News - Page 2089

FLEET operators will be able to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce running costs through a deal struck between vehicle location company Tracker Network and ARVAL PHH. The deal will see Tracker Network's automatic vehicle location (AVL) equipment offered to thousands of fleet operators who use ARVAL PHH's services.

IVECO has added another model to the Daily City 3.5-tonne range - the Artic. Based on the 40C13 chassis or crew cab, the Artic features an engine-mounted compressor and air braking system for the trailer to offer a payload of up to 5.7-tonnes.

TATA is offering £500 cash-back to buyers of the entry-level two-wheel drive Loadbeta 2.0 Tdi model. With a 1,000kg payload, the Tata now costs from £6,995, excluding VAT.

CITROEN'S latest foray into the niche sector is the Relay car transporter, a vehicle developed in conjunction with specialist body converter Rohill.

PEUGEOT'S HDi diesel engine technology is now available in the firm's largest LCV offering, the Boxer, at prices starting at £14,600, excluding VAT. The 2.8-litre common rail turbodiesel unit offers 125bhp at 3,600rpm - a 15% improvement over the old 2.5-litre TD unit.

TOYOTA has added two new models to the Hiace range - the Crew Cab and LWB 14/15-seater minibus. The Crew Cab seats up to six people and still allows a 1,220mm loadspace (standard wheelbase) and 1,730mm (long wheelbase).

LEX Service, which owns the RAC, has bought Auto Windscreens for £112 million - strengthening its mission to provide a complete 'cradle to grave' range of services to fleets and the private sector.

TAX-efficient structured personal car leasing schemes could be killed off if they become too popular and starve the Government of benefit-in-kind tax income. If rocketing demand for the schemes threatens to destroy the financial estimates already made for an increase in the number of company cars, legislation could be in place to stop them in their tracks by 2004.

LEASING and rental companies have been attacked for being short-sighted as they fail to turn fleet business into profit. The parting shot at the UK's contract hire and rental industry came from Simon Kerr at the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's annual dinner on Tuesday where he stepped down after two years as chairman.

A JOB promoting the use of public transport comes with the perk of a company car, but the successful applicant will not be expected to take up the offer. Wiltshire County Council is looking for a Travelwise manager to promote the use of public and alternative transport among businesses and encouraging drivers to cut out unnecessary journeys.

FLEET demand has prompted Mercedes-Benz to launch a used car sales network. The firm's UK chief says corporate customers wanted a new channel to the used market controlled by Mercedes-Benz to help protect residual values.

FLEETS could be facing price increases and a poorer service from Mercedes-Benz as it goes ahead with plans to reorganise its sales network in the UK, a campaigner against the proposed changes claims. The warning comes from Nick Adams, managing director of the John Tallis Mercedes-Benz dealership in Bath, as campaigning dealers prepare to take legal action against the moves.

GOVERNMENT approval was given to the UK debut of Ford's hydrogen fuel cell Focus when it appeared at the London launch of the Carbon Trust. However, as Ford demonstrated its commitment to the development of environmentally advanced vehicle technologies, the manufacturer called for incentives and a European refuelling infrastructure to make the 'green' alternatives to traditional fuels commercially viable.

FLEETS already trialling Th!nk electric vehicles have given them their approval as Ford targets more urban-based organisations. Southampton City Council and London-based advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather are running trials with the 'green' vehicle, and Ford is scaling up its promotion of the project in the UK with DHL preparing to lease its first Th!nk Cities.

VIRGIN Cars claims to have saved car buyers more than £6.5 million in its 10 months of operating in the UK with total sales of 3,800 cars worth more than £60 million.

A FLEET of 15 Th!nk City electric cars has been launched for businesses and organisations in London to evaluate the zero emission vehicles. The new partnership called Th!nk @bout London has been put together by Ford, Friends of the Earth and TransportAction PowerShift.

BLOCK exemption has moved a step further to being abolished in its current form as an influential Parliamentary Committee backed recommendations that it be scrapped. Competition and consumer affairs minister Dr Kim Howells recommended support for both European Commission and British Competition Commission investigations that concluded Block Exemption - the selective and exclusive vehicle distribution system - was flawed and could not continue.

RADICAL proposals have been unveiled by the Fleet Driver Training Association to create a formal licensing system for drivers of company cars. The plans come as Government attention has been focused on the safety standards of fleet drivers after new research revealed up to a third of road deaths every year could involve at-work drivers.

BRITAIN'S biggest seller of fleet and retail cars - Ford - has pulled out of exhibiting at this year's London Motor Show. Ford's decision not to exhibit at Earls' Court from October 17 to October 28 was immediately followed by MINI.

THE Government is looking to improve car market innovation and competitiveness with the launch of The Automotive Industry Innovation and Growth Team. It will be chaired by Sir Ian Gibson, senior vice-president of Nissan Motor Company, who has stepped down from most of his responsibilities at the Japanese manufacturer as a result of his new duties.

VAN maker LDV will carry on as an independent entity after negotiations with Volkswagen about buying a 50% stake in the firm from Daewoo broke down. Volkswagen was involved as a potential partner for the West Midlands firm after Daewoo's financial problems came to light last year.

FLEET chiefs can take part in a £1 million giveaway at this year's Fleet Show, to be held at London's Alexandra Palace from May 1-3. Focis Fleet Management will be offering fleet bosses 500 copies of its latest fleet management software package FleetFocus, which retails at £1,500.

RENAULT has achieved a world-first for safety in its battle to win fleet business with a first-ever five-star rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme. The achievement, for the new Laguna II, which will be appearing at this year's Fleet Show and went on sale last month, marks the culmination of a drive for safety development at Renault.

COMPANY car drivers at Yorkshire Building Society are being urged to opt for alternative fuels, including diesel, for their next vehicle as part of an environmental focus at the firm. It has introduced a series of initiatives to encourage its 160 user-choosers, based in Bradford, to choose 'greener' cars, including providing 10 Dualfuel Vauxhall Astras, Vectras and Omegas for staff to test.

MERCEDES-BENZ has announced prices for its new C-class variants and revised A-class, due on sale in May and June respectively. All the new models will be making their UK debuts at the Fleet Show on May 1-3 at Alexandra Palace, London.

TWO major credit hire companies have announced plans to raise extra funds in a bid to draw a line over a payment crisis that threatened to wipe out many industry players last year. Extraordinary general meetings at Helphire and Auto Indemnity have been held to hammer out plans to bring in more cash through share placings.

DRIVER training company Drive & Survive is holding a series of fleet driver training roadshows during the next week. Fleets can choose from three options; a full day's training for £145, a half day course for £80 or an individual skid and control session for £85 (figures based on two people sharing a vehicle).

THE police issued 423,000 fixed penalties in 1999 as a result of drivers caught on speed cameras, raising estimated revenue of £16.9 million. With Government policy to install more and more cameras, numbers are set to rise further.

FLEETS of specially coachbuilt liquefied petroleum gas/petrol vehicles have been delivered to a funeral services company. Nine Dualfuel Vauxhall Omegas have been delivered to Midlands Co-operative Funeral Service in Birmingham.

THE 50th Toyota car has been delivered to KLM UK under a solus agreement which saw the Dutch airline start switching its 170-strong mixed car fleet to the Japanese marque last summer. The agreement is on three-year/60,000-mile contract hire with full maintenance and the fleet is equally split between job-need and perk cars under a four-band structure.