News - Page 2341

THRIFTY Car Rental has completed the automation of its central reservation centre, called Cars Plus, to speed up reservations and the confirmation of bookings.

RENTAL rates are set for further rises this year, in line with the inexorable rise in vehicle holding costs borne by rental companies.

A MANAGEMENT buy-out will see Century International plc become the UK's first independent, international and non-franchised daily rental company to export its name into Europe.

LEASING companies that claim to provide a total motoring solution must address the issue of rental rates which include both insurance and fuel. This follows demand for fixed cost motoring, and is a challenge for the leasing industry, says Len Clayton, managing director of Hertz Leasing. He predicted leasing rentals which were recalculated quarterly according to fuel usage, and annually to take account of accident claims for insurance purposes.

FLEET operators are moving towards the use of a single supplier to source and manage vehicles right across the globe. Jonathan Burr, managing director of GE Capital Fleet Services, said having two leasing companies in tow for competitive bids might offer short term savings, but was inefficient, crude, and missed out on positive strategic direction.

INFORMATION technology holds the key to the future of every aspect of the fleet industry. Fleets want sophisticated communication links with leasing and fleet management companies, who demand the same level of contact with their own suppliers.

FORECASTS of a dramatic downturn in residual values as the millennium approaches are premature, according to CAP Motor Research.

THE Liberal Democrats will hit fleets with a double-barrelled tax bombshell if they form the next Government. Larger capacity engines and company car drivers will be targeted in tax initiatives to discourage use of larger cars and target 'hidden' benefits of the company car.

KWIK-FIT Fleet's Business Drive Card has won the Fuel Card of the Year Award for 1997 from the Institute of Transport Managers. Launched last year, the card is operated by PHH Vehicle Management Services and is aimed at small fleets with transactions being detailed on weekly consolidated invoices.

ZENITH Vehicle Contracts has won the outsourcing contract to manage financial services group Societe Generale's 170-vehicle UK fleet.

CITROEN has increased the prices of its Berlingo and Relay van ranges. Berlingo prices rise an average of 1.8% and the Relay range by an average 1.46%. Prices of the C15 Champ and Dispatch are unchanged. Berlingo prices start at £8,135 before VAT and Relay at £12,260 plus VAT.

PHH marketing manager Rosemary Wells said smaller companies could survive if they could pull together the services needed. 'Customer needs are changing fast and companies must be able to match those needs irrespective of size,' she said. 'Flexibility and speed are the keys '

GROWTH of outsourced fleet management in the UK will continue but specialist companies may lose out to 'one-stop-shops' says a report.

SUZUKI has unveiled the Wagon R+ which will go on sale in the UK in August with the importer hoping to sell 1,500-2,000 units in the year to March 1998.

RENAULT has launched a 1.9-litre 100bhp unit claimed to boost fuel economy by up to 17% over the manufacturer's existing 1.9 95bhp indirect turbo diesel engine.

A JOBS pledge has been issued by General Motors Europe president Richard Donnelly to the company's workforce, which includes Vauxhall employees in the UK.

THE new Vauxhall Corsa - though in Opel badge form and without the distinctive V-grille - made its world debut. On sale in the UK from May 1, the Corsa has established itself as a major vehicle in the small car segment, particularly as a result of Vauxhall's driving school deal with the BSM Group.

TWO new ECOTEC direct injection diesel engines were launched at the show by General Motors. They will appear in the UK in the Vauxhall Vectra, Omega and the Sintra people-carrier which went on sale on Friday (March 7).

HYUNDAI is to return to the UK light commercial vehicle market in mid-1997 with the H100 - a range of panel vans and chassis cabs which has resulted in booming sales on the continent.

CADILLAC and Chevrolet models are to go on sale in Britain later this year either through existing Vauxhall dealers or newly established specialist dealers. Vauxhall will assume responsibility for North American vehicles in the UK and is reviewing marketing strategy for the two North American General Motors marques. President Richard Donnelly revealed the company's new business concept for North American Vehicles in Europe.

HONDA is developing a stronger and more defined family identity for its European models, said the company at the Geneva Show. The new Civic 5-door is the first car to carry the new frontal face, although it will be adapted to a wide range of cars.

AN air disaster on the other side of the world cast a shadow over two stands in the glittering Palexpo exhibition arena.

BMW has put back the launch of its new 3-Series because of development problems, it emerged at the show.

A RETURN of the feel-good factor to Britain is driving new orders for BMW. The surge has left the company's UK subsidiary struggling with its longest waiting lists for six years - and prompted officials to launch a search for possible extra supplies from other markets.

KOREAN manufacturers proved at Geneva that they will be challenging more established marques in the near future. Daewoo unveiled the extraordinary Shiraz - a glimpse of its planned A100 large executive car with similar proportions to the Lexus LS 400.

EVERY new product built by Volkswagen will benefit from information gleaned during the development of the new Passat. Engineering, product quality, safety equipment provision and methods by which the keenest pricing are achieved will be made available to every brand.

FLEETS must be patient for the new Volkswagen Passat with the manufacturer anticipating demand to outstrip supply at least until the end of August. The Passat goes on sale in the UK this month - four months behind schedule - and demand for the car, particularly from fleets, has been spectacular, according to Volkswagen UK managing director Robin Woolcock.

NISSAN unveiled the Primera GT to the public at the Geneva show and fleet managers will have a chance to see it at the Fleet Motor Show at Silverstone from April 29-May 2.

VOLVO unveiled a new car seat designed to reduce whiplash injuries. Lotta Jakonsson, senior research engineer at the Volvo Safety Centre, said: ' Our new modified seat increases the energy absorption in a rear end collision, and any forward rebound will be significantly reduced.' Volvo would not be drawn on a launch date, or a cost.

BRITISH buyers are waiting to place orders for a German car which is still 12 months away from the showrooms.