ING Lease has taken over Dutch company TOP Lease for an undisclosed sum.

The European Commission is referring France and Luxembourg to the Court of Justice regarding their no-claims bonus systems for third-party motor insurance.

New research has shown that the pan-European downward trend in two-year residual values is continuing.

Traditional auction houses are set to lose business as more fleet disposal transactions are carried out at the touch of a button, according to a new electronic trading system that claims it is already returning 'substantial' savings for car manufacturers and big re-marketing companies.

HALF of Britain's motor dealers believe the type of cars they stock will change as a result of the changes to company car benefit-in-kind tax, a survey has revealed.

THE new Jeep Cherokee was introduced to the auction halls recently, in an exclusive sale at Manheim Auctions Coventry.

'There are two different stories coming out of the auctions at the moment. One is that all cars are selling and the other is that many sales are only provisional.' Martin Ward, CAP Network national research manager.

ANNUAL fleet running costs could rocket by more than £50 million following a £4 billion hike in National Insurance announced in this year's Budget.

LLOYDS TSB autolease has purchased First National Vehicle Holdings in a deal worth more than £400 million, leap-frogging rivals Lex Vehicle Leasing and LeasePlan to become the largest leasing firm in the country.

FLEET decision-makers will have the chance to conduct a scientific experiment into the dangers of using hands-free mobile phones while driving, as the Government considers outlawing mobile phone use by drivers.

AN online tyre provider is warning that fleet tyre costs could rise by at least 25% as car manufacturers fit run-flat tyres as standard.

VOLKSWAGEN has unveiled a new concept car which uses one litre of fuel every 100km - equivalent to 285mpg.

LEX Service has sold off its 96-strong network of Lex Autocentres in a deal worth £4 million that ends its direct involvement in vehicle servicing.

NEITHER BNP Paribas nor Kwik-Fit would comment on industry speculation that the French bank is reported to have made a £600 million bid for the fast-fit giant.

Key points in the Budget, in brief.

GORDON Brown has frozen Vehicle Excise Duty rates at their present levels in the 2002 Budget, and introduced a new 'super green rate' for the cleanest cars.

FLEETS investing in fuel-efficient cars could dramatically lower their business tax bills under a new green initiative.

AT the Fleet News Drive event next week at Oulton Park, fleet decision-makers will have the chance to test drive one of the few 'green' cars that will qualify for both discounted Vehicle Excise Duty and accelerated capital allowances.

THE Chancellor has announced a cut of £55 in the Vehicle Excise Duty fee for the least polluting light commercial vehicles.

FLEETS eager to help staff speed their journeys to work and avoid congestion charges received a further indication that the Government sees motorcycles and scooters as part of the solution to urban congestion and pollution, according to the UK's motorcycle industry.

IF a week is a long time in politics, it now seems aeons since September 2000 when transport was at the top of the political agenda as the fuel protests brought Britain to a standstill.

Frost & Sullivan project manager Miranda Carpenter looks at a new generation of toll charging systems in Europe which could have dramatic implications for fleet operators.

Mazda chief executive officer Mark Fields is to replace Wolfgang Reitzle as head of Ford's Premier Automotive Group.<

GENERAL Motors was this week expecting to sign a $400m (£277m) deal part-funded by one of its alliance partners to acquire a controlling 67% stake in Daewoo Motor.

MAZDA chief executive officer Mark Fields is to replace Wolfgang Reitzle as head of Ford's Premier Automotive Group.

FLEETS were given some respite from worrying about their fuel bills for the year ahead in Chancellor Gordon Brown's latest Budget.

THE global head of BMW has welcomed Government's decision to make hydrogen fuels exempt from fuel duty for the forseeable future.

GREENERGY, a UK supplier of commercially available biodiesel, has welcomed the Government's move to impose a duty on the renewable fuel of 20p per litre less than ultra-low sulphur diesel.

THE liquefied petroleum gas industry claims Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown missed an opportunity to create a bigger incentive for company car drivers to choose gas-powered vehicles.

EMPLOYEES will no longer have to pay tax for taking advantage of subsidised, employer-sponsored buses to work.