Winners of the Fleet News awards 2010 announced

BMW, Vauxhall and the iconic Volkswagen Golf were among the winners at the Fleet News awards night, which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Wednesday March 17.

The Volkswagen Golf was voted the 2010 Company Car of the Year by Fleet News readers and was also named by the judging panel as the best lower medium car.

The judges praised the iconic German car, which they said impresses fleet operators and drivers in equal measure.

“It has strong residual values and a wide choice of efficient engines that lead to low operating costs,” they said. “Drivers see it as an aspirational car in its sector.”

Fleet decision makers voted Vauxhall as their Fleet Manufacturer of the Year.

Commenting, Fleet News editor Stephen Briers said: “Vauxhall’s extensive dealer network, the innovative way it maintains its market position and its strong fleet model line up, which includes the ecoFLEX green range, were behind our readers’ decision to vote Vauxhall as their fleet manufacturer of the year.”

BMW was named Green Manufacturer of the Year. The judges praised its structures and processes which are all geared towards sustainability, from the boardroom in Munich to individual target agreements for managers.

“It ensures a holistic approach and, because the concept is embraced at all levels of the company, it doesn’t only benefit tailpipe emissions, it’s also ingrained in manufacturing and logistics, as well as every aspect of the business,” they said.

Skoda collected its first ever Fleet News Award when it was named the Most Improved Manufacturer. It also collected the best upper-medium car award for the Superb.

“Skoda has gone from strength to strength in 2009 and its flagship Superb typifies the carmaker’s success,” said the judges.

Skoda achieved a record 1.6% share of the corporate market in 2009; a tremendous performance considering it had no presence in fleet only five years ago.

Among the other winners, Caroline Sandall was voted fleet manager of the year for her hard work and bold decisions in implementing a cost saving programme at Barclays Bank. Her fleet was named fleet of the year in the 501-plus vehicle category.

Tesco Dotcom collected the fleet initiative of the year award for its occupational road risk strategy. The judges said: “Tesco enjoys an enviable and deserved track record and reputation for safety, training and Duty of Care. This initiative further underlines that commitment.”

Meanwhile, Tony Leigh, head of car fleet services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, entered the Fleet News Hall of Fame for his services to the fleet sector, including an 11-year term as director of trade body the Association of Car Fleet Operators.

More than 1,200 fleet managers, suppliers and car makers attended the Fleet News Awards, making it the biggest night in the fleet calendar.