News - Page 1969

DESPITE thriving in a computer environment, Zenith Vehicle Contracts still places a heavy emphasis on old-fashioned principles such as customer service in its bid for sales growth. Managing director Andrew Cope speaks to Fleet NewsNet.

FAST-FIT customers demand a special kind of service that few companies have to offer – a service that has the ability to change the way drivers feel about their day.

INCHCAPE Automotive has secured a contract which will see the group handling the de-fleeting of Mazda vehicles being used as hire cars by National Car Rental.

The latest appointments in the fleet industry.

FLEET NewsNet's regular round-up of the latest products aimed at the fleet market.

BME

THIS week, Fleet News and Fleet NewsNet launches a campaign calling for employers to help support fleet decision-makers by giving them the training they need to do their jobs.

ONE of the country's biggest police forces has warned employers that officers will come knocking on their doors in the event of an accident involving company drivers.

MAZDA RX-8 customers will be offered the chance to hone their driving skills by vehicle preparation specialist Prodrive.

NORFOLK County Services is using a fleet of 12 Renault Clio- vans for its work on maintaining key public services.

WILTSHIRE Ambulance Service is using four Honda CR-V vehicles as rapid response units for emergency call outs.

A FLEET industry freeze on disposals before the second Gulf War is thawing as companies return to structured replacement cycles – but companies may pay the price for delaying sales.

CHOOSING the wrong colour could cost a fleet between £500 and £1,000 per vehicle, decision-makers were warned this week.

AUCTION giant BCA has launched a new Auction View Fixed Price service so account holders can buy stock at set prices from throughout the firm's auction network.

BRITISH Car Auctions has opened a new 10 acre de-fleet and logistics centre targeting contract hire, leasing companies, manufacturers and dealers.

'I RECENTLY commented on the impact of the Euro exchange rate on car importers. When it stood at 1.5 Euros to the Pound a 15,000 euro car equated to £10,000 but when we could only buy 1.4 Euros with a Pound that cost went up to £10,700.'

LEADING industry figures have spoken out about the need for fleet decision-makers to be given proper training if they are to be effective in their roles.

THE RAC Foundation has welcomed a Government move to warn fleets of the dangers of employees driving after taking over-the-counter medicines and called for a new 'traffic light system' for all medicines.

HONDA is offering a personal attack warning system aimed at protecting fleet drivers from a road rage incident.

VAUXHALL is stepping up its fleet offensive with a new Euro IV diesel and extended service intervals for new models.

PROPERTY company OCS expects to slash thousands of pounds from its annual London congestion charging bill by converting 40 of its 2,650-vehicle fleet to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

MORE than 300 company car drivers at Napp Pharmaceuti-cals have been issued with safety and accident packs as part of the group's health and safety policy.

BMW has introduced a new base level Compact while also adding a number of four cylinder Sport models at the bottom end of the 3-series range.

ZURICH has produced a fleet handbook offering essential information on all of its fleet services.

DAIHATSU will bring its quirky Copen roadster to the UK in November.

FORD'S director of commercial vehicles, Steve Parker, is leaving to take up a new appointment.

VEHICLE emissions have been linked to ill health in a new research report that could influence future Government tax policy on fuels.

KWIK-FIT is closing 140 of its Tyre Plus centres and integrating the remaining 115 centres into its core network.

A NEW management team including some of the fleet industry's most well-known figures has taken control of Leasedrive Holdings after securing the company in a £45 million deal.

FORD will unveil a new 1.8-litre direct injection petrol engine in a revised version of the Mondeo due on sale this summer, offering the lowest CO2 emissions for a volume 1.8-litre upper-medium car.