News - Page 2128

FORD of Europe was 'driving towards sustained profitable growth,' as a result of improved efficiency, reduced capacity and fixed costs and an acceleration of new models with 45 due over the next five years, according to Ford Motor Company president Jac Nasser, despite announcing profits for the second quarter of 2000 down from $206 million a year ago to $156 million.

DAEWOO is recalling 4,000 Matiz models built between May and November 1998 because of a possible fault with the fuel filter.

FORWARD-looking fleet managers should be gearing up to use the internet with the next generation of 'net enabled' software. Lease Plan launched its Fleet News Award-winning Lease Plan On-Line internet-based fleet management system last year and PHH Vehicle Management will soon introduce its InterActive system which has been on trial with a handful of UK fleets.

A FLEET risk management guide has been published by Bristol-based insurance specialists Linaker (Western). Compiled in conjunction with BCH Vehicle Management, the guide is free to fleets running 50-plus vehicles.

DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott has published the Government's congestion-busting, modernising £180 billion investment plan to deliver a top class transport system in the UK. The ten-year investment package to modernise the UK's transport system is aimed chiefly at cutting road traffic congestion - making road journeys quicker and safer and providing a big efficiency boost for British business.

ROVER broke its silence to the fleet industry at a conference at the Longbridge car plant, where key fleet decision-makers were assembled by the manufacturer's boss John Towers for a confidence- building presentation. Rover's new chairman and leading members of the newly-created management team addressed about 300 fleet managers, leasing company and supplier representatives at Longbridge's conference centre for an event billed as: 'The Facts and the Future'.

DEMAND for higher levels of fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions are driving rapid growth of diesels almost everywhere in Europe apart from the UK. Independent automotive consultancy Ricardo Consulting Engineers, which has contracts with the majority of the world's car manufacturers, says five of the top six markets - France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belgium - are all experiencing significant sales increases for oil-burners.

POLICE forces across the UK say their budgets are being squeezed to the detriment of non-essential services by the relentless rise in fuel prices. Their protests come as the momentum builds for Tuesday's, 'dump the pump' day, with the Conservative Party adding its voice to the calls for reduced fuel prices.

NATIONAL Car Rental has won a £4.8 million a year contract with TNT UK to be the primary supplier of the distribution giant's car rental needs in the UK. And the two companies are also exploring forming a global partnership.

RENAULT has opened the first in what is expected to become a national network of up to 40 dealer-based fast-fit centres. Called Renault Minute, the centres - the first two have opened at Dixon Motors' Renault showrooms in Barnsley and Huddersfield - provide on-the-spot servicing and fast-fit repairs for Renault cars. In the future, other makes of car will also be eligible.

TWO National Car Rental managers have become the first daily rental industry employees to sign up to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's new professional development programme. The six-stage programme, is aimed at giving contract hire, leasing and rental industry employees 'an academic path to career success'.

A FLEET management breakthrough is being claimed by debis Car Fleet Management following a deal struck with B Braun Medical on its mixed badge 125-vehicle user-chooser fleet. The contract gives debis responsibility for the management, servicing and maintenance of the entire company car fleet, including the co-ordination of existing suppliers.

PENDRAGON-owned contract hire and leasing company c.2K is changing its identity for the third time in 18 months. Active promotion of the c.2K brand has ceased with the creation of tins.co.uk, which will focus on flexible forms of company car provision including cash for car options and internet trading.

AVIS Group Holdings and the BNP Paribas Group have completed their joint venture agreement which will see the development of a global partnership next month. The closing of the $1billion transaction announced in April remains subject to European approval. However, the two parties have signed an agreement which will create one of the world's leading vehicle management solutions brands in North America and Europe.

ALFA Romeo has extended its 156 range with the addition of a 120 bhp 1.6-litre version - the 124 mph 156 1.6 TS - which is now on sale in the UK and extends the model line-up from the previous 1.8, 2.0 and 2.5-litre units. The new 1.6-litre 156 is available in a choice of three trim levels - Standard, Lusso and Veloce costing £13,875, £14,575 and £14,475 on-the-road respectively.

VOLKSWAGEN has launched an SEL trim version of the Passat saloon which sits between the SE and Sport models but carries an entry level pricetag. Available in manual saloons with a choice of 1.8 125 bhp and 1.8 20v turbo 150 bhp petrol engines or a 1.9 TDI PD 115 bhp turbodiesel unit, it is available in a choice of four colours.

PEUGEOT has amended the launch date of its 607 executive saloon for a second time and now says cars should be available from November. A month ago the French manufacturer said the official launch date of the 607 had been put back to January next year, six months behind schedule.

FLEET demand for Volkswagen's new diesel engine technology has led to the re-introduction of 'old' diesel technology models in the Golf for a limited period. Last year Volkswagen launched its 'Pumpe Duse' - or 'unit injector' technology - in the Golf, Bora and Passat, where the 115 bhp powerplants replaced 110 bhp TDI engines.

PEUGEOT and Vauxhall have won a fleet contract from Yorkshire Electricity in a two-year dual badge deal, worth £10 million. The new contract, which will see the two companies supplying 850 cars to Yorkshire Electricity, involves both diesel and petrol cars including the Peugeot 206, 306, 406 and 806, with a requirement for 607 models anticipated following the model's UK launch, plus the Vauxhall Astra, Vectra and Zafira.

CONSTRUCTION company McNicholas has cemented its links with TLS by signing up for a five-year deal. TLS has supplied both contract hire and rental vehicles to the company for the past three years, for both the construction and utilities divisions of the business.

ZENITH Vehicle Contracts has won a £1 million contract from Shires Bathrooms to manage a personal leasing scheme developed by accountant Arthur Andersen. The contract applies to 75 cars at the company's sites in Bradford, Stoke on Trent, Rochdale, Belfast and Darwen and represents the first time the company has decided to offer personal leasing products to staff.

CHAMPIONS of the fleet industry are being sought by the Confederation of British Industry in a new drive to educate its 250,000-member firms on the most effective way to run company vehicles. The CBI is about to launch a major initiative to educate companies on effective fleet management and is looking for a limited number of fleets across all employment sectors to act as 'recommended contacts' in a report fronted by its director general, Digby Jones.

COMPANY car drivers clocked up a 100% failure rate when they sat the basic Highway Code theory test as part of a new police initiative. The shocking lack of knowledge was revealed when 100 of them sat the test - and all failed - as part of Fleet Safe, a Warwickshire Police one-day scheme instructing company car drivers in tackling road risk.

FLEET operators are being urged to consider alternatives to offering staff mileage rates for using their own vehicles on company business, amid claims that some drivers are subsidising their employers.

BIG cash incentives are being lined up by the Government in a bid to persuade fleet drivers to make the switch to hybrid cars. Officials at Powershift have announced a subsidy of £1,000 on the Honda Insight and are close to reaching an agreement over further funding aimed at helping to cut the showroom price of the Toyota Prius.

THE Government looks set to drive Britain's smallest franchised dealers and dealer groups out of business as new legislation paves the way for large dealer groups to win fleet sales. With Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers set to table new orders governing the sale of new cars in Britain in the next few days, it has emerged that the sole aim of the legislation is to ensure that UK dealers can buy cars from manufacturers on the same terms as fleets.

HENLEY Systems has extended free access to its Topcalc website to all fleet operators. Previously only available on subscription, the web-based package is now free to all.

AS the Government prepares to announce its blueprint for the future of transport, congestion charging charging continues to be deeply unpopular among motorists. Opposition to city centre charges wanes if fuel duty or Vehicle Excise Duty is reduced or the cash raised is spent on improving public transport, according to the latest market research by MORI.

VEHICLE crime has continued to fall in England and Wales, according to figures for the year to March published by the Home Office on Tuesday. The Government is on a crusade to cut car crime by 30% within a five-year period, which started on April 1 last year.

HONDA'S fleet customers are paying more than 85% more for replacement parts than those operating cars manufactured by their volume competitors, according to research by the Fleet Accident Repair Group. The findings come just weeks after the Japanese manufacturer warned its UK component suppliers that the strength of Sterling meant that unless they dropped their prices, Honda would turn instead to European suppliers.