EUROPEAN courier company Fraser Freight is claiming major savings from fitting Thales Telematics' Orchid fleet management solution to its mixed fleet of 14 vehicles.

DESPITE five years of higher vehicle and fuel taxes and increased investment in alternative transport, Britain's roads are busier than ever, according to a new report.

TYRE monitoring system developer SmarTire Europe has teamed up with Firstdata Focus to include its systems as part of an in-car personal computer package.

MAZDA has launched a revised MPV with a new 2.3-litre petrol engine plus, for the first time, a diesel engine.

HONDA has introduced new variants across its range.

NORTHERN England was the most expensive place to buy petrol during May.

VOLKSWAGEN has introduced specification upgrades for the Golf and cut prices of high performance models.

THE Government has committed to do more work for the innocent victims of road accidents, warning they must not be the 'poor relations' within the Criminal Justice System.

JB Doors, the garage door and electronic gate expert based in Rotherham, slashed its fuel costs by £500 in a month after becoming the 3,000th customer of electronic vehicle management expert Minorplanet Systems.

THE Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has extended is solus deal with Citroen until May 2003 in a deal worth nearly £2 million at showroom prices.

LARGE swings in the value of used vehicles are threatening to throw fleet managers' vehicle disposal programmes into chaos.

BUSINESS intelligence specialist Cognos is to use an all-inclusive fixed cost contract hire package for its company car fleet.

A BEST practice service showing how real-life accidents happen and how to avoid them has been launched by AcciDON'T.

WITH millions of people throughout the country celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee last week, the world of motoring also showed its support.

VOLKSWAGEN Financial Services has launched a new personal leasing product called New Solutions, available across the Volkswagen Group network.

ANYONE who thinks the political shenanigans at the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions is a recent phenomenon should think again.

Inchcape Fleet Solutions is bringing the benefits of the worldwide web to a wider fleet audience with a simple approach that belies the impact of information sharing and learning. Jeremy Bennett speaks to David Harris, the head of the company's new media team. <p>

Latest fleet appointments

MG Rover could take over Daewoo's Polish car plant as a new site for building its own models and engines for Eastern Europe.

'There are used cars everywhere and as each day arrives, then so do more. The trade is now more picky than ever and with the amount of stock around to choose from, they can afford to be. Martin Ward, national research manager, CAP Network <p>

DEMAND for vans is booming at British Car Auctions' Newmains site in Scotland.

MANHEIM Auctions Haydock had the second biggest van sale in its history as 199 vehicles went under the hammer recently.<P>

DEALERS are putting themselves at risk and undermining their long-term relations with fleet customers by being sucked into 'crazy' buy-back deals, industry experts claim.<p>

HPI, the independent vehicle information provider, has become an approved supplier of vehicle and mileage checks to the Lexus Used Approved Scheme.<P>

TRADE buyers are regularly ignoring vehicles with more than 60,000 miles on the clock as oversupply in the car market allows them to pick and choose.<p>

CLOCKERS will make a mockery of used car mileage declarations unless buyers change their attitude to high-mileage cars.

FLEET industry leaders have set out a strategic action plan for new Transport Secretary Alistair Darling

MEMBERS of the European Parliament have voted to delay the introduction of elements of the new car distribution block exemption rules

FLEET drivers are causing thousands of pounds damage to vehicles by ignoring basic checks that are crucial with longer car service intervals.<P>

FLEETS are in danger of being carried away on a diesel 'magic carpet' in the false belief the fuel provides a failsafe solution to reduce drivers' tax bills, when they could end up paying more.<p>