News - Page 2372

POOR and ill-informed decisions on company car acquisitions continue to add huge unnecessary costs to UK business, according to Leasecontracts, part of GE Capital Fleet Services.

MORE than 1,000 fleet managers have voted the new Peugeot 406 the 'best all round car' in head-to-head challenges with its chief rivals.

MOBIL has reiterated predictions that more than 50% of diesel cars, vans and trucks will fail tighter emissions tests after a nationwide survey of more than 1,500 vehicles.

BRITISH business and communities would benefit dramatically if fleets introduced vehicle safety policies, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

DEMAND for car leasing finance continues to grow as a result of the August 1995 VAT changes, according to new figures from the Finance & Leasing Association.

LEADING academics predict the end of consistent growth in new car sales as the pan-European vehicle market reaches saturation point.

A NEW campaign is being launched by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in a bid to cut the number of road deaths and injury accidents involving company car drivers.

TRAFFIC information provider Trafficmaster has predicted 'a significantly improved financial performance' this year after reporting a doubling of pre-tax losses for the year to December 31, 1995 of £2.47 million (£1,032 million).

DAGENHAM Motors has reported pre-tax profits up 25% to £5.1 million from £4.1 million on turnover up 18% to £267.5 million (£227.6 million) for the year to December 31, 1995.

FORD'S 12 and 15 seater Transit minibus models have become the first vehicles in the sector to meet the stringent passenger car (M1) legal requirements for crash testing.

ATS has completed the first phase of a major revamp in its communications system which it says will radically improve services to fleet customers.

FLEET managers have been urged to drive a harder bargain with the manufacturers to ensure they get the most out of free servicing and extended warranty offers.

ONE of the UK's fastest growing dealership groups has launched its own contract hire operation to capitalise on last year's VAT changes.

A MAJOR senior management shake-up has taken place at the RAC with the aim of more closely focusing on customer and vehicle requirements.

LEX Service has sold 10 of its 30 less profitable dealerships, raising £10m and says it has 'encouraging interest' in a further 10.

SAFETY campaigners are disappointed that the minister responsible for road safety has 'talked out' a move to ban bull bars on vans and 4x4 vehicles. In recent months a major campaign has been whipped up by a number of motoring organisations - particularly the RAC - and road safety groups. That has resulted in a number of fleets removing bull bars from their vehicles including DHL, HSS Hire Services and TNT.

FLEETS moving away from outright purchase of vehicles to leasing contributed to Lease Plan group's reported net profits for 1995 14.6% up at £47.5 million (£41.5 million) on a portfolio up from £3 billion to almost £3.2 billion.

TWO police forces have become the first fleets to buy DRIVE fleet management software system, produced by FCS Computer Services. Essex Police and South Wales Police will start using the Oracle-based system within the next couple of months.

WIMPEY fleet manager Peter Rosie who managed a 1,100 strong company fleet, has been made redundant following the company's asset swap with Tarmac. No decision has been made yet concerning the rest of Rosie's 30 staff or the in-house garage operation. The whole fleet now comes under Tarmac fleet manager Carl Lindley, who was already looking after 3,500 vehicles.

THE surge in fleet sales as retail sales continue to drop has been further underlined with publication of last month's sales figures. Fleet sales rose - up 3.5% year-on-year to 89,997 units from 86,958 units - while total sales were down 0.87% at 180,275 from 181,849.

REDLAND Bricks - one of the UK's largest brick manufacturers - has handed its 170-strong fleet to Swan National in a deal to outsource both supply and management.

A DEAL to supply fleet management software to the 130-vehicle fleet of London-based Elf Oil has been won by Car Fleet Control.

NEW chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors is Nick Reilly, who has been with parent company General Motors since 1975.

GOVERNMENT officials have described as 'pure speculation' reports that ministers have dropped plans to impose tougher controls on car use as a way of reducing noxious emissions from vehicle exhausts.

THE Association of Car Fleet Operators' campaign to have vehicle delivery charges abolished has won fleet and motor industry support, with only the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders dissenting.

CHARGE card giant American Express has paved the way for an assault on the fuel card market with the launch of the UK's first VAT-reclaimable corporate purchasing card.

ROAD accidents are more likely to occur when the road is dry than when it is wet, according to a survey of 15,000 accident claims.

TOP level discussions look set to take place between the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association and the Association of British Insurers in a bid to resolve the long-running courtesy car wrangle before the bodyshop industry collapses.

ZENITH Vehicle Contracts and PHH Vehicle Management Services have won a joint contract to supply personal contract hire vehicles to tobacco giant BAT.

GROWTH in the public sector fleet market and increased concerns regarding the environment, traffic congestion and fuel consumption is favouring smaller company cars, according to Cowie Interleasing. However, the leasing and fleet management company says small is not always beautiful and budget-conscious firms opting for cars with the lowest list price could face bigger bills than they bargained for