Launched to service new and existing fleet customers, the new Fleet Logistics venture in Turkey is located in the capital Istanbul, based at the local headquarters of its parent company, TÜV SÜD, which has a long and established presence in the country.

Turkey, which has a population of some 79m, has around two million company cars with around 160,000 on operating leases. There is a growing leasing market with most of the major international leasing operators already in situ, along with large numbers of small, local leasing companies.

Fleet Logistics, which has a fleet of 131,000 vehicles under contract, already has around 20 international customers who operate vehicle fleets in Turkey, and says that it sees a huge potential there as the country is fast-growing, with a strong economy, a large number of IT, high tech and service companies and a young, well educated professional class.

The firm said that the move into Turkey is in response to the requests of fleet clients with existing businesses in the region and fleets of company cars but no supporting fleet management structure to facilitate them.

Fleet Logistics CEO Rainer Laber said: ‘The opening of our first operations in Turkey puts more pieces in the Fleet Logistics’ jigsaw of mainland Europe and the Near East.

‘In Turkey, we see another example of us working with the existing TÜV SÜD network and infrastructure in the country so that we are completely integrated within the operations of the parent company.

‘This is very much what we had in mind with the acquisition of Fleet Logistics and, by using the TÜV SÜD network in this way, we can expand quickly into other countries in which our customers want us to service their local fleet.

‘It also allows us to provide other automotive services from TÜV SÜD’s local product portfolio which will add significant value to our customers’ fleets in the region,’ he said.

The initial development work is led by business development director Marcus Hennecke and the FLI Business Development team until they can hand over to the regional FLI organization, once stable operations are established.

The local business development manager for Turkey, Yves Helven, who is responsible for internal coordination and the relationship with customers, leasing companies and other partners, is currently implementing the first Turkish customers and making sure that the office and its staff are ready to go live from the beginning of September.

‘We do have other countries in mind for further expansion, but all we can say at this stage is “watch this space”,’ said Rainer Laber. ‘These are in new regions for us and more details will be made available soon,’ he added.