News - Page 2284

MARLOW-based fleet management, funding and accident management company VELO is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

TRANSLINC, Lincolnshire County Council's transport and contract hire operation, has been bought out by its management and employee team.

FORD has expanded the role and remit of its pan-European fleet operation to deal with the burgeoning corporate demand for cross-border vehicle solutions.

HONDA Finance, the manufacturer's European finance arm, will from next week offer financial products for both corporate and retail customers through the dealer network.

INCREASING levels of specification on bread and butter volume cars should be encouraging drivers to re-think their choice of vehicles, according to Godfrey Davis director of marketing Nigel Underdown.

THE Budget speech was memorable not for what Chancellor Gordon Brown said during the 62 minutes he was on his feet but for what he did not say in the House of Commons.

THE Government is looking to end over the next five years any benefit which company car drivers gain by receiving free fuel for private motoring.

THE world's largest fleet services company - GE Capital Fleet Services - has published an authoritative new guide to help companies plan global fleet management policies.

FLEET chiefs and company bosses must make themselves Euro-compliant even though Britain will not be part of the first wave of European Monetary Union on January 1, 1999.

WHILE human resources-led fleet policies appear to be shifting towards wider choice lists governed by contract hire rates, companies looking at fleets from a financial perspective still appear keen to cash-in on the discounts which accompany solus deals.

THE motor industry has deplored the Government's decision not to establish a national vehicle mileage register to stamp out the scourge of clocking. An official review of the problem has concluded that legislation making the registration of vehicle mileages mandatory is not required.

THE Government must take steps to encourage fuel suppliers to set up more widespread liquefied petroleum gas refuelling networks, according to Lease Plan managing director designate Howard Thomas.

NEW Government research suggests closing roads does not always lead to a big increase in traffic congestion.

THE Government does not intend to abolish Vehicle Excise Duty and replace it with additional duty on fuel. In a written response to Fleet NewsNet's sister publication Fleet News' report 'Driving Business Forward - the future of the company car and business transport,' junior transport minister Glenda Jackson dispelled rumours of major changes to VED.

THE Government has denied reports that taxes on workplace parking will definitely feature in its transport white paper.

THE first report from the House of Commons Select Committee on Environmental Audit has called for an immediate change to company car taxation.

FAST-FIT operator Montinex is understood to be at an advanced stage of negotiations to buy fleet tyre supplier FTM Tyrefit.

NISSAN has become the first vehicle manufacturer to join and endorse AT&T's TransLease electronic invoicing system.

NATIONAL Car Auctions has been bought by Independent Car Auctions (Holdings) to create a formidable rival to British Car Auctions.

EUROPEAN daily rental giant Europcar has bought British Car & Van Rental for an undisclosed sum, creating the fourth largest car rental operation in the UK, behind National Car Rental, Avis Rent A Car, and United Kenning Rental Group.

THE Government has sent an unequivocal message to fleets that clean and green fuels represent the way ahead - and potentially called into question the future of diesel.

BRITAIN'S finest in fleet were recognised on Wednesday evening at the 1998 Fleet News Awards with 31 awards being presented to fleet managers, leading industry figures, vehicle manufacturers and fleet service companies.

FLEET managers are being urged to pick up now on indications within the Budget that the Government is determined that businesses must become more environmentally aware.

AS the Government continues its crusade to encourage the widespread use of public transport the Chancellor announced that over the next three years an additional £500 million would be pumped into public transport with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is due to announce details this week.

SURGING corporate demand has prompted Land Rover to introduce a brace of highly specified new models to the Freelander range.

THE Government this week launched a campaign to warn drivers and employers of the dangers of using mobile phones while at the wheel.

THE Government is determined to crack down on the benefit enjoyed by company car drivers who receive free fuel for private mileage.

AVIS UK, spurred by increasing customer demand for city cars, has introduced a 'small car' category, covering models such as the Ford Ka and Fiat Cinquecento to its tariff.

CHURCHFIELDS Vehicle Rentals is to start giving its delivery and collection drivers statutory sick pay and holiday rights as part of a major initiative to cut costs and improve customer service.

THE growing trend for leasing companies to actively promote their own rental broker services in an increasing attempt to offer a one-stop-shop for customers has left the daily rental industry facing a new set of challenges.