Instead BSM is rekindle its previous 18-year relationship with Vauxhall that ended last year and the GM-owned will become the new fleet provider for BSM from March 2011. The biggest criticism of the 500 came from the examiners who, in some cases, found the rear passenger space insufficient, while, reportedly, 80 percent of driving instructors wanted a return to the Corsa.

The Vauxhall Corsa will begin replacing the Fiat 500 (BSM’s current fleet cars) from 2011, with the exchange completed by the end of the same year. Vauxhall will provide BSM’s 3,250 strong fleet with 1.2 ecoFLEX and 1.4 litre 5-door Corsas over several years.  The move will give Vauxhall renewed major exposure as the car of choice for instructors at Britain’s leading driving school, and provides a blow to Fiat especially as estimates put as many as 70 percent of learner drivers choosing to buy the similar model they used to pass their test.

BSM says it is "confident that the new fleet will give its learners and instructors a superior driving experience. The company have worked closely with its instructors to identify what would make the ultimate driving instructor’s car, and requested that a number of modifications specific to the needs of learner drivers and instructors be made." To regain the long-standing contract Vauxhall has made a series of modifications to the Corsa that include larger dials on the dashboard for improved instructor/learner visibility, rear headrests and upgraded power steering. Also, in recognition that instructors often use their cars not only as a tool for their trade but also as their primary family vehicle, BSM has moved to using the 5-door model.

BSM CEO and Managing Partner Nikolai Kesting said: “We are delighted to bring Vauxhall on board as our new fleet partner. We worked with our instructors and learners through surveys and by monitoring communications closely, and have received a clear message that the Corsa is their car of choice. We have acted on what they said, and are delighted to now offer all our learners and instructors the opportunity to drive this great car. We are market leaders and it’s important to us that our offer is head and shoulders above our competition. While we enjoyed a successful 18-month relationship with Fiat, we have found that by listening to our core audience and stakeholders, and being able to implement their feedback with Vauxhall, we are in a position to provide, quite simply, the best learner car on the market. The fact that British School of Motoring is again supporting British manufacturing is an added bonus.”

Vauxhall fleet sales director Maurice Howkins said: “It’s fantastic that we can bring our award-winning cars to Britain’s most popular driving school and help learner drivers with the best possible start to their driving life. We are always looking to show just how good our cars are – and what better way to do that than showcase them in town and country, across the roads of Britain.”