AUDI has been praised by one of the biggest names in fleet management and vehicle leasing as leading the marketplace when it comes to helping set residual values before a model's launch. Godfrey Davis say Audi's order book reflects this and it is now calling on other manufacturers to follow suit.

Martin Brown, Godfrey Davis' business analyst, says many manufacturers are failing to support leasing companies in setting considered and objective residual values by not making demonstration vehicles readily available pre-launch. And this week Brown named Audi as one of the few manufacturers which has got its act together.

He said: 'Before one important model was launched Audi gave us full access to the vehicle for an extended period. We were able to examine it in great detail and realised that it was a quantum leap over the model it replaced. 'As a result we estimated some very strong residuals which translated into some good business for both Godfrey Davis and the manufacturer. Without having the car in our hands prior to the launch we would have acted more conservatively and, as a result, lost out on some of this business.'

He compared this with many other manufacturers who limit testing to drive days and pre-launch events. Brown described this as restrictive and insufficient to enable leasing companies to make informed judgements on the vehicle's long term prospects.