Clients of operating leasing firms seek cheapest cars

The average value of a car purchased via an operating lease has dropped from 12,000 to 10,000 euros, says Adrian Petcu, general manager of UniCredit Fleet Management, the specialised arm of UniCredit group. "Most clients have moved to the area of mass market brands, particularly Dacia, where there has been an obvious increase (...)," Petcu says, adding "While prior to the crisis clients requested comparisons between Dacia and other brands such as Volkswagen, Ford or Opel, now they're asking for what's cheaper from the start." UniCredit Fleet Management at the end of the first quarter managed a fleet made up of 1,100 vehicles. Petcu says that since the onset of the crisis there has been rising demand for sale&lease back deals, but that many companies decided to resort to this solution when they were already coping with a dire financial situation. At present, the company, which became operational in April 2007, has 55 clients. For 2010, the company plans to get to manage a 1,600-car fleet. In the first quarter, though, it signed contracts for just 100 vehicles, as many companies have put off purchasing decisions.