A MAJOR leasing company has signed up to help Cadillac put its new BLS saloon on the road across Europe next month.

In a deal thought to be unique in the industry, LeasePlan will begin marketing examples of the US company’s premium sector challenger in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Benelux and Switzerland when the car is launched on April 8.

The arrangement will not apply in Britain, where Pendragon has taken over responsibility for sales of the car through 12 outlets, but it is believed that Dutch-based car importer Kroymans has agreed specific two and three-year rates with LeasePlan for each country aimed at placing the car on company lists. Cadillac Europe sales director Malcolm Wade said: ‘The rates will be advantageous – sufficiently attractive to persuade people to take a test drive and find out more about a brand they might otherwise not consider.’