News - Page 1944

GOVERNMENT ministers and top civil servants are fighting accusations of hypocrisy as official figures show they covered more than 100,000 chauffeur-driven miles in December.

A SOUTH London-based photographic processing firm has switched its fleet of vehicles to Vauxhall DualFuel models to avoid the London congestion charge. The move will save more than £7,000 a year in tolls.

AN accident and risk management specialist is urging fleets to 'sit up and take notice' of Government initiatives to get tough on drivers who break the law.

SMART models have been facelifted with a revised engine line-up and more standard equipment.

TOYOTA Motor Marketing Europe (TMME) is taking control of 12 European distributors as part of a move to boost efficiency.

Vehicle leasing and fleet management company LeasePlan has presented Avis Rent A Car with its Strategic Partner of the Year award.

THE gap between new car prices in the UK with those in the rest of Europe is closing, a new study has found. Experts are warning UK fleets that as a result, sourcing cars from another country in a bid to save money is becoming a less attractive proposition.

NATIONAL Car Rental has signed a unique deal with Mazda, making it the only major daily rental company to have the Mazda6 on its fleet.

TODAY'S breed of four-wheel drive vehicles needs to blend off-road ability with acceptable road manners. Our expert leasing panel looks at the current sector favourites.

A PROPOSAL to harmonise systems for electronic tolls on motorways is set to be welcomed by European fleet operators.

TOYOTA'S Nordic fleet customers can expect faster delivery times with the opening of a new dedicated vehicle logistics centre (VLC) in Sweden.

DIESEL engines are expected to account for half of all cars sold across Europe by 2006.

FOLLOWING a 10-point checklist could guarantee healthy residual values at disposal time for fleet decision-makers currently taking vehicles on to their fleets, leading used car experts claim.

The Skoda Superb was serenaded by a string quartet as it made its auction debut at Manheim Auctions Coventry.

SUPERMINI models such as the Citroen Saxo, Renault Clio, Nissan Micra and Vauxhall Corsa are enjoying a period of price stability as supply struggles to keep up with demand from used car buyers, according to CAP.

Glass's Older Car Guide has identified eBay – an online auction site – as a growing force in the disposals market which could lead to a new generation of private buyers prepared to bid electronically for ex-fleet vehicles.

A RECORD 230-plus buyers attended a LeasePlan sale at BCA Birmingham where 280 cars were offered for sale.

'DEMAND for used vehicles is such that a real shortage of quality cars is developing. As one disposal manager said to me last week: 'This only happens once in a blue moon'. He can't put a foot wrong at the moment.' Martin Ward, CAP national research manager.

SWEEPING new police powers in a little-noticed law reform could result in drivers being fined or fleets having vehicles confiscated because of poor driving.

THE Government will present fleets with a 'road map' in the next year for a transition to using hydrogen fuels, officials announced on Monday.

FLEET drivers who cause a fatal accident through falling asleep or using a mobile phone at the wheel can expect tougher prison sentences.

THE twice-yearly numberplate system has been attacked as flawed and damaging to residual values as fleets prepare for the first delivery of the 03 registration plate this weekend.

ARGUMENTS over speed limits have dominated both fleet and private drivers' lives over the past few years. It seems there are as many speed cameras as there are cars and rows over what is a safe speed for each road are a daily occurrence.

NEW research has revealed that speed cameras can slash the rates of death and serious injury at accident blackspots by 35%.

SAFETY and consumer organisations have reacted angrily to new Europe-wide legislation adopted last week that demands pedestrian protection substantially below the level they believe could be achieved.

VAUXHALL will unveil a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show next week that hints at the design direction being taken with the next generation Astra, due out in early 2004.

FORD is attempting to make its Fusion more attractive to style-conscious customers.

CAPITA, the company managing London's congestion charge, has announced annual pre-tax profits of £98.2 million.

THRIFTY Car Rental has signed its largest supply agreement with Ford, worth £84 million.

LDV has supplied 17 LPG-converted minibuses to Argyll and Bute Council as part of the council's policy to reduce exhaust emissions.