News - Page 1988

THE European Commission has approved the acquisition of Hertz Lease's multi-marque European operational car leasing and fleet management business by Societe Generale, owner of ALD Automotive.

A MAJOR study has highlighted the wide differences between car pricing, types of ownership and the cost of fuel between neighbouring countries in Europe.

FIAT Auto and PSA Peugeot Citroen executives have signed an agreement to jointly develop and manufacture a new range of light commercial vehicles.

THE first Mazda2 has rolled off the production line at Ford's plant in Valencia.

FORECASTING residual values is as demanding as predicting next week's lottery numbers. But, argues Mike McRae, operations director at Velo, there are some clear indicators of what lies ahead for used car values.

GAS-powered commercial vehicle values in London will crash as a result of congestion charging because most vans are not clean enough to qualify for the 100% charging discount, CAP has warned.

IT'S not all fleet, fleet, fleet for BCA this year.

JAGUAR and British Car Auctions have combined in a themed sale that saw 161 cars sold with a turnover of nearly £4 million.

USED car buyers are still competing for quality stock, according to Manheim Auction's senior group auctioneer Andrew Shepherd.

'AS new cars are launched at a staggering rate, I sometimes wonder if the sheer speed at which a new vehicle can be produced, from design to finished product, has any impact on quality.' Martin Ward, CAP national research manager.

CARBON dioxide-based company car tax could be scrapped after 2010 in favour of a new mileage-based taxation system relying on telematics systems and tracking technology, fleet decision-makers heard at a major conference.

FLEET decision-makers could leave their companies in a financial black hole unless they act on major changes to vehicle legislation introduced this week, experts warn.

BMW (GB) has announced it will be exhibiting at the relaunched Fleet Show at Silverstone on September 23, 24 and 25.

2003 sees the MPV market undergo its biggest shake-up in recent years with new arrivals from Peugeot, Citroen and Renault. Our panel of leasing experts gives its views

PROVIDING free fuel for private mileage as a perk to employees is equivalent to handing them a signed blank cheque, a leading tax expert has warned.

MAJOR fears about the health and safety risk of employees driving private cars on business could lead to a boom in rental demand, claims Godfrey Davis (Contract Hire).

FORD has started fitting ABS brakes as standard to all new Focus models.

IT services provider Telenor Business Solutions UK has outsourced management of its 450-strong fleet to ING Car Lease.

MERCEDES-Benz will premier its new CLK cabriolet at the Geneva Motor Show next month, incorporating many of the styling changes and improvements made to the CLK coupe.

REGULATORY approval is due this month on the proposed acquisition of Hertz Lease's multi-marque European operational car leasing and fleet management business by Societe Generale, owner of ALD Automotive.

A PORTSMOUTH-based courier and freight company has slashed its mobile phone bill thanks to a new fleet management system.

FLEET operators are being offered free trials of a new driver training course aimed at getting staff to drive more economically.

A SERIES of senior management changes are in progress at GE Capital Fleet Services. Current managing director Steve Taylor is leaving the company and is being replaced by Steve McAuley.

ABN AMRO Lease Holding has renamed LeasePlan Corporation.

PEUGEOT and Ford are to launch two new Euro IV compliant versions of their diesel engines which will slash company car tax rates for UK drivers.

PEUGEOT has boosted equipment levels in the 607 saloon. A six-CD autochanger and electric front seats are now available for a £300 increase on 2.0-litre petrol and diesel models (2.2-litre versions have no price increase).

WILTSHIRE Constabulary has started filling all its diesel police cars with biodiesel in a bid to reduce emissions.

FLEETS struggling to cope with the complexities of congestion charging in London have been thrown a lifeline by Daimler- Chrysler Services Fleet Management.

DISABLED motoring charity Motability has announced a series of changes that could dramatically increase its current fleet size of more than 400,000 vehicles.

HYUNDAI has cut prices of Elantra models by at least £1,000 in a bid to boost slow sales.