WATER utility company Anglian Water Services is set to flood its company car parc with Vauxhalls after the manufacturer won a tender process involving five other car makers.

The company has switched its diesel-powered car and van fleets to a solus Vauxhall deal.

Anglian Water Services runs a fleet of about 600 cars and 1,000 vans, having previously had a single badge arrangement with Vauxhall for the cars but a dual-badge arrangement with Renault and Volkswagen for its van fleet. Under the new terms, it will take Vectra and Astra diesels on its car fleet and about 800 new Combo diesels and a further 200 Vivaro and Movano diesels on its van fleet.

The vehicles are being contract hired over two and three-year deals depending on mileage from Anglian Water's own contract hire and leasing company, Powermarque.

While all vehicles are diesel, Anglian Water is also evaluating LPG-powered Combo vans, and has LPG bunkering facilities at its Northampton offices. Fleet manager Nigel Allen said the decision to switch the entire fleet of 1,600 vehicles to Vauxhall had been based on a number of factors, including wholelife costs, price, reliability, and service support.

Its vans, on three-and four-year contracts, with either 60,000 or 80,000 mileage intervals, are driven by water and sewage operators and technical staff.

Vauxhall national sales and business development manager Bob Maclachlan said: 'Vauxhall's class-leading whole- life costs, reliability and service support have been important features in securing a single badge arrangement with a major customer.'