News - Page 2356

A LABOUR Party victory in the May 1 general election could signal a fuel price rise if a June mini-Budget is held, it was claimed this week. The latest monthly PHH AllStar fuel price report shows pump prices have remained static for the third month as the industry waits for the outcome of the election.

HONDA has appointed three new fleet executives in a bid to develop the most professional company car sales network in Britain. Ross MacKerron, Duncan Johnston and Andy Rowe have boosted the strength of the Honda (UK) regional sales team to 12 under moves aimed at fostering closer working relationships between the fast-expanding company and its 15 corporate sales centres.

GAS will be a driving force for candidates hitting the election trail. The three major parties have been provided with cars which run on LPG to help them take the 'green' route to political meetings. Three luxury Vauxhall Omega models have been converted to run on LPG in a novel bid to show prospective MPs that the alternative fuel is also practical to use.

POLICE fleets are being targeted to participate in an operational trial of gas-powered patrol cars. Half a dozen constabularies are already involved in the programme, which is part of the Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme, and due to be further extended at next month's National Association of Police Fleet Managers' conference and exhibition.

Rover has signed a deal to supply Royal London Insurance with 2,000 cars worth £28.5 million at showroom prices. The cars will be delivered in July and August through a network of nine dealerships.

JAGUAR is recalling around 800 XK8s in the UK.

PRODUCTION of Ford's Probe is set to cease in June - but user-choosers itching for one needn't rush as current stock levels will last until the end of the year.

DIAL Contracts and Vauxhall Master Hire are among the first wave of fleet operators to hook up to the DVLA's award-winning electronic relicensing initiative. Developed over two years in conjunction with Cowie Interleasing, the scheme was rolled out to a wider audience at the beginning of the year and won the Special Award at last month's Fleet News Awards.

DAGENHAM Motors has announced record pre-tax profits of £5.12 million for 1996, up on last year's £5.11 million, following the reorganisation of its car sales division and the introduction of a range of cost-cutting measures in all areas.

PRE-tax losses at traffic information provider Trafficmaster increased last year to £3.41 million (1995: £2.48 million) on sales up 35% to £3.45 million.

SUBARU has beaten 32 other manufacturers to come out top of this year's annual UK Customer Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power and BBC Top Gear from information provided by more than 16,400 owners and drivers of M-registered cars.

COMPANY cars with one-year warranties are costing fleets on average £143.35 more per vehicle in unreliability than those protected by three-year/60,000 mile guarantees. And with the three-year warranty battle hotting up as Ford this week followed Vauxhall and dipped its toe into the three-year warranty arena, new figures from Fleet Management Services reveal it would not cost manufacturers much to extend the increased warranty cover to fleets.

FORD has replicated Vauxhall's 'toe in the water' three-year warranty initiative amid increased speculation that Britain's leading fleet manufacturers will introduce the additional cover as standard on all new vehicles.

TRAFFIC congestion is a major problem for company car drivers causing late arrival for meetings, impaired job performance and increased cost to companies, according to a MORI's survey of 100 fleet managers for traffic information provider Trafficmaster.

FORD has restructured its light commercial vehicle sales department bringing together the previously separate sales and marketing functions under the direction of new commercial vehicles director Robin August. In addition five people have been recruited to boost the light commercial vehicle sales forces in pursuit of further sales.

FORD has restructured and simplified its Escort range incorporating a one price strategy which sees estate model prices cut by up to around £1,000 to give them price parity with four and five door models. In addition 1.6 16v 90 PS and 1.8-litre 16v 115 PS engined models are now available at the same price as are LX and Si models, CL models replace L models, a GTi Escort is to go on sale shortly and among specification changes LX - excluding the 1.4 - Si and Ghia models are now available with air conditioning as standard in lieu of a sunroof for an additional £250.

PEUGEOT has revealed specification and prices of the restyled and rebadged 306 range which goes on sale in the UK on Thursday (April 17). The new range will consist of three, four and five door models, with a choice of three specification levels badged L, LX and GLX in place of the existing Style, XL and XT versions. The four-door's Sedan badge has also been dropped, but the six sports models will still be badged XS, D Turbo, XSi, GTI-6, Cabriolet and Roadster.

THE war of words between the Cowie Group and Neil Pykett continued this week, despite the decision of Pykett to resign as a director of the company just three days before an extraordinary general meeting of Cowie shareholders was due to convene to remove him from the board.

Conservative pledges

MASTERDRIVE has held an open day for more than 100 customers and other guests at its new headquarters in Middlesex.

VAUXHALL is set to introduce a satellite-linked in-car communication system which will put drivers in touch with a 24-hour information centre offering everything from emergency assistance to directions to the nearest car park.

MITSUBISHI'S perceived value as a franchise has slumped to 29th out of 30 according to dealers in the new half-yearly Dealer Attitude Survey by the Retail Motor Industry Federation's National Franchised Dealers' Association.

MORE than 2,000 right hand drive Chrysler Voyagers have been sold or ordered during its first month on sale in the UK.

RCR Contract Hire, the Coventry-based contract hire and fleet management company, is changing its name to Paragon Vehicle Contracts. The company was acquired by the NHL Group - previously known as National Home Loans - last year, which has subsequently changed its name to The Paragon Group of Companies. Businesses within the group are now being re-branded.

ASHINGTON-based electrical company Bals Engineering believes switching to contract hire for its 50 strong fleet will save around £89,000 over three years.

NISSAN has added a trio of aggressively priced extra models to its 'all action' Almera line-up. The Action and Activ special editions and the new 1.4 version of the four-door adds to an already extensive range.

RAF High Wycombe has awarded Ryder a five-year contract to run its transport operations. The £1 million a year deal follows Ryder winning the £160 million, five year contract to fleet manage and maintain British Airways' Ground Fleet Services operations at Heathrow and Gatwick.