Foss Opens Short-Term Leasing Hub in Aurora
A few of the customers and suppliers who turned out for the grand opening event. Credit: Jack Kazmierski
Basil Marcus, President of Foss National Leasing, welcomed guests to the event. Credit: Jack Kazmierski
James Ricci, CEO of the Foss Group of Companies spoke to guests at the grand opening event. Credit: Jack Kazmierski
New facility brings short-term leasing operations under one roof while giving fleet customers greater control, consistency and service.
On Sept. 24th, Foss National Leasing celebrated the grand opening of their new short-term leasing hub in Aurora, Ont., designed to give the fleet management company greater control over the preparation, delivery, servicing and return of vehicles used in its short-term leasing program.
According to Basil Marcus, President of Foss National Leasing, the new facility represents a strategic move for the Foss Group of Companies, bringing together its dealership operations and fleet management expertise to support the growing short-term leasing business.
The Aurora facility, which is managed by Jo-Anne Lamontagne, Director of Short-Term Leasing, primarily serves the Greater Toronto Area, providing a centralized location where vehicles can be received, inspected, plated, decalled and prepared before being dispatched to customers. Vehicles returning from short-term leases can also be inspected, cleaned and serviced at the facility before Foss determines their next destination.
Foss expands its footprint
The facility is an expansion of Foss National Leasing’s existing operations, rather than a replacement for its corporate office, which remains in Markham. The company continues to work with partners across Canada, including Odessa, which has supported its short-term leasing operations nationally. “They’re an excellent partner,” Marcus was quick to point out.
That said, the Aurora hub represents the first bricks-and-mortar facility dedicated to bringing more of that activity in-house. For fleet customers, the objective is consistency.
Rather than relying entirely on third parties for vehicle preparation, servicing and delivery, Foss can control more of the customer experience. The company has invested in inspection technology, apps and third-party system integration intended to streamline the process for both fleet managers and drivers.
“When we tell a driver that they're going to have a vehicle, that vehicle's going to be here, it's going to be ready, it's going to be fueled. There's going to be no engine lights, and they can drive away smoothly and have a great seamless experience,” Marcus said.
Dealership access
The nearby dealership, also owned by Foss, provides access to dedicated service capacity for maintenance, tire changes and other work required to turn vehicles around quickly. Furthermore, Foss can coordinate with third-party upfitters when customers require equipment such as racking or shelving.
For Foss, the Aurora hub is about more than vehicle storage and preparation. It is an effort to make short-term leasing a more integrated fleet management service while maintaining a consistent experience from vehicle delivery through return.
