GLOBAL vehicle management specialist Lease Plan has opened an office in Brazil where there are an estimated 500,000 company cars managed by 62 leasing companies. The Sao Paulo branch, which has Mauro Pontes as managing director, boosts Lease Plan's global coverage to 46 offices and 23 countries including 18 offices in Europe.

The company operates a fleet of more than 500,000 vehicles around the world and parent company ABN AMRO is the largest funder of vehicles in Brazil.

Lease Plan UK managing director Howard Thomas said: 'Lease Plan has ambitious growth plans.' In the last 12 months, the company has opened new offices in South Africa, India and Finland.