Are The Cars In Your Corporate Fleet A Mission Statement?

There are two primary motivations behind every major corporate decision; we make choices not only based on the expected results but on how they align with our values and mission. 

Many businesses seek out EV procurement consultants to practice what they preach, whilst also ensuring that any new technology they adopt also aligns with the needs and realities of their particular business.

A mission statement, value statement or statement of principles is the driving force behind a business, and should be the foundational ethics that shape every high-level decision.

This includes your corporate fleet, and making the transition to electric vehicles is a very public statement of your values and vision of a sustainable business world.

To understand why, it is important to explore why businesses choose particular fleet vehicles and why those decisions can change.

Desire As A Recruitment Tool

Many fleet vehicles are company cars that are bought as much as a recruitment and promotion incentive as they are used for business purposes. Whilst the specific nature of the incentive has changed, many companies still offer company cars to convince talented individuals to join their company.

To ensure these cars remain desirable, however, the choice needs to change to meet the needs, requirements and tastes of the individuals you want to recruit. 

With many younger members of staff conscious about their environmental impact and mindful of fuel economy, electric cars have become increasingly desirable for practical reasons, whilst the rise of luxury EVs has made them a status symbol in themselves.

As company cars tend to make upmarket vehicles more accessible to a wider population, this has a tangible impact on the pool of talent you are able to recruit.

You Are What You Drive

For as long as there has been a luxury car market, the car you drive has often been linked to the values you hold as an individual. This extends further to a corporate fleet, which includes cars that are often bought in volume from the same suppliers.

A luxury saloon is often a sign of dignified leadership, whilst a sports car often reflects a free-spirited creative individual. 

The perception of a badge can be significant; the Volkswagen Phaeton luxury saloon car was famously unsuccessful because of the perception that VW cars were low-cost and relatively utilitarian.

However, whilst this has led many companies to choose relatively similar vehicles for their fleet, it means that any business that opts for something more unusual or driven by particular ethical sensibilities will inherently generate attention.

The perceptions of particular cars and particular marques can change, however, and it is important when buying fleet leases to ensure that the companies you work with also maintain your ethical values.

Showing You Make A Difference

Whilst people have been choosing ethical cars for decades, possibly the first time that a car became a success as much for its environmental pretensions as its practicality and performance was the Toyota Prius.

Two decades later, the idea that your choice of car is a contribution towards your ethical beliefs has been solidified even further.

Choosing electric cars in a fleet is the most visible sign of a company that puts the environment first, and often coincides with green initiatives in other parts of their business, with more tangible carbon savings.