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Infrastructure and tax top list of fleet buyer concerns

A lack of road infrastructure causing greater congestion and increased vehicle taxation are the two biggest issues facingย fleetย and mobility managers in the next five years.

The finding comes from the 2019 edition of Arval Mobility Observatory, which covers 3,930ย fleets and asks a wide ranging set of questions aboutย fleetย and mobility trends.

When asked what they expected to be the main challenges facing them in the next five years, 49% replied lack of road infrastructure causing increased congestion, 30% increased vehicle taxation, 19% unclear Government policy towards transport, 19% implementation of alternative fuel policies, 16% increased driver personal taxation and 16% the introduction of more Clean Air Zones in urban areas.

Shaun Sadlier, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: โ€œThe breadth of issues mentioned in response to this question shows thatย fleetย and mobility managers are facing some very difficult challenges over the next few years.

โ€œProbably the most interesting aspect is that the majority of these issues are linked to external regulatory and policy factors that have an impact onย fleets, rather than being practical issues.ย 

โ€œSome of these, such as Clean Air Zones, are generally supported byย fleets who are well aware of the need to make their transport activities as environmentally responsible as possible. However, the fact that 19% ofย fleets believe Government policy is unclear and that large numbers mention both vehicle and personal taxation is certainly frustrating.

Sadlier added that he was unsurprised that the issue of road infrastructure causing congestion had topped the list of challenges.

โ€œWhen we talk toย fleetย and mobility managers, there is a general level of concern, not really over the building of new roads, although these are needed in some places, but at the condition of existing ones and the impression that they are not being used to their maximum efficiency.โ€

He also said thatย fleetย recognition of the challenges arising from the switch to wider fuel diversity, especially widespread use of electric vehicles (EV), was understandable.

โ€œCars and vans have been almost exclusively powered by combustion engines for more than a century and a fundamental shift to having a relatively high EV penetration intoย fleets definitely represents a change.

โ€œHowever, our experience to date is that many of the factors that are perceived as obstacles can be overcome relatively easily with the right approach, and we are supporting many businesses through this transition both in an advisory and practical manner.ย 

โ€œGenerally,ย fleets that have made the switch to EVs are very positive about the experience.โ€

Main challenges expected in terms ofย fleetย management in the next five years?

Lack of road infrastructure causing increased congestionย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 49%

Increased vehicle taxationย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 30%

Unclear Government policy towards transportย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 19%

Implementation of alternative fuel policiesย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 19%

Increased driver personal taxationย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 16%

Introduction of more Clean Air Zones in urban areasย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 16%

Image byย John Howardย fromย Pixabayย 

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