DEMAND for fleet leasing remains stable, but diesel demand is declining according to the latest ExpertEye Fleet Industry Review.
It highlights a move towards petrol vehicles for UK fleet operators together with a growing demand for alternative fuels.
Produced in association with Professor Colin Tourick from University of Buckingham, ExpertEye’s latest review provides valuable insights into the latest status and views of the UK fleet marketplace.
Despite Brexit now being a certainty, coupled with the recent election announcement and news of changes to company car taxation in the Spring Budget, the UK economy is not showing signs of drastic change.
Based on a survey of over 200 fleet operators, with the percentages in the graphic below of fleet operators who already have vehicles fuelled by diesel, electric, etc on their fleets, the findings include:
- More companies are putting petrol-engined cars back onto their fleet lists, or drivers themselves have decided to opt for petrol.
- Respondents expect to see a reduction in diesel in the next two years, with electric, electric range-extended and hybrid engines gaining in popularity. A significant number of them believe that petrol will be making a comeback.
The ExpertEye Fleet Industry Review is based on a biannual survey of fleet operators which measures their practices and references attitudes and opinions on a wide range of issues:
- Fleet profiles and policies
- The current economic and fleet environment
- Factors influencing supplier and vehicle choice and
- Predictions about vehicle requirements and influences.
With trends going back seven years, this report contains a unique insight into the key factors driving fleet acquisition decisions including commentary and analysis from a leading industry expert.
Almost no respondents (the UK’s fleet operators) expected the economy to shift drastically either up or down but they are slightly less optimistic than before.
More than half of respondents expected no change in demand for cars and more than three-quarters expected no change in demand for LCVs.
Of the few who expected demand to decrease, 20% said there would be decreased demand for cars (the highest level since H2 2013) and 7% said there would be decreased demand for vans.
Contract hire remains the predominant form of finance used by businesses, though there has been a steady growth in respondents using finance lease and Professor Tourick suggests reasons for this in the Review.
Reliability, fleet running costs and fleet safety and risk management remain top of respondents’ concerns as they ponder fleet management decisions they will be making in the next 12 months.
