Every car is now covered indefinitely up to a maximum of 100,000 miles.

The warranty covers engine and gearbox, steering system, brake system and electrical equipment (excluding wear and tear), with Vauxhall liable for all materials cost.

“It is popular with fleets and lease providers,” says Howkins. “We also now have the Network Q lifetime warranty.”

The Network Q element of the warranty means short-term rental cars will return to market with the Lifetime Warranty intact. It should improve re-sale values.

However, Vauxhall’s decision to reduce its exposure to short-cycle fleet sales is not a short-term measure.

This year it intends to cut this low profit business by a further 25% as it continues to put greater resource into the 25-250 fleet sector.

Howkins is committed to buying back two-thirds of short cycle volume to remarket via the dealer network.

“This enables us to have absolute control of the models and the model mix,” he explains. “The benefits of our used car warranty will also benefit our retailers.”

Vauxhall is also reviewing trim levels of the cars it puts into the short-term sector to enable it to move cars back into the market quicker and easier.

More importantly, it is increasing the number of field staff visiting fleets to support the retail network.

“It’s about contact, contact, contact,” says Howkins. “There’s no easy methodology to getting customers to buy your products. It’s about their interest in your brand.”

That level of interest is likely to be raised by several notches this year as the build-up to the Ampera begins in earnest.

Vauxhall has appointed an Ampera launch manager, Ian Allen, who is visiting prospects to explain the technology and benefits of the car.

“We think there’s huge demand and we want to be the market leader in the sector with this car – the only workable option,” says Howkins.

And he’s hopeful that the icing on the cake will be the green light to build the Ampera at Ellesmere Port.

A decision is due later in the year, but the plant is primed and ready to go if required.

'2011 will be the year of start/stop for Vauxhall'

Vauxhall is preparing for a busy year of new launches and low CO2 versions of existing models this year, which it expects will help it to greater market share.

In the second half of the year, a 119g/km Insignia and 99g/km Astra come to market, while its start/stop technology will be added to many more models – Maurice Howkins described 2011 as “the year of start/stop for Vauxhall”.

Ecoflex will also be extended into vans for the first time. Already available on the Corsavan it will ultimately be offered across the whole range.

The big product launches are the facelifted Antara SUV – “almost all new”, according to Maurice Howkins – and Astra GTC.

The Antara features revamped chassis, ride and handling and new diesel engines which increase power while reducing fuel consumption by 25%.

Available to order now with the first deliveries due in late March, the new Antara moves “back into the heat of the segment for off-road vehicles”, says Howkins, although it fails to dip below 160g/km for the two-wheel drive version.

The Astra GTC will go on sale by the end of the year and is expected to appeal to user-choosers.

Meanwhile, a facelifted Corsa is imminent featuring Vauxhall’s new ‘design language’ and new colour options. 

And the new Zafira, a firm fleet favourite, will go on sale either at the end of the year or the first quarter of 2012.