GM Europe has reported a loss of $180 million during the third quarter of 2002, an improvement on the $287 million loss it recorded in the same period last year.

THE Environment Agency has taken delivery of a further 20 Terrano vans, bringing the total number of Nissan vehicles on its fleet to 88.

A TARTAN painted Volkswagen Beetle marked the launch of Europcar Scotland, an initiative to give the market north of the border 'the attention and devotion it requires'.

LEX Transfleet has reorganised its maintenance division ServiceCare which operates a network of 10 commercial vehicle workshops around the UK.

DESPITE three terrible years for the rental industry, National Car Rental is developing new products and expanding its network.

VANS are not sexy. And most of the time they are strictly utilitarian in form and function. They are just not that exciting.

A MAJOR German fleet has praised the use of fuel cell vehicles and predicts them as the 'most viable concept for the future'.

SAAB has appointed Joe Peter as vice-president and chief financial offer

SOFTWARE systems, data management and consultancy services supplier International Decision Systems (IDS) Europe has launched a new European website.

PRODUCTION has started in Germany of Ford's 3-door Fiesta.

THE Fleet News Facing the Future conference offers fleet decision-makers the chance to hear expert opinion on key fleet issues, ranging from residual values and green alternatives to the Government's transport policy.

FLEXIBLE working to combat congestion has led to massively extended rush hours for Britain's car commuters, according to new research.

CHANGES to the National Insurance charging scheme set to be introduced next year could reinforce rocketing demand for diesel among fleet operators.

A GROUND-breaking agreement between fleets and manufacturers to end a spare parts crisis could see companies offered free car hire if vehicles are kept off the road because of delays in delivering spares.

PRESSURE has intensified on Transport for London (TfL) to exempt more 'essential' workers, including company car and van drivers, from the capital's forthcoming congestion charging scheme.

HONDA has released first pictures of its new stretched Accord estate, which it is aiming at the premium end of the load-lugging market with practicality as the prime attraction.

CONSTRUCTION service company SGB has decided to move away from handling the maintenance of its 800-strong car fleet through its own in-house workshops and switched its fleet to contract hire with maintenance.

CAR and van hire company GE Capital TLS has opened a new branch in Felixstowe.

LEASING company Vauxhall MasterHire has issued a new booklet called Cash-for-Car: the real issues.

HONDA'S new sports hatch, the Civic Type-S will go on sale in the UK next January priced at £14,995.

ZENITH Vehicle Contracts has been awarded two new contracts worth £3million for employee car ownership schemes.

A LEADING tax consultant has warned that fleets are being missold employee car ownership schemes that neither meet the needs of employer nor driver, nor comply with Inland Revenue rules.

UK fleets with a 'Buy British' company car policy could find their choice lists extremely limited within the next few years as leading manufacturers threaten to take their assembly plants overseas unless the UK adopts the Euro.

HI-TECH remote diagnostics vehicle equipment could slash fleet costs by identifying vehicle faults and working out how to rectify them without a driver visiting a garage. Systems may even be able to make changes to the engine set-up remotely to fix problems.

VOLKSWAGEN has reduced the price of entry- level Golfs by up to £885 until the end of December.

CITROEN has released prices for its Berlingo Multispace, which has been given a rugged new look, new dashboard and extra equipment as standard.

MORE than 80 staff from Alamo and National Car Rental entered this year's BUPA Great North Run and the team is on target to raise £10,000 for three UK charities.

THE Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is putting the environmentally-friendly Toyota Prius to the test as part of its green commitment. It will use the car to address the benefits of converting its fleet of conventional vehicles to greener alternatives.

FLEETS running Mercedes-Benz Vito and Sprinter vans in London are now able to use a dedicated van service centre at Mercedes-Benz Brentford.

THRIFTY Car Rental has announced an overall reduction in its winter prices of about 10% from last year.