ENCOURAGING fleets to buy 'greener' company cars has become the number one priority of the Government's Cleaner Vehicle Task Force. This is a clear recognition of the dominant role fleets play in the UK's new car market, and how fleet buying decisions subsequently determine the shape of the country's used car parc.

The CVTF was established last year as a joint initiative between the Government and the motor industry to promote the use of existing and emerging environmental technologies. An official bulletin from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions said the task force was working on: 'Providing guidance to purchasers of company car fleets which will help them to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of their fleets.'

This will go in tandem with the CVTF's second key priority of establishing green labels for cars which show vehicles' fuel efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions and emission standards. These labels will be independent of the Treasury's plans to introduce a cut-price road fund licence for 'smaller and cleaner cars', although the CVTF will study the Treasury's consultation paper on a graduated vehicle excise duty which is due for publication imminently.