Founded in 1985 and based in Avignon, France, Car Systems provides fleet software solutions and hosting for short and long term car, van and truck rental operators. Its business activities cover France and southern Europe and it employs a staff of around 20 employees.

Sofico said that the acquisition fits perfectly with its growth strategy and broadens its market coverage to include short-term car, van and truck rental. It also provides a solid foothold in the French and southern European fleet markets, where Sofico already has a number of customers.

At the moment, Sofico consists of seven autonomous regional units, backed by a series of process-specific support units. The Car Systems operations will be integrated into this structure as a new unit with its focus on France and southern Europe.

Under the acqusition, Sofico is guaranteeing to provide continued support to Car System’s current portfolio of customers. Furthermore, the firm has set aside a sizable research and development budget to allow for specific features of Car System’s products to be incorporated into its primary fleet software solutions Miles, Miles Web and Miles Mobile.

The acquisition has been formally approved by the commercial court, the “Tribunal de Commerce d’Avignon”, which selected Sofico ahead of two other contenders from within the leasing and fleet software industry.

Gémar Hompes, managing director at Sofico, said: ‘We are delighted to have been successful in the strategic acquisition of Car Systems, a leading player in the fleet software sector in France. The business is a perfect addition to our current operations and increases our coverage in France and throughout Southern Europe. It also fits with our strategy of expanding into new sectors of the global fleet market – in this case short term, car, van and truck rental.’