Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions has been appointed by infrastructure and utility service provider Amey to look after its fleet of over 8,500 vehicles.

The exclusive six year vehicle leasing deal will see Hitachi provide Amey with vehicle management and funding for its whole fleet of over 8,500 vehicles and specialist assets.

Including the utilities, waste management and highways sectors, Amey has over 300 contracts, many of which call for a fleet of specialist vehicles that must always be available.

Amey’s Fleet and Plant Director, Tom Lawless, commented: “We need a fleet of specialist vehicles that are provided and managed to the standards of operational safety, compliance adherence and optimum availability that are also fit for purpose when considering required customer outcomes.”

Lawless believes that Hitachi is “uniquely placed” to deliver the full support for Amey’s operations, adding that the new partnership will mean its business can make better use of its fleet of dedicated assets which will result in a better service for its customers.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, Jon Lawes, said that the appointment shows the company’s ability to manage and fund the most complex and mission critical fleets that operate in the UK.

The deal came into effect last month and will run until 2022.

Meanwhile, last month it was confirmed that Atkins has been awarded with the contract to supply Hitachi in the delivery of Network Rail’s Thameslink programme.

Atkins will conduct several assessments which are designed to make sure that the TMS meets the standards set by Network Rail for being compatible with the rail network in the UK.

Practice Director of Transportation at Atkins, Conor Linnell, commented: “It is very exciting for Atkins to be able to bring its extensive experience in the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects to bear on a ground-breaking programme such as TMS for Thameslink, which marks the beginning of the digital age of the UK railway.”