News - Page 1707

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest research car – elements of which could power its company cars of the future.

THE majority of European countries have posted an increase in new car sales so far this year, latest figures show. A total of 15 countries in the EU23 reported a rise in sales compared to the same period last year while eight noted a decline.

The role of the fleet manager needs to undergo a fundamental shift to reflect the changing needs of business, Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman has claimed.

THE National Blood Service has launched a groundbreaking green initiative to run the whole of its 500-strong fleet on biodiesel.

INSURANCE giant Aviva is selling its 50% stake in Lex Vehicle Leasing – months after its £1.1 billion takeover deal of RAC.

A DECISION to back out of unprofitable business has cost Peugeot more than 8,000 sales in the fleet sector so far this year.

ARVAL has announced plans to consolidate three of its major fuel cards as part of a review of its brand strategy.

EUROPCAR Fleet Services has re-branded and is now called Volkswagen Group Leasing.

A GRIEVING family has called for a change in the law after a van driver caused the death of a woman in a head-on crash which happened moments after he had been speaking on his mobile phone.

RESEARCHING the options is of paramount importance to a successful review of an organisation’s company car scheme.

AVERAGE fuel prices in the UK.

ROYAL Mail has ordered 250 new vans from LDV.

LETTERS to the acting Fleet News editor, Steve Moody.

GIFT distributor Russ Berrie has signed a deal for a fleet of vehicles to deliver its range of teddy bears.

FLEET NewsNet looks at how new cars taken on to a typical fleet might perform over the next three years/60,000 miles.

MERCEDES-BENZ has launched its most powerful A-class – the 193bhp A200 Turbo.

RENAULT has dropped the 2.2-litre dCi engine from the Laguna range and replaced it with an all-new 2.0-litre version.

A FIFTH of motorists could not complete a basic vehicle maintenance check, according to latest research.

DEVELOPMENT firm Countryside Properties has chosen Ford as the sole supplier for at least half of its 500-strong fleet.

RENTAL vehicles used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will continue to be supplied by a major UK rental firm following the signing of a new six-year contract.

VOLVO has announced that it will be extending its popular free servicing for S40 and V50 for a further year.

BUILDING the new Olympic Village in London is boosting business in the rental industry as companies aim to cater for demand.

FIAT has just passed the manufacturing milestone of 500,000 Pandas.

BT WHOLESALE has launched a new location-based service aimed at organisations with large field service operations.

'I have received a number of comments recently from fleet managers concerning the apparent softening of my views on corporate manslaughter and the consequential reduction in the risk of a fleet manager ever being prosecuted for corporate manslaughter...'

THE value of three-year-old cars showed signs of stabilising during the third quarter of 2005.

RESULTS from sales around the UK.

NORTHGATE, the UK’s largest daily rental group, has ended talks with private equity firm Terra Firma which could have led to a takeover.

COMPANIES are being urged to train their drivers on how to check their own tyres after one leasing company found that thousands changed on its fleet of vehicles were at or below the legal limit.

DRIVERS who dropped their company cars and took money instead are becoming increasingly disillusioned and are opting back in.