News - Page 2033

BSH Home Appliances is to transfer drivers on its 100-strong vehicle fleet to structured car ownership schemes as part of a £2 million outsourcing deal with Zenith Vehicle Contracts.

THE Mazda MX-5 has achieved the ultimate accolade for record breakers.

WINDSCREEN replacement firm Autoglass has merged its call centre and operations teams in a bid to speed up its service to fleets.

Kia has extended service intervals for its diesel Sedona MPV.

"If you were to add up all the projected sales then we will have a new car market of around three and a half million vehicles this year and all being driven, they hope, by thirty-four year old blondes who work in advertising." Martin Ward, CAP Network national research manager, on manufacturers' distorted sales aspirations.

Car production at Ford's Dagenham plant comes to an end today after 71 years.

Simple improvements to many roads such as adding more markings and signs could save 2,400 lives a year, according to a survey by the AA-led European Road Assessment Programme.

BRAKE, the road safety organisation, is calling for motorists to give up unsafe driving for Lent.

THOUSANDS of fleet decision-makers who go out to tender could be choosing the wrong supplier because they are asking the wrong questions.

ONE of Britain's biggest building societies is to introduce a structured car ownership scheme for its company car drivers.

NISSAN and Mazda's pick-up ranges are going through a revamp for the new '02' plate.

MERCEDES-Benz has unveiled the latest step in its retail strategy with a new showroom in Bluewater, Europe's largest shopping centre, near Dartford.

MORE than one million company cars are funded by contract hire, while personal leasing remains a minority product, according to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

COMPANY car and van drivers could be wasting up to two weeks every year sitting in traffic jams according to a new survey.

MORE than 2,000 members of Saga, the organisation for over-50s, will be choosing a new car through a scheme with leasing and fleet management company VELO this year.

SHEFFIELD-based LSUK, the independent automotive parts and service provider, has signed a 450-vehicle contract hire deal with Lex Vehicle Leasing.

LEADING figures in the alternative fuel market are holding talks with the Government to call for new incentives to boost fleet demand for clean fuels.

MINI drivers can now have two new roof designs: the famous Union Jack, which costs £95 and a chequered flag (£110).

FRANCHISED car dealers have increased their tyre sales threefold after signing up to Tyreserve, according to the online tyre provider.

PENDRAGON, the UK's largest car dealership group, enjoyed one of the most successful years of trading in its history last year.

SOCIAL responsibility towards company cars will help keep company directors out of jail, according to a new report.

CUTTING business mileage and car travel during the less congested periods of the day are key factors for companies adopting 'socially responsible' vehicle management.

MERCEDES-BENZ has revealed prices for its awe-inspiring SL-class roadster that goes on sale on April 4.

MAZDA is raising its fleet profile before the June launch of the new Mazda6 with the opening of the new Mazda Business Centre and the development of a customer database.

A VEHICLE recovery company is reporting a cut in response times by a quarter after fitting on-board telematics to its fleet.

SYTNER Group, the Leicester-based prestige motor retailer, has been bought by United Auto Group for £93 million.

Lovelorn employees at First National Vehicle Holdings were each presented with a red rose by chief executive James Sturt-Scobie today.

"There are many misconceptions around in the industry as to how the system will work and how effective it will be." Martin Ward, CAP Network national research manager on Motability's new vehicle remarketing scheme.

A NEW system of fuel-only mileage rates for company cars could allow companies to effectively pay staff a tax and national insurance windfall worth hundreds of pounds.

Last week the European Commission published its long-awaited proposals for the future of car distribution in Europe. Its plans create new freedoms and opportunities for fleets.