News - Page 1920

THE Volkswagen Golf R32 made its debut in the auction halls and achieved a 100% conversion rate at Manheim Auctions Bristol.

'ROAD safety and accident prevention may sometimes be background issues but that does not mean they are not relevant to us all. I was reminded of this by the recent phone call telling me my daughter was on the way to hospital after crashing her car.'

THE future viability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a fleet fuel suffered a double blow this week with news that grants to help fleets buy LPG-powered vehicle have run out with five months of the financial year left and that Ford is on the verge of pulling out of the market for LPG-powered cars.

TWO-thirds of company car drivers have not had any guidance from their employers on the forthcoming ban on using mobile phones on the move, despite the majority of fleet managers claiming they are 'actively discouraging' their drivers from using them.

FLEETS have been encouraged to 'name and shame' drivers who regularly rack up penalties and fines for parking and congestion charges in a bid to curb the spiralling cost burden they face.

PRIME Minister Tony Blair has opened Ford's new multi-million pound diesel and education centre at Dagenham.

MERCEDES-Benz has given the go-ahead for a production version of its Vision CLS four-door coupe concept, shown at September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

SMALL and medium-size fleets using Fleet Alliance services could benefit from better rates and services following a partnership it has announced with Arval PHH.

THE Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has launched a website designed to develop and provide information on the Foresight Vehicle Programme.

A RADIO competition winner has won a Citroen Berlingo in a national competition to recall the 'Gear in the Rear'.

ZENITH Vehicle Contracts has launched a new online system that pledges to reduce administration for fleets and improve communications.

WORLDWIDE expansion and two new products are part of Epyx 1link's plans for the coming year, following the acquisition of industry rivals Oasis and TransLease.

LEISURE business Whitbread is trialling the use of daily rental vehicles fitted with telematics instead of operating its own pool car fleet.

THE motor industry is sounding a word of caution to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown ahead of his pre-Budget statement.

TOYOTA has re-vamped its 2004 Hiace range to include a host of new safety features, including ABS brakes and driver's airbag as standard.

CAR parts company Central Auto Supplies has expanded its fleet by buying 13 new Renaults in a deal worth more than £140,000 at showroom prices.

EDINBURGH'S local authority has announced details of its proposed congestion charging scheme.

VAUXHALL'S VX220 Turbo roadster has been named Performance Car of the Year by Fleet News' sister publication Car.

A UK security company has introduced an internet tracking system for its fleet in a bid to protect staff and cash while in transit.

FLEET executives need to be extra vigilant as winter approaches, says the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), which has issued a guide to winter motoring.

CRAIG Pickering, principal consultant in business finance to the Finance & Leasing Association, has been appointed to the Small Business Investment Taskforce (SBIT).

The latest appointments in the fleet industry.

STUNNING looks, breathtaking performance, great value: the new Crossfire marks the dawn of a new era for Chrysler – and it's in UK showrooms now.

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RUSSIAN motorists will be offered a saloon version of the second-generation Astra under a joint venture between General Motors and Avtovaz.

SALES of new cars in the important German car market are continuing to improve after a poor start to the year.

BCA is set to open a new auction centre in central Germany -its fourth in the country.

AUTOMOTIVE repair specialists ChipsAway International has launched an operation in Greece.

PLANS have been unveiled for a single European driving licence that would replace 80 different versions currently in use across the continent.