Pearson is looking to increase fleet volumes by 30% over the next 12 months, from 2,500 to 3,500 in 2014. The long-term goal is to get fleet volumes to 5,000 units. There is the capacity to push to 6,500 units.

“We have planned to be able to handle 6,500 units and keep the service levels we have now,” he said.

 

Brokerage service

Holdcroft operates its own online brokerage service. It competes directly with online brokers and gives customers peace of mind when they know that it’s an operation with proper facilities rather than a ‘bedroom broker’.

A USP for local businesses is that Holdcroft will source and sell any make or model, whether Holdcroft as a group has it or not.

“Unlike a traditional online broker, if they want to pay cash for it, we can facilitate that,” said Pearson.

“We will try and service those local businesses and then we sell them the service work to get them into the Holdcroft family.”

Some dealerships will have a brokerage for contract hire business, but they don’t sell them for cash.

“Our motto with the brokerage business is ‘whatever they want to buy, however they want to pay for it’,” said Pearson.

“We sell Audis, VWs, Land Rovers, Ford Transits, Mercedes-Benz Vitos.”

 

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids

The industry looks to fleets to lead the way with the purchase of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids and the Government has just confirmed an additional £500 million in funds to encourage customers into plug-in cars.

Pearson believes customers are starting to come around to plug-in cars: “We are seeing more interest. Over the last two years, we haven’t seen much activity. But the enquiries are increasing.