Fleet managers urged to review reliance on diesel

Venson Automotive Solutions is urging fleet managers to review using diesel vehicles as the government commits to improving air quality.

According to Venson, with government plans to review the way diesel vehicles are taxed already underway, including changes to company car benefit-in-kind, fleet decision-makers need to prioritise a review of their current policies and plan for a future with fewer diesel vehicles.

Diesel company cars incur an additional three per cent benefit-in-kind tax supplement up to a maximum of 37 per cent, which the government has previously said would remain in place until April 2021.

However, national and international pressure for governments to take action to cut demand for diesel vehicles could see tax rises announced as soon as the Autumn Budget.

Venson says that “tax policy already drives fleets towards plug-in and ultra-low emission vehicles” and that “currently Euro 6 compliant diesel vehicles are the “cleanest” oil-burners available, so any new changes could see a big shift away from diesel”.

Samantha Roff, managing director for Venson Automotive Solutions, said:
“The signal that the government is looking at introducing diesel vehicle tax changes that are likely to mean tax rises could prove to be the catalyst to further drive fleets towards plug-in vehicles.

“Our consultative approach to business means that we will be working with fleet decision-makers to review their operations to see where such vehicles can be incorporated into policies.”