A weekly round up of European and UK fleet news: This week includes rising optimism among European fleet managers, appointments across the continent and awards for Alphabet. By Jonathan Minter and Mike Cobb

 

European Fleet managers optimistic: GE Capital

The European fleet market looks likely to improve over the next two years, according to a GE capital poll, which found 80 of fleet managers expected their fleet to remain stable or increase over the period.

An even greater number (81%) said they planned to expand their fleet business into new countries, with Russia, Turkey and Brazil proving the most popular destination.

Possibly as a result of these ambitions, 54% said optimising their global fleet was a challenge, of whom 70% said they were looking for an international and centralisation of policies.

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Driver behaviour was the main concern highlighted, selected by 61% of respondents, while 48% said they wanted to improve their fuel management approach.

GE Capital’s survey involved 72 companies across Europe, which collectively manage over 150, 000 vehicles.

 

Leasedrive win Imtech contract

Vehicle management group Leasedrive has been awarded the contract for technical service provider Imtech’s vehicle rental business following a tender managed by ERA Fleet Cost Management (ERAFCM).

ERAFCM had been appointed by Imtech to review the market and provide a more cost effective and efficient short-term hire supplier for the group, and will provide ongoing strategic support throughout the contract.

Sean Bingham, principle consultant at ERAFCM, said: "Core to Leasedrive’s successful bid was its multi-panel supplier model, which provides comprehensive national vehicle rental coverage at market competitive rates."

 

Alphabet, the leasing division of BMW, took away two awards including ‘Leasing and Fleet Management Company of the Year’ from the annual BusinessCar awards in London, with British Car Auctions walking off with the best remarketing group award.

In addition to the leasing award, Alphabet was awarded the title of ‘Service Supplier of the Year’ in an awards ceremony in which winners are selected from among their peers.

BCA’s award marks the 18th time the company has won the award and it was assisted to the award this year by the introduction of two new products, BCA assured and the Appraise Value and Sell online tool.

Kwik-Fit won fast-fit company of the year for the 21st year, in recognition of their work in the fleet space, while the BMW group picked up another award for the business car of the year which went to the BMW 3-Series.

 

Lex Autolease makes senior appointments

Lex Autolease has appointed Katie Hayes, Stuart Haycock and Janice Cadden to its senior operating committee to provide extra strategic management for the business.

Hayes and Cadden have been promoted internally to customer experience director and regional and public sales director, respectively, while Haycock has joined from Lloyds’ SME Banking team after eight years at the bank, to become head of performance delivery.

Autolease said the appointments were an integral part of the business’s growth strategy to increase the size of its fleet by an additional 100, 000 vehicles over the next five years.

 

Hyundai appoints European fleet director

Hyundai Motor Europe has appointed Adrian Porter to the position of European fleet director, which is a newly created position in the company.

Based in Offenbach, Germany, Porter will be responsible for the Field Fleet Team and will also oversee the analysis and remarketing sides of the business.

Hyundai aims to expand it fleet share from 2.2% in 2013 to 2.6% in 2014 and Porter has been tasked with overseeing the qualitative improvements required to achieve this.

 

Glass’s launch remarketing tool, TradeAlerts

Glass’s, the car data provider, has launched a trade product aimed at allowing fleet remarketing teams to gain better access to the dealer network, in order to dispose of some of their vehicles in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

The system will piggy back on the existing Glass’s dealer infrastructure and will work using emails to alert dealers to available vehicles and provide full specifications.

Glass’s hopes that this system will help reduce handling costs, and aid all aspects of the supply chain.