The world history of leasing

The term "leasing" entered the economic lexicon thanks to the Bell Telephone Company, which, in 1877, chose to lease its telephone devices rather than sell them. This decision marked a turning point, but it wasn’t until 1952 that the first company specializing in leasing was founded. Established in San Francisco by the United States Leasing Corporation, this company positioned the United States as the birthplace of this new business practice.

In the 1960s, leasing crossed the Atlantic to reach Europe, with the establishment of Deutsche Leasing GmbH in Düsseldorf in 1962, a pioneer in the sector in Germany.

In the United States, the 1980s saw an expansion of leasing into the aerospace industry. The McDonnell Douglas Corporation, through an innovative financial strategy based on leasing, was able to compete with Boeing with its aircraft model, introducing the concept of "Fly before buy."

In Europe, the first modern leasing companies emerged between the late 1950s and early 1960s. In England, the Mercantile Leasing Corporation, founded in 1960, paved the way in this field.

Leasing also took root in Asia starting in the 1960s. Today, the global leasing market is primarily dominated by three major regions: the United States, Western Europe, and Japan. In Europe, most companies specializing in leasing are subsidiaries or entities controlled by banks, accounting for about 75 to 80% of market players.

Today, the booming automobile leasing sector perfectly illustrates how this practice has adapted to modern needs. It offers consumers the flexibility to use a recent vehicle without bearing the full purchase cost, while enabling companies to build customer loyalty with tailored offers. This model, once reserved for large industries, is now integrated into everyday life, reflecting the evolution and global expansion of leasing as an indispensable financial solution.