News - Page 2017

VEHICLE rental firm Northgate celebrated its fleet hitting the 40,000 vehicle mark by rolling out one of the oldest registered commercial vans in the UK alongside its newest acquisition.

THE long-awaited takeover deal between Daewoo Motor and General Motors has been agreed.

NEW block exemption rules for car distribution in the European Union could unsettle new car prices and drive down residual values, a leading expert has warned.

DEALER group Ryland has seen its sales volumes reach record levels due to its focus on premium brands and fleet customers switching to cash for car programmes.

VAUXHALL has started the largest launch programme in its history with a three-week introduction of the new Vectra to fleet managers, company car drivers and contract hire chiefs.

A FLEET safe driving campaign by electrical retailer Comet received top-level backing from its managing director during its annual driver of the year awards.

Fleet managers are divided in their approach to the environment and their support for Government attempts to introduce emission-based taxes and anti-congestion policies.

FLEET decision-makers can be grouped into four distinct categories when looking at their environmental policies, according to industry research carried out by Avis.

AVIS Europe has announced a major initiative to offset the carbon dioxide emissions of its entire operations.

Fleets have a major role to play in becoming the 'first adopters' of zero-emission hydrogen cars. To stimulate demand for hydrogen-powered cars, the Government reduced duty on hydrogen to zero in last month's Budget, just as BMW arrived in London with its CleanEnergy World Tour.

Seventy senior fleet executives attended the Fleet News Budget Briefing, sponsored by Avis, Lloyds TSB autolease and Kwik-Fit Fleet, to hear in-depth analysis of last month's Budget.

Six companies from across Europe joined the European Car-Transport Group of Interest (ECG) during the first quarter of this year.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is set to become one of the most influential players in the UK retail motor industry after making a dramatic £110 million bid for dealer group Dixon Motors.

ING Lease has taken over Dutch company TOP Lease for an undisclosed sum.

The European Commission is referring France and Luxembourg to the Court of Justice regarding their no-claims bonus systems for third-party motor insurance.

New research has shown that the pan-European downward trend in two-year residual values is continuing.

Traditional auction houses are set to lose business as more fleet disposal transactions are carried out at the touch of a button, according to a new electronic trading system that claims it is already returning 'substantial' savings for car manufacturers and big re-marketing companies.

HALF of Britain's motor dealers believe the type of cars they stock will change as a result of the changes to company car benefit-in-kind tax, a survey has revealed.

THE new Jeep Cherokee was introduced to the auction halls recently, in an exclusive sale at Manheim Auctions Coventry.

'There are two different stories coming out of the auctions at the moment. One is that all cars are selling and the other is that many sales are only provisional.' Martin Ward, CAP Network national research manager.

ANNUAL fleet running costs could rocket by more than £50 million following a £4 billion hike in National Insurance announced in this year's Budget.

LLOYDS TSB autolease has purchased First National Vehicle Holdings in a deal worth more than £400 million, leap-frogging rivals Lex Vehicle Leasing and LeasePlan to become the largest leasing firm in the country.

FLEET decision-makers will have the chance to conduct a scientific experiment into the dangers of using hands-free mobile phones while driving, as the Government considers outlawing mobile phone use by drivers.

AN online tyre provider is warning that fleet tyre costs could rise by at least 25% as car manufacturers fit run-flat tyres as standard.

VOLKSWAGEN has unveiled a new concept car which uses one litre of fuel every 100km - equivalent to 285mpg.

LEX Service has sold off its 96-strong network of Lex Autocentres in a deal worth £4 million that ends its direct involvement in vehicle servicing.

NEITHER BNP Paribas nor Kwik-Fit would comment on industry speculation that the French bank is reported to have made a £600 million bid for the fast-fit giant.

Key points in the Budget, in brief.

GORDON Brown has frozen Vehicle Excise Duty rates at their present levels in the 2002 Budget, and introduced a new 'super green rate' for the cleanest cars.

FLEETS investing in fuel-efficient cars could dramatically lower their business tax bills under a new green initiative.