Pendragon Vehicle Management has launched a salary sacrifice scheme said to create a new industry standard.

Backed by parent firm Lithia UK, which operates a retail network including Stratstone and Evans Halshaw, the fleet funding and management services specialist is able to offer ‘Ready to Go’ cars that can be with employees in just under a working week; described as a new salary sacrifice benchmark in the UK.

The scheme also offers employees a potential test-drive at 150 Lithia UK retail sites, coupled with the chance to sell their current vehicles directly to Evans Halshaw or Stratstone.

And the scheme delivers benefits such as a home wall charger from Pod and a Life Shield product, which gives employers and employees protection in the event of maternity leave, long term sickness, resignation, redundancy and more.

Phil Wilbraham, managing director, said it was an exciting and attractive proposition, unlike anything else on the market.

He added: “We are fully focused on simplifying salary sacrifice for all parties and confident that our new offering will shake up the market.”

The scheme is focused on providing tax-efficient cars to employees through their employer’s scheme, delivering a range of cost savings as well as enhancing business sustainability credentials.

It’s available to new and existing clients, with the Royal Mint, Targa Telematics, A.F. Blakemore and Avco already signed up.

David Jackson, commercial director at Pendragon Vehicle Management, joined from Octopus Electric Vehicles earlier this year and has helped spearhead the project.

“The new Pendragon Vehicle Management salary sacrifice scheme streamlines the journey for employers and their employees. We’re uniquely positioned within the market as our extensive retail network provides us with the capability to quickly deliver vehicles, creating a new industry standard for salary sacrifice.

“We handle vehicle sourcing, delivery and support along the whole journey,” he outlined.

As part of the scheme, a new online portal will be available, enabling employees to order and receive cars faster than other providers.

“Our updated portal has been designed with both businesses and their colleagues in mind, bringing a new market-leading solution to the table. It provides a centralised location for employees whose business uses the scheme to choose their ideal vehicle, as well as underlining the key financial savings and helping people improve their own carbon footprint,” Jackson summed up.