Mazda5 diesel

The Mazda5 is now available in a five-model range and includes two turbo diesel options which will obviously attract fleet buyers. The new car goes on sale in the UK in January 2011 and there is the option of a 1.8-litre 115ps TS, 2.0-litre 150ps TS2, 2.0-litre 150ps Sport, 1.6-litre 115ps 1.6D TS2 and the 1.6D 115ps Sport.

Mazda5 is now available in a 1.6-litre turbo diesel unit

The 1.6-litre turbo diesel unit emits just 138g/km and according to Mazda, this model is likely to attract most fleet buyers.

Peter Allibon, Mazda Fleet and Remarketing Director, explains,”With the arrival of the Mazda5 diesel we will be offering fleets a complete five-model range – Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6 and CX-7 topped by the iconic MX-5. Now, rather than a single car, Mazda is able to offer businesses a complete fleet solution from an urban super mini through to load-carriers required by high mileage reps and on to lifestyle vehicles for user-choosers”. The current Mazda car range is on the site now on Mazda contract hire and the new Mazda5 diesel will be available in the New Year.

Nissan Leaf

The biggest factor in determining how a contract hire leasing rental is calculated is what each vehicle leasing Company sets as their future resale value (residual value). Most of the top leasing companies rely on CAP data, the UK’s leading authority on vehicle information and data.

CAP has now forecast the the Nissan Leaf all-electric vehicle will retain 40% of its pre-subsidy list price at 3 years and 30,000 miles. The government is offering a grant of up to £5,000 to encourage take-up of initially expensive electric vehicles and coupled with the benefits of zero emissions, this now makes the Nissan Leaf (and other electric cars) more accessible to business fleets.

The forecast by CAP is important as there has been a debate as to whether the batteries should be leased separately and CAP has maintained its position of only forecasting residual values where the battery is legally under the same title as the vehicle.  Mike Norman of CAP commented,”Although the future residual value of an electric vehicle is only a small part of the story, this forecast remains a significant moment in the industry. The figure of 40% reflects the belief that the current widespread scepticism in some areas fails to recognise that there will be a market for Leaf and similar vehicles among consumers, especially those who wish to wear their green credentials openly”.

New Mazda6

The Mazda6 is updated this month with the introduction of a new 19-strong model range offering better fuel economy (by up to 6.4%) and lower CO2 emissions (up to 6.1 %). Business fleets and company car drivers now have a choice of hatchback and estate versions, as the saloon model is no longer available. There are three petrol engine options and three diesel engines, with four equipment levels namely S, TS, TS2 and Sport.

New Mazda6

Upgraded equipment includes “smart ” turn indicators and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) for the S grade and all other models. The TS (and all upward models) gets a rear spoiler, the TS2 (and upwards) gets front and rear parking sensors and Hill Hold Assist (HHA) and the Sport gets swivel-type AFS front lights. Most “essential need” company car drivers will probably lean towards the 2.2D 129ps in TS trim which now emits 138g/km. Mazda contract hire prices will be loaded shortly.

The BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association) has commented that many business fleets are focussing their efforts on reducing their fuel costs and CO2 emissions. The BVRLA’s members operate around 1.6 million cars and they have found that the average CO2 emissions of vehicles, brought on fleet in 2009,  fell to 144g/km. The trend is clearly towards driving low CO2 cars and fuel efficient vehicles.

The reduction on business car fleets outstrips those seen across all new car registrations, as reported by the SMMT, which recently published an average figure of 149.5g/km. John Lewis, BVRLA chief executive said,”Our members continue to lead the way in lowering road transport emissions and disproving the myth that company cars are gas guzzlers. The government’s emission based-tax regime has given fleets and their drivers a great incentive to drive cleaner cars and the message is clearly getting through”.

Vehicle Leasing companies also reported a 2% drop in the average contract mileage for cars added to fleets in 2009, down to 19,183 from the 19,617 seen in 2008.

The Government has proposals to introduce vocational driving qualifications for at-work drivers and 86% of the “Driving for Better Business” campaign “business champion” fleets have supported the idea of “NVQ type” driving qualifications.

The Department of Transport consultation document,”Learning to drive” has specifically suggested that driving qualifications should be taken by all commercial van drivers and this was supported by around two thirds of the “business champion” fleets.

The “Driving for Better Business” Campaign is managed by Roadsafe and uses 40 of the business champion fleets to promote the financial, legal and moral reasons for organisations across the public and private sector to invest in at-work driving road safety.

Caroline Scurr, Campaign director said,” We are delighted that our “business champion” fleets support the concept of vocational qualifications for all at-work drivers”.