As a direct result of the Covid-19 global pandemic, three-quarters (75%) of fleet managers reviewed its fleet acquisition policy, with over half (52%) having to pay fees on leased vehicles handed back early.
New research from August 2020, commissioned by Europcar Mobility Group UK, also revealed vehicle supply as an additional challenge currently facing fleet managers.
Europcar believes Covid-19 and Brexit have created the ‘perfect storm’ impacting on access to new vehicles.
The study also found that 62% of fleet managers had to extend existing contracts in 2020 due to issues with supply of new or replacement vehicles, a situation that is unlikely to improve in the early part of 2021.
Speaking on the research, Stuart Russell, specialist vehicle director at Europcar Mobility Group UK said:
“As we enter a new year and another period of uncertainty due to the ongoing pandemic, businesses will need to remain as agile and adaptable as ever,”
Russell suggests that vehicle hire is a cost-effective way of “plugging the gap” at times when supply lines cannot be guaranteed. This will allow companies to use “safe, well maintained vehicles” with minimum disruption to their day-to-day business, he added, continuing with:
“At Europcar Mobility Group UK our long-term solutions provide options for businesses to expand and contract their vehicle fleets as and when demand requires, offering a cost-effective alternative to leasing or outright purchase so that they can concentrate on running an efficient business and meeting customer expectations”.
