The BVRLA has reported another year of growth, with both membership numbers and total fleet size on the rise, helped by increases in personal leasing and commercial vehicle business leasing.
Latest data from the organisation shows it ended 2019 with 1,007 organisations in membership, up 2% on the previous year and including new members in the rental, leasing & fleet management, commercial vehicle and associate members categories as well as its new fleet operator sector. In contrast, leasing broker numbers reduced slightly; largely the result of consolidation in the sector.
The total BVRLA fleet size also rose, with members now collectively responsible for just over 5.1 million vehicles, up 2% year-on-year.
The latest BVRLA Membership figures show that cars continue to be the most dominant vehicle type on fleet, up 1.5% at over 4.1 million. The number of vans and trucks on fleet also continues to grow, with both the LCV and HGV fleet sizes increasing by 4% and 1.5% respectively.
The size of the short-term rental fleet continued to grow at a stable but modest rate of 1%, in line with the previous year, with just under 480,000 units. A slight reduction in the size of the rental car fleet was offset by an increase in the commercial vehicle rental fleet.
Personal leasing contracts continued to represent the highest level of growth in 2019, up 6% year-on-year, accounting for over two million vehicles. The number of personal contracts taken out on both cars and LCVs grew, whilst HGVs saw a small reduction.
And while the total number of business contract hire vehicles on fleet remained static at around 2.6 million, this was the result of a modest reduction in the size of the car fleet being offset by an increase in commercial vehicle business leasing.
Commenting on the year ahead, BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “Although we expect 2020 to continue to bring its challenges, our industry will remain resilient; embracing opportunities, adapting business models and changing the make-up of their fleets to meet their customers’ needs.”
