News - Page 2389

NISSAN followed by Mercedes-Benz comes out top in Highway Vehicle Leasing's latest guide to company car costs. Of the 150 cars quoted in 10 categories in 'The Fleet Manager's Company Car Cost Guide', based on wholelife costs, Nissan vehicles top three of the sections, and Mercedes-Benz' vehicles two.

THE Department of Transport is considering proposals to waive the production of an insurance certificate to re-license vehicles owned by fleet operators but managed by third parties. The move will allow fleet management companies to tax their clients' cars on their behalf without going through the administrative rigmarole of obtaining and submitting insurance documents for each individual vehicle.

NEW calls have been made for fleet managers to undertake training courses after it was revealed they were left in the cold when it came to making decisions on key fleet policy matters.

LEADING members of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association - including Hertz Leasing managing director Len Clayton and VELO managing director David Voss - have initiated a second round of talks with the principal car makers in a bid to foster better understanding between the two sectors.

VAUXHALL has revealed details of a new family of turbocharged ECOTEC diesel engines featuring 16 valve technology and fuel-saving direct injection set to debut in the Vectra this autumn.

VAUXHALL is to return to the upper medium estate sector in October with the new Vectra Estate. There will be a choice of 1.8, 2.0 and 2.5 petrol-engined versions and a 1.7 turbo diesel engine twinned with LS, GLS, SRi and CDX specification levels and an entry-level Envoy.

SALES and after sales service are key priority areas for dealers intending to tackle the fleet market according to a recent report, 'The Competitiveness of UK Distribution and Retailing', compiled by leading market analyst Harbour Wade Brown.

IN one of the most comprehensive surveys of the distributor sector ever compiled, leading market analyst Harbour Wade Brown has said that, for dealers to survive, they had to sharpen up sales and servicing standards.

THE Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association has asked for a joint meeting with insurance industry representatives. The request follows the collapse of small insurance company Paramount Insurance and is the latest move in the long-running battle between body repairers and insurers.

LEADING automotive components supplier BSL has won use of a Peugeot 406 2.0 GLX in a BCH Vehicle Management competition run at this year's Fleet Show.

MEDICAL and electrical equipment manufacturer Clement Clarke International has signed a sale and leaseback deal worth more than £200,000 with PHH Vehicle Management Services. The company's 33-vehicle fleet - previously purchased outright - was already operating under PHH's AllStar fuel management service, but the new arrangement takes the relationship further.

NISSAN has announced styling changes and a new grade line-up for the Serena MPV and improvements to the van version, the Vanette Cargo. The Serena LX is replaced by the GX and the SLX 2.0 litre petrol model is replaced by the Excursion. The 2.3 diesel SLX completes the range while exterior changes include the new 'flying wing' grille and a new front bumper.

DEALER group DC Cook is preparing for expansion after posting healthy year end profits up 21%. Turnover for the year ending April 30 was up 13% from £159.3 million to £180.2 million while profits increased by almost £1 million to £5.03 million.

VAUXHALL is the latest manufacturer to join the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in piloting an electronic means of registering and licensing new vehicles direct from dealerships. BMW and Vauxhall have both been involved in the development and evaluation of the system which links dealerships with the DVLA computer via the manufacturers.

LEASE PLAN has announced another cashback deal under its open calculation system. Futures and commodity broker GNI has been handed a cheque for £82,000 as a result of savings made on the company's fleet.

AVIS Rent A Car has been appointed preferred car hire company for European Passenger Services, the UK operator of Eurostar. Passengers with Eurostar, the high speed train linking London with Paris and Brussels, will now be entitled to special rates and services from Avis both in the UK and on the continent.

THE MoT emissions test - suspended in February after thousands of 'cat'-equipped cars were wrongly failed - is set for a re-launch in September. Cars which have escaped testing following the suspension (Fleet News February 16) will in effect get a year's grace as they will not have to undergo an emissions test until their next MoT.

PHH has signed contracts with George Wimpey to provide maintenance and accident management services to the housebuilder's 2,000-strong fleet. The fleet is composed largely of Ford and Vauxhall vehicles with cars located throughout the UK.

BRITAIN'S largest fleet management company, PHH Vehicle Management Services, now has 200,000 vehicle under maintenance management, it was revealed this week.

BSM Qualified Driver Training has forged a strategic alliance with leading insurance brokerage Aon Risk Services to jointly develop a range of risk management products for the fleet market. The joint venture is another example of driver training companies working in tandem with the insurance industry and follows similar agreements between Cornhill and RoSPA, General Accident and Peak Performance/Peter Gethin Driving Courses and Eagle Star and New Driving Initiatives.

PEUGEOT'S biggest selling fleet car - the 306 - is the subject of a recall involving all the 150,000 right hand drive cars sold since launch in 1993. The company has identified a potential fault in a wiring loom coming from one of the three UK suppliers and there have been incidents of 'smouldering' cables and failing electrical systems.

MPs have until next April to trade in their gas-guzzlers for cars which deliver more mpg than mph in the wake of their historic pay and allowances vote. Members voted themselves a £9,000 pay rise but accepted the Senior Salaries Review Body's recommendations to cut the top level of mileage allowance from 74.1 pence per mile for cars over 2.3 litres to a more realistic 47.2p - with effect from April 1997.

SIMON Elliott has been promoted to the post of general manager, corporate business with Toyota GB. The announcement follows the appointment of Brian Mahony to the main board of Toyota Belgium as business development director from September 1.

THE Dial survey said the company car was still one of the top business perks with minimal uptake of cash-for-car schemes. Less than 10% of employees working for organisations offering a cash alternative took the option and 60% of companies imposed no choice restrictions other than those dictated by salary and status.

USED car prices have increased for the 39th consecutive month as demand remains strong. Prices are currently 7.9% higher than this time last year according to used car experts at CAP Black Book and the upward trend looks set to continue, despite the recovery in the new car market.

ACCORDING to Fleet Cost Management, fleet managers are not making use of easily available services which would free them to make better use of their time by taking on a more strategic role.

THE fleet market continues to fragment, with emerging players taking an increasing share. Despite a retail revival in the second quarter, fleet sales accounted for 50.37% of the half-yearly market of just over one million vehicles - up 6.8% on 1995. Diesel sales continued to decline after reaching a plateau earlier this year.

BRITISH Airports Authority has signed a ground-breaking deal which could see thousands of vehicles at Heathrow airport operating on greener diesel. BAA is switching its 250 vehicle diesel fleet to Greenergy City Diesel and has agreed to subsidise other fleet operators at Heathrow who want to follow its lead.

FLEETS hoping to be crowned Britain's Safest Fleet must get their applications in to Fleet News by Monday (July 15). The Vauxhall-sponsored competition was officially launched at the Fleet Show at Silverstone in April.

SWAN National Motor Finance has produced a 'how to' guide to fleet management strategy in conjunction with Henley Management College. Written by fleet management expert Peter Cooke, the 50-page booklet examines all the key issues involved in devising a comprehensive fleet management strategy.