Audi is rolling out a national fleet service programme next month that will offer contract hire and leasing companies a fixed national rate for servicing, maintenance and repair.

The manufacturer hopes to stem the flow of aftersales business away from its franchised dealers into independent workshops.

The scheme has been on trial with Zenith and Lloyds for the past six months and it is now ready for a full launch on June 1.

Iain Carmichael, Audi UK head of fleet, said: “We will guarantee a service level and price to contract hire and leasing companies in return for a fixed percentage of their work.”

This will start at 90%, rising to 95% by the end of the three-year contract.

At the moment, Audi is leaking around 20% of aftersales work from its franchised network.

All its centres have signed up to the programme.
Audi has set the price at a level which reflects its position as a premium manufacturer in terms of the service and customer experience that fleets can expect at its retail centres, according to Carmichael.

The labour rate is fixed for the duration of the contract, but the overall price will rise each year in line with inflation. Included in the deal are preferential rates for MoT.

“The rationale allows leasing companies to budget on SMR – it’s a defensive strategy but it will deliver benefits to them,” said Carmichael.

“It will also see residual values improve because the cars will have the dealer stamp in the service book which is valued more highly.”