The recession has dethroned the driver as the king of the company car sector, according to the latest Company Car Trends survey from the fleet division of GE Capital.
Tough economic conditions mean that human resources-based company car policies that have been common for many years are now falling out of favour.
“The company car driver is no longer king – and cost has taken the crown,” explained Gary Killeen, commercial leader at GE Capital. “The recession has caused the fleet sector to head rapidly back to basics.”
GE Capital’s quarterly Company Car Trends survey shows that human resources issues are falling down the list of fleet concerns.
When asked to name what factors would have the greatest effect on company car management decisions in the next 12 months, the top five responses from employers were all cost factors - ranging from fuel prices to taxation – pushing aside other concerns such as human resources issues that have been high on the fleet agenda in recent years.