Europcar Mobility Group is targeting SMEs which may have struggled through the Covid-19 pandemic with its B2B Flex and Flex+ flexible rental products.

The company says the solutions are designed to take the pressure off cash-flow as instead of being committed to a fixed-term lease or an outright purchase, they offer companies the opportunity to pick-up vehicles when they need them.

They can be returned after as little as three months – with no upfront deposit or early termination fees beyond the initial three months.

Sam Sterry, SME sales director at Europcar Mobility Group, said: “For the majority of SMEs the past few months have been extremely challenging – whether they have been working at full pelt supporting essential services, or stood down during the lockdown.

“Now what is needed is as much flexibility as possible to adapt to an unknown future.

“We have, therefore focused on developing a range of ‘on demand’ long term flexible rental products covering both cars and vans which can help companies respond quickly to changing demands in an efficient and ‘cash friendly’ way.”

A recent study by insurer Simply Business found the Covid-19 lockdown has cost each UK business an average of just over £11,700 a week, with SMEs accounting for 99.9% of all businesses and around half the turnover in the private sector according to the FSB.