News - Page 2112

VOLKSWAGEN has taken more than 2,000 orders for the revised Passat due to go on sale in January, before prices have been announced and buyers have driven the car.

NISSAN Motor Co president Carlos Ghosn says a decision will be made by the end of January on whether the manufacturer will build the next generation Micra at its Sunderland plant. Once again Ghosn expressed concern about Euro exchange rates, which have fallen sharply against other major currencies since its launch last year, as currency factors trimmed Nissan's profits in the six months to September 30.

MAZDA will shift production of its smaller vehicles from Japan to Europe in 2003. The company - which is 34% owned by Ford - has been hurt by the weakness of the Euro against the Yen and is expected to build 323 and Demio models at Ford plants either in Germany or Belgium.

HONDA'S Accord will feature performance tweaks and styling changes for the 2001 model year. A high-spec 2.3i Type-V joins the range offering 150bhp and 152lb-ft of torque, with leather trim, electrically adjustable driver's seat, cruise control and sunroof as standard.

A HIGH-performance version of the Mercedes-Benz SLK has been introduced with the help of in-house tuner AMG. Using a supercharged version of the 3.2-litre V6, developing 354bhp and with peak torque of 332lb-ft, the roadster will sprint from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds.

COMFORT and safety levels have been improved in the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. New lightweight rear seats and improved head restraints offer increased safety protection. The seats have greater back-rest adjustment, and all four rear seats can be removed to create a van-like cargo area.

THE millennium has heralded the introduction of a new breed of proactive fleet managers at the cutting edge of the profession – but they are in a minority.

TRANSPORT telematics will become the PC revolution of the next decade, according to Steve Norris, former transport minister and member of the Board of Transport for London.

THE fleet industry's two leading organisations could forge closer links in a bid to increase the professionalism of the fleet industry. While ICFM is targeted at individual membership, education and training, the Association of Car Fleet Operators is about representation and lobbying and is focused around corporate membership.

UK fleet chiefs must embrace Economic and Monetary Union as a key driver in boosting fleet efficiency, according to one pan-European leasing giant.

TEN Institute members received awards at the conference, with four leading fleet managers being elected to the institute's Fellowship. The Fellowship is the highest of four levels of membership within the organisation and newly elected fleet chiefs were: Dianne Rees (Leo Laboratories), Richard Flint (Strathclyde Police), Steven Palmer (Co-operative Wholesale Society) and Ron Dickson (Wallace Cameron & Co).

PLANS to water down rigorous tests designed to make car fronts more 'pedestrian friendly' have been described as 'appalling' by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

A ROW has broken out over claims by Trading Standards chiefs that fleets are disposing of vehicles without full documentation. Peter Stratton, of Essex County Council Trading Standards and the Institute of Trading Standards Administration's motor trade expert said fleets often disposed of vehicles through auction, dealers and the trade without their full service history and mileage details.

SCUFFS Vehicle Refurbishment has chosen VELO to supply its new fleet of 200 vehicles on contract hire in a deal worth more than £2million. The Bristol-based vehicle repair and refurbishment company has chosen a solus Ford fleet for its growing nationwide chain of outlets, which will reach 96 by the end of 2002.

CCTV services provider Photon (TG) is now making its calls around the country in a fleet of new-look Citroen cars and vans. The Guildford-based company's Citroen fleet includes 12 new Xsara 2.0 HDi LX estates, and four Berlingo 2.0 HDi vans.

BRISTOL-based internet solutions company Solsoft is driving towards a national profile with 24 new Renault Lagunas. The company signed a deal with AVF to provide 1.8 litre Sport models in Solsoft's corporate dark blue.

VOLKSWAGEN dealership Citygate Chalfont, part of the H R Owen group, has supplied 40 Volkswagen Polos to rental company Budget.

A BUDGET bonanza worth more than £400 million for British fleets could be jeopardised unless there is a radical rethink in attitudes to fleet management. The Government will slash up to 3p a litre (13p a gallon) off the cleanest, low sulphur fuels in the Budget next year as part of a £2 billion-plus 'green' giveaway by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, with fleets able to grab a hefty share.

FORD has won one of the world's largest fleet contracts - a £240 million deal to supply around 19,500 vehicles to General Electric, the giant US manufacturing group and one of the world's largest companies.

FLEET chiefs will be able to hear comprehensive analysis of the far-reaching tax changes announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown in his Pre-Budget Report at this year's Fleet News UK Congress 2000.

MERCEDES-Benz has bought the Lex Autosales network from Lex Service as part of a bid to launch a nationwide network of used car sales centres. The £17.95 million purchase is part of an ongoing investment in retail business designed to strengthen the company's ownership of the lifecycle of its cars and will include disposal of returned stock from rental companies.

AN 11-point action plan to secure the future of the Fleet Driver Training Association has been set out following crunch talks between industry leaders. The meeting provided the association with a clear message - it must change to suit the needs of all training firms or lose its place as the industry body.

HYUNDAI has become the latest manufacturer to slash the list price of some of its vehicles following a series of limited period offers. The Accent range now starts at £7,199 for the 1.3i - down £500 - and similar price cuts apply to the 1.3 Si now costing £7,999 on the road, the 1.3 GSi (£8,499) and 1.5 CDX (£9,499). The price of the sporting 1.5 MVi has been reduced by £700 to £9,999.

BENTLEY will be the only brand within Volkswagen Group attending next year's London Motor Show. Volkswagen has decided to concentrate on just one major show in the UK every two years, following established practice in France and Germany.

PETTY vandalism is costing the fleet industry around £5.5 million a year with almost half the attacks taking place outside the homes of company car drivers. Lex Vehicle Leasing named London, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Cheshire and Strathclyde as the vandalism capitals of the UK after reviewing the cost of vandal attacks across its 93,000-strong fleet.

INFORMATION held on fleet management software systems about the fuel use and movements of company car drivers can be a key tool in fighting back against the effects of fuel blockades, Car Fleet Control said this week. Director Jason Francis says the data is readily available to the 50% or more of fleet managers who use specialist software and it can play a crucial role on helping them to maintain the business effectiveness of their fleet.

MINORPLANET is planning a massive increase in sales of its vehicle data recorders as well as launching into America following recent moves into Europe and Australia after breaking into the black.

MIKE Wise, managing director of ATS Service and Development, has left to take up a post with fast-fit rival Kwik-Fit. The departure takes immediate effect and has been followed by a management shake-up at the firm this week.