The Fleet Europe Forum debate takes fleet management towards a new dimension
Once again this year, the Fleet Europe Forum 2011 opened with a debate involving two figures from different ‘sides’ of the fleet industry, but both a the highest level. The topic this year was ‘Moving to the new International Fleet Dimension, and opening the debate was Vahid Daemi, CEO of one of the largest leasing companies, LeasePlan Corporation. He believed that the whole situation has indeed changed, especially as capital resources become rarer. Companies are more and more concentrating on their core -business, he confirmed, outsourcing other elements including fleet. And within all of this, striking the right balance between all aspects – driver satisfaction, CO2 emissions, costs, mobility needs and safety… meant that fleet was now moving into a new dimension.
Alongside him, Miguel Fonseca, Vice President Sales of Toyota Motor Europe agreed that there is a growing focus on Corporate Social Responsibility. But to compound the challenges facing the fleet industry as it moves towards the next dimension, is a lack of visibility in areas such as regulation, taxation and the environmental question. He believed that because of this, the industry is currently finding itself too often in a situation where it has to react, not plan confidently ahead. He also stated that the partnership between his side of the industry (manufacturer) and that of his co-speaker (leasing companies) is increasingly important because leasing companies can inform manufacturers exactly what it is that customers are looking for. Telematics were believed to be key in driving down costs and emissions, he said. Returning to customers, Vahid Daemi said that leasing companies were moving from their traditional role as ‘supplier managers’ to that of customer managers.
And after further enlightening words including the Toyota philosophy of having ‘the right car in the right place at the right time’, each was asked to give one vital piece of advice to the audience of fleet managers and others. Vahid Daemi: “Don’t panic, and find a business partner who can keep you fully updated on all the best practices in all areas of the business, as these evolve”. Miguel Fonseca had a very similar message; “The whole industry needs to work together because we need to be able to read the whole of the situation as it evolves – the legal framework, tax issues…”
A stimulating start to the Fleet Europe Forum 2011, well received by an audience clearly looking to move their companies ahead.
|
Registration 
