Partner Article

Honda launches a new care package in the UK following fleet deal

Following the announcement in January that financial services provider Forester Life has placed an order for no less than 130 Honda Civics to augment its corporate fleet, the Japanese car maker has now launched a new after-care package. Under the fleet deal with Forester Life, Honda will become the sole car supplier to the company for at least the next three years. This marks a return to a partnership between the two firms which began in 2003.

“As a company providing financial services products for over a century, Forester Life clearly knows what is needed to be successful in business,” said Gail Chambers, UK corporate sales manager at Honda. “We have worked very carefully with them to fully comprehend their company car requirements and the result of that work is this significant fleet order which indicates the growing reputation of the new Civic as a corporate favourite.”

The model that Forester Life has chosen is Honda’s recently introduced 1.6 i-DTEC which has a diesel engine that emits as little as 94grams per km of carbon dioxide whilst delivering a powerful 120PS. This model of Civic is the first one to be launched in the European market under Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology environmental programme. Euan Allison, group managing director of Forester Life, said that they have purchased Civics in the past and are now pleased to welcome Honda back to their fleet.

The new cars are to be supplied through Marshall Motor Group which is the largest Honda retail partner in the country. The specific finance arrangement has been brokered on behalf of Forester Life by fleet contract hire specialists, Marshall Leasing. Personal contract hire packages, like the financing options taken by fleet operators, is an important part of Honda’s customer offering and access to it just as popular among individuals as it is with corporate fleet managers.

Following the Japanese manufacturer’s success with Forester Life, it went on to announce a brand new five-year servicing, warranty and roadside assistance aftercare package for its customers. The package, which can be purchased for £500, can also be added into a personal lease deal or a contract purchase arrangement. The aftercare package is designed to appeal to buyers who want to be able to drive carefree for the first five years of their car’s life without worrying about separate suppliers for breakdown recovery, servicing and extended warranties. It is available with new Civics but also the popular Jazz and CR-V models, too.

“Making sure that the recommended service schedules are met by dealers who are Honda authorised safeguards road worthiness and efficiency,” said Leon Brannan, Head of Cars at Honda in the UK. He said that the package would also help to maximise each of the model’s residual value by providing access to skilled Honda technicians as well as original Honda parts.

Bio: David Newman has worked as a Digital Marketing Consultant for a number of large motor groups representing a broad range of franchises such as Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, Vauxhall, Citroen and Saab. David’s passions include all things automotive and digital. You can connect with David via a variety of social channels such as LinkedIn, Motor Trade Book, and Google+

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Newman .