Volkswagen Passat named ‘Fleet Car of the Year 2008’
The fleet sector - like the automotive industry as a whole - is struggling in the midst of the global downturn, with new car sales dropping by 7.3 percent in the last month. As fleet sales normally make up around half of the new car market, difficulties within this sphere massively affect the entire automotive industry. The decline in fleet business can be attributed to cost-cutting by companies which are attempting to fend off the worst of the threatened recession as well as to cope with changes in VED. Fleet operators are delaying vehicle acquisitions, extending existing leases and offloading ‘excess’ units.
In such a cautious business climate, it is imperative for companies which supply fleets to tempt managers with offers that are too good to miss: vehicles which satisfy practical needs while retaining most of the perks of company-owned transport. Indeed, there has always been something of a conflict between the motivations of the fleet manager and fleet car driver, between company and employee, in choice of vehicle. The manager, of course, wishes to acquire a durable, good quality car at the lowest feasible cost while the driver almost inevitably favours comfort, style and performance. This is a dilemma which is fully acknowledged by Volkswagen UK, which has succeeded in marrying these two sets of considerations in its range of company vehicles.
The Institute of Transport Management has conducted a long-term, detailed investigation into the vehicles on offer in the fleet market, in order to identify and recognise those companies which are providing the best support to fleet managers and company drivers. It is with great pleasure that the Institute announces the accreditation of Volkswagen Passat as winner of the ‘Fleet Car of the Year 2008’ Award.
Volkswagen has built on over half a century of experience in the automotive sector to become one of the UK’s largest vehicle importers, bringing top quality cars into the country from its state-of-the-art manufacturing plants on the Continent. On the fleet side of the business, Volkswagen has developed a reputation among managers for providing continuing guidance alongside vehicles which more than meet the needs of companies and company car drivers alike. Few automotive retailers offer company vehicles in every automotive category, but Volkswagen is one of them, with a range that extends from the classic Passat, New Beetle and Polo models through the MPV Touran and the freshly launched SUV Tiguan to the luxurious Touareg and Phaeton. This exceptional range means that Volkswagen is able to meet the requirements of companies both large and small which want to take care of their employees’ transport needs.
The most popular model amongst the Fleet Manager– and for good reason – is the Passat, an ideal vehicle for company car use, combining efficiency, comfort and style. The Passat has been available since the 1970s and has achieved long-term success in the fleet market. Now presented in coupé, saloon and estate formats, the beautifully crafted Passat is as much a work of art as a feat of engineering, sculpted in smooth lines which are easy on the eye as well as on airflow. In particular, the new BlueMotion version is an impressive blend of features designed to increase both efficiency and cost-effective refinement, with reduced engine load and emissions (136g/km of CO2) and a range of 180 miles. Also highly recommended is the Passat Highline, which like BlueMotion offers a collection of accessories such as a touchscreen radio system, together with automated driver seat adjustment and soft leather wheel trim to keep drivers in comfort on their way to work.
Commenting on the decision of the Institute to bestow the prestigious ‘Fleet Car of the Year’ Award on the Volkswagen Passat, Mr. Sheedy, Media & PR Director at the ITM, said: “By means of dedicated research and long-term ties with fleet managers, Volkswagen has been able to devise the perfect range of vehicles for company use in today’s business environment. The company squares the financial and environmental concerns of corporations with the desires of drivers who spend ever greater periods of time struggling to work through the heavy congestion which characterises urban life in 21st century Britain.
It is no small achievement to cater to these differing needs in the same vehicle, but the Awards Committee is satisfied that these criteria are all strongly expressed in Volkswagen’s Passat model. A vehicle which has long been a company car favourite, it nevertheless continues to evolve into newer forms such as Highline and BlueMotion which advance the offering in the fleet market. I am personally delighted that the Institute has chosen to honour Volkswagen for this achievement and congratulate the company and its entire staff for their devotion to improving standards in the automotive industry.”
