News - Page 2346

PEUGEOT is bidding to topple the Ford Mondeo from its position as Britain's best-selling estate car with the launch next Thursday (February 27) of the 406 estate. The 406's predecessor - the 405 - was the best-selling estate car in the UK in 1992 and 1993 and, despite being launched in 1989, it remains the second best-selling model today.

STRINGENT anti-car measures would damage British business and an increased reliance on public transport would severely curtail people's freedom of movement, according to a new survey published on Tuesday by the RAC. The Centenary Mobility Survey found that the real challenge for public transport is to match the convenience, cost and cosiness of the car if Britain's dependence on it is to be reduced.

NEIL Pykett, who was dismissed as managing director of Cowie Interleasing on February 7 amid a boardroom power struggle, has appealed against the decision. On Tuesday the Cowie Group board said it was willing to hear Pykett's appeal and under those circumstances a company spokesman said it would be 'inappropriate to announce any successor'.

MERCEDES-Benz has clinched its largest ever UK order - a £70 million deal for 3,750 Sprinter vans with rental specialist Northgate Motor Holdings. The rapidly growing subsidiary of Goode Durrant plc has agreed to buy a minimum of 1,000 vans a year over the next three years with the vehicles being operated throughout Northgate's 23-branch network over the next three years.

FLEET operators will increasingly reject company cars which have only 12 months manufacturer warranty, in favour of marques which offer three year warranties according to new survey entitled 'The Fleet and Business Car Servicing Market'. The survey claims that the length of warranty will grow dramatically in importance as fleet service and maintenance costs soar over the next five years.

TWICKENHAM-based Volvo dealership Tamplins has signed a contract to supply 40 vehicles to the NEC Harlequins, one of England's oldest and best-known rugby clubs, as part of a two-year sponsorship deal. The deal means Tamplins, which is part of the Volvo Division of the Pendragon Group, will provide cars for the England and Ireland captains and their players.

FLEET maintenance for Elf Atochem's 90-vehicle fleet has been outsourced to Fleet Cost Management. The move follows a review of the chemical giant's fleet strategy aimed at improving cost control. This resulted in the decision to outsource in order to benefit from specialist expertise.

DEALER group Brooklyn Ford has opened a Group Business Centre to improve services offered to business clients. The move comes as a result of Ford's new sales strategy to improve links with fleet customers and improve its share of the smaller fleet market. Brooklyn's new centre is one of around 130 due to be set up at major dealerships across the country.

COMIC Relief is targeting company car drivers with a new, more subtle version of the comedy 'nose' for cars. The huge red plastic hooter has been replaced by a more discreet ball which can be stuck on to front or rear windscreens with an aerial-style mounting.

SECURICOR Datatrak's mobile data communications system is being installed in 55 cars and limousines in Alamo Rent A Car's London chauffeur fleet. The vehicle monitoring system will work alongside Fleetway fleet management software to provide information on the precise position of every car at all times.

SAAB has increased the prices of all but one of its 900 line-up by an average of 1.5%. The only model in the 900 range not to be included in the rise is the 900i three-door price-entry model which has been held at its pre-increase price. The 9000 model range is the subject of a smaller price rise of 0.75% with all option prices unchanged on both the 900s and 9000s.

KWIK-Fit Mobile has set up a control centre in the City of London for the City's company car drivers. Based at the Kwik-Fit centre in Old Street, the service aims to provide fast, convenient mobile service and to carry the kind of stock needed for the luxury vehicles driven by many financial high-flyers.

ON-the-road prices of most models in Skoda's Felicia range have increased by £200. The price rise, which equates to less than 2% across the range, does not include Felicia LXi hatchbacks and estates or the Skoda Pick Up.

AON Corporation has bought Alexander & Alexander Services in a $1.23 billion deal, creating one of the world's largest risk consulting, insurance broking and employee benefits consulting companies. In the UK, Aon's existing business Godwins and A&A's Alexander Clay and The Alexander Consulting Group will merge to trade as Aon Consulting.

PUBLIC sector contract hire specialist Automotive Leasing has won the contract to manage English Nature's 84-vehicle fleet. The statutory nature conservation body runs a mixed fleet consisting primarily of off-road vehicles and light commercials at various offices nationwide.

NEW 2.8 and 3.2-litre V6 engines are to be launched by Mercedes-Benz and will first appear in the UK in E280 and E320 models built from next month. The new engines, which weigh under 330lbs, are 110lbs lighter than the straight-six cylinder engines they replace and are claimed to be around 20% lighter than competitive V6 engines.

ESSEX police are using a specially-adapted Ford Galaxy to help investigate road accidents. The vehicle, which has been developed for tasks such as measuring skids and braking distances, is being used by the force's accident investigation unit.

DAIHATSU has unveiled a new management structure designed to break down barriers between departments, increase efficiency and improve service to customers and dealers and particularly focus on user-chooser and business sales. The changes follow a lengthy internal review and reflect the company's long-term view of how the brand should be managed and developed.

TWO non-executive director appointments have been made by Avis Europe following its decision to return to the London Stock Exchange after an eight-year absence.

MAZDA has signed a deal with Budget Rent A Car International for Budget's 15 key corporate account managers to drive the 323 2.0i five-door ZXi 24 valve V6 on their day-to-day business and introduce it to corporate clients.

MATERIALS handling equipment manufacturer Jungheinrich (GB) has chosen to contract hire its entire fleet of 350 cars and light commercial vehicles through Godfrey Davis (Contract Hire).

LEEDS-based Zenith Vehicle Contracts has won its sixth outsourcing contract by concluding a deal to manage the 45-car fleet of Hillier Parker Management Services. The company, a subsidiary of chartered surveyor Hillier Parker, provides a management advisory service to shopping and retail centres throughout the UK.

FLEET operators have been urged to take on board the results of a survey which found that cell phone users were four times more likely to have accidents than other drivers. The study of 700 drivers with car phones by doctors at the University of Toronto, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that hands-free phones were no safer than hand-held versions - the extra risk factor being lack of concentration.

CITROEN and Nissan are to use the Fleet Motor Show as the platform to launch three new models into the UK fleet market. Citroen is to give UK public debuts to the new Citroen Xantia 2.1TD and 3.0 V6 models, while Nissan will give the new Primera GT its UK public debut at the Show, to be held at Silverstone in Northamptonshire from April 29-May 2.

OPTIMISM over buoyant new car sales in 1997 was reflected in the light commercial vehicle market where sales of both car derived and panel vans were up on January 1996 levels.

FLEET diesel sales began 1997 on a high note with sales of 22,213 units up 5.1% on January 1996 levels when fleet sales were 21,129. The total diesel car market also increased - 2.3% - to 38,425 up from 37,577. The monthly year-on-year rise in fleet diesel sales came after a year in which monthly fleet diesel sales increased just three times year-on-year - May, July and December.

FLEETS and retail buyers are benefiting from the 'feel good factor' with new car sales up nearly 8% last month and fleet sales almost hitting the 100,000 mark for the first time in January.

BSM Qualified Driver Training has added a new dimension to its fleet training programme with the introduction of a computer-based interactive system which allows drivers to test and develop hazard perception skills. The programme is exclusively available to Vauxhall's fleet customers until March 31 when it will then be offered on the open market.

VOLKSWAGEN dealers have started to take orders for the new Passat saloon in preparation for its mid-March launch - and the estate version will be available in late summer.

THE CBI is calling for radical solutions to Britain's accelerating transport crisis. Director general Adair Turner slammed the Government's transport track record and again demanded the establishment of a co-ordinated national transport policy.