AMSTERDAM and TURIN, Italy -

In several European markets where FCA does not operate its own captive arm, LeasePlan will now offer operational lease solutions to FCA customers.

The vehicle leasing and fleet management provider announced Monday that it has agreed to be a new FCA operational lease partner that will concentrate on the growing small and medium enterprise (SME) segment of car buyers.

FCA SME customers in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland can now take advantage of full operational lease products that are available on a preferred partner basis from LeasePlan.

LeasePlan said it defines SME customers as those with up to 25 vehicles in their fleet.

“SME is LeasePlan's fastest-growing segment and a crucial element in our strategy to lead the European Car-as-a-Service market,” LeasePlan senior vice president commercial Berno Kleinherenbrink said in a news release. “I'm therefore delighted to announce our new partnership with FCA, which gives us an additional route to serve the important SME segment.

“These customers want flexible, hassle-free and fast solutions — and that's exactly what we provide,” Kleinherenbrink continued.

At year-end last year, SME vehicles made up about 17 percent of LeasePlan's serviced fleet, according to the company.

In contrast to traditional white label agreements, LeasePlan explained that its new partnership with FCA is based on a referral model where the automaker will provide vehicles with an operational lease managed fully by LeasePlan.

The partnership aims to deliver customers flexible, cost-effective solutions in a short amount of time, according to LeasePlan.

“This is the first partnership of its kind for LeasePlan with a major European OEM,” the company said.

With pre-configured FCA vehicles available, LeasePlan said customers can receive the vehicles they select within two weeks.

Additionally, LeasePlan said that it will extend both training and certification to FCA dealers on its SME products and service portfolio.