LEX Vehicle Leasing is to launch its own personal contract purchase scheme on January 1, 1997 with automotive and aerospace group LucasVarity the first customer.

Called Lex FreeChoice, the scheme - which has received Inland Revenue approval - is initially to be targeted at Lex Vehicle Leasing's current fleet customers operating more than 500 vehicles and hopes to sign up around eight next year. A target of around 400 cars has been set for the first year with LucasVarity offering the scheme to all its 20,000-plus UK employees. The company currently has 1,800 cars on contract hire with Lex Vehicle Leasing.

Lex Vehicle Leasing believes its FreeChoice package, which will be managed by Lex Corporate Sales, will appeal to employees in three ways: