Customers and staff at fleet management company Arval got a treat this week as they got the unique opportunity to test drive the new Nissan Leaf electric car-two months before the car’s official launch in the UK.
A specially arranged demo day took place at Arval’s head office in Swindon giving customers and staff the chance to try the Leaf and ask questions and discuss technical queries with Nissan and Arval representatives available on the day.
The Leaf-dubbed the ‘world’s first affordable electric car’-is the highly anticipated new model from the Japanese car maker, and is set to arrive in the UK from March. Arval-one of the biggest contract hire and fleet management companies in the UK-aims to work in partnership with car makers to provide advice and support to its customers as new environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric cars are developed. Providing fleet managers with the practical opportunity to drive the cars before launch, as well as assisting them in understanding the issues related to greener fleet choice is at the centre of the firm’s ongoing customer commitment, Arval asserts.
One customer, Paul McCulloch, Fleet Manager at construction, civil engineering firm, Osborne, thought it was well worth investing his time to take the wheel and experience the brand new Nissan Leaf for himself.
He says: “Osborne has a company fleet of over 240 vehicles and we take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. We have examined hybrid technology, but haven’t really been convinced so far in terms of what we have seen.
“I was very impressed though with the Nisan Leaf. Not only does it display true green credentials, it also looks great and performed exactly like any conventionally fuelled vehicle. When managing fleet choices for staff, we have to be sure to address both car performance expectation and overall aesthetics. In my view the Nissan Leaf ticks both boxes. I am delighted to have had the chance to drive the car myself and I look forward to being able to offer it to our company car users.”
Jean-Marc Torre, Chief Executive Officer at Arval who also tested the LEAF comments: “It was a great opportunity for me, and for our customers, to preview and test the LEAF. I found it a very good and real car which I believe will be well received by our customers who were also able to experience this new technology first hand. I am delighted that our partnership with Nissan allowed this to happen.”
