DAIHATSU has launched a new '333' offer that it claims will substantially cut the cost and reduce the risk of running commercial vehicles.

CONSTRUCTION industry supplier Shorco has replaced nearly a quarter of its fleet with Peugeots following the popularity among drivers of the one Peugeot 406 estate it previously had.

Renault has extended its manufacturer's warranty, called Diamond Warranty, to two years with unlimited mileage

Ford has announced prices for the new Fiesta, which goes on sale from April 5, promising increased specification and lower insurance ratings against out-going models.

SIXT Kenning has created a new sales structure to reinforce its coverage of the fleet and business travel market.

Executives from Fiat Auto and PSA Peugeot Citroen have signed a framework agreement to extend their 'industrial cooperation' in light commercial vehicles through 2017

CAR manufacturing at Vauxhall's plant in Luton has ended after nearly 100 years with the very last Vectra rolling off the production line last week.

A FLEET manager has developed a chain mail anti-theft bag for company car drivers after his firm suffered a spate of computer thefts from cars.

SEAT has announced provisional prices for its new three-door Ibiza.

ONE of Ford's leading advisers says that within six years technology will make the concept of a car 'driver' redundant as vehicles become extensions of the working environment.

MEN can breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that their women will no longer go short of kinky underwear after fleet management firm FMG group secured a deal to keep the Ann Summers fleet on the road.

A fleet of smarts daubed with celebrity designed 'paintjobs' will be touring the country to promote the sweetener brand Canderel.

Gareth Wilsher of global communications giant AT&T has been named as European Fleet Manager of the Year.

Ford's technical centre in Aachen, Germany, is the firm's European headquarters for alternative fuel research. Work is going on there now that could lead the world in the adoption of a truly sustainable vehicle fuel.

Forget the internet. Forget conference calls and video-conferencing. Forget mail merge. All of these techniques have their place, of course. But to really swap information with your business peers and colleagues, nothing even comes close to networking.

David Herman, vice-president for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States for General Motors, is retiring after 29 years with the manufacturer.

Spanish-based manufacturers are changing their sales predictions.

Bulgaria is one of few countries in Eastern Europe that doesn't produce or assemble cars.

New vehicle sales have always taken priority, with used cars and commercials a poor relation. Ford has taken the initiative to change things for the better.

A new report into the future of the global car industry predicts sales will drop 11% between 2000 and 2002.

Fleet new car sales grew across Europe last year while private sales slumped, according to a new report.

LEASING continues to grow in popularity across Europe. Indeed, it has experienced strong growth over the past four years, from 6.4 million cars in 1997, to almost 7.5 million cars in 2000.

Spanish new car sales have increased for the first eight months of the year, mainly due to a cut in interest rates, fuel prices and taxation.

KEY fleet sectors have been hardest hit by widespread falls in European residual values over the past year.

The European motor industry is struggling to sell both new and used cars after the terrorist attack on America - and it's getting worse, says CAP's Martin Ward.

Prices for three-year-old models across Europe are slumping fastest in the crucial fleet upper medium and lower medium segments. Mark Catterall and Mike Roberts analyse the figures.

Antwerp-based Bart Vanham, a senior manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers VAT (Europe Middle East and Africa) Automotive Group, analyses the tax situation faced by fleets in Belgium.

BRIAN Butler, director, VAT Services, and Frank Mitchell, barrister-at-law, VAT Services, at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Dublin office, analyse tax issues surrounding company cars in Ireland.

AON Motor Accident Management (AMAM) has announced a series of staff promotions as part of a strategic move into the European accident management market.

Jaguar, Fiat and Land Rover will be attending the two Fleet News ride and drive events taking place at Brands Hatch (April 9-10) and Oulton Park (April 30/May 1).