Suzuki has said that fleet will remain a focus going forwards despite no longer having a head of fleet and remarketing.

Suzuki has said the new Across plug-in hybrid SUV, along with the new Swace hybrid estate, makes it well place to broaden its fleet appeal

The carmaker has confirmed that the role, previously held by Graeme Jenkins, was made redundant at the end of December 2020.

In a statement, Dale Wyatt, director automobile at Suzuki GB Plc, said there would be no change in fleet focus at the brand, which has merged functions to create a centralised operations function. This new back-of-house function covers logistics, storage, sales support, factory ordering, remarketing and customs.

“The objective is to provide best-in-class operations support to all of our customers,” Wyatt added. “The fleet sales team remain in place and our new structure will underpin our fleet business and enable fleet growth in 2021.”

Jenkins joined Suzuki in January 2017, tasked with doubling the size of the brand’s corporate sales in the UK. By the end of the year, it had almost quadrupled its volume in that channel to around 9,000 cars.

Fleet will remain a core channel for Suzuki under the new centralised team, reinforced by its adoption of a line-up focused on mild hybrids, full hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Suzuki dropped diesels from its UK line-up three years ago.

“With our 100% hybrid range and the addition of the new Across PHEV and Swace we are well placed to broaden our fleet appeal,” added Wyatt.

Both models are already on sale and have been developed under Suzuki’s tie-up with Toyota.

The Swace hybrid estate is based on the Corolla Touring Sports and is priced from £27,499 and with CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

Meanwhile, the ‘Across’ plug-in hybrid SUV is based on the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in and is priced from £45,599 and with CO2 emissions of 22g/km.