News - Page 2222

HONDA is among the first manufacturers to offer the option of GPS satellite navigation virtually across its car product range.

NISSAN has launched the Almera Ambition costing £10,995 on-the-road as a three-door powered by a 1.4-litre 87PS engine and £11,600 as a five-door powered by the same engine.

KWIK-FIT Fleet is looking forward to worldwide expansion following Ford's £1 billion bid for the fast-fit specialist's parent company. The deal has stunned the motor industry, and still requires shareholder approval, but it has the backing of Kwik-Fit's board of directors.

FLEET managers say Rover must launch a four-model line-up of cars which compete head-to-head with Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Renault if the beleaguered manufacturer is to regain its place in the fleet big-league. While fleet managers widely applauded the deal finally agreed between the Government and Rover Group owner BMW designed to safeguard the future of Rover's Longbridge plant they say the £180 million aid package will mean nothing if the ageing 200 and 400 are not replaced by two cars of similar quality and attention to detail evident in the Rover 75.

WOOLWICH and PHH Vehicle Management have launched a joint venture to take a company car-style personal contract purchase scheme into the high street. The motoring package is called Woolwich Motorbase and links the strengths of PHH's specialist vehicle operational skills with the bank's brand name and financial expertise.

THE world launch of Kodak's 'eye WITNESS' accident recording kit will take place at the 1999 Fleet Show at the NEC, Birmingham, from April 27-29. The pocket-sized kit contains a disposable 27-exposure camera, processing return envelope, pen, accident form, two safety reflective armbands, driver details card, and instruction details.

MAINSTREAM fleet manufacturers have customer service levels below the motor industry average, according to JD Power & Associates' 1999 'UK Car Customer Satisfaction Study'. The survey found that Ford, Peugeot, Rover and Vauxhall all had customer satisfaction scores below the industry average, despite recording some of the most notable improvements in their service.

THE agreement between the Government and BMW on a £180 million rescue package for Longbridge secures the future of the plant for at least 30 years and triggers a chain of events that will lead to the transformation of the Rover range. The announcement of cash aid was made by Prime Minister Tony Blair during question time in the House of Commons and came barely 12 hours after BMW chairman Professor Joachim Milberg warned that the longer negotiations dragged on the more likely BMW was to move car production to Hungary.

FRENCH bank Paribas' car leasing subsidiary Arval has bought a 75% stake in Ryland Multifleet for £18.75 million. The deal values Ryland Multifleet and its 15,700-strong contract hire fleet at £25 million, and links it to a pan-European car leasing network of 50,000 vehicles with operations in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Luxembourg.

PRESTIGE dealer group William Jacks has posted record results for the third year running. The company, which runs 10 dealerships - three BMW franchises, two Mercedes-Benz, two Range Rover, one Rover and one Chrysler Jeep - increased pre-tax profits by 43% to £2.7 million (£1.9 million) on turnover up 14% to £139.3 million (£122 million) for the year to January 31, 1999.

GE Capital Fleet Services has launched a new accident management product as a result of a strategic partnership with accident and claims management specialist Accident Assistance. Birmingham-based Accident Assistance entered into the partnership with GE Capital Fleet Services earlier this year and as a result has this week launched the new 'Total' accident management product.

VOLKSWAGEN is to introduce the 2.0-litre 115bhp engine found in the new Beetle to the Golf GTI in a bid to increase refinement and fuel consumption and provide more torque at low engine speeds. The new engine will replace the 125bhp 1.8 unit, but on-the-road prices of the three- and five-door GTI models remain unchanged at £15,955 and £16,575 respectively.

PRICES of the Daewoo Nubira and Leganza have increased following specification improvements which see the Nubira gaining bodyside protection strips and alloy wheels, while the Leganza SX adds alloy wheels and the CDX adds alloy wheels and a CD autochanger.

THE $6.45 billion sale acquisition by Ford of Volvo Cars, which becomes part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group which includes Aston Martin, Jaguar and Lincoln, has been completed.

THE BMW 530d is now available with a £1,590 sports option pack which includes 17in star spoke alloy wheels, clear lens indicators and black door trims to enhance the external appearance.

AUTO Windscreens is to consolidate its distribution operation at the hub of Britain's motorway network in Birmingham. The company is expanding its Witton-based distribution company, Birmingham Safety Glass, to handle daily stock deliveries to its fitting centres.

NATIONAL Car Rental has been appointed official car supplier to the 1999 Martell Grand National - the highlight of this weekend's three-day Aintree race meeting.

JESSUPS Vehicle Contracts has agreed a deal worth an estimated £500,000 to supply contract hire vehicles to West Ham United and Wimbledon football clubs. The two-year contract will see Jessups supplying an estimated 50 vehicles, including cars for players and vans for kit transport.

LEAMINGTON Spa-based Vauxhall Master Hire has won a tender to supply Vauxhall cars and vans to the park ranger service of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The deal will see the entire outright purchase Vauxhall fleet replaced with contract hire Astra estates and vans.

FLEET delays in supplying accident information to insurers could jeopardise 1.2 million claims worth up to £1.8 billion. Major reforms come into force on April 26 which will introduce strict new deadlines for providing insurers with details.

SANDERSON Bramall Motor Group has acquired contract hire and leasing firm Albany Lease for £4 million. Liverpool-based Albany Lease has a fleet size of 2,000 vehicles and was formerly owned by dealer group J Blake, which is in the hands of the receiver.

GREATER Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority has awarded a car leasing contract for officers' vehicles to five contract hire firms.

THE Government is looking for green crusaders to spearhead environmental initiatives within the fleet industry. These green champions will use their own expertise in implementing successful environmental fleet policies to encourage other fleet operators to follow their example.

MERCEDES-Benz has discounted media reports that it is planning to launch its radical Smart city car in Britain. Groups of Mercedes-Benz UK dealers who are investigating the viability of importing the two-seater economy model are acting independently, according to the German company.

ONE of the founder members of the Institute of Car Fleet Management is stepping down from the organisation to concentrate on his own business interests. Peter Moxon, who was instrumental in helping the fleet training organisation to launch in January 1993, has been a director and general secretary of ICFM since then.

HELP the Aged has outsourced the management of its 370-vehicle fleet to Dun and Bradstreet, a move which makes fleet manager Roger Hall redundant. The charity will maintain ownership of the fleet, but it is looking to hand over all other aspects of its operation to Dun and Bradstreet in an open-ended deal with a three-month notice period.

A NEW advisory service is available for employers and company car drivers trying to work out the financial break-even points for giving and receiving free fuel for private motoring. PHH Vehicle Management has joined forces with accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche to develop the AllStar Fleet Fuel Adviser service, which follows the Government's determination to stamp out the provision of free fuel for private miles.

FORD has radically altered its best-selling Galaxy MPV line-up by cutting prices on most models, slashing trim choice and dropping the 2.0-litre 115PS petrol engine from the range while introducing a 'sporty' Zetec model. Until now the Galaxy range has consisted of five trims - Aspen, GLX, Ghia, Ghia X and Si models - priced from £18,380 on-the-road for the Aspen 1.9 TD 90PS manual to £26,380 on-the-road for the Ghia X 2.8 174PS 4x4.

THE Government's aim of having a greater say in fleet driver training to drastically reduce accidents through common standards and instructor accreditation is to take a major step forward next week. The Driving Standards Agency is to meet with fleet driver training groups and the police to begin work on the establishment of a single syllabus and agreeing the criteria by which trainers can achieve the state's stamp of approval.

PRICES of the Ford Fiesta are being cut by up to £1,250 as part of a move to maintain the car's popularity against newer competitors in the supermini sector. Specification upgrades are also being introduced in a realignment package aimed at boosting the showroom value of the market leader's best-selling range.