News - Page 1719

VAN sales across Europe have started the year on a high, with figures for the month of January showing a 4% rise on the same month last year. Figures produced by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that two out of the five main countries reported ‘substantial’ increases in new registrations during January.

GENERAL Motors will use its Zaragoza plant in Spain to build the next-generation Opel Meriva.

THE Greek government has been censured by the European Parliament for its seizing of cars over the non-payment of road taxes and other administrative offences.

EUROPEAN new car sales have started off the year on a high – with January sales up by more than 2% compared to the same month the previous year. The EU-15 mainly contributed to the increase as many new EU member states and the European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) countries reported losses.

LEASING company Arval has opened a Russian subsidiary in Moscow, with the aim of becoming the leader player in the country.

ELECTRONIC toll manufacturers are being asked to join forces under the European Commission-backed RCI project, which aims to ensure new road charging equipment is inter-operable across the European Union (EU).

HER Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is waging war on fleets that fail to maintain detailed records of business mileage or run opt-out schemes poorly, in some cases penalising firms with multi-million pound fines.

THE continuing indecision over whether the Government will ever reinstate the Powershift grant for LPG has seen fleets almost entirely drop the alternative fuel from choice lists.

UK vehicle manufacturers have hit back at claims that city-based 4x4 drivers are ‘crass and irresponsible’.

FOMER Labour leader Lord Kinnock and former deputy prime minister Lord Howe are backing a campaign to switch the British system of miles to kilometres.

NO more power will go under its bonnet, but the next Honda Civic Type R model will be quicker off the mark and faster all-out than its predecessor.

PORSCHE unveiled its 911 GT3 at this week’s Geneva Motor Show.

A TECHOLOGY company which supplies smart card machines has installed a telematics system to track its mobile engineers.

A GOVERNMENT congestion study which suggests road pricing as a solution for the north west has been criticised by a business forum.

A CENTRAL system which logs customer queries and complaints is now operating at rental group Europcar.

A NEW company is set to launch a foray in the remarketing arena and is aiming for a large slice of the 1.4 million cars disposed of every year by vehicle manufacturers.

THE latest round of independent crash tests on new cars has awarded only two out of the six cars studied the maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection.

THE production lines at the former MG Rover plant in Longbridge could soon be making cars again.

A SOUTH African transport business has become the new owner of four businesses operated by the RAC as part of a £50 million deal.

A LUTON-based company which supplies beds to the National Health Service has cut costs and improved its duty-of-care provision after introducing a new fleet management system.

FLEET funding provider Alphabet has scooped an Employee Rewards and Benefits magazine award for ‘car scheme provider of the year’.

SEAT has released prices for its revamped Ibiza supermini range.

CHRYSLER’S UK managing director has accepted a new role in China and will be leaving at the end of March.

AUDI has opened Europe’s largest car showroom at Cardiff Gate Business Park in Wales.

AVERAGE fuel prices in the UK.

DEALERS play a key role in helping leasing companies to deliver a high-quality service to fleet customers, but do they detract from, rather than enhance, the experience? If the former, is it always their fault?

LETTERS to Fleet News’ editor Martyn Moore.

FLEET NewsNet looks at how new cars taken on to a typical fleet might perform over the next three years/60,000 miles.

THE rate of decline in van residuals is set to slow, improving future prospects for fleets. A report by market analyst CAP suggests less RV risk for fleets with vans compared with recent years.