By Kristofer Bush, Vice President, Marketing, LeasePlan USA
A global LeasePlan Monitor survey* looks into driver preference of company vehicles.
When looking at driver preference, 80 percent of all fleet drivers see the size of the vehicle as the most important selection criteria. Size appears to be a universal reason for choosing a vehicle, but what else is influencing driver decisions? And what does this mean for the future of fleet?
Although size matters to most drivers, it does not mean they all agree on the actual size of the vehicle. In the United States, only 6 percent of the drivers said they would prefer a smaller vehicle as their next model. Currently, only 18 percent drive a small vehicle. Globally, one out of four drivers prefers a small(er) vehicle in the future. This, to me, indicates that globally, fleets will slowly transition into smaller vehicles, whereas, here in the states, it may be a slower adoption.
Other factors influencing driver preference are brand and engine performance. Globally, brand ranked second on the list of factors influencing drivers’ decisions, but in America, brand ranked third behind engine performance. Appearance really seems to be lower on the radar for U.S. drivers compared to the global drivers. However, brand may rank higher globally due to the availability of higher-end brands.
Now let’s dive into company regulations in regards to company vehicle selections. The results showed that not every driver is allowed to pick the brand he or she is passionate about. 41 percent must choose from a predefined list of brands, and in 33 percent of cases, the company will make the decision. Coinciding with the global trend, 84 percent of U.S. drivers do not have the freedom to choose the brand of their company vehicle. 14 percent indicated their company allows them to choose a vehicle from a predefined list. These results show that the company really chooses the vehicle, so most company vehicles are based on the company’s criteria, not the driver’s.
From the above results, it appears the future of fleet lies in the hands of the company, especially in the United States. Size proved to be the top preference, but this is most likely going to be influenced by industry factors such as fuel prices and the environment. Based on the company’s industry focus and regulations it will determine which vehicles are on the road, whether that vehicle gets better gas mileage, is electric, or just smaller in size.
As always, the fleet industry will continue to grow and develop based on different influential factors. And for now size is a factor but we will just have to wait and see how this will determine the future of fleet.
*This survey was performed by TNS.