A new report that looks at the likely development path company fleets will follow over the next decade has been launched by the University of Buckingham and LeasePlan.

Over the next ten years, the Fleet 2020 report suggests the company car will complete its journey from executive perk to measurable business tool.

The report was commissioned by LeasePlan and written by Professor Peter Cooke, KPMG Professor of Automotive Management at the University of Buckingham.

The report suggests that the combination of considerations will transform attitudes and approaches to company car ownership, use and management over the next decade.

Smaller and cleaner company cars will be more common and will arrive along with radical changes in the management and measurement of the value of fleets.

Key among these will be balancing issues of employee benefits, utility and effective use of vehicles as assets.

This is likely to increase the need for a more strategic approach to the management of company fleets.

 The use of company vehicles will be scrutinised with a greater focus on the operational need for vehicles rather than drivers’ personal requirements.

“The questions this report raises are of interest to anyone in a business with transport needs. The next 10 years are likely to see a great deal of change in business transport, and so we felt it was crucial to explore what may drive that change and identify what our clients can do to be ready for it,” said Adam Wigginton, head of consultancy services at LeasePlan.

“There’s no doubt that the concept of the company vehicle is transforming as are attitudes and behaviours related to them. As the stakes rise we are likely to see fleet management increasingly discussed at board level with leased vehicles seen as vital, valued and functional tools of doing business.

“For us, the report is one way in which we’re looking to help our clients direct their planning efforts over the coming years. Through our consultancy services team, we’re working with a number of clients to help them ensure they are prepared for the twists and turns that the industry is likely to take as we head towards 2020 and beyond.”

You can download the report by following this link.