DEPARTMENT store giant the John Lewis Partnership has launched a new car scheme for its 60,000 employees.

The new service, called partnerdrive, offers John Lewis staff, known as partners, access to company car-style motoring agreements on a wide range of cars, through a deal with Alphabet (UK).

Every agreement is available for a fixed monthly payment, covering all routine servicing and repairs, insurance, AA breakdown cover and road tax.

Partnerdrive is optional and promises 'significant' competitive advantages compared to a bank loan or dealer-arranged finance thanks to the leasing firm's buying power. The service offers all makes of vehicles, but currently has preferential pricing on Citroens and Vauxhalls.

Under partnerdrive, staff purchase their car via a Credit Sale Agreement from Alphabet. At the end of the two-year agreement they can either keep the car by paying the final settlement figure, plus an administration fee, or choose to sell the car to Alphabet for a sum equivalent to the final settlement figure. Alphabet uses this amount to settle the Credit Sale Agreement and, as long as the vehicle meets the required return standards and has covered no more than the contracted mileage, the driver will have nothing more to pay.

A dedicated team at Alphabet's Hampshire headquarters will give advice and support to John Lewis staff and provide post-delivery maintenance management services. Roger Glenwright, head of transport at the John Lewis Partnership, said: 'This is a well-run scheme that offers real advantages to staff and we are very pleased to be involved.'

The launch of the service comes months after the John Lewis Partnership introduced the Whitechapel employee car ownership scheme for its 580 company car drivers.