Fleet World June 2019

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In association with >> The case for Cars and Vans Consumer familiarity with ‘on-demand’ services doesn’t necessarily translate into business use. End-to-end journeys can often be substituted, but multi-stop trips are still problematic, as Peter Golding, managing director of <strong>Fleet</strong>Check, highlights. “Our experience of the concept of mobility management is that it is something that is frequently discussed across the industry but that very little is yet happening in the real world,” he says. “This is not to say that we won’t move closer to a mobility model over time, but that businesses don’t seem ready or able to make that move in large numbers at the moment. Everyone can see the potential but the price in terms of infrastructure investment and lost efficiency makes genuine change difficult to achieve.” It’s a view shared by Ashley Barnett, head of consultancy at Lex Autolease, who says the company’s customer forums haven’t reflected widespread interest in the alternatives yet. Cars and vans might not be the cheapest option, but – particularly outside urban environments – operators are prepared to pay for that convenience, he continues. “In the context of the country’s full fleet size, it’s difficult to see shared services competing with the practical benefits of having 24/7 access to a private vehicle. While we welcome the introduction of more alternative mobility solutions, we don’t anticipate they will become viable for business users in the short to medium term,” he explains. In the meantime, operators are taking a more flexible approach to sourcing their fleets, and suppliers are catering for that demand. Europcar Mobility Group now offers a suite spanning from its Europcar One platform, designed to provide access to shared and private hire vehicles and taxis for short-term users, through to Advantage which caters for longer-term car and van needs, without the ties of a traditional lease contract. Both offer an adaptable solution given that uncertain market conditions are driving a rise in grey fleet use. “I believe the current Benefit-in-Kind tax regime has much to do with this changing trend,” says Peter Crabtree, corporate sales director at Europcar Mobility Group. “It has created an environment where employer control of transport options is diminishing. Where given the choice, more employees are going for ‘cash4car’, and this takes the oversight away from the employer.” David Brennan, CEO at Nexus Vehicle Rental, has a similar viewpoint. The company says the ability to react quickly to new requirements, or new challenges, is proving desirable. “Ongoing market uncertainty means business customers spanning all industries are increasingly reluctant to invest in depreciating assets and long-term contract hires. Flexible usership, on the other hand, provides a mobility solution that offers some protection in the short and medium term,” he says. It’s worth noting that fleets are well placed to be contributors to the mobility ecosystem rather than just being users. The Drivy service, for example, allows businesses as well as private individuals to share and make an income from their vehicles when they would otherwise be idle, including keyless handovers via an app. It means those who are still dependent on vehicles can at least contribute to, and benefit from, what is still a developing market. <strong>Fleet</strong> management is set to change rapidly over the next decade, as new technologies enable richer data and easier use of alternative travel modes. But, while usage of vehicles will change, tomorrow’s mobility managers are likely to be just as responsible for a fleet of cars as their present-day counterparts. It’s worth noting that fleets are well placed to be contributors to the mobility ecosystem rather than just being users. 034 • fleetworld.co.uk
going grey The rise in employees opTing To Take cash raTher Than company cars has led To a growing reliance on higher-co2 grey fleeT cars, conflicTing wiTh The governmenT’s emissions TargeTs. marTyn collins asks The major funders abouT how Their own cash or car schemes are Tackling eco and risk issues and also asks The fleeT experTs for advice on managing cash Takers... £50 50 £5 £50 50 £ 5 5 £ 50 50 ald auTomoTive ALDSelect is ALD Automotive’s new fully digital employee car scheme for corporate customers, designed as a complementary, low-admin proposition alongside traditional company car schemes. The new scheme is designed to run alongside traditional company car schemes, enabling HR and reward/benefits professionals to provide a car scheme to all their employees including grey fleet drivers and even those with no existing car allowance. In essence it supports organisations’ staff recruitment and retention efforts by giving them access to new, safer and greener cars at competitive prices. More impressive is that the whole process, from searching to managing, can all be done online – at the office or at home using a PC or smartphone. ALDSelect starts with an online search and quote; which are provided in real time, personalised to each driver and saved for comparison. Employees can also apply for credit via the website, select maintenance if they require it, and once they have chosen, they are given a quick credit decision. Once ordered, employees can then track the progress of their order via their dashboard, e-sign their documents, pay and set up a direct debit, all online. It operates in a completely different way to salary sacrifice; ALDSelect uses manufacturer discounts and competitive finance to give employees a highly valued perk, but with no financial commitment or administrative requirements by the employer. This agreement is only between the employee and ALD Automotive; a key benefit for employers. It also vitally reduces the environmental impact of the grey fleet by putting drivers in newer, safer and more efficient vehicles. Ian Turner, ALD Automotive’s sales director, explained: “We are very excited to be able to offer a fully digital all employee car benefit scheme in ALDSelect. We know that employees will love having direct access to savings and competitive finance on new cars, and employers can benefit from offering all their employees a car scheme.” >> This agreement is only between the employee and ALD Automotive; a key benefit for employers. fleetworld.co.uk • 035
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Page 4: F R O M T H E E D I T O R Brexit mi
Page 7 and 8: E N E R G I S E Y O U R W O R K F O
Page 9 and 10: FCA exits Renault merger talks Fiat
Page 11: MEASURE DISTANCE IN EMOTIONS. NOT K
Page 14 and 15: evfleetworld.co.uk For greener, mor
Page 16: O P I N I O N Curtis Hutchinson mot
Page 19 and 20: Better ConneCted Audi set the bench
Page 22 and 23: D R I V E N Mercedes Benz GLC 300 d
Page 24 and 25: F L E E T I N S I G H T THE OCTAVIA
Page 26: D R I V E N Škoda Octavia 1.0 TSI
Page 30 and 31: NO MORE GREY AREAS What you need to
Page 32 and 33: In association with CHANGING HABITS
Page 36 and 37: In association with >> EUROPCAR MOB
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Page 40 and 41: S W O T BMW X2 Our expert panel ana
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Page 44 and 45: Daily rental & car sharing Implemen
Page 46 and 47: Daily rental & car sharing Our pane
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Page 50 and 51: F L E E T ŠKODA KAROQ SE L 1.5-LIT
Page 52: WE ARE ALL MADE OF WILD. NEW JEEP

Fleet World June 2019

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