SELF-owned fleets have been attacked as administratively costly and inefficient, by the European chief of the world's largest fleet services company. While many could see the attack on fleet managers by Dan Farrar, president and chief executive officer of GE Capital Fleet Services Europe, as self-interested his views are not dissimilar to those of the Association of Car Fleet Operators and the Institute of Car Fleet Management and they also won support at a 'Future of the Company Car' briefing held by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Farrar, speaking at this week's Automotive Congress Europe held in Geneva, said: 'Over the past few years the self-owned fleet, large or small, has continued as a feature of the fleet ballpark because of the so-called windfall profits on the sale of ex-fleet vehicles, which effectively covered or at least disguised fleet administration and other hidden costs - and inefficiencies. These days are well and truly behind us.'

He believes there will be a future role for fleet managers - although their job title may change - within companies. Some experts believe that role will be in the boardroom and not in the transport department.