Fuel Card Services Adds Vehicle Procurement To Solutions Suite

Fleet card and management company Fuel Card Services (FCS) is introducing a new kind of solution for its fleet manager clients.

The company announced this week the launch of FCS Vehicle Solutions, a way for fleet managers to procure new vehicles in a more affordable way. Fleet managers can provide vehicle specifications, while the FCS Vehicle Solutions portal provides price negotiation services.

“The service has been created by Fuel Card Services to ensure that fleet managers are not limited to local dealers or restricted finance choices when acquiring a new car or van,” the company said in its release.

FCS added that its new tool provides a range of options for financing, including business and personal leasing, lease purchase and outright purchase.

According to Fuel Card Services Group Marketing Manager Steve Clarke, the platform can connect fleet managers to 32 vehicle manufacturers across 4,000 dealers in the U.K.

He added that, on average, a fleet manager sourcing a vehicle independently might secure an 8 percent discount on advertised prices.

“That is reasonable,” he said, “but depending on the manufacturer, we would expect routinely to deliver a higher discount off list pricing on the majority of vehicles.”

Focusing on saving from vehicle procurement is aligned with the company’s advice for fleet managers, outlined in its Fleet Matters publications. Last year, one edition of the publication said fleet managers must take a close look at their suppliers for IT, fuel and other services to ensure efficient and cost-effective deals; the launch of FCS Vehicle Solutions suggests procurement of vehicles lands in this same realm for fleet managers and supplier management.