Kia UK will support its dealer network to win more aftersales work from fleet customers by subsidising labour rates.

Launched as part of the Kia Business Service Promise, the brand is capping service labour for fleet customers at £49 plus VAT. Kia UK is funding the discount.

Business customers also benefit from a 10% discount on parts prices, with MOTs priced at £35, as well as cars receiving a free vehicle health check on every visit. Cars are also kept up-to-date, with the latest software updates installed free of charge.

The new Kia Business Service Promise is available across Kia’s 192 UK dealer partners, allowing any Kia qualifying fleet car to benefit.

Additionally, the ‘Promise’ has a no quibble policy to keep fleets mobile, in the event that a car is taken off the road for a warranty issue. Kia will assist with putting a driver in a like-for-like vehicle where possible or offer support with existing hire car costs to ensure continuity of job-need vehicles.

John Hargreaves, general manager for Fleet and Remarketing at Kia UK, said: “Fleets traditionally miss out on all the benefits associated with main dealer servicing, because there is a fear that they’re more expensive or that they’re mainly focused on retail customers – meaning fleets miss out on Kia-trained service technicians, genuine parts and maximum residual values.

“The Business Service Promise is multi-faceted in its approach, offering businesses several reasons to maintain their vehicles at a Kia dealership.

"Firstly, the highly competitive labour rates ensure Kia dealerships don’t cost a premium over alternatives. Secondly, fleets can be reassured by fixed costs for typical repair work, as well as that their driver will be kept on the road with our no quibble policy for any warranty work.

"As a consequence of choosing our Business Service Promise, fleets will also benefit from a main dealer service and repair history, which helps with improved residual values.”

Kia is the number one brand in fleet in the UK, with a market share of 8.8% and just short of 50,000 units sold (49,866) year-to-date, at end-September. Overall, Kia is the third best-selling brand this year in the UK.

The Korean brand set out an ambition to sell 100,000 cars in 2022, as detailed in a face-to-face interview with AM earlier this year, and remains on track to achieve its goal.

Sales have been boosted by the introduction of new key models, including the new Sportage, Niro and EV6.

Kia’s new CI, which launched in the spring at Kia Bolton, sees the brands dealerships split into two distinct zones.

One area of the showroom is defined as the display zone, while another – demarcated by wooden flooring, wooden walls and in some cases wooden wraparound ceilings – is a customer experience area featuring a number of screens which give access to the GForces-powered Showcase system.

Showcase is a GForces product capable of showcasing Kia’s entire product range.