A NEW no-frills contract hire company has been launched which specialises in contracts of between six and 18 months.

Cambridgeshire-based Route 618 is a sister company of Alliance Asset Management and is promoting itself as a bridge between rental and contract hire.

Managing director Jeremy Lavallin said: 'We are working with a limited number of car manufacturers at any given time and we are solely concerned with sourcing the best cars at the most affordable prices. All we need to proceed are strong residual values. Our cars will go back into the motor trade, which is assured a supply of good quality, young stock.'

Route 618 has recently acquired Bedfordshire-based LeaseCapital, whose founder Richard Jackson now heads the company's contract hire and courtesy car operations.