A Cheltenham based leasing firm used a WhatsApp chatbot to qualify leads, deliver real time pricing, and streamline sales handover.
User enquires about an electric car lease under £300/month with sunroof and nav; bot collects terms and shares live-priced options.
Hi, I’m looking to lease an electric car. Budget is around £300 a month. I’d like a sunroof and built-in navigation if possible. What have you got?
Hi! You’ve come through to Cotswold Vehicle Leasing on WhatsApp.
I can absolutely help—£300/month is doable, but the exact options depend on a couple of lease details. Quick questions:
- Personal or business lease?
- Contract length (e.g. 24/36/48 months)?
- Annual mileage (8k/10k/12k)?
- Upfront payment (e.g. 1, 3, 6, or 9 months)?
- Any size preference—small hatch, family SUV, etc.?
Reply with those and I’ll send live-priced EV options with sunroof + nav.
Personal lease please. 36 months, 10k miles a year. I’d prefer 3 months upfront. Size-wise maybe a small SUV/crossover.
Perfect—thanks. I’ve priced a few electric crossovers on personal lease, 36 months, 10,000 miles/year, with 3 months upfront. These are live indicative figures and can move slightly with stock:
- MG ZS EV Trophy LR (nav + panoramic roof): £289–£309/month
- Kia Niro EV 3 (nav + sunroof on certain packs): £299–£329/month
- Hyundai Kona Electric Premium (nav + sunroof on higher spec): £309–£349/month
Do you need the sunroof as a must-have, or is it “nice to have” if the price is better?
Sunroof is pretty important. Navigation definitely a must. Also, what are the main benefits of going electric on a lease?
Got it: nav is non-negotiable and sunroof is very important. In that case, the strongest match under £300-ish is usually:
- MG ZS EV Trophy LR with panoramic roof + nav: typically ~£299/month on your terms (3 upfront). If stock tight, it can nudge a little either way.
Why lease an EV?
- Personal use: lower “fuel” cost per mile, less servicing (fewer moving parts), smooth/quiet driving.
- Business use: usually much lower Benefit-in-Kind than petrol/diesel, plus strong eco credentials for clients and staff.
Want me to prioritise best price or best range? And do you have a latest delivery date in mind?
Best range please. Ideally delivery within the next 6–8 weeks if possible.
Range-first + 6–8 week delivery window—nice and clear.
For best range near £300 with sunroof + nav, I’d shortlist:
- MG ZS EV Trophy Long Range: great value, pano roof + nav, often quickest availability. ~£299/month (3 upfront) when in stock.
- Kia Niro EV with sunroof pack: usually longer range feel on motorway, but pricing is often £310+ and lead times vary.
If you tell me your postcode (for delivery) and whether you’re happy with any colour, I can lock onto the best in-stock deal and have an advisor send a formal quote.
Customer asks about a roomy van lease for a gardening business; bot gathers key details, returns pricing, and compares lease terms.
Hi there, I’m looking to lease a van for my gardening business. Need loads of storage space and I’m trying to keep it around £400 a month. What have you got?
Hi! You’ve come to the right place — Cotswold Vehicle Leasing here. I can price options live and shortlist vans with the biggest load space.
Quick few questions so the quote is accurate:
- Business or personal lease?
- Term idea: 24 / 36 / 48 months?
- Annual mileage roughly?
- Upfront payment: none, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months?
- Do you need ply lining/racking or mainly open load space?
- When do you need delivery?
It’ll be a business lease. Ideally 36 months. Mileage maybe 12k a year. I’d rather not put much down, maybe 3 months upfront. Need it within the next month if possible. And yes, ply lining would be great.
Perfect — thanks. For gardening, the best “loads of space” options are usually:
- Large van: Ford Transit L3H2 / VW Crafter / MAN TGE (great load volume)
- Medium van: Transit Custom / VW Transporter (easier to park, slightly less space)
I’ve pulled live business-lease examples on 36 months, 12k miles, 3 upfront (ex VAT):
- Ford Transit L3H2 (panel van): £389–£419/m
- VW Crafter (L3H2): £405–£455/m
- Transit Custom: £335–£385/m
Do you need 3 seats or 6 (crew van)? Crew tends to push over £400.
Just 3 seats is fine. I’m leaning towards the Transit for the space. What’s the difference between doing 24 vs 36 vs 48 months in terms of price and flexibility?
Good choice — the Transit L3H2 is a proper workhorse and the load space is excellent.
Lease term trade-offs (generally):
- 24 months: most flexible, but higher monthly because depreciation is spread over fewer payments.
- 36 months: the “sweet spot” for many businesses — good monthly cost, still fairly flexible.
- 48 months: usually lowest monthly, but you’re committed longer and you’ll likely be out of warranty on some models for part of the term.
Live pricing example for Transit L3H2, 12k miles, 3 upfront (ex VAT):
- 24m: ~£435/m
- 36m: ~£399/m
- 48m: ~£372/m
Want me to keep you under £400 strictly, or is £420 acceptable if it’s in-stock sooner?
Ideally under £400. I can stretch a bit if it means getting it quickly. What about adding ply lining—does that change the monthly much?
Totally fair. Ply lining can be handled a couple of ways:
- Factory option (if the van is being built): usually cheapest overall, but can affect lead time.
- Dealer-fit / aftermarket: quickest, and we can often include it in the finance.
As a guide, ply lining is often £350–£600 + VAT. If we add, say, £500 into a 36-month lease, it typically nudges the monthly by roughly £10–£15/m (depends on the exact funder rate).
If we target the Transit at ~£399/m, adding lining might take it to ~£409–£414/m.
Do you also want racking/shelving or just ply lining + maybe a bulkhead?
Just ply lining and a bulkhead would be ideal. No racking for now. Can you recommend whether I should stick with 36 months or go 48 to keep it lower?
Given your priorities (space, budget, and needing it within a month), here’s how I’d weigh it:
- 36 months: best balance. Keeps you near £400, and you’re not locked in too long if your business changes (new staff, more tools, different routes).
- 48 months: helps monthly cost (often £20–£30/m less), which could “absorb” ply lining + bulkhead and still land under £400. Trade-off is you’ll likely run it longer and may hit more wear-and-tear expectations at return.
If you’re confident the van will suit you for 4 years, 48m is the cost-saver. If you want flexibility, 36m is safer.
Shall I price you two formal options for a Transit L3H2: 36m and 48m, both with ply lining + bulkhead, and check in-stock/quick delivery units?
Yes please. Let’s do that. What do you need from me to get the formal options?
Great — I’ll line up both options and focus on quick-delivery stock.
To generate formal quotes, I just need:
- Company name (and whether you’re Ltd / sole trader / partnership)
- Postcode (for delivery and insurance group checks)
- VAT registered?
- Preferred gearbox: manual or auto
- Fuel: diesel OK, or are you considering electric?
Once I have those, I’ll send back:
- 36m and 48m monthly price (ex VAT)
- Upfront amount (3 months)
- Estimated delivery timeframe
If you’d like, I can also have a human advisor at Cotswold Vehicle Leasing double-check the best in-stock deal before you commit.
User enquires about leasing a hybrid SUV quickly; chatbot gathers finance needs, provides real-time pricing options, and explains hybrid cost benefits.
Hi there—I'm looking to lease a hybrid SUV for family trips. Prefer eco-friendly features and ideally delivery within the next two weeks. Can you help with options and pricing?
Hi! You’ve reached Cotswold Vehicle Leasing—yes, I can help and I can share live pricing in-chat.
To match you quickly, can I grab 5 details?
- Personal or business lease?
- Contract length: 24/36/48 months?
- Annual mileage (roughly): 8k/10k/12k/15k?
- Any deposit in mind (e.g. 1–9 months upfront, or £0)?
- Must-have eco features: plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vs self-charging, heat pump, low-emission materials, etc.?
Also, do you need 5 seats or 7 seats?
Personal lease please. 36 months, about 10k miles a year. Deposit ideally 3 months upfront. We need 5 seats, decent boot space for pushchair + bags. I’d prefer a plug-in hybrid if it helps emissions, and anything like regenerative braking / eco modes is a plus.
Delivery within 2 weeks is pretty important.
Perfect—thanks. Based on Personal, 36 months, 10k miles, 3 months upfront, 5 seats, PHEV preference + family boot space, here are 3 strong hybrid SUV options with estimated live pricing (subject to credit + stock):
- Kia Sportage PHEV (family-friendly boot): £489–£535/mo
- Hyundai Tucson PHEV (great eco tech): £505–£560/mo
- Peugeot 3008 Hybrid (efficient long runs): £465–£520/mo
Delivery in 2 weeks: I can filter to in-stock / pipeline units only—colours and trims may be limited.
For long-distance trips, a PHEV can be cost-effective: use electric for school runs/local miles, then petrol for motorway range—often lowering overall fuel spend vs petrol SUV.
Any max monthly budget, and do you have home charging?
Budget ideally under £520/month. We can install a home charger but don’t have one yet. We do a few long motorway trips a month and lots of short local journeys in between. Which of those is most likely to arrive within 2 weeks?
Under £520/mo with your usage pattern (lots of short trips + some motorway), a PHEV is a great fit—charging at home will maximise the electric miles and keep running costs down.
For 2-week delivery, availability changes daily, but typically the quickest from our current pipelines are:
- Peugeot 3008 Hybrid—often the best chance for fast delivery and can sit around £495–£520/mo
- Kia Sportage PHEV—sometimes in-stock, usually £505–£535/mo depending on trim
The Tucson PHEV is popular and can be tighter on lead times, but I can still check.
Quick last bits so I can lock accurate quotes: postcode (delivery area), preferred colour (or “any”), and automatic is OK?
Postcode is GL50. Automatic is fine. Colour: anything neutral—grey/black/white. Can you show me the best value option with the 3-month deposit and confirm if it’s realistically deliverable within 2 weeks?
Thanks—GL50 noted, neutral colour, automatic.
Best value under £520/mo right now is typically the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid on 36/10k with 3 months upfront: £499/mo (approx) with an initial payment of £1,497 (+ processing/fees if applicable). That’s the most consistent “sweet spot” for your budget.
Delivery within 2 weeks: I can’t guarantee until I match you to a specific stock vehicle, but with your flexible colours it’s realistic. I can do a stock check now and reserve the best-priced unit for advisor review.
Would you like me to proceed with: 3008 Hybrid only, or also check Sportage PHEV in case it lands under £520?
A customer asks for a low-emission luxury estate on a 36-month business lease; the chatbot gathers details, quotes prices, and explains tax benefits.
Hi—looking for a luxury estate for my business. Ideally low emissions and a 36-month lease. What options have you got?
Hi! You’ve come through to Cotswold Vehicle Leasing.
I can shortlist some luxury estates with low emissions and price them in real time. Just a few quick details:
- Business lease (Ltd/PLC) or sole trader?
- Annual mileage (e.g., 8k/10k/15k)?
- Any initial rental preference (e.g., 3, 6, or 9 months upfront)?
- Do you want PHEV (plug-in hybrid) or full electric only?
If you share those, I’ll send 2–4 best-fit options with monthly costs.
It’s for my Ltd company. 10k miles a year. Prefer 3 months upfront. Open to PHEV or fully electric as long as it’s a proper luxury estate.
Perfect—thanks. For a 36-month business lease, 10,000 miles/yr, and 3 months upfront, here are strong low-emission luxury estate options available on current pricing:
- BMW i5 Touring (EV) – £829 + VAT/month (3+35)
- Audi A6 Avant TFSI e (PHEV) – £699 + VAT/month (3+35)
- Volvo V60 T6 Recharge (PHEV) – £589 + VAT/month (3+35)
Tax angle (company drivers): full EVs generally have the lowest Benefit-in-Kind, and many PHEVs are still attractive vs petrol/diesel. If you tell me whether this is a company car for a driver (BIK applies) or pool/occasional use, I’ll point you to the most tax-efficient pick.
It’ll be a company car for me (director). I’m leaning electric if it keeps BIK low. Any idea on delivery times?
Got it—director company car means BIK is key. In general, a full EV like the BMW i5 Touring is usually the most tax-efficient route versus a PHEV (which depends heavily on its CO2 figure).
Typical lead times (can vary by spec/stock):
- BMW i5 Touring (EV): often 4–10 weeks if we match a stock build
- Audi A6 Avant TFSI e (PHEV): typically 6–12+ weeks
- Volvo V60 Recharge (PHEV): often 4–8 weeks
To lock this down, what’s your latest acceptable delivery date and any must-haves (colour, panoramic roof, upgraded audio)? I can then narrow to “in-stock / quickest” options and confirm the sharpest rate.
Ideally within 8 weeks. Must-haves: adaptive cruise and decent sound system. Colour isn’t important. If the i5 Touring can land in time, I’ll probably go for that.
8 weeks is doable on the i5 Touring if we place you into a stock/allocated car.
Based on your spec priorities, I’d suggest targeting an i5 Touring with:
- Driving Assistant Professional (covers adaptive cruise features)
- Upgraded audio (e.g., Harman Kardon, depending on availability)
Pricing recap for your terms: BMW i5 Touring (EV) on 36 months, 10k miles, 3 months upfront: £829 + VAT/month.
If you want, I can now:
- Check the nearest-match stock cars for <8 week delivery
- Send a formal written quote and illustration
What’s the best email address to send the quote to?
Send it to daniel.hughes@northbridge-consulting.co.uk please.
Thanks Daniel—got it.
I’ll prepare a formal quote for the BMW i5 Touring (EV) on 36 months, 10k miles, 3 upfront, and I’ll prioritise cars with adaptive cruise and an upgraded sound system that can deliver within 8 weeks.
Before I send it, two quick compliance bits:
- Company name (as registered) and postcode?
- Is the business VAT registered?
Once you reply, I’ll get this over and we can reserve the best-matching vehicle straight away if you’re happy.
Overview
A vehicle leasing company in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire supports customers looking for the right car or van, on the right finance terms, at the right monthly price. The team was receiving a growing number of enquiries across different channels, often with incomplete details. Many customers wanted quick answers on availability and pricing, while others needed guidance on mileage, contract length, deposits, and business versus personal leasing.
The company introduced an AI powered WhatsApp chatbot to triage initial enquiries, provide accurate pricing in real time, and capture the information the sales team needs to move quickly.
The challenge
Fast moving customers and complex decisions
Leasing customers often compare options rapidly and expect an immediate response. At the same time, choosing the right vehicle and finance structure can be confusing.
The business faced several issues:
- Enquiries arrived with missing information, creating back and forth follow ups
- Customers wanted instant pricing, not a call back the next day
- The team spent too much time on early stage questions instead of closing qualified opportunities
- Some leads were not ready to proceed, but still consumed sales time
- High intent customers could drop off if response times were slow
Why WhatsApp
The company chose WhatsApp because it fits how customers already communicate.
- No apps to download
- No new logins or passwords
- Personal familiar experience
This made it easy for customers to start an enquiry quickly, then continue the conversation later without losing context.
The solution
An AI expert for vehicles and leasing
The WhatsApp chatbot was designed to act as a helpful vehicle and leasing expert, guiding customers through two key areas.
- Vehicle selection, including car and van suitability for lifestyle or business needs
- Finance and leasing guidance, including common terms and what they mean in practice
Real time pricing in WhatsApp
A major improvement was access to real time pricing. The chatbot could share up to date monthly costs based on the customer’s preferences, so customers could make decisions immediately rather than waiting for a manual quote.
Requirements capture that sales can trust
During the conversation, the chatbot gathered the essentials needed to build a compliant, accurate quote.
Key details captured included:
- Vehicle requirements such as type, size, use case, fuel preference, and key features
- Finance preferences such as contract length, annual mileage, deposit expectations, and whether the customer wanted personal or business leasing
- Timing and urgency such as when the customer needed delivery
Smarter triage with lead quality assessment
Not every enquiry is equal. AI agents assessed lead quality before passing it to the sales team, helping prioritise customers who were ready to move forward.
Seamless handover to the sales team
At the end of every conversation, the sales team received a notification with a clear summary of:
- The customer’s vehicle shortlist or preferred model
- The finance terms discussed
- The latest priced options shared
- Any objections or constraints raised
- Recommended next steps, such as booking a call or preparing a formal quote
This allowed the team to step in at exactly the right moment, with full context.
Results and business benefits
Faster response and improved conversion opportunities
Customers received immediate answers and pricing, reducing the risk of losing them to competitors. The chatbot handled early questions instantly, enabling quicker progression from interest to quote.
More productive sales time
Sales advisors spent less time gathering basic requirements and more time on high value conversations. The handover summary reduced repetition, so customers did not need to explain their situation again.
Higher quality leads and better prioritisation
With automated lead quality assessment, the team could focus first on customers with clear intent and complete requirements. Lower intent enquiries were still supported, but without disrupting the sales workflow.
Consistent guidance on finance terms
The chatbot provided clear explanations of leasing variables like mileage and contract length, helping customers feel confident and reducing misunderstandings that can delay approval.
Practical examples of improvements
Example 1: Instant pricing to keep momentum
When a customer asked for a suitable van with a specific mileage and term in mind, the chatbot collected the key details and returned current pricing within the same WhatsApp chat. This removed the usual waiting period and kept the customer engaged while they were still actively comparing options.
Example 2: Better qualification before a call
For customers unsure whether business or personal leasing was right, the chatbot clarified the difference, captured the decision drivers, and flagged the lead with a clear intent level. Sales then followed up with a tailored recommendation rather than a generic call.
Example 3: Clean handover that prevents drop off
If a customer wanted a particular monthly budget, deposit level, and contract length, the chatbot captured those constraints and passed them to sales as a structured summary. The advisor could immediately propose the best match, avoiding extra questions and shortening the path to a formal quote.
Conclusion
By introducing an AI powered WhatsApp chatbot for enquiry triage, real time pricing, and structured requirements capture, the Cheltenham leasing company improved customer experience and streamlined sales operations. Customers benefited from an instant, personal, familiar way to explore vehicles and finance options, while the sales team received better qualified leads with clear next steps, enabling faster quoting and more efficient follow up.
