In business, you can’t just talk the talk – you need to walk the walk. To be taken seriously, you need the brains, the experience and the right look – everything from smart clothes to a classy vehicle. But it can be hard to know where to start. Don’t waste your time talking, searching for the most popular vehicles in the private and business sectors – everything you need to know is right here.
The state of the market
It’s undeniable that there’s a lot of choices out there when it comes to buying a new car. The United States has been a leader in the automotive industry since the early 1900s, ever since Henry Ford introduced the world to the assembly line method to car production with his Model T.
The market has been growing and growing ever since, with Statista reporting just under 7 million cars sold in 2016 (around 4 million of which were produced in the United States). Business Insider predicts that 2018 will see the industry continuing to boom.
Considerations when choosing a new company vehicle
When choosing to buy a new company car, you’ll obviously want to consider what’s popular in the market right now (which we describe below). However, there’s a lot more you’ll want to think about when making your decision.
The team over at American Express give some really useful tips for what to look for in a new company car: from the vehicle’s fuel economy and its technologies (including its ability to create a wifi hotspot – essential for those businessmen and businesswomen who are always on the road) to its level of comfort and its impact on the environment.
Personal vehiclesÂ
In their 2017 roundup, Car Keys put together an impressive collection of personal company car options – everything from high-power SUVs to trendy sports cars. Topping the list is the BMW 330e iPerformance, a package that gives you the best of both worlds: speed and eco-friendliness.
Also near the top of the list are the Volkswagen Golf GTE, another sensible hybrid that’s also reasonably priced and affordable to run; the Mercedes E350e PHEV, with electric capability that doesn’t sacrifice speed and power; and the Audi A3 Sportback e-Tron, with a great charge-to-range ratio that makes it ideal for business trips with a low travel cost.
Fleet vehiclesÂ
When it comes to fleet vehicles, Fleetio expects us to see some pretty impressive innovations in 2018. This year, we should expect to see new fleet vehicles equipped with everything from more sophisticated driving behaviour trackers to the increased installation of telematic units – and the introduction of autonomous vehicles!
In terms of what’s popular, Automotive Fleet reports that more and more companies are replacing midsize sedans and trucks with compact SUVs, with the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, and Honda CR-V taking the lead. Right behind at about 200,000 units sold annually are the Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Equinox, and Jeep Cherokee.
There’s a lot of information out there and it can be difficult to digest it all when it’s time to buy a new car for your company – regardless if its a personal car for the CEO or a couple of delivery vans to complete your fleet. By choosing among the most popular vehicles, you’re more likely to buy something that’s well-tested already and, as a result, more reliable.
