News - Page 2083

LEX Transfleet has placed its 500th vehicle with tool and equipment hire company HSS. The HSS fleet is mainly made up of Ford Transit 190 dropsides with tail-lifts and are supplied on a four-year contract.

AS new car prices began to fall in the UK over the past few months, the lost confidence in the new and used car markets caused by the pricing conflict started to be restored.

Vauxhall has dropped its new 2.2 direct injection diesel into the Omega to create a powerful but frugal executive express. The 2.2 CDX is also superb value for money, as Mark Sutcliffe reports

9 – 11 September 2001<BR>The CFO Summit is designed to arm tomorrow's CFO and Finance Directors with the skills to drive their businesses forward in today's competitive business world.

Welcome to the test site for the new Fleet NewsNet. We are currently in final testing prior to launch within the next couple of weeks. Your comments and feedback are particularly welcome at this stage in the development process, so feel free to contact us using the response form on the OLD site: www.automotive.co.uk. This <A HREF="http://www.automotive.co.uk" target="_blank">link</A> will take you there. We look forward to hearing from you.

BOTH franchised and independent used car dealers are reporting that the retail market is getting tougher. The country has seen a massive slowdown in showroom traffic.

Thousands of fleet professionals have already attended this year's Fleet Show at Alexandra Palace, and many more are expected to turn up at the last minute with the threat of industrial action on the underground lifted.

Nissan previews its all-new Primera amid tight security behind closed doors at Fleet Show 2001.

Fleetstar, Trafficmaster's vehicle tracking system announces at the Fleet Show that users will be able to obtain live traffic information on their PC's map screens via a live data link over the internet.

Jaguar acknowledges that a high performance diesel power unit is essential to meeting ambitious X-type sales targets.

FLEET managers will be providing their drivers with an effective 'browser on wheels' that can have its performance and features altered at the touch of a button. That is the prediction from Martin Ready, automotive and aerospace group manager for Sun Microsystems, speaking at the annual meeting of FleetNet, the voluntary organisation under which the fleet industry is attempting to develop common communication standards for online trading.

INCHCAPE Vehicle Contracts has launched a battle for pan-European fleet contracts by joining a new venture offering cross-border leasing services. A new partnership of leasing companies, called Unico Car Lease, aims to simplify the sourcing and funding arrangements for organisations operating a pan-European fleet.

A SOUTH African-based company has bought eight Europcar franchises in the south of England to launch its popular daily rental formula into the UK. Imperial Holdings of South Africa made its second foreign acquisition within months with the deal having also acquired Pacific Car Rental in Australia with the same long-term goal.

BUSINESS solutions provider Logica is expected to increase its fleet size following a new outsourcing arrangement with IT expert Hyder Services. Logica has taken over the staff, assets and contracts of the firm in a deal worth about £80 million over the next four years.

AN open door policy has been launched by the Fleet Driver Training Association in a bid to attract members from throughout the fleet industry. The ground-breaking decision was made at the association's annual meeting to allow a range of organisations to enter if they wished, ranging from trade bodies to pressure groups, road safety organisations, manufacturers, insurance companies, leasing and fleet management companies.

FLEETNET, the national group fighting to create common standards for e-commerce in the fleet industry, has just a year left to reach its goal or risk losing its battle, its chairman has warned. More than a decade after the launch of FleetNet, the fleet industry is still a long way from reaching any agreement on common standards for e-commerce.

SAFETY still does not sell cars - advertisers believe gadgets, price and speed do, according to the RAC Foundation. Although manufacturers have ploughed millions into safety to win over car buyers, it is still looks that count above all else, according to advertisers, the foundation has revealed.

THRIFTY Car Rental is claiming first-year success for its website. The site, <A HREF=”http://www.thrifty.co.uk”target=”blank”>www.thrifty.co.uk</A>, has received 4,000 bookings and generated revenue in excess of £250,000 through its Sterling Silver booking facility.

ONE of the UK's largest parcel carriers is to test a vehicle scheduling solution as part of a multi-million pound investment aimed at slashing fleet running costs and increasing vehicle efficiency. Parcelforce is the first parcel carrier in Europe to implement the Planner system from Sidewinder Europe.

VAN fleets could lose out when the new registration plate change comes into effect in September, according to experts at CAP Network. From that date, the region each vehicle was registered in will be clearly identifiable by the plate and CAP believes some buyers won't want to take on vans from certain areas.

FLEETS are being given the opportunity to turn their mundane vans into small objects of desire with a new range of accessories. The new Vauxhall Corsavan, says the company, can be transformed into 'the sexiest street machine on a Friday night cruise' with bolt-on goodies from styling specialist Irmscher International.

FIAT is offering a three-year extended dealer warranty for the new Punto van. The model was launched in January and the deal includes Fiat AA breakdown and recovery.

VAN drivers who fancy themselves as Formula 1 aces will no doubt be agog to learn that from the summer the Ford Transit will be available with a Durashift EST semi-automatic gearbox. The EST is based on a manual 'box but works without a lever or clutch. Shifts are made on steering wheel-mounted switches.

TRUCKMAN has launched a new top specially designed for the Land Rover Defender 110 double cab. The double cab was launched at last year's International Motor Show at Birmingham's NEC and offers seating for five.

ISUZU Truck has joined forces with Bank of Scotland's commercial vehicle division to launch Isuzu Truck Finance. The alliance will see Bank of Scotland providing finance for the truck company's 50 agents across the UK. Included in the deals will be hire purchase, finance lease, operating lease and contract hire.

TNT Sameday has taken delivery of its 500th Citroen Berlingo. The van has impressed TNT with its smooth 2.0-litre HDi common rail diesel engine, which is capable of returning 50mpg.

WESSEX LDV has sealed fleet deals worth more than £1 million. The first deal, worth £250,000, was to supply nine Pilot vans, three Convoy Tippers and two Crewcab Tippers to Torquay-based Riviera Housing Trust.

LEX Transfleet has placed its 500th vehicle with tool and equipment hire company HSS. The HSS fleet is mainly made up of Ford Transit 190 dropsides with tail-lifts and are supplied on a four-year contract.

The world's biggest Land Rover event runs at the NAC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire from September 7-9, 2001

Network Q Rally to be held November 22-25, 2001