ALD Automotive | LeasePlan first to offer drone leasing in Belgium

ALD Automotive | LeasePlan is the first mobility partner in Belgium to offer a leasing formula for drones. The project starts as an innovation initiative, with the ambition to grow into a full-fledged product. As the drone market is changing rapidly and a new, smaller and lighter generation of drones appears every two to three years, ALD Automotive | LeasePlan proposes a 36-month lease period. This way, companies always retain access to the latest technology without making large investments.

Innovation in mobility with drones

Drones are now indispensable in various sectors, from filming sport events and inspecting infrastructure to monitoring industrial sites and supporting precision fertilisation in agriculture. Their role continues to grow, and in the future drones will increasingly take over tasks that are too dangerous or complex for humans, such as checking nuclear power plants and offshore wind farms.

‘We also strongly believe in the future of drones in the mobility sector,’ says Ann Larosse, Innovation and CSR Manager at ALD Automotive | LeasePlan. 'However, buying a drone can be a hefty investment, especially for companies without a large purchasing budget. This is why we now offer a leasing formula for drones. Some police zones were the first to test our formula to monitor the environment, and large companies in Belgium in a variety of sectors also already showed interest.'

Drones in all shapes and sizes

ALD Automotive | LeasePlan offers drones of all shapes and sizes within its formula, depending on the specific needs of the lessee. The drones can be manually controlled or fly autonomously, and are often equipped with additional features such as cameras, detection systems or speakers. Companies can therefore choose a drone that is fully tailored to their operations and objectives. At the end of the lease period, it is possible to buy the drone at 10% or 16%, depending on the formula chosen.

Benefits of leasing

Like vehicles, drones require periodic maintenance. ALD Automotive | LeasePlan works with specialised partners such as Pim Consult in Wallonia and Aerial Solutions in Flanders for this purpose. Maintenance, any repairs, assistance, insurance, registration and taxes are all included in the lease price. If required, ALD Automotive | LeasePlan provides a back-up drone so that the lessee always remains operational. As a license is required to use drones, the partners also offer the necessary education and training.

‘The leasing formula for drones fits perfectly with our strategy to explore innovative mobility solutions,’ concludes Johan Portier, Managing Director at ALD Automotive | LeasePlan Belgium. 'In time, drones might even be used for passenger transport or parcel delivery. Although that seems futuristic at the moment, such applications could become reality sooner than you think.'