News - Page 2252

MITSUBISHI has signed one of its largest yet fleet deals worth a potential £38 million to supply two sporting associations with more than 2,600 cars a year, it was revealed at the British International Motor Show.

THE world's two largest vehicle manufacturers - General Motors and Ford - have reported contrasting third quarter 1998 results. While Ford's third quarter profits topped $1 billion, despite losses in Europe, General Motors, Vauxhall's parent company, reported a loss of $809 million (1997 profit of $973) on sales of $34.4 billion (£40.2 billion) after tax, but the company is expecting strong results in the final quarter.

FLEET managers have voted the Vauxhall Vectra Fleet Car of the Year for the second year in succession giving the Luton-based manufacturer the title for the 13th time in 15 years of the Association of Car Fleet Operators competition. Vauxhall also took the Fleet Light Van of the Year with the Astravan and Combo van dead-heating for top spot.

THE British International Motor Show is being hailed as the 'greenest' motor show yet as manufacturers launch the most environmentally-aware range of cars yet seen.

TRAFFIC information provider Trafficmaster has launched a multi-million pound extension of its road monitoring system. Fleet managers and drivers will be among core target customers for products using the new expanded network, which now covers the trunk road system on top of motorways which have been monitored for nearly 10 years.

RESEARCH by the RAC has shown that while fleet car users are familiar with the UK motorway network, their knowledge of alternative routes is limited. The RAC carried out a detailed survey of RAC members which overall showed how motorists consider alternative routes, timing and even their mode of transport provided they have travel information far enough in advance of their journey.

A SLOWDOWN in the car market has prompted Daihatsu to reduce prices of the Terios by more than £2,000 and offer the Charade, Sirion and Move models with air conditioning or automatic transmission at no extra cost in what the company is calling one of its most aggressive sales programmes yet.

FORD has unveiled the fastest yet Mondeo - the 150mph ST-200 - which was showcased at the British International Motor Show ahead of its early 1999 UK launch. The 200PS British Touring Car Championship-inspired car is powered by a 2.5i DOHC V6 24v Duratec engine and is the spiritual successor to the legendary Sierra Cosworth.

CITROEN has given a new look to the Synergie MPV adding extra equipment and value for money to the X, SX and new Exclusive models. The revised models will not go on sale until early November - prices are to be announced later this month.

MAZDA is to strengthen its corporate sales team and expand its dealer network in preparation for a sales drive when restrictions on the import of Japanese cars ends. Quotas governing the number of Japanese imports mean Mazda Cars UK can presently sell only 32,000 vehicles in the UK.

MAZDA is to establish a new light commercial vehicle operation to help boost van sales in the UK. Its existing but limited B and E-series van range of a pick-up, cab plus 4x4 pick-up and panel van is to be updated in mid-1999 with the launch of a new B-series pick-up which will also see various derivatives being launched.

STAFF turnover in franchised dealerships has reached 'horrifying' levels as employees chase higher salaries elsewhere. Despite inflation-beating average pay rises of 4.5% during the last year, a quarter of franchised dealers, independent garages, and bodyshops lost more than 25% of their staff over the same period, according to a new survey by the Retail Motor Industry Federation and Sewells International.

A NEW, 200bhp-plus six-cylinder engine is to boost Subaru's drive for a more upmarket image. The Japanese company is planning to make smoother power available in the new Legacy range during the next two to three years, product development general manager Musuru Katsurada said.

ATTEMPTS to introduce road-pricing and workplace parking charges would threaten economic chaos and damage British business, a new report claims. 'Mind the Gap! A response to 'A new deal for transport', published by chartered surveyor and international property consultant King Sturge & Co examines the proposals set out in the Government's white paper on integrated transport.

THE scale of the task facing the Government in trying to offer a truly integrated transport system is highlighted in two new reports. The Great British Motorist 1998, produced by the AA, tracks 50 years of growing reliance on the car as the country's infrastructure has developed to support road-based transport.

FEAR of crime is one of the major obstacles to encouraging people on to public transport. The AA's Great British Motorist 1998 report found that on bus, train, underground and even taxi, members of the public felt unsafe, especially during the night.

COMPANY car drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents than drivers of private cars, according to the AA report. Taking all accidents into account, it shows that the biggest problem lies with drivers of small and lower-medium company cars.

FRANCHISED dealers will have to provide their customers with the same levels of service and convenience offered by supermarkets, telephone banking, home delivery and internet shopping if they wish to survive. A new report from accountancy firm KPMG warns that these sophisticated service standards are far more pressing concerns than Block Exemption or the advent of the Euro which are occupying so much of the motor industry's time.

THE spectre of fields full of unsold cars will haunt vehicle manufacturers in more ways than one, according to KPMG's report 'Europe on the Move'. It cites research by the International Car Distribution Programme which suggests that savings of £500 million are achievable if car makers across Europe adopted lean distribution and put an end to stockpiling cars.

PEACE has broken out between two of the UK's largest vehicle repair associations in an effort to rescue the industry from collapse caused by spiralling costs and shrinking returns. The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association and Motor Vehicle Repairers Association, whose members have traditionally been major competitors in the car repair market, have announced they are to begin co-operating on major issues affecting their joint memberships.

VOLKSWAGEN has increased specification across its Polo line-up with airbags, ABS brakes and power steering being added to some models. The Polo 1.0 L now has driver and front seat passenger airbags as standard with the package - previously a £560 option.

A RADICAL shake-up in the operation of one of the world's largest fleets - Motability - will create the UK's biggest contract hire operation next spring. Amid widespread concern from vehicle manufacturers, Motability is planning to take responsibility for the maintenance management and residual value risk on its expanding fleet of 350,000 cars.

ENCOURAGING fleets to buy 'greener' company cars has become the number one priority of the Government's Cleaner Vehicle Task Force. This is a clear recognition of the dominant role fleets play in the UK's new car market, and how fleet buying decisions subsequently determine the shape of the country's used car parc.

FLEET Cost Management has reverted to its former name of Overdrive as part of a major internal reorganisation. This will see the fleet management specialist focus in future on the third party market, providing a branded service on behalf of contract hire companies, motor dealer groups and manufacturers, which account for 40% of its 125,000-strong fleet.

VAUXHALL will offer its new Frontera with a three-year/ 60,000-mile warranty when it goes on sale on October 20. The move, which comes as prices for the new model are announced, is intended to highlight the confidence the company has in its product.

AUTOGLASS, the vehicle glass replacement company has joined forces with Toad, the audio and security equipment replacement firm, to offer a one-stop shop to crime-hit fleet customers. The new service, to be launched at the start of 1999, will offer a single helpline number for drivers through which they can obtain emergency glass and stereo replacement.

EASTERN Electricity has bought £5.3 million worth of vehicles through PHH Vehicle Management in the latest part of its purchase and leaseback agreement signed earlier this year. The electricity provider has replaced 235 vehicles in its commercial fleet, ranging from Vauxhall Corsavans to heavy-duty trucks costing £100,000.

BCH Vehicle Management has won a contract worth £500,000 a year to provide maintenance management to DHL International UK, the express delivery service. The open-ended agreement extends a one-year trial of BCH's services.

MONDIAL Assistance will replace the AA as provider of breakdown and recovery services to Rover, MG and Mini from the start of next year. This is the second major contract Mondial has won from the AA this year, after securing the Land Rover account in January, and means the entire BMW Group will use Mondial to provide its breakdown and recovery service in the UK.

MANUFACTURERS have been slow to respond to calls from Brake, the road safety organisation, for support for its Road Risk Forum. The charity says it believes car firms are concentrating on the British International Motor Show, to be held in Birmingham next week, and it says it expects interest to pick up once the exhibition is over.