VAUXHALL is to relocate its fleet operation, currently in seven different locations around the UK, into a new fleet centre at its Luton headquarters next month. The merging into one location of the 200-strong fleet team includes the formation of an 80-strong customer care team under newly appointed customer care manager Paul Adler.

The new 'fleet centre' will become operational on January 2 next year and marks the conclusion of a 14-month multi-million project masterminded by Vauxhall fleet marketing manager Keith Michaels.

The refocusing of Vauxhall fleet operations is designed to increase the resources available to the dealer network to support fleet market activity and strengthen the fleet support team to allow the fleet field salesforce to maximise their time in direct contact with fleet customers.

'Those manufacturers who are not good in the frequency or quality of their visits to fleet customers are showing up in the research,' said Michaels. 'It is vital our entire field salesforce is on call to all fleet operators who want to talk to them.'

The entire fleet support team will relocate to Vauxhall headquarters' premises - currently home to the company's aftersales customer care team. Adler, who has been with Vauxhall for 10 years, will take up his new post shortly and will be joined by a yet-to-be-appointed business development manager who will be responsible for ensuring that Vauxhall is at the forefront of IT and internet-based fleet activity.

Adler's team includes staff responsible for handling fleet demonstrators, Vauxhall Car and Van Rental as well as employees responsible for providing a wealth of information on Vauxhall products and fleet issues.