Electric vehicles take centre stage at Fleet Live 2019

Electric vehicles take centre stage for the majority of car and LCV brands at Fleet Live 2019. 

Here are the highlights from BMW, Ford, Volvo, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Seat at Fleet Live 2019 (October 8 and 9 Birmingham NEC). 

BMW 

BMW Group will be debuting its latest electrified models at Fleet Live, including the new Mini Electric and BMW 330e (pictured).  

The new BMW 1 Series will also be on display, alongside the 8 Series Gran Coupe halo car. Delegates will get exclusive access to the Mini Electric, which will have its own stand and an ‘immersive pod’ to showcase its fleet credentials.  

Rob East, BMW Group corporate sales general manager, said that, while 2019 has been a year of product transition, the company is now gearing up for 2020 with a raft of new models.  

BMW has already confirmed that the Mini Electric will be priced at parity with its petrol equivalent.  

Promising a maximum range of 144 miles (WLTP), the Mini Electric battery pack has 12 modules of lithium-ion cells providing a battery capacity of 32.6 kWh.  

East said: “The target demographic of the Mini Hatch customer lines up really nicely for the electric model and getting price parity with petrol is going to further normalise the acceptance of pure EVs. 

Ford 

Ford will share its latest thinking on how commercial fleets can leverage data and technology to continue to operate efficiently in cities of the future at Fleet Live this year.  

Dave Phatak, director at Ford Commercial Solutions (FCS) division at Ford Mobility in Europe, will share his views on how fleets should tackle issues around last-mile delivery, clean air zones and how they can leverage connected technology to help improve efficiency.  

The brand will also display two key models from its passenger car and commercial vehicle ranges, with members of its dedicated fleet team on hand to discuss fleet sales and financing, insurance and wholelife costs, among other things.  

With a fresh focus on electrification, Ford is keen to highlight its range of hybrid models including the upcoming Kuga plug-in hybrid (pictured) and existing Mondeo hybrid, as well as the new Transit Custom plug-in hybrid. 

Volvo 

Volvo Car UK will be showcasing its latest Twin Engine plug-in hybrid models, including the V60 and XC60.  

The updated XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid will also be present. Visitors will also be able to see the XC40 (pictured), the first SUV to be named New Company Car of the Year in the Fleet News Awards.  

Fleet buyers will be able to place orders for the new T5 Twin Engine petrol-electric hybrid powertrain variant of the XC40, which is the UK’s first plug-in hybrid premium compact SUV, available for delivery in spring 2020.  

The Volvo Business Sales team will be available to provide expert insight into the advantages of the Volvo range for company car drivers.  

Plus stand visitors can tap into the brand’s Swedish roots with Fika, the Scandinavian tradition of taking time out for coffee, cake and an all-important chat. 

Steve Beattie, head of business sales at Volvo Car UK, says: “The future of fleet is very much determined by the advancement of alternatively fuelled vehicles and connected technology and Volvo is leading the way with its bold electrification strategy.  

“Our Business Sales team will be at Fleet Live to offer practical advice on how organisations can integrate EVs into their fleets. 

FCA Group 

FCA Group will be presenting its key fleet brands at Fleet Live – Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Fiat and Fiat Professional.  

Making its show debut is the new Jeep Wrangler, which launched earlier in the year.  

Designed with a rugged off-road focus, the new model is expected to appeal to both userchoosers who want something that stands out and core fleets that need a robust off-road vehicle.  

Alongside the new Wrangler will be the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. With petrol and diesel options to suit a range of requirements, the Stelvio (pictured) presents a cost-effective alternative to the popular German cars in this segment.  

This year the Stelvio range is enhanced with a new Ti model. Sitting at the top of the range, it offers a sportier look and high specification.  

The Fiat Tipo will also be there alongside the facelifted Ducato van, highlighting the breadth of the Fiat range from core fleet models to large vans. 

“We’re looking forward to engaging with the fleet community to sh

are our plans for 2020 which will include the launch of our all electric Ducato plus the PHEV Jeep and Fiat models,” said Simon Wheeler, fleet and business marketing manager at FCA.  

FCA’s fleet sales colleagues will be on stand to talk to fleets about the company’s current models and also those that are coming soon, such as the new Jeep Compass plug-in hybrid – the brand’s first model with an alternative powertrain.  

Matt Niles, national sales manager, and area fleet sales manager Jason Lynch will also be at Fleet Live, together with corporate CV manager Michael Duggan. 

Seat  

Seat will showcase its all-new seven-seat Tarraco (pictured) alongside the popular Arona, while the stand will also feature the all-new Cupra Ateca and the Seat Leon Cupra.  

Having recently introduced its Fleet Aftersales Commitment initiative to complement the successful four-day test drive and EasyMove programmes, Seat is planning to further strengthen its fleet offering; introducing all-new web tools as well as an update to its website.  

Offering a more in-depth resource, including a ‘Fleet Knowledge Zone’ covering many of the key issues for fleets, the update to the fleet website will aim to provide even better support for fleet managers.  

Richard Harrison, managing director of Seat UK, said: “Fleet Live is an unmissable opportunity, where we can show off what Seat has to offer, while also getting a real understanding of what we can do to further improve our fleet provision.  

“This year’s running of the event coincides with a really positive period for the brand. The Seat Fleet programme has never been stronger and continues to grow, and Fleet Live is the ideal place to discuss what we have in the pipeline, and how we can better support fleet managers.”  

Visitors to the Seat stand will also have the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win an exclusive weekend away to Barcelona and take in a football match at the Camp Nou stadium as well as an exclusive tour of the Seat factory.

Fleet Live 2019

Fleet Live 2019 takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 8 and 9) at the NEC, Birmingham.

The event is complementary for fleet professionals and delegates can sign up for their ticket at www.fleet-live.co.uk/online-registration.