News - Page 2125

CHANGES in company car tax in April 2002 could see fleets re-introducing pool cars, according to industry experts. Fleet management software company Chevin Computer Systems believes that the pool car, often the butt of office jokes and almost always the worst maintained vehicle on each fleet, is about to enjoy a comeback.

THE world's largest online grocer Tesco.com is to evaluate a fleet management system from Fleetstar Information Systems. Tesco.com will investigate the potential benefits of using the technology to improve on-time delivery to its 250,000 customers while maintaining the operational efficiency of its 600-plus van fleet, one of the largest direct home delivery fleets in the UK.

PEUGEOT has expanded the 607 range with two new entry-level engines, improving the car's carbon dioxide emissions, and cut prices of the rest of the range by up to £1,700, five months after the vehicle entered showrooms. The two tax-busting versions will be powered by a 138bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine and the 110bhp 2.0HDi diesel, both used in the 406.

VAUXHALL has reaffirmed its commitment to pursue new vehicle production possibilities in the UK as the trade unions agreed to work with the company on the restructuring of its manufacturing operations.

BRITAIN'S rental industry is going through its biggest shake-up for more than a decade as fleets face rate rises of up to 25% as companies fed up with losing money decide enough is enough. Meanwhile there is speculation that the industry could undergo further consolidation with at least two of the major players being snapped up.

THE new chairman of Europe's Mercedes-Benz dealers is claiming that the company's fleet customers will not be better off under the restructured network. John Graves, president of Mercedes' UK Dealer Council, was elected chairman of the European Federation of Mercedes Dealers last week.

TRADE and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers is backing the British motor industry after taking delivery of a Rover 75 as his official car. MG Rover Group was chosen along with Vauxhall from 11 manufacturers who applied to supply cabinet ministers with official cars.

VEHICLE recovery assistance will be provided by the RAC to LeasePlan Group customers in the UK following the signing of a five-year contract. The deal will provide UK and European assistance to corporate customers of LeasePlan, Dial, Automotive Leasing and Network whose combined fleet accounts for more than 132,000 vehicles.

TATE & Lyle has awarded a sole supply contract to fleet management and funding specialist VELO. The solus deal is based on fully outsourced contract hire with maintenance and full support from VELO Motor Accident Management.

AN INNOVATIVE smart card offering a total mobility solution has won a fleet manager a top national award. Gerard Finn, fleet financial manger at the Prudential, picked up the Good Idea Award at the Integrated Transport Awards by suggesting a pay-as-you-go card to cut out the hassle of buying tickets for transport.

QUESTION Time comes to the Fleet Show 2001 when fleet decision-makers will be able to quiz leading industry figures on key issues in a daily debate. The Fleet Show Debate will be chaired by Fleet News editor Ashley Martin and will run for 45 minutes on each day of the Alexandra Palace, London, event which opens for three days on May 1.

FIVE employees at Saab GB have been affected in restructuring brought about by General Motors in Europe. The company's public affairs manager John Brewer is leaving 'to pursue his career in a new direction', and follows the departure of fleet sales manager Maggie Small two weeks ago.

AVIS Rent a Car has won a five-year contract to be the managing partner to the LeasePlan Group in the UK which will see the supply of 60,000 car rentals a year.

STOLEN vehicle recovery system Tracker Monitor, from Tracker Network, has been selected by Audi as an approved stolen vehicle recovery device. The deal takes the number of manufacturers approving the system to 30.

BIRMINGHAM-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has taken delivery of 37 Citroen Xsara Picassos for use by its trainers, consultants and managers. The organisation's chief executive Dr John Hooper said that prior to placing the order, RoSPA carried out an extensive, five-strong vehicle assessment.

FAST-expanding Crawley-based chauffeur drive company Hotelink has taken delivery of eight specially-converted Mercedes-Benz 413 CDI Sprinter minibuses from dealership Malaya Gatwick. A further four 14-seater minibuses to follow next month, taking the firm's fleet to 46 -32 of which are Sprinters.

EXPERTS are warning fleets to lower reserves if they want to avoid facing a difficult time disposing of vehicles over the next six weeks. As the May bank holiday approaches, Andrew Shepherd, Manheim's senior group auctioneer, is warning that buyers are already well stocked and fleets could see their cars being 'cherry-picked' at auction time.

ROAD-user safety is being threatened and has led to a 50% rise in claims against local authorities for accidents and damage to vehicles as the Government continues to under-fund road maintenance, it has been claimed. With the Government raising £35 billion in road-user taxation, and local authorities spending about £1.6 billion in 2000/01 on road maintenance, a 'radical review' of Government funding has been demanded.

DAMAGE to the UK's roads, caused by the worst weather since records began, has cost motorists an estimated additional £12 million in the replacement and repair of windscreens in the last five months. The claim comes from newly renamed RAC Auto Windscreens which, in the last five months, has replaced more than 200,000 windscreens - a 14% increase over the same period in 1999/2000.

PRICES and specifications have been revealed for the new Mini, which is due in UK showrooms on July 7. The entry level Mini One will be priced at £10,300 on-the-road, while the Mini Cooper will be £11,600.

BCA Europe has launched a new wrapping service to keep defleeted company cars 'fresh' after they have been Smart Prepared. Ron Hope, European director of Smart Prepared operations, says that following a winter trial period with customers, the service is available at all BCA locations delivering the Smart Prepared service.

FLEETS with large petrol-engine 4x4s could improve the residual values of their vehicles by converting them to liquefied petroleum gas, it has been claimed. CAP Network has discovered that the gas-guzzling machines are made more affordable to future owners by undergoing the conversion, and current owners can recoup the cost of the work through lower fuel costs.

PEUGEOT has introduced a Quiksilver edition of the 206, following in the tradition established in the 106 and 806 ranges. The 206 Quiksilver includes metallic paint, body-colour bumper surrounds, door mirrors and handles, clear lens headlamps and a chrome exhaust extension, along with a sporty interior.

THE sporty version of the Chrysler Neon has gone on sale in the UK. The Neon R/T has a 2.0-litre engine tuned to 150bhp, and has a leather interior, boot spoiler, side skirts and a deep front air dam.

FIAT has introduced a range-topping version of its high-performance Punto HGT. The HGT Abarth uses the same 1.8-litre 130bhp engine as the HGT, but includes a special sports pack.

SKODA has announced more details on its high-performance Octavia RS, which will go on sale on May 12. The Octavia RS is the fastest and most powerful roadgoing car from the Czech firm and uses a 1.8-litre 20v turbocharged engine and lowered sports suspension.

ALFA Romeo's new 3.0-litre version of the Spider has just gone on sale in the UK. The Spider is powered by the same 24-valve engine used in the GTV coupe and 166 saloon.