Helping the sector deliver decarbonisation, responding to regulatory scrutiny, and preparing for further change were the three priorities presented to the sector as part of the BVRLA’s Annual Dinner this week.
The BVRLA is offering a new course to help women across its membership feel confident, clear and persuasive when speaking publicly. Taking place across 20 and 21 May, the Women’s Voices in Fleet course, powered by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), marks the latest development in the strategic collaboration between the two professional bodies.
The UK Government has some of the most ambitious road transport decarbonisation targets in the world but needs to show the same ambition in supporting them.
The popularity of company-provided electric vehicles saw the BVRLA’s leasing fleet grow 1.4% in the last 12 months, offsetting lower demand for vehicles on personal lease agreements and vans. The association’s latest Leasing Outlook report shows that salary sacrifice continues to drive growth in the sector, it is up 51% and sustaining the UK’s transition to cleaner, greener models.
The vehicle rental and leasing sector is seeing its optimism and enthusiasm for 2025 shackled by tax rises on top of regulatory and ZEV Mandate uncertainty. That is according to the BVRLA’s latest Industry Outlook Report, which shows that members are expecting somewhat of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ year in 2025.
Today’s budget from the Chancellor demonstrates the challenging economic climate facing the nation, but contained some green shoots around road transport decarbonisation, according to the BVRLA.
Private motorists are beginning to catch up to business users when it comes to EV adoption, as personal lease agreements (PCH: personal contract hire) tracked in line with ZEV mandate targets last quarter. Battery Electric Vehicles accounted for 21% of new PCH additions to the BVRLA’s leasing fleet in Q2 2024, although the association is warning that the uplift risks being short-lived if the used EV market is not stabilised.
The BVRLA has announced that Toby Poston will be its next Chief Executive, taking up the role on 1 January 2025 after Gerry Keaney retires at the end of the year.
The Government must act now to avoid further volatility in used electric vehicle (EV) values, which is damaging confidence in the transition and making new EVs more expensive.