News - Page 2081

MANY auctions are reporting a 70% conversion rate. This, in the main, is due to the fact that disposal managers are asking for, and indeed accepting, realistic bids from the trade for vehicles that are high mileage and untidy.

WE are into June already and the second half of the year promises to be somewhat turbulent and uncertain.

HALF the UK's company car drivers are heading blindly towards the new company car tax system because their employers have failed to communicate the changes, according to new research.

A PIONEERING fleet has banned the use of private cars for business mileage to ensure its drivers are safe on the road.

John Lewis, director general of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, said the fleet industry needed a period of stability, and that key fleet decision-makers should be properly consulted on policies that would affect the industry.

BUSINESS mileage reimbursement rates for Members of Parliament and the House of Lords dwarf those available to employees using their own private cars for business journeys.

HONDA says evidence is growing that company car drivers are downsizing to beat next year's changes to company car tax rules.

THE British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the Government to outlaw completely the use of hands-free and hand-held mobile phones in cars.

FORD is offering free replacement tyres for UK vehicles fitted with Firestone Wilderness all-terrain tyres following safety concerns in the United States.

CREDIT car hire companies that expected to lose hundreds of millions of pounds in unpaid bills following a court ruling have been handed a lifeline after an appeal court battle.

LEADING public sector fleet chiefs have emphasised that good environmental practice means good economic practice.

A SENIOR Ford Motor Company Executive has again expressed the manufacturer's support for British entry into the single European currency - but warned that the value of Sterling must fall significantly before Britain can join the Euro.

FORD has confirmed its commitment to car manufacturing in the UK at the opening of a £300 million Jaguar plant at Halewood, Merseyside - home of the new X-type compact executive saloon.

A LOCAL authority has underlined its commitment to developing a green fleet strategy by pledging to run a fleet of alternatively-fuelled vehicles.

THE fleet sector faces a residual value crisis as thousands of company car drivers switch to diesel-powered cars to cut their tax bills under the 2002 carbon dioxide-based company car tax regime.

INSURANCE giant Royal London Mutual Insurance Society is to move about 1,200 staff out of company cars and into a cash-for-car scheme.

DAEWOO has denied it is giving up on the fleet market despite revealing plans to restructure its fleet department that could see up to 15 people lose their jobs.

COMPANY cars remain one of Britain's most popular employee benefits despite an increasing variety of perks being offered by employers as they introduce wider flexible benefits schemes.

COMPANY car drivers could, within a year, be using a new satellite navigation system that delivers route direction through their mobile phones.

FLEETS interested in promoting a 'greener' image are being targeted in a new initiative from vehicle tracking company Global Telematics.

THE John Lewis Partnership has entered into a three-year agreement with Citroen to supply about half its fleet for the 26 John Lewis and 135 Waitrose stores nationwide.

ONE of the UK's largest companies has invested in driver training in a bid to slash accident rates with fleet driver training specialist Driving Services.

SAAB'S contract hire customers will be able to swap their petrol cars for diesel models next March under a new scheme to beat company car tax changes.

GENERAL Motors has beaten off competition from numerous companies to be named European Supplier of the year by the giant Xerox organisation.

RENAULT will supply Avis Rent A Car with 1,000 new Lagunas this year as part of a joint marketing initiative to support the launch of the upper medium contender.

FORD has named Russell McGill as its new fleet marketing manager.

AIRTOURS fleet bosses are expecting savings of £1 million after awarding the contract for the supply and management of its 800-vehicle fleet to Hertz Lease.

VAN sales continued to soar last month and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders believes business will continue to boom.

A BUOYANT retail market again saw private buyers driving growth in new car sales for the seventh consecutive month.

FIRST National Vehicle Contracts has secured a full maintenance contract hire deal with Liverpool radio station Juice FM for six liveried Peugeot 206s.