When Azuga made a commitment to OEM-connected vehicle data, it was not the obvious move.

Aftermarket hardware still dominated fleet telematics. Dongles were familiar. Install processes were established. For many providers, it felt safer to optimize what already worked rather than invest in a future that was still taking shape.

Azuga took a different path.

At the 2026 Motorq Partner Summit, Azuga was named Motorq’s Ecosystem Partner of the Year, recognizing a technology partner delivering measurable customer value through high-quality integration, close go-to-market alignment, and sustained collaboration. The award highlights a long-term strategy rooted in operational reality and a clear view of where fleet telematics was headed.

During the Summit, Jeff Fiore, Director of Product Management, Fleet Strategy at Azuga, shared how this long-term bet on OEM connectivity was shaped by real operational challenges.

Built for Real Fleet Operations

Azuga is a fleet telematics company serving commercial fleets with a practical, outcome-driven focus. Their goal is to help fleets improve safety, productivity, efficiency, and overall operations.

Traditionally, that meant aftermarket hardware. Devices had to be shipped, installed, troubleshot, returned, and replaced. For fleets managing vehicles across locations, and for telematics providers managing inventory and cash outlay, that model came with real friction.

Hardware installs slowed deployments and added operational complexity. On the business side, they tied up capital and created inefficiencies that became harder to manage as fleets scaled. Those realities shaped Azuga’s thinking early on and pushed the team to rethink how vehicle connectivity could work at scale.

Why Azuga Was Confident in OEM Data

Native connectivity of new fleet vehicles are now close to 100 percent. While many fleets operate mixed vehicle populations and keep vehicles for long lifecycles, the overall direction of the market was clear. OEM connectivity would continue to expand over time, reducing the need for aftermarket hardware as fleets refreshed their vehicles.

For Azuga, OEM data also removed operational friction. Aftermarket dongles created ongoing challenges around shipping, installation, troubleshooting, returns, and inventory management. Eliminating hardware simplified deployments for customers and improved the underlying business economics by reducing inefficiency.

OEM connectivity also enabled a more modern, self-service fleet experience. Fleets could enroll vehicles digitally, skip physical installs, and clearly see which vehicles were online or offline. These capabilities became table stakes for smooth fleet operations, especially as fleets scaled across locations and vehicle types.

Finally, OEM data made reliable planning possible. Azuga could determine which vehicles were connectable in a consistent, repeatable way across OEMs and model years. That reliability gave fleets confidence to connect vehicles today and plan a clear path toward full connectivity over time.

Why Partnering with Motorq Was Essential

Early on, Azuga experimented with direct OEM integrations. They worked with a small number of automakers and quickly learned the limits of that approach. Every OEM had different data structures, processes, and expectations. Understanding those differences took time. Scaling them across dozens of OEMs was not realistic.

By partnering with Motorq, Azuga gained access to normalized, high-quality OEM data through a single integration layer. That foundation allowed Azuga to focus on building dependable fleet products rather than re-solving the same data challenges repeatedly.

Motorq’s ongoing investment in OEM relationships, data quality, and platform capabilities also played a critical role. It enabled Azuga to expand faster, support more customers, and grow without introducing additional operational overhead.

Setting the Standard for the Ecosystem

Azuga’s journey reflects the broader direction of fleet telematics. OEM connectivity is reshaping how fleets bring vehicles online, manage daily operations, and expand coverage efficiently.

Azuga stood out because they moved early and executed with discipline, turning OEM data into something fleets can actually use at scale: reliable, repeatable, and built for real-world operations. That is why Azuga was named Motorq’s 2026 Ecosystem Partner of the Year, and why their approach continues to shape what connected vehicle intelligence looks like in practice.