Fleet and mobility leaders across Asia-Pacific will convene in Bangkok from June 10 to 12 for the Fleet APAC Summit, organised around the dual imperative of cost optimisation and innovation, underpinned by data from the Global Fleet Survey 2024. This year’s agenda, themed “Savings and Innovation, Powered by Partnerships”, directly responds to the regional challenges and ambitions outlined in the survey results.
Cost Control Through Regionalisation and Strategic Partnerships
As confirmed by the Global Fleet Survey, APAC fleet decision-making remains largely decentralised: fuel supplier selection, car budgets, eligibility rules, and mobility policies are still predominantly managed at the local level. The Summit addresses this with a session on “Winning Partnerships: Regionalisation & The Power of a Single Point of Contact”, highlighting how consolidating operations across countries can unlock economies of scale.
This is particularly relevant for larger fleets (over 5,000 vehicles), which are more likely to use full-service leasing (79%) and partner with a broader mix of leasing providers (average 6.5 per company). The session on OEM & leasing collaboration for value optimisation will discuss how to streamline this complexity to maximise efficiency and TCO control.
Electrification and CO₂ Reduction – A Growing Priority
Electrification ranks as a top-three strategic priority for 2025 among APAC fleet managers, yet the adoption remains fragmented. Telematics deployment sits at 62%, with 38% expecting increased usage, signaling room for growth in data-driven electrification strategies. APAC fleets currently average CO₂ emissions at 132g/km, well above Europe’s 112g/km, underlining the need for accelerated transition pathways.
These findings will be reflected in the keynote sessions on “Innovations in Fleet Management” and the Fleet Manager Panel on Innovation. Additionally, expert sessions on fuel and energy strategies will provide guidance on deploying sustainable solutions without undermining budgetary constraints.
Finance Models: Dominance of Full-Service Leasing
Survey data shows full-service leasing dominates as the preferred financing method across both small and large fleets in APAC (65% and 79%, respectively). However, variations persist: smaller fleets still use cash purchases (13%) and finance leasing (13%), which can dilute standardisation efforts.
The IFMI session on June 12 will equip attendees with structured insights on funding models, acquisition strategies, and the comparative advantages of leasing versus outright purchasing—key concerns for procurement professionals navigating APAC’s diverse market conditions.
OEM and Brand Strategy: Consolidate or Diversify?
With an average of 8.1 OEMs per fleet, APAC organisations face complexity in vehicle sourcing. The survey shows divergent trends in brand preference and growth perception, suggesting a need for closer OEM alignment to enhance residual value management and aftersales support.
This topic will be tackled in the Country-Specific Deep Dives on Day 1 and throughout sessions discussing vehicle selection and regulation, supporting APAC fleet leaders in refining brand strategies and sourcing decisions.
Future Outlook: Growth and Optimisation
The APAC fleet market is not static. Survey responses indicate a clear intent to grow fleet size in the next 12 months, driven by economic recovery and regional expansion. However, this growth must be balanced against aggressive savings targets averaging 5.8%, requiring a disciplined approach to cost, supplier engagement, and policy design.
Sessions such as “Advisory Board Insights: Savings & Innovation Strategies” and the Executive Panel on Supplier-Customer Relationships aim to equip decision-makers with actionable frameworks to reconcile growth with cost discipline.
Join our Fleet APAC Community and receive the Fleet APAC Insight, a monthly newsletter featuring the latest trends and developments in this sector. CLICK HERE TO JOIN.
Picture Credit: Shutterstock 2284206119
