News - Page 2130

CITROEN'S aggressive pricing stance has seen the French manufacturer leap to third place in the van sales chart (3.5-tonnes and under). Speaking at the Commercial Vehicle Show, CV operations manager John Hargreaves said: 'Citroen's success is a reflection on the quality and competitive pricing of its products and the depth of its after-sales service.'

FORD is set to launch a factory-fitted LPG version of the top-selling Transit in June, it was revealed at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Short, medium and long wheelbase models will be included, with a variety of roof heights on offer.

WITH the demise of the Reliant Robin, Reliant Cars has turned to foreign manufacturers for a new range which is already finding favour among small and large fleets. The Reliant Porter and Piaggio Ape were launched in October last year and the company is now busy setting up a dealership network and making sure enough models are imported to the UK to satisfy demand.

LAND Rover is aiming at fleets who want commercial vehicles which will give their companies a high image with the launch of the new Discovery Commercial. Already a favourite among the go-getting car classes of Britain, the Discovery in van guise was launched with a 2.5-litre five cylinder Td5 diesel powerplant.

FEBRUARY 28's train disaster, caused when a car towing a trailer crashed on to the railway line near Selby in North Yorkshire, has catapulted the subject of towbar safety into the spotlight. Towbar manufacturer Brink has launched a new campaign for a change in the law relating to such products.

HEAD-to-head talks between Government and leading fleet suppliers to help fleets prepare for carbon dioxide-based company car tax have ended in dispute after they failed to reach agreement on the best way to help the industry. The talks came after research revealed widely-differing carbon dioxide figures for the same vehicle, depending on which source is used.

THE first year of the new millennium was a tough one for the entire industry. But as we reveal in naming the 31 winners of the 2001 Fleet News Awards - based on events of last year and, in the case of manufacturers, vehicles on sale before October 30, 2000 - Y2K had its plus points.

VAUXHALL has slashed servicing costs for fleets belonging to the manufacturer's Fleet Service Commitment Programme. Launched in 1998, the scheme is operated by 490 Vauxhall dealers nationwide with fixed cost pricing for all types of service work.

BRITAIN'S largest fleet, BT, is relaunching its company car scheme after an eight month moratorium on car buying. The decision to restart vehicle ordering for the 16,000-strong car fleet, part of a 56,800-vehicle fleet, came as BT was named winner of the Northgate-sponsored UK Fleet of the Year Award at this year's industry 'Oscars', the Fleet News Awards, on Wednesday night.

RENTAL giant Sixt Kenning is warning fleet managers they must take a more professional attitude towards predicting rental demand, or face higher charges. The firm made the announcement as it became the second rental giant in as many weeks to reveal an increase in rental charges for fleets.

FORD has promised to investigate the cause of a series of problems with boot lids on its top-selling Focus after a Fleet NewsNet appeal attracted responses from throughout the country. After pointing out a problem with the boot on our long-term <A HREF="http://www.automotive.co.uk/fleetnews/PAGES-2/TESTS/L-00314.HTM#TOP" target="_blank">Focus 1.8 TDdi Ghia saloon</A>, we urged readers to let us know if they had experienced similar problems.

NEW fleet telematics services are to be developed over the next six months by fast-expanding digital traffic information supplier Trafficmaster. Milton Keynes-based Trafficmaster, which next week moves to new premises in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, is to add to its Fleetstar and RAC Trackstar products.

FLEETS are being urged to keep a closer eye on their vehicles after new research revealed that 92% of two-year-old vehicles and 78% of one-year-old vehicles have damage outside the accepted fair wear and tear standards. The British Vehicle Rental Leasing Association/RAC fair wear and tear guidelines take into account slight damage to the vehicle in relation to age and mileage.

FLEET managers will get their first glimpse of the new Nissan Primera at the Fleet Show and have an input into its final UK specifications. The sneak preview at Alexandra Palace, London, will be the first time the car will be seen in public outside Japan, but only invited guests will be allowed through to the inner sanctum of Nissan's stand at the show, which runs from May 1-3.

IN the shadow of the Tyne Bridge, National Car Rental area manager Steve Greenham is making history as the first recipient of a ground-breaking Fleet News Scholarship. The scholarship offers a paid-for one-year place - worth about £3,000 - to take a Certificate in Management (Automotive Industries) qualification on the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's Professional Development Programme.

CONFUSED thinking in Government over its environmental aims were exposed in the Budget as several key initiatives could actually increase pollution. Cuts in fuel duty in particular will lead to up to 500,000 more tonnes of carbon being pushed into the atmosphere every year, according to Tony Grayling, senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research.

FLEET sales remained stable last year while retail sales increased 3% as Ford dealership to Burger King restaurant group Gowrings reported a fall in pre-tax profits following several years of record results. Although the company sold more cars last year than in 1999, it blamed low manufacturer incentives and pressure on new vehicle prices for the downturn.

THE Comet Driver of the Year is John Christopher from the high street retailer's Chester division. The event, now in its 10th year, presented drivers with a series of challenges, which led to individual and group awards.

MAJOR fleet orders have contributed to dealership group Lookers reporting a 26% year-on-year rise in new car sales in a national market up 1.1% last year. The company says its strategy of investing in people to win 'customers for life' enabled the business to make headway in a challenging market.

DEALERSHIP to contract hire group CD Bramall has seen profits dented in what the company describes as a 'difficult' year for the motor industry. The company's results for the year to December 31, 2000 show pre-tax profits fell to £16.03 million (1999: £17.3m), and group turnover dropped to £839.3m (1999: £843.5m).

NISSAN has introduced the Navara double cab hoping to convince fleets it can be an attractive alternative to the traditional company car. Launched at this week's Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, the Navara has a payload of 1,004kg, and is classed as a commercial vehicle with a benefit-in-kind liability of £500 regardless of mileage.

BARLOW Handling has chosen LeasePlan to handle its fleet of 1,000 vehicles. The Maidenhead-based supplier of lift trucks and materials handling operation has a fleet of 700 company vans, mainly Ford, and 300 multi-badge cars.

KEVIN James has been appointed the new director of SEAT UK. James has worked in the Volkswagen Group for 14 years, and brings experience gained in group service, franchise development and finance.

POWER company Scottish and Southern Energy has bought 60 Land Rover Defenders and five Freelanders for its fleet. The vehicles were distributed through Tay Land Rover.

NISSAN has clinched two major deals - a £2.5 million contract for 300 cars with rental company Practical Car & Van Rental and a two-year agreement with Cambridgeshire-based contract hire firm Powermarque, to supply amore than 200 vehicles. The Practical package will see the company take delivery of more than 100 vehicles, mainly Micras, over the next month.

GATESHEAD-based Springfield Citroen has supplied Sheffield County Council's Direct Services operation with 35 Berlingo 600D X vans, 20 Relay 1000 short wheelbase vans and one Citroen Synergie 2.0 HDi Exclusive people carrier.

ELECTRONICS giant Siemens will have accident management for 3,300 of its 5,500-vehicle fleet provided by motor claims administrator Town and Country.

AUTOGLASS is offering its partners in the fleet industry the chance to win a trip to a Formula 1 motor racing World Championship race next year by taking part in its fantasy F1 competition. It is the only exclusive online league for the fleet industry.