News - Page 1865

In this special column, Tony Elliott, head of sales Europe, DaimlerChrysler Services Fleet Management (DCSFM), looks at the pan-European fleet and leasing industry

VAUXHALL'S new Astra will be priced from £10,995 on-the-road when it arrives in showrooms in May as the company plans to undercut the new Volkswagen Golf across the range.

A FORMER Whitehall adviser on transport has labelled the Government's 10-year transport blueprint launched by John Prescott just three years ago as 'dead'.

FLEETS using the Cybit telematics system can benefit from improved communication and reporting following an upgrade, the company claims.

CITROEN is to combine massive price cuts with higher equipment levels in a bid to win a bigger share of Britain's light commercial vehicle market.

EX-ENGLAND cricketer Alec Stewart has taken delivery of a new Lexus LS430 supplied by the Leasedrive Group.

OFFICE products company Avery Dennison claims to have achieved cost and administration savings by moving its fleet online.

KWIK-FIT Fleet is offering a free five-point winter safety check for fleet drivers.

BROADCASTLE Motor Contracts has launched a website with the aim of providing the fleet industry and business car users with access to contract hire quotes.

QUOTELINE Direct has improved its range of policies which target small courier fleets.

PARK Lane BMW has ploughed £8 million into a new aftersales operation for its motorcycle business.

FLEETS using cfc Solutions' fleet management package can now access its new Report Writer module.

NATIONAL Tyres and Autocare has completed a £500,000 re-signage programme across its nationwide branch network.

INSURANCE giant Zurich has issued a five-point action plan designed to help fleets introduce a work-related road safety plan and adopt a 'safer driving culture'.

THE Retail Motor Industry Federation has called for stronger links between dealers, finance companies, insurance firms and data agencies.

DEUTSCHE Post World Net has signed off a special delivery of new vans worth an estimated £48 million at showroom prices as part of a major fleet review.

VOLKSWAGEN has revamped the Sharan (pictured), giving it new styling and specification.

WITH a challenging year ahead, two of the executives vital to Ford's success give their view on key issues the company will face over the next 12 months.

KEY findings of the RAC Report on Motoring 2004: Counting The Cost, Cutting Congestion.

RUNNING a police fleet can be one of the most demanding jobs in the industry as vehicles play a vital part in helping prevent and respond to crime.

THE Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is celebrating its first anniversary and is about to launch a new bid to educate fleets about the benefits of going green.

The latest appointments in the fleet industry.

Average fuel prices in the UK.

When you can expect to see the latest models.

THE Fleet News Europe Conference 2004 will cover a range of issues that get to the heart of the international fleet industry when it takes place in London in February.

EUROPEAN cars look set to become safer and more secure with the appointment of automotive research and technology centre Thatcham to Euro NCAP's board.

THE new Lancia Ypsilon (above) has won a European design award in the compact car sector.

NEW car sales in Western Europe have fallen for 2003. Cumulative figures show a drop in new cars sales of 1.3%, although this is better than forecasters' expectations.

THE residual values of the Ford Mondeo dropped less than any car in the top 10 best-selling vehicles in 2003, beating residual value stalwarts such as the Volkswagen Golf and BMW 3-series.

2003 was a golden year for the auction business with the balance between stock and demand almost perfect across all vehicle sectors.