News - Page 2330

A NEW environmental guide has placed company cars, the provision of fuel and free car parking spaces under the political spotlight. The guide - called 'Changing Journeys to Work: an employer's guide to green commuter plans' - received immediate backing from Gavin Strang, Minister of Transport, who said the population had to reconcile its desire for greater mobility with the need to protect and enhance the environment.

SMALL fleets and business users which do not benefit from special terms will be allowed to take advantage of discount prices on most Ford models as part of a summertime promotion to celebrate the company's 21st year as Britain's top-selling car maker. For the next four months, special-edition versions of the Fiesta, Escort and Mondeo will be offered at on-the-road prices lower than for regular models.

THE Government is trying to green up and clean up its own back yard by setting environmental targets for its own car fleet. An average fuel consumption target of 25.5mpg has been set by the Government Car Service in a bid to minimise the environmental impact of its fleet, and it achieved this target last year.

THE Labour Government is poised to introduce a revised road-building programme which will put environmental considerations and traffic congestion ahead of public spending expedience. Labour transport chiefs are currently engaged in a wholesale review of the current programme after the previous Government's freeze on new roads spending.

ACCIDENT management company AutoManagement has developed a new computer system which will enable fleets to access images directly from desktop PCs and to cut accident management documentation to a virtually paperless level.

DAEWOO'S astonishing growth on the world automotive stage has been boosted further by record sales figures in its home market and a new engine deal with Renault. All three of the new models set for UK launch early next year - the Lanos, the Nubira and the Leganza - have now been introduced in Korea. Their arrival has shifted the sales balance in the home market, where Daewoo's share has leapt from 23% in 1996 to 35% so far in 1997.

MAZDA UK sales director Paul Willis has left the company to take on a similar role at BMW.

VOLVO has taken the wraps off a new high performance version of the S40 and V40 capable of almost 150mph. The new T4 extends Volvo's high successful 'T' branding on the 850 (now 70 series) to the 40 series, using turbocharging technology to breathe new power into the mid-range model.

THE Government looks set to launch an anti drink-drive style media campaign to inform drivers of the hazards of using mobile phones while on the move.

SPECULATION is mounting that the long-awaited first Budget by the new Labour Government will see increases in fuel duties and possible company car taxes. The mini-Budget by the new Labour Government will be held on Wednesday, July 2 - the first time for more than 20 years that Budget Day has not been on a Tuesday. The change has been forced on the Treasury by a heavy schedule of international meetings.

VAUXHALL and Ford are to extend their experiments in providing three-year warranties on selected vehicles. Ford will continue to offer three-year cover on Probe, Scorpio and Galaxy until the end of September, while Vauxhall is offering a three-year deal on a different selection of vehicles.

MERCEDES-Benz has launched two new engines for the C-class, introduced a range of improvements to equipment levels and increased prices of revised vehicles by an average of 1.5%.

THREE private contract hire fleet operators specialising in providing late-night transport home for staff at city firms have placed orders for the Mercedes-Benz A-class car - even though it will not be on sale in the UK for another 10 months.

FIAT, Renault and Mercedes-Benz each top two of the 10 categories in Highway Vehicle Leasing's latest Company Car Cost Guide, while Nissan and Vauxhall top the upper medium and medium estate sections.

FLEET operators over-specifying luxurious optional add-ons face paying big residual value penalties three years down the line. Used market experts at both CAP Black Book and Glass's Guide are warning fleet managers against 'loading' their company cars with expensive extras, the cost of which they cannot recover on disposal.

VAUXHALL is gearing itself up for the launch of the all-new Astra with an extensive preview exercise for key corporate customers. Leading fleets and leasing companies have already been involved in a consultative capacity to shape the development of the new car - due to hit the showrooms next spring.

ALTHOUGH synergies in fields like fleet fuel cards exist, CUC is involved in more consumer-focused activities such as home shopping, loyalty schemes and discount membership schemes. The company has only limited penetration in Europe with some four million members, but the merger will obviously open new doors on this side of the Atlantic.

CAR manufacturers, the leasing industry and dealers are poised to join forces to kick-start the electronic trading revolution in the fleet industry. The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association is looking to work alongside the Retail Motor Industry to facilitate the more widespread use of EDI systems between fleet clients and suppliers.

THE Labour Government has backed two new guides which contain bold initiatives for environmentally-friendly management of fleets and green commuting. Minister of transport Gavin Strang launched the guides this week in the new Government's first direct involvement with the fleet market.

MERCEDES-Benz has added a motorcycle to its Service 24hr breakdown fleet in an effort to improve response times. The pilot scheme, launched last week, sees the motorcycle initially being used to beat congestion in central London. If successful the scheme could be expanded nationwide.

TOYOTA has announced an additional £60 million of investment to double production at its Deeside engine plant. The increase takes Toyota's total investment in the UK to more than £1.1 billion following confirmation that its Burnaston plant will build the new Corolla for European markets.

MITSUBISHI has won the contract to supply communications specialist DTS with a fleet of Carismas. Leased though Windsor Vehicle Leasing, the 19 cars account for just over a third of the Berkshire-based company's fleet.

MERCEDES-Benz claims to have taken the lead in the increasingly competitive global market for in-car navigation systems by unveiling what it calls the Intelligent Traffic Guidance System.

CAR security specialist Toad Innovations has announced an ambitious tie-in with broadcasting star Noel Edmonds designed to raise the group's public profile - and flagging share price.

SKODA has increased the on-the-road prices of its Felicia LXi hatchback and estate models by £200. The rise, which equates to an average increase of under 3% across both models, came into force this month and sees the 1.3 LXi hatchback rising to £7,199 on the road with the estate version at £7,999. Skoda increased the prices of petrol-engined commercial vehicles by £300 on Sunday (June 1).

MERCEDES-Benz executives are planning to storm the territory held by the Range Rover and Land Rover Discovery in Britain when their new M-class all-drive contender arrives next summer.

THE Cowie Group is 'making good progress' in appointing a successor to chief executive Gordon Hodgson, a company spokesman said this week.

A GROWING need to support its 300-strong fleet on a nationwide basis has resulted in rail track renewal specialist Fastline signing a deal with Fleet Cost Management. York-based Fastline historically operated only in its own region, but following rail privatisation is enjoying success around the country.

VOLKSWAGEN has signed a solus deal to supply 75 cars to Gandalf Digital Communications. The German manufacturer won the contract after providing just a single car to Gandalf last year.

LEASE Plan has opened a new office in Eire, aiming to capitalise on the booming company car market in the Republic. The strong Irish economy has seen its fleet market grow more quickly than the majority of northern European countries. Sharon O'Buachalla will be managing director of Dublin-based Lease Plan Fleet Management Services Ireland Ltd.