The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has predicted the coming 12 months will be a positive period for the UK's fleet operators.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney stated: "This is a tremendously exciting time to be working in the sector, with huge technological advances having a major impact on the way we operate and manage a new generation of vehicles.  

"2015 will have its challenges and election years are always hard to predict, but we believe that this will be another successful year for the vehicle rental and leasing industry."

Looking ahead to the coming months, Mr Kearney added that major improvements to the UK's roads transport network will continue to be seen this year, with the government pledging millions of pounds to bolster connectivity and tackle areas where present bottlenecks or other issues are having an economic impact.

Mr Keaney went on to add that recent months have witnessed a considerable increase in the number of fleet operators signed up to the BVRLA, with these numbers predicted to carry on growing throughout 2015 and beyond.

This means the fleet industry continues to have a strong voice in Whitehall and this bodes extremely well for the industry in general when it comes to tackling issues like fuel costs, taxation, the implementation of new emissions targets and other general fleet matters.

The regulatory environment is also an area where considerable change is expected to be seen this year, with leasing brokers and funders all becoming subject to new, more stringent requirements from the Financial Conduct Authority as its new consumer credit regime is implemented.

Meanwhile, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is expected to ramp up its own enforcement actions in the months ahead and this is something all fleet operators will need to be aware of.

Overall, 2015 is expected to be a positive year for the fleet industry in general and one the BVRLA hopes will lead to bigger and better things for the sector in the years to come.