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Fleet SMR budgets are coming under pressure due to new car supply problems meaning older cars stay on fleets for longer, according to ATS Euromaster.
The tyre and maintenance firm said that, with no quick end in sight to the supply issues caused by the global semiconductor crisis, both fleets and leasing companies were having to juggle new car availability against extended rentals and increased maintenance work.
ATS Euromaster director for national fleets Jess Jones said: "Vehicles are being built to order and lead times are being increasingly stretched, in some cases to in excess of 12 months.
"With that lead time pushing out further and further, fleets are running vehicles for longer, which is impacting SMR budgets. It's not as if fleets can turn to rental for new cars since the rental companies are also short of vehicles having de-fleeted during Covid lockdowns.
"What this means is a renewed focus on managing out maintenance budgets, particularly as many vehicles will require additional MOTs not originally envisaged at the commencement of the vehicle's lifecycle."
Jones said the situation meant new approaches to SMR delivery were being actively considered, claiming that independents such as ATS Euromaster could provide an equally thorough mechanical service as approved dealers while being more cost-effective.
She added that ATS Euromaster was also currently working with customers to assess their EV maintenance needs.
Jones said: "With leasing EV order banks running at circa 40%, we're ensuring our centres are fully prepared with correctly trained technicians to meet the growing number of electric vehicles that will require servicing."
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