Advertisement feature from CA Auto Finance

By Christian Gorton, Marketing Director at CA Auto Finance UK

The future of automotive in the UK is getting greener, as OEMs emerge from around the world with EVs and ramp up their presence in the UK.

At CA Auto Finance and Drivalia, I’ve seen firsthand the rapid growth of EVs for company use, driven by an attractive tax proposition and lower running costs. As we await details on what the new government’s approach will be to reach the 2030 mandate, we continue to see the fleet market grow, while the EV retail market continues to decline.

I often get asked how a car finance company can help with this transition to go green. At CA Auto Finance we have a long history of helping to democratise the motor car since 1925, and now we find ourselves almost 100 years later doing our utmost to democratise EVs. There are obstacles to overcome, including making vehicles more accessible through flexible rental, subscription, and financing options, but as a company that provides all of the above and more, we’re in a strong position to support OEMs with the changing EV landscape.

Current State of Play

CA Auto Finance sits within CA Auto Bank, a leading independent, multi-brand player in the vehicle and mobility financing and leasing sector. It is part of the Crédit Agricole Group, the 10th largest bank in the world by total assets. Providing a range of retail finance and insurance products, we support numerous OEMs through formal partnerships and over 600 used car dealerships in the UK.

Our history of previously being a captive also means we are uniquely positioned to serve the industry. We understand the pressures OEMs and dealerships are under to provide greener options and the challenges this poses, like concerns over cost and added logistical intricacies due to a lack of charging infrastructure. However, we’re equipped to add real value through our industry expertise and range of e-mobility solutions.

Drivalia, a subsidiary of CA Auto Bank, is an industry leading company focused on mobility in the automotive sector that provides reliable, innovative and convenient solutions through contract hire, subscription, electric car sharing or daily rentals. Having Drivalia ‘in-house’ enables us to maximise the use of each vehicle and protect residual values, as well as provide a unique and innovative approach to our brand partners.

Due to our presence in key European markets, corporate fleet operators can have a single pan-European provider. This is increasingly important as organisations implement sustainability initiatives across their networks and require the convenience of communicating with a singular team.

The Future of E-mobility

To support the shift to sustainable transportation, our goal is to reach 300,000 vehicles (with more than 50% composed of BEVs and PHEVs) across Drivalia within the next three years. In the UK, we’re also expanding the number of Drivalia Mobility Stores to give us improved scale and dimension, allowing us to provide further flexibility and convenience to our customers.

We also work with industry bodies to ensure the right frameworks are in place to support fleet managers, including discussions to prepare for the growth of the used EV market. Looking ahead, we’re confident our mobility and finance offerings can help organisations embrace greener policies as we continue decarbonising our roads.

For more information visit our website here or email service-centre@ca-autobank.com