Belgium-based Fleet Logistics International will enter the U.S. fleet management market this year with a deal to manage a multinational chemical company's 8,000 global vehicles, the fleet management company has announced.

Fleet Logistics, a business unit owned by international technical service corporation TÜV SÜD Group, is approaching the move as a pilot program that has grown out of its work with larger clients with vehicles in the U.S. market, according to a release.

"We have huge respect for the U.S. fleet management market — the largest in the world and one of the most structured, segmented and professional," said Rainer Laber, Fleet Logistics chief executive. "We also have great respect for our customers there — many of whom have their global headquarters in the U.S. — and our American partners."

In its first pilot, Fleet Logistics will mange 1,700 units in the U.S. and 170 in Canada for the chemical company.

Fleet Logistics grew its number of managed vehicles by 25% to 180,000 in 2015, and hopes to acquire clients in the U.S., Asia, and South America to continue that growth trajectory in 2016.

The fleet management company plans to expand into the Latin American fleet market in the first quarter of the year by establishing a hub office in São Paolo, Brazil.

In May of 2015, Fleet Logistics acquired Belgian fleet service providers TCOPlus and FleetVision, which provide cost data and fleet consulting services respectively.