- Research from Flexed shows vehicle supply issues are significantly disrupting daily operations for 68% of fleets
- Supply chain issues have worsened in the last 12 months according to 59% of respondents
- Almost half (43%) of business reported vehicle supply delays had caused them to miss contracts or cancel services, resulting in financial losses
More than two thirds of fleets (68%) say ongoing vehicle supply issues are disrupting daily operations, according to new research by our short-term leasing and vehicle subscription arm Flexed.
The recent survey of more than 400 fleet managers found that 59% felt vehicle supply issues had worsened in the last 12 months, despite expectations of improvement. The resulting delays in vehicle supply have caused almost half (43%) of respondents to be unable to fulfil contractual obligations. One in five (21%) recorded resulting financial losses of upwards of £500 a day and an additional 7% cited losing more than £1,000 per day.
“Our research shows that vehicle supply challenges continue to have a major impact on businesses, even though as an industry we expected the situation to have stabilised by now,” said Scott Jenkins, Operations and Sales Director at Autohorn.
“We’re seeing particularly high demand for our Flexed services this year and customers use us for a range of reasons – from plugging vehicle gaps caused by manufacturer production delays or recalls, to managing seasonal delivery peaks. In the current market, short-term leasing provides a vital lifeline, offering fast vehicle delivery to help businesses maintain operations.”
Why has vehicle supply been disrupted?
Vehicle supply has been impacted this year by a combination of factors – including global trade disruption and ongoing economic uncertainty, as well as reduced UK production in H1.
According to a BBC report, UK vehicle manufacturing in H1 fell to its lowest level for that period since 1953. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) also notes that 76.9% of UK-made vehicles year-to-date have been exported, further limiting the domestic supply.
Significant recalls this year from manufacturers including Tesla, Ford, Nissan, Kia, Vauxhall and Citroën, have further affected vehicle availability. Adding to these challenges, the recent cyber-attack on Jaguar Land Rover caused a production outage of more than a month, with vehicle supply still returning to normal levels.
Further potential shortages are on the horizon, as well, following the political spat between The Netherlands and China over Nexperia, a chip making firm, adding uncertainty over future vehicle production with the possibility of plant closures, according to the ACEA.
The fleet research findings back up the rising demand Flexed is experiencing for its services, the business announced 40% year-on-year growth earlier this year. Flexed is a major provider in the short-term lease and subscription market, with vehicle contracts available on a rolling 28-day basis. The subscription includes servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax, as well as optional insurance.
Research: the research was completed in September 2025 by Flexed, part of Autohorn Fleet Services. The online survey was sent to over 850 fleet managers across the UK who have used the Flexed service in the past 18 months, a total of 400 recipients responded (equating to 47% of those surveyed).
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