News - Page 2050

VOLKSWAGEN has added a TDI version to the Beetle range.

MANUFACTURERS celebrated one of the biggest years on record for fleet sales in 2001, but are predicting a significant downturn in the market for this year.

FIERCELY competitive pricing is being used to help Land Rover win more new friends in the corporate sector.

TWO lucky readers have converted points into prizes as the winners of the first part of our Fleet News ATS Euromaster Rugby Challenge.

LIGHT commercial hire vehicle specialist Northgate has shrugged off difficulties in the hire market with a 16% jump in pre-tax profits.

SHELL has launched a new breakdown assistance programme in conjunction with Green Flag.

The North American International Auto Show showcased future models and technologies. The emphasis was on industry restructuring and innovative product development that varied between fuel cell concepts and 'crossover' vehicles.

Fleet News takes to the road this year with three major events as a prelude to the most dynamic Fleet Show yet, to be held in 2003.

It seems like an age ago now, but the proactivity shown by the big dealer groups over Christmas and the New Year set the trade up with a good start to the year.

Chrysler Jeep UK will offer a common rail diesel engine in the PT Cruiser this spring and right-hand drive versions of its new Crossfire Sports Coupe early next year as it bids to improve its appeal to corporate customers.

RESIDUAL values are playing an key role in Project Olympia, General Motors Europe's far-reaching plan to return to financial profitability.

THE high-performance MINI Cooper S will go on sale in June priced at £14,500 on-the-road.

2001 saw fleet sales reach their second highest level and exceed the one million mark for the fifth year running. John Maslen reports on a record-breaking year.

COMMERCIAL vehicle sales soared to a 12-year high as demand for LCVs boomed last year.

PREDICTIONS that high-emission fleet cars could suffer a dramatic fall in their residual values and blow a hole in company budgets will prove unfounded, according to Glass's Information Services.

COURIER firm TNT UK has appointed British Car Auctions as its solus remarketing business partner for commercial vehicles.

INCHCAPE, the international automotive services group, has become the outright owner of logistics firm Eurofleet.

A SALE at Manheim Auctions achieved a 100% conversion rate and raised more than £4.7 million.

VEHICLE remarketing company GRS ended 2001 on a high note after the delivery of its 10,000th transport consignment.

Ford Motor Company has announced it is to shut five of its North American car plants - cutting global production output by 16% - and make 22,000 workers redundant.

Daihatsu has extended its servicing and warranty package to its entire car range.

Land Rover is celebrating its most successful year in the UK with sales of 45,033 vehicles in 2001, 15 per cent up on the previous year.

FLEETS failing to replace damaged glass on vehicles are losing millions of pounds at auction time, new research has revealed. A survey of 365 fleets totalling 76,000 vehicles showed 76% of fleet managers did not prepare their cars at all before disposal.

CARLOS Ghosn, Nissan's president, says the company has weathered the current economic storm and is on track to achieve his target of profitable growth and zero debt.

EMPLOYERS could be forced to rethink their fleet policies under international accounting proposals that would oblige companies to record contract hired vehicles on their own balance sheets.

NATIONAL Tyre Service, operator of National Tyres and Autocare, is claiming the title of Britain's biggest independent tyre retailer after a multi-million pound management buyout from Continental.

FIAT has transformed its used vehicle remarketing programme in the UK with the introduction of its new partnership with Inchcape.

WEBFORCE Logistics, which has a 2,000-vehicle fleet, has become one of the largest firms to use an internet-based system to track deliveries and contact staff.

BMW has appointed well-known fleet figure Bernard Bradley as its new general manager of corporate sales.

THE National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) has hit back at claims by outsourcing specialist Venson's chief executive Grant Scriven that the future of in-house police fleet managers is bleak.