COMPANIES are continuing to prioritise business and staff fleet needs ahead of Government calls for greater use of transport alternatives to the company car. Two major new surveys of employers and company car drivers have this week confirmed that the company car remains a vital and highly valued commercial tool.

Godfrey Davis (Contract Hire) questioned 506 organisations and found that two thirds considered the company car essential to staff recruitment and retention. While 20% of companies would like to rid themselves of company cars, a greater proportion (24%) fear that asking employees to use their own cars would tarnish the company's image. Underlining the value of a company car is that just 4% of company car drivers have decided to hand in their keys in return for a cash option, despite 48% of employers offering the alternative.

A survey of 1,235 company car drivers by Newcourt Automotive Services, found that 73% of fleet drivers still believe the company car is a benefit compared to the tax paid. This reinforced the conclusions of Godfrey Davis' research that the vast majority of staff would continue to use their cars to and for work, regardless of Government plans.

Colin Tourick, managing director of Newcourt Automotive Services, said: 'There's still a big job to be performed by manufacturers and the Government to convince car drivers that alternative fuel cars are just as fast and efficient. Once drivers see an abundance of refuelling points at service stations, I'm sure they'll take this issue more seriously.'