David Brennan, managing director of LeasePlan UK, looks to the year ahead.

We will be going in to 2014 with increased confidence in the UK economy. However, whilst growth is forecasted, it is likely that businesses across the UK will remain cautious in order to ensure a smooth recovery. The careful and effective management of fleets will remain a priority for the organisations that rely on the mobility of their staff to help meet their business needs.

The Autumn Statement marked a positive end to the year, with the Chancellor announcing a further fuel duty freeze which will help to relieve some of the financial pressures felt by motorists. Nevertheless, motoring costs are rising and leasing companies must continue to provide tailored fleet solutions for businesses whilst also being prepared to review fleet structures for maximum cost efficiency.

Looking forward, it is probable that next year we will see the first real steps towards the connected car, as drivers increasingly link their personal devices to their vehicles, and driverless cars continue to inch towards widespread road testing.

Amidst these predictions, however, there is one certainty that we can look forward to in 2014: the death of the paper tax disc, a move which was announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and one that is arguably long overdue.

2013 has been the year of technology, playing a hugely significant role within LeasePlan and the wider industry. The launch of our Telematics offering and the DriveAWARE reporting dashboard have increased transparency and provided us with a wealth of valuable data that we will use to inform vehicle selection and ensure our clients are given expert advice.

The past year was an exciting one for LeasePlan; we celebrated our 50th Anniversary with a 20,000 kilometre car relay across Europe and expanded globally with new offices in Russia and Canada. We will build on this excitement next year, with the announcement of a number of new, big wins and some innovative customer offerings.

Together with our clients, we look forward to the next 50 years of fleet management.

 

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