Sustainable fleets, new challenges

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2024/8-9

Digital technologies

Csaba Ambrózi
sales team leader
Mercarius Flottakezelő

Csaba Ambrózi, sales team leader of Mercarius Flottakezelő Kft.:

“While the unfavourable interest rate environment has improved somewhat by now, we are nowhere near the levels of the pre-pandemic period, which has a negative influence on market expansion. Although more favourable, foreign currency financing still carries risks”.

Despite the changing economic circumstances, the long-term lease arrangement remains a top priority, taking the burden of fleet procurement and operation entirely off the customer’s shoulders and offering problem-free mobility. The company is pushing for the digitalisation of its processes and administration. By switching to electronic invoicing, they want to support paperless operations, easier invoice processing and shorter lead times.

After being driven by demand, the fleet market is once again driven by supply

Different types of rental

The evolution of commercial vehicle fleets closely follows retail trends.

Tímea Pesti
CEO
LeasePlan Hungária

“Online shopping was the main driver during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a significant increase in the number of commercial vehicles doing home deliveries. Then contractors have reduced their fleets and in the current economic and market environment the market isn’t booming”,

says Tímea Pesti, CEO of LeasePlan Hungária Zrt.

Most companies are experiencing economic uncertainty, which is causing them to focus on cost reduction, but at the same time they also have to manage the mobility of their colleagues. LeasePlan Hungária Zrt.’s short-term fleet can help a lot in this regard, as companies can provide transport for their colleagues at a competitive price without a long-term commitment. There are also options for long-term leasing that can be adapted to the economic situation, such as variable interest rate financing or a change to euro-based financing that LeasePlan can offer.

So many features

Porsche Hungaria Kft.’s Smart Care service package offers predictable, calculable costs to vehicle owners, and the 4-year or 200,000km warranty guarantees the continuous usability of the vehicles.

András Kovács
brand director
Porsche Hungaria

“Because of changes in the GSR 2.0 rules that enter into force on 7 July, only those vehicles that comply with the stricter rules can be put on the market after the deadline. In order to comply with the new rules, vans will be sold with more features in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles line, e.g. more assistance systems, upgraded infotainment systems and improved electronic (cybersecurity) systems”,

says András Kovács, brand director at Porsche Hungaria Kft.

Aleksandra Banovic
chief sales officer
MHC Mobility
Magyarország

“Regulations are getting stricter every year, for example in terms of emission figures, which requires a tremendous effort and development from manufacturers. In July new mandatory safety features (GSR 2.0) were introduced as standard features for cars, vans and trucks, which have made them more expensive. The 95g/km CO2 quota will become 15% stricter from 2025, which could cause difficulties for some manufacturers, forcing them to adjust their prices”,

says Aleksandra Banovic, chief sales officer of MHC Mobility Magyarország, highlighting the significant changes ahead.

ESG-compatible solutions

MHC Mobility Magyarország is an international company with a Japanese background, which has great experience across several continents. They are constantly monitoring trends and when they introduce a new service that works well in one of their subsidiaries, they are quick to localise it in Hungary. Their innovation is ESG-compatible fleet service, preparing up-to-date online reports with accurate data. Their ElectricFleet service with charging station deployment and the possibility to switch back to internal combustion vehicles is also an ideal choice for holidays and business trips alike.

Gergő Zlatniczky
sales manager
Emil Frey – M5 Center DS

Gergő Zlatniczky, sales manager of Emil Frey – M5 Center DS:

“We can satisfy all customer needs up to a total weight of 3.5t and we have a full range to choose from. Special bodywork and refrigerated conversions are also possible, which are very common among vehicles operated in the FMCG sector. Under the name Free2Move, we offer short and long-term rental options and a commercial vehicle fleet”.

Home-delivery companies have already rolled out electric vans

Extra expectations

One of the most important changes in the commercial vehicle segment has been the rise in demand. Nowadays, comfort and extras and services are increasingly important when buying a van.

Edwin Bondar
fleet director
Reálszisztéma

Zsombor Páll
managing director
VIARENT

Zsombor Páll, managing director of VIARENT Kft. underlines that in today’s world everything is speeding up and there is a need for instant information flow, therefore greater attention must be paid to online reviews, at the same time guaranteeing the best and most cost-effective service possible, with maximum customer satisfaction.

“We are in contact with all sectors, not only the FMCG world. Our company offers both zero-emission, fully electric vehicles and conventional vehicles that meet today’s strictest emission standards”, he adds. Their short- and long-term rental schemes are equally popular. //

Restrictions because of road and railway renovation works

Over the next six years around 1,100km of motorways and almost 1,600km of railways are planned to be upgraded in Hungary, and this will create a difficult situation for the logistics industry, as there will be major restrictions on transport lines that are already often overloaded.