News - Page 2071

TOYOTA has halved sales predictions for its Prius petrol-electric hybrid car as it struggles to convert fleet interest into orders.

EUROPEAN bureaucrats have been criticised by a leading fleet figure for failing to take account of the industry's needs in a new directive which will affect every fleet from 2003.

##Polonewsml--left####CitC3sml--right##CITROEN and Volkswagen have fired the first shots in the forthcoming battle of the superminis.

AWARD-winning fleet safety expert Andy Price is to launch his own risk management consultancy after leaving Permabond Europe.

VAUXHALL Car and Van Rental is to be rebranded as Vauxhall Rental and will operate more closely along the lines of a traditional car rental operation.

A NEW lane rental system to combat traffic chaos caused by long-term roadworks, has been announced by Transport Minister John Spellar.

VIRGIN Atlantic Airways is investing in a multi-million pound fleet of 190 vehicles with Volvo.

DAEWOO has made director of sales and marketing operations Patrick Farrell redundant.

SPECIALIST commercial equipment company Wessex Products has switched its 18-vehicle fleet of petrol-engined Volkswagen Passats.

DERBY Express Couriers has installed ICS Black Box's on-board computers to constantly assess drivers' training needs. The deal will eventually lead to the company's 30-vehicle fleet carrying the equipment.

WILTSHIRE Police has signed Honda's largest yet deal for police specification vehicles in a contract worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

ALMOST all new car dealers are saying that the run-up to the expected rush for the numberplate change on September 1 simply hasn't happened.

INCHCAPE Fleet Solutions has moved to prestigious new £3 million offices in Portsmouth.

ONE of London's leading property services companies, Foxtons, is trialling a BMW C1 scooter as staff transport in a bid to beat congestion in the capital.

HYUNDAI will be making a bid for more fleet business with the new Sonata when it goes on sale in January 2002.

FUEL prices eased slightly last month, according to the latest AA Fuel Price Report.

THE Environment Agency has stepped up its fight to clean-up its fleet by adding seven liquefied petroleum gas LDVs to its fleet.

FLEETS are calling for new rules to fix fuel prices and help them plan ahead amid renewed attacks on fuel companies for making profits of up to £1.3 million an hour.

THE future of the car market post-block exemption and leasing opportunities in Eastern Europe are among topics to be covered at the forthcoming Fleet News Europe Congress.

THE latest generation of diesel engines is allowing police forces to switch from gas-guzzling high performance vehicles to more economical oil burners and make savings on fuel.

THE Government has acted to bolster confidence in alternative fuels among fleets, amid fears its support for 'green' vehicles could be under threat.

SENIOR management changes at Powermarque, subsidiary of water firm AWG, have sparked renewed rumours that the firm is being geared up for sale.

A REPORT warning that fleets could be spending up to one third more than they need to on car servicing by choosing a franchised dealer instead of an independent garage has intensified debate over the future of the block exemption.

IAN Tilbrook, business development director, Northern Europe for LeasePlan, is leaving the company.

BRITAIN'S best-selling car, the Ford Focus, has been hit by claims of handbrake problems, in the wake of concern that the flagship Mondeo was suffering a similar fault.

MEASURES that could spark a massive increase in the number of speed cameras on Britain's roads were announced by Minister of Transport John Spellar on Monday.

THE motor industry has reacted angrily to a Government consultation paper on the End of Life Vehicles Directive which has sparked fears of car prices rocketing for fleets next year.

A THREE-strong superleague of contract hire and leasing companies is set to emerge in the UK as First National Vehicle Holdings re-emphasised its commitment to reach a fleet of 100,000 vehicles.

A FIVE-point action plan for company directors on health and safety has given fleets a blueprint to prepare for new rules that could revolutionise the way they operate.

BUILDING and property maintenance firm Princebuild has reaffirmed a 21-year relationship with Renault with an order for new Kangoo and Master vans.