Twenty-four hour round the clock service across the UK to some of Britain’s largest and best known supermarket retailers is essential for AirTube Technologies, which is why the company is to take delivery of six new Subaru 4x4s to add to its fleet this winter.

The Kidderminster-based company took delivery of six Subaru Outback 4x4s at the start of 2011 from Alliance Asset Management. It replaced them midway through the year and has six on order ready for delivery in January 2012.

Alliance Asset Management recently launched its 4x4 vehicle mini-lease scheme developed to help keep companies moving during the bad weather. In the first two weeks of the campaign, more than 130 orders for 4x4s across a wide range of makes and models have been taken

Forecasters are predicting snow for parts of Scotland, northern England and Wales later this week as the unseasonably mild autumn weather comes to an end.

AirTube Technologies’ finance director Tony Mobley said: “We work on behalf of retailers across Britain and Northern Ireland. They expect service to be delivered on demand so it is essential that our key account, project managers and maintenance staff drive vehicles that will enable them to cope with the very worst of winter driving conditions.

“We have found that the Subaru Outbacks have been essential in helping the company to meet service level agreements with our wide range of customers.”

He added: “In addition to the cars having all-wheel drive capability and therefore being able to easily cope with the harshest of winter driving conditions, the employees enjoy driving the vehicles and feel safe in them. The cars also have excellent load-lugging capability which we require.”

The vehicle rental and fleet services provider is offering a special three or four-month mini-lease on 4x4s starting from as little as £500 per month.

Vincent St Claire, of Alliance Asset Management, said: “It makes good operational and economic sense for organisations to order 4x4s now, not least to ensure they have vehicles available when the harsh winter weather arrives. Whilst our product requires a commitment of three to four months, we feel confident that it will work out cheaper for customers making this relatively short commitment.”

As well as new and existing corporate customers, Alliance Asset Management has had interest from a number of local authorities, health trusts, public bodies and is also in discussions with a number of emergency service fleets to ensure their essential users are kept mobile.

The company has a solus vehicle supply agreement with AirTube Technologies, which operates a 13-strong vehicle fleet also including three Mazdas, a Kia and three light commercial vehicles.