THE widely-publicised millennium 'timebomb' is unlikely to have any serious impact on the vast majority of fleet vehicles operating in the UK. Most of the mainstream manufacturers say the on-board computer systems fitted to their vehicles are fully millennium-compliant. Vauxhall is taking a much more cautious stance however, stating that it is impossible to be certain whether all GM vehicles are compliant.

As awareness about the implications for industry of the millennium issue grows, more and more fleet managers are asking whether their computer systems will continue to function properly after 1999. Concerns about fleet management and other computer support systems are well-founded but this concern has now spread to the vehicles themselves, which in today's hi-tech environment rely heavily on computerised control systems.

Engine management systems, automatic gearboxes, airbag controllers and ABS brakes all need tiny computers to function properly. Ford, Rover, Renault and Volkswagen have said their cars are millennium-compliant. Nissan and Vauxhall said they were investigating the matter.

AA head of vehicle electronic and electrical systems John Keats said: 'We are very concerned about the problem of millennium compliance, but we are also very cautious about scaremongering. We are heavily involved in this area and we are testing engine management systems to see if they are millennium compliant.'