ELECTRICAL and engineering giant Siemens has sold its UK fleet to First National Vehicle Holdings and is transferring drivers on to the Whitechapel Car Ownership Scheme, under which staff technically own their company cars.

The fleet department has been renamed SG Motor Finance and SG Motor Leasing, both now part of the FNVH portfolio of companies. They will market and support the Whitechapel scheme from the old Siemens' fleet department offices in Chertsey, now leased by FNVH, complementing Whitechapel's Bury headquarters. Roger Glenwright, Siemens Group Services' group fleet manager, has been appointed managing director of the two SG businesses which also employ Siemens' former 10-strong fleet team. FNVH, an Abbey National subsidiary, will fund Siemens' fleet.

Siemens previously ran 3,000 cars and vans, funding more than 2,500 and managing the rest which were on contract hire. Under the new arrangements, about 400 drivers will initially move on to the Whitechapel scheme. Others will follow when their cars come up for replacement although about 1,000 vehicles are deemed inappropriate for Whitechapel because they are supplied to short-term contractors or are vans.