VAUXHALL is to develop its own branded version of AT&T's TransLease, the computerised authorisation and invoice system designed to create a trading community between leasing companies, fast fits, dealers and fleet managers. And speculation is rising that other major manufacturers are set to sign up with TransLease to help slash levels of paperwork and bureaucracy between leasing companies and dealerships.

Vauxhall dealers specialising in large fleet deals will be first on line in the autumn, while early next year the system will be extended to offer electronic processing to small and medium sized fleets which do not currently have the ability or desire to operate TransLease on a direct basis.

The system will help Vauxhall dealers improve business efficiency with the large number of fleet companies already using the AT&T TransLease service. It will not replace the current Vauxhall central billing system, which can only perform the invoicing function of TransLease - not the authorisation function. A spokeswoman said it would gradually take over full central billing within time.