AUCTION firms are investing millions of pounds in expansion in a battle for business that is improving choice and service levels for fleets.

LOMBARD and BCA recently staged a 400-car sale at a race day at Southwell Race Course near Nottingham. As well as the auction, buyers were treated to a champagne breakfast and an afternoon at the races.

THE premier of the new VW Polo and Passat W8 on the auction market saw all the vehicles on offer sold during a sale at Manheim Auctions Bristol.

IT IS simple enough. A customer goes into a car showroom and buys a new car, gives in a part-exchange and off he or she goes. But how did he/she come to be in that showroom in the first place? Mainly through marketing and advertising.' Martin Ward, CAP national research manager.

Stefan G Hart, owner of HSL Associates, specialists in staff selection, training and development, says firms must invest in qualified staff to run their fleets.

THE Fleet News' Facing the Future conference is offering fleet decision-makers the opportunity to question Transport Minister David Jamieson.

THE European Commission has bypassed car manufacturers and franchised dealers to explain its vision for car sales and servicing directly to fleets and private car buyers.

COMPANY cars are regaining their original twin role of providing essential business transport to company employees and serving as valuable recruitment and retention aids in a time of pay freezes.

FLEET costs could soar in Edinburgh if plans to introduce congestion charging in the Scottish capital become a reality.

ONE of Britain's biggest merchandising companies, Cork International, has switched its 200-strong fleet of vans to the Toyota Yaris car.

FLEET News is preparing its list of the 50 largest leasing companies in the country for this year's FN50 report and wants to hear from contract hire firms that think they should be included.

OCTAGON Motorsport has taken delivery of 24 Peugeot 206 XS models for use at its rally schools at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

A LEADING human resources organisation is urging fleets to give employees clear advice on the use of mobile phones while driving.

STREET lighting maintenance company David Webster has introduced a user-chooser element to its van fleet by adding the Vauxhall Combo and Vivaro to its choice list as an alternative to Ford vans.

VOLKSWAGEN Fleet Services has launched a new leasing campaign offering free walkie-talkies to fleet drivers choosing certain cars.

THE European Commission has cleared CVC Group's acquisition of Kwik-Fit. It said the move does not create any competition concerns as there is no significant overlaps between the car repair chain and CVC-owned companies.

TRICHO-Tech, a specialist in drug screening using hair samples, is running a seminar on drug testing techniques for health and safety managers, occupational health and human resource professionals.

MITSUBISHI Motors dealer group J.T. Hughes, based in Newtown and Telford, has taken over the sponsorship of the Welsh Premier football league and added the Mitsubishi Motors name to the association.

HOME Office officials have rejected claims they are planning a U-turn on corporate manslaughter legislation that could see directors in the dock because of the actions of their company car drivers.

THE Energy Saving Trust in Wales is funding the installation of liquefied petroleum gas refuelling sites in rural areas to kick-start demand for alternative fuels in the principality.

ANC Rental Corporation, parent company of National Car Rental, has launched a new rental product for businesses which need a car for three or six months but don't want to be tied into a long-term contract.

ALLIED Bakeries has signed a £4 million, 145 van deal with LDV to replace its fleet of delivery vehicles with Convoy Hi-Loaders, following extensive testing.

PROTON is pushing its bi-fuel models to fleets with an eye on forthcoming congestion charging schemes, believing it can cash in on the 100% discount for the cleanest alternatively-fuelled vehicles in London.

EAST Anglian Ambulance Service is trialling an eye-catching smart car in Cambridge to see if it speeds up response times to emergencies in city centre traffic.

MITSUBISHI Motors' sales and marketing director Paul Williams is leaving the company to become managing director of Kia Motors (UK).

CONTRACT hire company Arma has produced a mileage register booklet so drivers can keep accurate records of private and business mileage.

MG has launched a turbocharged version of the ZT and ZT-T to replace the low output V6 model which had been available since the car was launched.

TOYOTA is recalling more than 43,000 Yaris and Yaris Verso models in the UK to replace the rear brake line.

THE City of Los Angeles has become the first US retailer for a fuel cell vehicle after announcing an agreement with Honda in America.

LLOYDS UDT Business Finance has changed its name to Black Horse Fleet Finance, to establish it more clearly as part of the Black Horse Motor and Leisure group.