Vehicle leasing is no longer just a financial tool, but an operational one. In an environment where liquidity and efficiency are more important than asset ownership, this model has gained ground as a strategy for companies, including freight carriers, according to TIP Mexico .

The scheme is not limited to light vehicles. TIP Mexico offers solutions for tractor-trailers, trailers and semi-trailers, as well as cars, vans and buses , thus expanding its reach within the business mobility sector.

Given this scenario, the company offers a guide to understand how vehicle leasing works and, above all, what to expect, and what not to expect, when contracting this type of service.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to understanding its scope:

1. It operates on a different logic: you don’t buy, you operate.
   Leasing works under an operating expense (OpEx) scheme, which allows you to preserve capital, improve cash flow and maintain financial flexibility, explained TIP Mexico.

In practice, this means that the carrier pays for the use of the asset, not for its ownership.

2. What a leasing company does

The value of a leasing company is not limited to financing. According to TIP Mexico, its role can directly impact operations:

• Optimizes resources: allows for more predictable financial planning.
• It facilitates fleet renewal: especially towards cleaner technologies.
• Manage the fleet: centralize procedures, maintenance, and telemetry.
• It offers flexible schemes: adapted to the client’s operation.

At this point, support can be as important as unity itself.

3. What it doesn’t do (and is often confused with)

One of the most common mistakes is assuming that the leasing company controls the operation. This is not the case, TIP Mexico warned.

• It does not manage routes or last mile: the strategy remains in the hands of the carrier.
• It does not control the operators: operational performance is the responsibility of the client.
• It does not assume legal responsibility for the use: regulatory compliance falls on the user.
• It does not automatically absorb all costs: expenses such as ownership, maintenance or insurance depend on the user.

This is where the success or failure of the model is defined: in the clarity of responsibilities.

4. The key lies in shared responsibility.

Leasing does not replace the carrier’s management, it complements it.

While the leasing company guarantees the availability of the asset and operational support, the company must ensure its proper use and safekeeping, TIP Mexico indicated.

5. A model that is gaining ground

The sector’s growth supports this change. The fleet of leased vehicles grew 24.4% in the last annual cycle, reflecting a shift towards asset-based leasing models, according to data cited by TIP Mexico.

More than a financial solution, leasing is emerging as an operational tool. But its effectiveness depends not only on the leasing company, but also on how clearly the carrier understands where the service ends… and where their responsibility begins.

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Element Fleet Management Mexico celebrated its first decade of operations in the country with a solid position as a leader in corporate fleet management, but also with the conviction that the national market still has significant untapped potential . Since its arrival, the company has tripled its portfolio of managed vehicles and has become a benchmark for efficiency, technological innovation, and comprehensive financial solutions for more than 600 clients across 30 industries.

“When we started as Element here 10 years ago, nobody knew us. We arrived in a very different Mexico in this sense. I say, and I repeat: there should be more competition because we need to evangelize the market more,” stated Manuel Tamayo, president of Element Fleet Management Mexico, in an interview with T21.

His vision summarizes the journey of a decade in which the company went from being a new player in automotive leasing to an enabler of business mobility with more than 140,000 units under management .

Element’s comprehensive model combines vehicle financing, specialized maintenance, advanced telemetry, and strategic consulting based on data analytics. Its financial reach is equivalent to that of the thirteenth largest bank in the country, with a cumulative investment exceeding $5.8 billion in vehicle financing. In 2025, the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—a member of the World Bank Group —made an initial investment of $100 million, as part of a package of up to $600 million aimed at boosting the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in Mexico, strengthening its role in the transition to sustainable mobility.

Tamayo emphasized that fleet leasing and management can no longer be understood solely as a financial product, but rather as a value-added platform. “It depends on how you structure it and what you do with the leasing aspect. If you can truly add value to the company, making it more than just financing, that’s where our offering comes in: complementing the financial aspect with services, with a comprehensive solution,” he explained.

This vision has led Element to develop strategies focused on decarbonization and operational efficiency. Currently, more than 12,000 hybrid and electric vehicles operate under its management. “Mexico has embraced electromobility much more than the United States. It’s a trend that’s here to stay,” Tamayo affirmed. The executive acknowledges that the biggest challenge is no longer cost or range, but charging infrastructure. Therefore, Element is working on solutions that allow its clients to have complete energy ecosystems, from financing chargers to self-sustaining projects that integrate solar panels, batteries, and intelligent monitoring systems.

For Tamayo, technology not only redefines the business but also democratizes access to solutions previously reserved for large corporations. “Technology is very inclusive because it doesn’t distinguish between large and small companies,” he stated. In that sense, Element has developed customized solutions for different types of fleets: executive, distribution, last-mile, and freight. This last segment has become a growth driver fueled by the rise of e-commerce . “The last mile is one of the most demanding, but also where we can bring the most added value. That’s where you can truly optimize resource use, making them more productive, efficient, and secure.”

The immediate future, he warned, will be defined by connected vehicles and the use of real-time data. “Before, cash was king ; today, data is king . Whoever has the data will be better. Vehicles produce a massive amount of information that, if you know how to manage it well, helps you be more efficient or safer,” he stated. Following this logic, Element has invested in technologies that enhance intelligent routing, predictive management, and the integration of in-vehicle payments. The recent addition of the Autofleet platform, now integrated into Element Mobility, reinforces its commitment to digital solutions that optimize routes and reduce operating costs.

In parallel, the company is forging global strategic alliances to build a complete digital ecosystem that integrates payments, maintenance, supply, and telemetry. “Proactivity is becoming increasingly important. Before, customers were satisfied with past results; today they want me to anticipate what will happen, based on data,” commented Tamayo, who anticipates that 2026 will be a key year for vehicle connectivity and digital services.

During the anniversary commemoration, Laura Dottori-Attanasio, President and Global CEO of Element Fleet Management, emphasized that “ the investments we have made here reflect our confidence in Mexico’s talent, industry, and potential to drive the future of enterprise mobility.”

A decade later, the company is not only celebrating its growth—exceeding its 2025 projections—but also positioning itself as an innovation hub for all of North America . “The only constant is growth,” Tamayo concluded, reaffirming the principle that has guided Element’s evolution: transforming data, technology, and sustainability into engines of a new kind of enterprise mobility.

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