News - Page 1952

AN environmental initiative in Wales has powered a fleet of vehicles for nearly 40,000 miles using cooking oil that would otherwise have been dumped in a landfill site.

AUTOMOTIVE technology supplier Bosch has revealed its next-generation diesel and petrol engine developments, designed to clean up emissions and help cars break the 70mpg barrier.

MORE than half a million cars have yet to be registered on the Motor Insurance Database (MID), prompting the industry body to give a final warning to fleets that they should sign up or face prosecution.

A LANDMARK High Court ruling has prompted a warning to fleet decision-makers that they face prosecution as the Health and Safety Executive cracks down on at-work accidents.

THE UK fleet industry looks set to save millions of pounds every year as an increasing number of leasing companies absorb the cost of replacing damaged tyres on company cars.

MANUFACTURERS have defended their reputation for reliability after a high-profile survey claimed German cars were more prone to breakdowns than many rivals.

GM DAEWOO has revealed a new lower-medium hatchback that will make its public debut at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show.

MAZDA will unveil a diesel-powered sports car concept at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show, along with the first opportunity to see the Mazda3.

A NEW management team has taken over the Nidd Vale Group's General Motors division.

THE RAC Foundation is urging car manufacturers to consider further in-car safety features as research suggests that overweight motorists are more than twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in an accident than lighter people.

VAUXHALL will reveal a new state-of-the-art diesel engine at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show, combining common rail technology with a maintenance-free particulate filter (DPF).

MARCONI, the telecommunications company, has signed a five-year multi-million pound deal with Lex Vehicle Leasing.

A NATIONAL shipping company has added 37 new Renault Meganes to its fleet of 130 Lagunas, Meganes and Clios.

VAUXHALL is targeting the user-chooser sector with a series of new offers on the GM Platinum Card.

LEX Auto Logistics has won the title Automotive Logistics Company 2003 from the Institute of Transport Management (ITM).

HERTZ is now offering a limited number of Ford StreetKas for hire at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, London Victoria and London Marble Arch.

VARDY Group Fleet has announced expansion plans. The company said its team, which supplies vehicles to the daily rental, bodyshop and courtesy car market, contract hire companies, insurance company total loss replacements and to outright purchase customers, has already passed the half-way mark in its target of 15,000 vehicles for the year.

MANHEIM AUCTIONS is transferring fleet sales from its Gloucester centre after announcing plans to invest more than £2 million in the site in a bid to create Europe's largest commercial vehicle auction house.

FORD franchised dealers will get a new online authorisation system after the manufacturer signed up to the Epyx 1Link Service Network.

THE Stafford branch of Age Concern has taken delivery of three specially converted 3.5-tonne LDV Convoy diesel minibuses for transporting passengers to day care centres.

TOYOTA has launched its sixth hybrid-powered vehicle – a full-size MPV for the Japanese market.

VAUXHALL has revised the Agila and included a new 1.0-litre twinport engine in the range, offering improved performance and fuel economy.

LAND Rover has made several changes under the skin of the Discovery for the 2004 model year, with the addition of ISOFIX child seat attachments across the range.

THE London congestion charge system has led a city-based paper merchant to introduce an online fleet management system to track its fleet of 510 vehicles.

A RISE in used car sales could be attributed to the fact that fleets are using alternative re-marketing routes to the traditional auction, industry experts have claimed.

RETAIL demand for the Mini has led to an increase in used car values for the marque as retail customers shun waiting lists for new models.

FLEETS should be putting their vehicles through fleet-only auctions because trade buyers buy with more confidence from them, pushing conversion rates and prices up.

BCA says its new online Auction View Instant Purchase service is providing fleet operators with a valuable additional opportunity to remarket stock.

Many leasing companies are reporting an increasing number of extensions to leases at the moment. The trend is to move from three years to 48 months.