International purchasing teams are considering pan-European fleet deals in a bid to cut costs, but vehicles are a more complex acquisition area than IT, travel and car rental where global contracts are better established. Funding mechanisms, tax systems, holding periods and vehicle selection all vary considerably, forcing fleet decision makers and their suppliers to 'think global, act local', according to Vahid Daemi, managing director of Lease Plan.

The corporate sector typically replaces its vehicles every 31.6 months in Germany, every 49 months in Spain, and every 58 months in Greece, reflecting the different prosperity of the countries' economies and car mileages.