News - Page 1887

NATIONWIDE Autocentres has processed more than £1 million worth of business through the 1Link Service online authorisation network since joining in April, the company claims.

THE Trade Group, a network of specialist independent paint and refinish distributors across the UK and Northern Ireland, has won a five year deal.

TAXI fleet drivers in the area covered by Eastbourne Borough Council will be assessed by the Driving Standards Agency before being given licences.

FLEETS are the focus of a Government drive to close a legal loophole on seatbelt use among van drivers that could save 21 lives and avoid more than 1,000 injuries a year.

UPS, the world's biggest parcel service, has joined forces with DaimlerChrysler to test and develop the Mercedes-Benz fuel cell Sprinter.

THE European Commission has given competition clearance to the takeover of a stake in the Dutch car leasing company Pon Financial Services by Volkswagen's financial arm.

FORD could be set to steal the thunder from the other muscle truck builders with a new edition of the Ranger - appropriately called the Thunder (pictured).

NEW passenger car registrations for the month of September are up by more than 4% – but year-to-date sales have fallen by about 1.5%.

DEMANDING drivers are powering changes in the fleet van market as they push operators to include additional extras such as air-conditioning, CD players and even satellite navigation.

SMALL to medium sized businesses (SMEs) have been accused of not doing enough to help protect the environment.

PROTON has launched a medium-specification GS version of the Jumbuck car-derived pickup truck and confirmed an LPG option across the range.

A WEST Country business has put the environment at the heart of its fleet policy with a pledge to run its vehicles on used cooking oil.

THE UK van fleet industry could be thrown into chaos if EU plans to introduce tachographs on vans weighing between 2.8 and 3.5-tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) come into force.

VAN operators will soon have a wealth of new models to choose from as the manufacturers rush to take advantage of a rising sales market.

VOLKSWAGEN'S new Transporter, the T5, goes on sale in November with prices ranging from £12,820 to £16,220 ex-VAT.

THE market's on fire, says Duncan Ward, BCA business development manager – commercial vehicles.

BCA Newmains - the biggest commercial vehicle centre in Scotland - has consistently delivered the goods this year and their vendor base is growing all the time.

BUYERS are actively seeking out anything unusual, particularly Mobility-style conversions.

'IN any trading environment there is a perception of conditions and fortunes. This tends to inform all the comment and pass-the-time discussion, which then leads to assumptions of all kinds as views are repeated.'

THERE'S good news for BCA's customers with the launch next month of a brand new dedicated online service for commercial vehicles.

By Alex Wright, group commercial manager, Manheim Auctions

A NEW link-up between MG Rover subsidiary Phoenix Distribution and Indian vehicle manufacturer Tata could soon see more UK fleets looking eastwards to fulfil their needs.

THE trouble with being king of the castle is that everyone keeps throwing rocks at you trying to knock your crown off.

SUGGEST to some of Britain's hard-nosed van fleet operators that they are wasting money and they won't believe you, although it is probably true. John Charles discovers that by 'thinking out of the box' when selecting and paying for vans, a great deal of cash can be saved.

IVECO is a well-known maker of big tough trucks, so it is hardly surprising that when the firm decides to build a 'small' van of three tonnes gross vehicle weight, that van is bigger and tougher than the rest.

THE fact that Citroen sits in third place in the light commercial vehicle sales chart is a testament to the French firm's aggressive marketing stance.

A THIRD of businesses believe they have lost contracts through the introduction of the London congestion charge, a new survey has shown.

RENAULT is hoping to break new ground with a pilot scheme of three stand-alone specialist van centres.

FUNERAL director the Co-operative Group has taken on 18 Citroen C5s as transport for customers on their final journey.

HERE'S your chance to vote in the Fleet News Awards 2004, for the best cars, vans and service suppliers in the industry.