News - Page 2007

UP to a third of UK fleets are risking prosecution for failing to comply with major new European legislation on insurance, a new report has revealed.

THE police crackdown on street mugging is forcing criminals to shift targets, with complacent company car drivers, who leave mobile phones and laptops on view, becoming the main focus of their attention, a survey has found.

EMPLOYERS are leading the way in taking a responsible approach to mobile phone use while driving, a new report from the RAC reveals.

INSURERS and bodyshops have expressed interest in joining a major campaign to improve the availability of parts for off-the-road fleet cars.

CAMPAIGN groups are warning that company car drivers will escape speeding fines if roadside cameras are painted yellow.

TOYOTA has set the world record for 'maximum mileage on one gallon of fuel' with its Yaris diesel, after driving instructor John Gough of Gloucester covered 130 miles on a single gallon, beating the previous record of 112 miles.

VAUXHALL'S high-roof Vivaro variant will go on sale in the UK next spring.

VAN rental company Northgate has taken over Target Vehicle Rental in a deal worth 'more than £3 million'.

MINI and BMW are offering Trafficmaster Messenger in all models as a £400 option or £350 retro-fit accessory (excluding fitting) with immediate effect.

PRICES of the new Subaru Forester start at £16,195 on-the-road for the 2.0 X - an increase of £700 on the previous entry-level model although the X has more equipment as standard, including climate control.

JOHN Maslen will take over as acting editor of Fleet News from November 11.

FLEETS are being urged to adopt a 'dual strategy' towards free fuel for company car drivers as the basis for taxing the perk switches from engine size to emissions.

THE carelessness of company car drivers is costing employers between £400 and £700 per incident, new findings suggest.

PEUGEOT has announced prices for the 807 people carrier and 206 GTi 180, both of which are due for a January launch.

THE Highways Agency is using 'Mondeo Man' in a hard-hitting television advertising campaign designed to reduce the number of workers killed in roadworks.

Audi has announced prices for its flagship A8 saloon.

A NEW electronic guide to help steer company car drivers through difficult motoring and company car related questions has been launched by GE Capital.

FLEETS with liquefied petroleum gas cars can obtain MoT-type certificate to show they have been converted by an LP Gas Association approved installer.

Practical Car & Van Rental has signed a deal with Iveco to take on a total of 100 vehicles over the next 12 months.

VEHICLE downsizing is being blamed for the shrinkage of the traditional Mondeo fleet market, but pressure from premium brands offering cars at the £20,000 mark is also to blame.

The latest appointments in the fleet industry.

A MASSIVE repair operation is being put into place, in a bid to help fleet managers facing one of the worst storms to hit the UK in 15 years.

ANYONE who has travelled on a budget airline over the past few years cannot help but have noticed the attaché case revolution among the passenger base.

PEUGEOT has hit out at the new block exemption regulations for car sales and servicing, describing them as 'misguided' and warning that they could actually lead to lower quality standards.

IN A year when foot and mouth disease shut the countryside down for months, you wouldn't expect a car company whose products are closely associated with farming to enjoy booming sales.

Julian Sansum, senior manager at accountancy Deloitte & Touche, looks at the effects of the national insurance changes due in April next year.

THE National Teaching and Advisory Service has signed a deal worth £250,000 for more than 20 Toyotas.

CONTRACT hire companies are being targeted with a new product from cfc solutions allowing them to quote online in real time more quickly.

BUSINESS services provider Rentokil Initial has signed a massive 16-country fleet deal with General Motors - in what is described as one of the biggest contracts of its kind in Europe.

DIESEL penetration in Europe is set to top 40% this year, equating to about 5.8 million vehicles, a new study suggests.