THE total business fleet leasing market for cars and vans has grown 6.5% year-on-year to 1.345 million,  with lower emissions, according to the BVRLA’s latest quarterly leasing survey.

The BVRLA business car fleet grew 3.6% to 987,000 between Q1 2016 and Q1 2017, while the light commercial vehicle (LCV) fleet grew 15.3% to 358,000.

Total car leasing grew by 11% year-on-year with over half of that growth coming from an increase in personal contract hire (PCH). Business fleet leasing contributed just under a quarter of that growth.

The BVRLA lease car fleet continues to lead the way on average CO2 emissions, which fell 4% year-on-year from 117.7g/km to 113.1g/km.

In Q1 2017 the average emissions for BVRLA member new registrations was 110.8g/km CO2 compared with the national new registrations average of 120.5g/km. Both these figures remained static during 2016.

Additional BVRLA analysis carried out this quarter compared CO2 emissions of cars on business contract hire and those on personal contract hire. The average personal contract car on the BVRLA member fleet had emissions of 118g/km CO2, compared to the 112g/km of those on a business contract.

The proportion of diesel cars in the BVRLA fleet continues to decline, replaced by petrol. The long term growth in demand for plug-in hybrids continues. Less than three-quarters of the BVRLA total fleet is now diesel (74.9%) and just over two-thirds of new registrations (67%).

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney says: “CO2 emissions are clearly heading in the right direction, but we are concerned with the lack of progress in the reduction of average CO2 emissions in new cars during 2016.

“Government has ambitious targets for improving air quality and cutting CO2 emissions. With the right tax regimes, incentives and guidance, the fleet industry can have a huge impact on achieving these goals.”