Fleet company drives into new markets

A Yorkshire fleet company is to move into new markets, inlcuding long-term leasing contracts with corporate customers, after securing £7.5m of funding.Autohorn Fleet Services was established in 1995 and started with nine cars from its base in York. Today it runs a fleet of more than 2,000 cars, offering solutions for business and individuals across the UK.

The business has ambitious growth plans which include entering into the new markets, including long term leasing contracts with large corporate customers and expanding its organisation partnerships, and adding to its 90-strong team. The funding package was secured through Yorkshire Bank.

Lee Underwood, managing director at Autohorn Fleet Services, said: “As a business, we have always focused on developing a product offer which is unique and bespoke for our customers, and this remains a vital element as we look to grow our business.

“It’s a challenging time for the automotive industry as we try to navigate the uncertainty of Brexit and other factors that have an impact on our business. But standing still is not an option.”

Autohorn Fleet Services prides itself on the importance of its culture and believes its success is down to its team.

Lee added: “We have always encouraged our staff to grow with our business. I started as salesman 22 years ago and worked my way up to MD. We have created a supportive and dynamic culture – our team are engaged and we are very supportive of helping them to achieve their own personal growth objectives and equipping them with the skills needed to do their job.”

Pete Sumners, corporate and structured finance director at Yorkshire Bank, said: “Autohorn is a great success story – growing from a local York service to a national fleet solutions business, with a wide range of customers across a number of industries. Yorkshire Bank is committed to working with SMEs to grow and reach their full potential, and Lee and the team have ambitious growth plans which we are proud to support. We look forward to working with Autohorn as they take their product and offering into new markets.”

Close