ALD Automotive, a global leader in the business of vehicle operational leasing and fleet management, has chosen Malaysia to make its entry into the Southeast Asian region. With Malaysian parties, it has established ALD Automotive Sdn Bhd which offers solutions for financing and management of vehicle fleets.

“From our surveys, we saw that Malaysia has a large number of company cars and corporate fleets and is therefore an ideal place for us to start in this region,” said Tim Albertsen, Chief Operating Office of ALD International, a unit of ALD Automotive which is part of the Societe Generale Group of France. “We can provide Malaysian customers with a full range of funding and fleet management products and offer a truly consultative approach to the market to ensure the most appropriate funding methods for each circumstance.”

Full service leasing includes maintenance and client-specified services

Two-thirds of ALD Automotive's business worldwide is in the management of corporate passenger car fleets

“We are looking at a target of 1,000 vehicles in Malaysia for this year and a cumulative total of 5,000 vehicles within 5 years,” said Lau Yen Bin, CFO of the company. Mr Lau said that the company is offering its services only to companies with fleets and not individuals. Under current tax laws in Malaysia, only lease rentals are tax-deductible, unlike in the USA where leasing offers attractive tax benefits.

ALD Automotive will offer three main services, namely Full Service Leasing/Operational Leasing; Fleet management; and Financial Leasing. Lease periods can be up to 60 months with no downpayment and in the case of Full Service Leasing, all maintenance costs are covered and ALD Automotive will even do ‘Summons Management’. Mr Lau clarified that while the company will settle any summons and fines issued for vehicles under its management, it will still collect back the money from its client.

As an additional service, ALD Automotive also provides customers with reports so that they can see the costs involved in running their fleet and plan for vehicle replacement periodically. These services can be accessed on-line 24/7, making it convenient for customers.

“ALD Automotive has adapted our products for the Malaysian market and bring our experience of more than 40 years in this business to local and international companies here,” said the company’s CEO, Xavier de Linares.