Leasing strategy - Page 3

How I got here: Matt Dyer, managing director, LeasePlan UK

Putting the customer first is Philip Newton's priority – which he learned at Perfume Shop.

It’s not all about cost savings for fleets, says MD Matt Dyer, who has launched new products based on client feedback

Keith Townsend won’t enter into price wars and is focused on long-term business.

A multi-million pound investment in its digital strategy will help Zenith maintain its customer focus under a new single brand identity, say Tim Buchan and Ian Hughes

Technology will be key as LeasePlan targets 30% organic growth over the next six years. Sarah Tooze reports.

Five key pillars are central to company’s strategy to reach 375,000 vehicles in three years’ time. Stephen Briers reports.

Zenith and Leasedrive will continue to operate with separate identities after merger, each allowed to focus on its historic strengths. Stephen Briers reports

Jo Moran helped transform Marks & Spencer’s fortunes through delivering better service. Here she outlines the 11 steps behind her success

Leasedrive will maintain its customer service ethos as it prepares for life under HG Capital, says Roddy Graham

A ‘spirit of partnership’ and an ability to adapt rapidly are vital to the family-owned business’s success. Stephen Briers reports

Values for ex-company light commercial vehicles remain at, or close to record levels, and while it might appear that prices are on a knife edge if vendors follow the golden rules of disposal then windfall conditions will continue for many more months.

Arval's managing director is a Bjorn Borg fan who has limitless admiration for Nelson Mandela.

Controversial Allstar charges will benefit fleets in the long run, says MD Callum Gibson.

Were you at the FN50? Spot yourself on our video.

The New Year could be the best that anyone can remember in terms of light commercial vehicle residual values, according to George Alexander, chief editor, Glass’s Commercial Vehicle Guide.

Contract hire and leasing companies are potentially risking residual value suicide by, in some cases, writing new business based on current used prices even though cars will not be defleeted until at least 2016, it is claimed.

New Arval managing director employs a Japanese-inspired strategy to satisfy customers.

Good fleet managers are “worth their salt” to their business. But their numbers have been in decline which is “a real shame”, according to Andrew Mann, managing director at JCT600 Contracts.

Northern Ireland-based contract hire and leasing company Agnew Corporate has been reaping the benefits of being linked to the second largest franchised dealer business in the UK since its acquisition by Sytner Group in January 2012.

Leasing experts believe that manufacturer-owned contract hire companies will accelerate their penetration into the UK fleet market over the next two-to-three years.

Privately-owned contract hire provider Motiva is targeting a place in the top half of the FN50 within the next four years.

SG Fleet has re-written the rule book for salary sacrifice car schemes in the UK.

Contract hire and leasing companies live or die by accurately predicting vehicle sale prices and while a ‘marginal tailing back’ of values from current levels is being predicted if the economy improves, a raft of uncontrollable influences means a precarious balancing act is being pursued.

Vehicle contract hire and leasing companies continue to enjoy a residual value windfall worth hundreds of pounds per van as sale prices show little sign of dropping from record levels.

Leasing companies must analyse the usage profile of individual vehicles if they are to accurately forecast future service, maintenance and repair costs, according to experts.

Traditional fleet service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs can be forecasted down to the final penny at the benchmark three years/60,000 miles - but a raft of ‘grey areas’ fuelled by numerous factors means contract hire and leasing companies continue to build up contingency funds to meet the cost of the unforeseen.

This year is set to deliver the best value returns seen for light commercial vehicles for many years, although there are some claims that prices may have hit their glass ceiling.

Buyers are continuing to pay close to top dollar for de-fleeted top quality company cars, but experts are warning of a tightening market with investment in pre-sale repairs paying dividends.

Longer service intervals and a trend for motor manufacturers to move the requirement for ‘expensive’ parts replacement - such as cambelts - beyond 60,000 miles has contributed to a decade long changes in the breakdown of service maintenance and repair (SMR) costs.

Common business sense means that contract hire and leasing companies do not want to make a loss on service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs so it is vital that they undertake a robust risk assessment and measure and manage the lifecycle of individual vehicle components.

True fleet sales in the first quarter of 2013 have remained broadly flat year-on-year, following the trend set during much of last year.

LeasePlan is starting to see a “glimmer of confidence” in UK plc which is starting to translate in greater employment opportunities and a boost in company vehicle purchases.

In most contract hire companies someone is responsible for obtaining new vehicle data, someone else negotiates discounts with dealers and someone else obtains VRB details and negotiates tactical deals with manufacturers.

Leasing companies place more than a quarter of their SMR business with independent companies rather than franchised dealers, new research has shown.

The long-awaited revised Exposure Draft (ED) on lease accounting was published by the IASB on 16 May 2013 and addresses a number of the problems identified by respondents following the initial Exposure Draft published in 2010.

Business confidence is rising among leasing companies as profitability improves and growth expectations increase in response to stronger fleet customer demand.

Leasing companies have praised manufacturers for their efforts to improve relationships with the industry in the past year – and they have set out four priority areas to improve levels of support still further in future.

Nearly a quarter of fleets say they are currently reviewing their fuel card supplier, according to the Fleet Barometer.

Fleets have been venting their fury or singing suppliers’ praises as they review their best and worst recent experiences with manufacturers and leasing companies in the past month.