Car manufacturers have significantly improved their relationships with leasing companies over the past year, with BMW once again leading the field, according to the latest British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Member OEM Relationship Survey.
Now in its second year, the survey shows a notable improvement in OEM-leasing company relations, with the average satisfaction score rising from 6.6 to 7.1 out of 10. This year’s survey gathered input from 28 leasing firms – up from 22 in 2024 – who rated 27 OEMs across six key areas.
BMW retained the top spot with a score of 8.6, cementing its lead and following its seventh consecutive Fleet Manufacturer of the Year title at the Fleet News Awards. The brand was praised for strong performance in account management, vehicle range, reliability, and issue resolution.
Emerging OEMs are also gaining traction. BYD climbed into joint second place alongside Seat, while Polestar topped the EV category with a score of 8.9. Other brands like Omoda and Jaecoo are rising rapidly, with 84% of leasing providers naming BYD as an 'up and coming' force in fleet. BVRLA says new entrants are gaining ground due to weaker brand loyalty among EV buyers and proactive engagement with leasing providers.
FleetTrends – FleetWise's in-house research department – recently polled over 400 fleet managers in order to maintain its deep insight into the planning, confidence and trust levels in the sector, and also to discover the most highly-regarded brands, products and services among real-world fleet managers.
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