Managers there seem to be particularly attached

"My client, an international consulting firm, research a technical director, security and infrastructure for one of its divisions...". Wage of 130,000 to 180.000 euros according to profile premium function benefits group car.

The announcement, published on the site of employment Monster.fr, evidenced: in France, the service car is commonplace. Sanofi-aventis to l ' Oréal, 91 of French companies assign a car service to at least one of their employees, according to a study by the consulting firm Hewitt. And on a variable remuneration package, which offers benefits ranging from medical expenses for the collective retirement savings plans, the car is gaining ground. "In ten years, this advantage is increased from 3 to 6 of the package, reflects François Auger, senior consultant in charge of studies and salaries at Hewitt." It is even a grain of sand in the whole of variable remuneration, but the car function democratizes. The commercial and the CEO, vehicles are now assigned to managers information, marketing, procurement or human resources systems. "Almost 88 of surveyed companies extend that privilege to their executives. And SMEs are. Like the HST Consulting company, which employs about 100 people.

Economic equation

Despite the boom in the price of a barrel of oil, the companies have made their accounts. When they have to tighten their belts, they are tempted to replace a remuneration in cash by a car which enjoys tax benefits. With 17 subsidiaries specialized in various occupations of control, the SGS Group took the curve at the end of the 1990s. "At the time, we were in a period of restructuring of certain industrial activities: we should retain our frameworks without doing this financial", says Francis Bergeron, Director of the SGS group human resources. With 2,200 employees in France, the Group today operates a fleet of 800 vehicles, including 150 cars in service.

The economic equation also works for the employee. Typical case: a manager, married, 2 children, travelling 15,000 annual kilometres, wheelchair diesel and 100,000 euros gross per year would have a car of 42.500 euro. Including tax benefits, the gross equivalent of the car in compensation amounts to 18.553 euros per year, estimated in Hewitt.

However, according to Hewitt, the financial argument does not explain everything: "the financial benefit is not so great," said Francis Bergeron. But when I hired a young technician I integrates a vehicle, insurance and maintenance are paid by the company to his contract of employment. It is a vector of motivation from our competitors. "Overall,"it is a visible advantage, then engagement, for example, is much less clear in the eyes of an employee,"analysis François Auger.

Managers there seem to be particularly attached. "Cars are powerful elements of negotiation on a case by case basis." Equal position, they make the difference, says Claude Monnier, HRD of Monster France and southern Europe. A classic Audi A3 can be transformed into sedan Renault space high range to the signing of a contract. I have seen cases where the interview lasted ten minutes, while the negotiation on the car took two hours.

At the time of the ecological malus, there is also an issue of image for the company. Carrefour understood. With a fleet of 550 vehicles, the Group has developed an incentive policy to its managers, free to choose the manufacturer and the model of the vehicle... provided that its CO2 emission rate is less than 200 g/km and it is equipped with a particulate filter. Collaborators can also adopt a hybrid or clean vehicle such as a Toyota Prius or a Honda Civic. Therefore, a supplementary budget them is allocated as options or leave supportive environment with the association Planète Urgence. Similarly, they may "barter" their car to function against wage allowance or a credit at a rental of short duration for professional and private use.

Symbol of success

For its part, Matra Manufacturing Services attaches to convince the directors of human resources to provide their executives a vehicle or an electric bicycle. His last car, equipped with solar panels, recharges in the Sun. "For commercial which are miles, a traditional car is essential." But for short journeys, clean vehicles are ideal even for leaders. However, in Europe, 50 of trips do not exceed 3 kilometres! ", says Jacques Bonneville, Deputy Director General of Matra Manufacturing Services.

But, beyond citizen discourse, the car is a vector of social success and a symbol of individual freedom. "How to tell a commercial Director that he be taking place in electric car". queries Claude Monnier, in Monster. On a market in tension, as soon as the frames reach a key post, they have expensive and powerful car.