CCIA: Raft of new models set to continue Fiat Chrysler Automobiles fleet growth

New for 2016?

Alfa Romeo Giulia (autumn), Fiat 124 Spider (autumn), Fiat Tipo (autumn), Fiat Fullback (June), Fiat Fiorino (June), Fiat Talento (September), Euro 6 engines in Fiat Doblo and Ducato (available to order now)

What are your hopes for 2016?

“This is our busiest year yet for new model introductions, and our hopes are for those models to be successfully launched within the fleet market,” said Francis Bleasdale, fleet and remarketing director for FCA Group.

He said the company’s fleet registrations are currently 20% higher for 2016 than they were to this date last year, and he is aiming for sustainable growth.

What new initiatives are you introducing for fleets?

“We haven’t launched anything new per se,” said Bleasdale. “We’ve continued to evolve, so we’ve strengthened the fleet team, we are currently in the process of improving and strengthening our fleet specialist programme for our dealers so we can grow that from 22/23 dealers up to 40 over the course of the next 12 months. Part of that will be done by effectively strengthening the aftersales proposition that we offer.”

What automotive trend will have the biggest implications for fleets over the next couple of years?

“I don’t think it’s a challenge for customers, I think it’s a challenge for manufacturers and dealers, but the market has changed so the vast majority of cars are leased in one way or another,” said Bleasdale.

“Whether that’s through PCP, whether its salary sacrifice, or whether it’s a conventional company car user-chooser, we are all more reliant on a leasing product as a means of funding. Residual values are such a cornerstone of these lease products and therefore we should be even more protective of those RVs.”