Reasons to rent

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(Khatuna Khutsishivili/ITP.)

The massive growth of logistics activities in the Middle East has driven a considerable boom in the rental market for commercial vehicles. Indeed, the number of companies leasing their vehicle fleets, rather than purchasing them, is constantly increasing throughout the region, creating a lucrative opportunity for rental companies.

Avis, the internationally renowned brand, has long established operations in the Middle East, with offices now located in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. It first entered the region over 20 years ago and has experienced a period of significant change in terms of market demand.

"A growing number of companies are opting to lease their commercial vehicle fleets, simply because it allows them to concentrate on core activities, without the hassle of worrying about issues such as maintenance and insurance. We take care of everything, they just drive," says Aftab Alam, fleet manager for Avis in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

"Our customer feedback suggests that the maintenance issue, in particular, is viewed favourably by companies choosing to lease instead of purchase. After all, the maintenance of commercial vehicles can take a little longer in the workshop compared to passenger vehicles. You cannot expect a same-day service and, of course, for every day a delivery van is out of service, the company risks losing a lot of business. The financial implications can be huge, but with a rental service, you get a replacement vehicle straight away and continue as normal. It's a lot simpler and hassle free," adds Alam.

This opinion is particularly relevant to logistics companies, which now form a major customer base for Avis, together with the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) market. The company is also attracting a large amount of business from UAE governmental departments. "We have signed a contract with the Department of Health in Dubai," confirms Alam. "As part of the agreement, we are providing approximately 50 refrigerated vans to them, so it's a major deal for us."

The range of commercial vehicles currently being offered by Avis is diverse, starting with the smaller, half tonne capacity vans to the large ten tonne delivery trucks. These can be customised to suit the individual requirements of each customer, such as temperature controlled storage conditions for food manufacturers or cosmetic retailers.

"We always strive to meet a customer's demand, regardless of their specific requirements," says Alam. "Even if the customer is looking for something not included in the Avis fleet, we can purchase a suitable vehicle especially for them. This is done during the initial stage, when we meet the customer and discuss their requirements. We'll make recommendations based on this information and make sure the vehicle is available and customised, if needed. For example, if the customer needs a chiller unit in the van, we will happily arrange that for them."

Demand for certain types of vehicles has increased over the years, especially as government regulations have tightened in regard to the transportation of products. "Earlier, companies used to transport items, including foodstuff, in open pick ups, but there are more restrictions now. They need to transport foodstuff in covered pickups, which should have a certain temperature. They cannot just use any vehicles to transport the goods anymore," says Alam.

With average fleet rental contracts lasting between one to four years, companies in the Middle East seem to have preference towards certain vehicles brands too, such as Mitsubishi and Isuzu.

"These manufacturers are particularly popular in this region, although it again depends on the customer requirements. Occasionally a company will request a specific model and brand, which might be perfect for their needs. On the other hand, we can also use our expertise to recommend an alternative, which might be more fuel-efficient or require less maintenance. Of course, this benefits us too in the long run, because less maintenance will reduce our operational costs," identifies Alam.

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