digital platform.

This creates opportunities for vehicle location, mileage, journey information, vehicle status, diagnostic information, operational alerts and other connected-vehicle data to interact directly with rental and fleet-management processes.

The longer-term objective is greater automation.

A connected platform should increasingly be capable of understanding what is happening with a vehicle and responding appropriately, providing operators with the information they require while reducing unnecessary manual processes.

For the customer or driver, much of that technology should remain almost invisible.

The result should simply be a faster, easier and more intelligent experience.

ONE TECHNOLOGY PATHWAY — FROM TELEMATICS TO FULL DIGITAL VEHICLE CONTROL

A key element of the Hannk and Zubie partnership is the ability to serve a much broader range of vehicle operators.

Not every car rental company, van hire business, transport company or fleet operator requires the same level of technology.

Some businesses may initially require vehicle tracking, fleet visibility, mileage information, driver behaviour, diagnostics and other established telematics functionality.

Others may want to move considerably further, introducing digital customer journeys, automated processes, digital keys and remote vehicle access, including the ability for authorised customers or drivers to unlock and lock vehicles digitally.

The Hannk and Zubie relationship is intended to allow those requirements to coexist.

Rather than forcing businesses into an all-or-nothing technology decision, the companies aim to provide a progressive route through connected-vehicle technology.

An operator could begin with the telematics capabilities appropriate to its business and, as its requirements evolve, progressively introduce more advanced functionality.

For businesses ready to embrace a fully digital model, Hannk can take that journey through to advanced digital rental and vehicle control.

For businesses that do not require that level of digitalisation, Hannk and Zubie can continue to support their connected-vehicle and telematics requirements without forcing unnecessary technology into their operations.

This approach significantly expands the potential market beyond traditional car rental.

Car rental companies, van hire businesses, transport operators, commercial fleets and other mobility providers can adopt the level of technology that is right for their operation while remaining within an ecosystem capable of evolving with them.

The objective is to create one of the industry's most comprehensive ranges of connected-vehicle solutions — from established telematics through to highly advanced digital vehicle interaction.

THE VEHICLE BECOMES PART OF THE PLATFORM

The partnership also reflects Hannk's broader vision for the future of vehicle rental and fleet technology.

For decades, much of the technology used by the car rental industry has been built around the rental location, counter and back-office system.

Hannk is approaching the problem differently.

Its technology is being built around the customer, operator and vehicle.

Digital identity and driving licence verification, digital rental processes, vehicle access, connected-vehicle technology, digital keys and vehicle intelligence can increasingly work together rather than existing as separate systems.

Little added:

"For decades, the car rental industry has built technology around the rental desk.

"We are building technology around the vehicle.

"But importantly, we recognise that every business is at a different stage of that journey.

"The objective isn't to tell operators that they must completely change the way they work. It is to give them access to the technology they need today and a clear route to the technology they may need tomorrow.

"That is what makes the relationship between Hannk and Zubie particularly exciting. Between the two companies, we have the opportunity to support an enormous range of vehicle operators, from businesses looking for established telematics through to companies wanting to completely transform the way customers interact with their vehicles."

DEVELOPING WHAT COMES NEXT

The Hannk and Zubie relationship is intended to extend beyond a conventional technology integration.

Both companies will explore opportunities to develop new connected-vehicle and telematics functionality designed around the evolving requirements of rental, transport, fleet and mobility operators.

The collaboration will allow the companies to combine existing technology, technical knowledge, real-world connected-vehicle experience and new development as they investigate the next generation of telematics.

The objective is not simply to improve existing functionality, but to explore what becomes possible when connected vehicles, digital technology and increasingly intelligent vehicle data are developed together.

Further details of the technology and resulting integrations will be announced as development progresses.

POSITIONING FOR THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY

Hannk believes the global vehicle rental, transport and fleet industries are approaching a significant technological transition.

Digital identity, digital payments, connected vehicles, digital keys, automation and telematics are increasingly converging.

However, that transition will not happen at the same speed for every business.

The strategic relationship between Hannk and Zubie is designed to recognise that reality.

By supporting operators at different stages of technological adoption, the companies aim to provide a seamless progression from established connected-vehicle and telematics services through to some of the most advanced digital vehicle functionality available.

The relationship is intended to position Hannk and Zubie at the centre of that development, working together to advance connected-vehicle technology and help shape the next generation of telematics for vehicle rental, transport, fleet and mobility.

ABOUT HANNK

Hannk Ltd is a UK technology company developing an advanced digital vehicle rental and connected-vehicle ecosystem.

Hannk has been designed to connect the customer, operator and vehicle through a single digital journey, bringing together digital identity and driving licence verification, digital rental processes, vehicle access, digital keys, telematics and connected-vehicle intelligence.

Its technology is designed to support operators at different stages of digital transformation — from connected-vehicle and telematics functionality through to highly automated digital rental and vehicle access.

Hannk is preparing for its international public launch and deployment across global vehicle rental and mobility markets.

For more information, visit hannk.com.

ABOUT ZUBIE

Zubie has been at the forefront of connected-vehicle technology for the North American rental industry since 2019 and continues to expand into Europe. The company takes a deliberate approach to partnerships and technology, building on the trust customers place in its brand and vehicle data.

Zubie works with 22 automotive manufacturers to obtain data directly from vehicles and offers advanced telematics capabilities, including impact detection and smoking alerts. These insights help rental operators make smarter decisions, improve operations, deliver the experience customers expect, and protect vehicle value to maximize resale potential.


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Source: Hannk Ltd

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