TOYOTA'S fleet leasing customers are set to benefit from a new transparent pricing initiative for vehicle maintenance. Known as the national fleet servicing programme, the initiative is designed to make the range more attractive and affordable to major fleet operators and reduce service, maintenance and repair costs.

From now on, when a contract hire or leasing firm sends its vehicles for servicing it will be carried out according to a published recommended tariff, with the maximum charge pre-determined by model, service mileage and which one of five regions the work is being carried out in.

Any work beyond the standard service will be invoiced separately. Only genuine Toyota parts will be fitted, ensuring the vehicle is maintained to its specifications.

The scheme, first revealed by Toyota earlier this year, recognises there have been problems caused by regional variations in the amounts charged by dealers.

Mark Hall, Toyota Fleet's general manager, said: 'The effectiveness of our approach has been reflected in reductions in leasing and contract hire rates, but until now the full impact of the savings available has been obscured by inconsistent maintenance pricing.'

He said contract hire and leasing companies, including GE Capital, PHH, Lease Plan and Dial, have already joined the scheme.

Toyota also plans this month to introduce the scheme to companies who manage vehicles in-house, such as Tesco, which runs 300 Avensis and Corallas out of a total fleet of 900-vehicles, and BT and Scottish Power with about 1,000 Toyotas each.