LEASING and rental companies could create a new one-stop shop total mobility concept for corporate travel which would change the face of today's fleet industry. Companies would only be charged for actual usage on a monthly basis with employees being able to choose the most suitable mode of travel for their journey from a menu which could include car, bus, train and plane, Automotive Congress Europe heard.

That is the view of independent consultant Filip Van Mullem, director of Belgium-based Fleet Logistics International, who believes the 'mobility concept' will become increasingly popular as companies look to overcome car journey 'dead time'. Belgian statistics reveal a typical car is parked 90% of its life, 60% of cars are driven less than 50km a day, 30% under 20km and in 80% of cases the driver travels alone.

America was the first country to start a mobility programme and Holland is leading the way in Europe with some initiatives at a company level.

In Britain for example, Arriva Plc is a major bus operator as well as being a significant player in the car leasing industry - although its leasing business is up for sale - while Swan National's parent company Forward Trust owns railway rolling stock in the UK. As well as offering a travel one-stop shop, leasing and rental companies could also establish car rental sites on the edge of cities.

'In the future mobility will be paid per day or by mileage driven. A reduction of mobility does not necessarily deteriorate the lessors' financial situation. For instance, less mileage on the car results in a better residual value,' said Van Mullem.