News - Page 2399

RCR Contract Hire, the Coventry-based contract hire and fleet management company, is changing its name to Paragon Vehicle Contracts. The company was acquired by the NHL Group - previously known as National Home Loans - last year, which has subsequently changed its name to The Paragon Group of Companies. Businesses within the group are now being re-branded.

ASHINGTON-based electrical company Bals Engineering believes switching to contract hire for its 50 strong fleet will save around £89,000 over three years.

NISSAN has added a trio of aggressively priced extra models to its 'all action' Almera line-up. The Action and Activ special editions and the new 1.4 version of the four-door adds to an already extensive range.

RAF High Wycombe has awarded Ryder a five-year contract to run its transport operations. The £1 million a year deal follows Ryder winning the £160 million, five year contract to fleet manage and maintain British Airways' Ground Fleet Services operations at Heathrow and Gatwick.

ROVER has unveiled a new 600 range with revised suspension, new styling features, and a 1.8% average increase in prices - simultaneously there is a 1.4% rise on Rover 800 models. A new model, the 620Di, joins the line-up, offering air conditioning as standard for an on-the-road price of £16,940. The new entry-level diesel is set to offer the lowest cost of ownership of any 600 model.

TWICE as many cars are stolen in Britain than in any other European country, according to the latest annual car crime study by Eagle Star Direct. The study, based on the latest European Union and insurance organisation statistics, found that the UK's car theft record was double that of the next worst country, France.

ROVER will increasingly reject fast-turnover deals and focus on small and medium fleets as part of its future corporate strategy. The BMW-owned manufacturer said its strategy was already beginning to pay dividends, and would win significant new corporate business among 100 to 300 car fleets.

FEARS of a dramatic fall in residual values across the MPV sector are being exaggerated, according to industry experts. Major growth in new registrations, together with a wide range of new entries to the market, have led to predictions that residuals will continue to fall.

VAN sales increased slightly year-on-year last month with sales of vehicles up to 1,800 kgs being 7,007 (March 1996: 6,788) and sales of vans 1801-3,500 kgs reaching 11,758 (11,528).

FLEET diesel sales fell last month by 15.6% year-on-year to 17,165 from 20,349 in March last year - the second largest fall on record. SMMT figures reveal that the largest fall in fleet diesel sales was in December 1995 when they were down 16.9% year-on-year in a total diesel market down 19.1%.

NEW car sales could reach 2.11 million this year with fleet sales accounting for 985,000 units if consumer and business confidence remain intact. A new report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders - 'Review of the UK New Car Market: 1996 including an Outlook for 1997 and 1998' - believes this year's new car sales figures will be the third highest on record but will slip back in 1998 to 2.065 million.

FLEET sales dropped last month for the first time since November last year, but despite the slight weakening motor industry experts were concerned at the last-minute registrations of some manufacturers - in the last three registration days Fiat registered 48% of its monthly sales, Citroen 43.3%, Nissan 38.3%, Renault 32.1% and Peugeot 30.3%.

PEUGEOT has announced prices of its new 406 Coupe models, two months before they go on sale in the UK.

MANCHESTER-based motor dealer Quicks has reported 1996 pre-tax profits up 13% to £5.2 million (1995:£4.6 million) on turnover up 11% to £365 million (1995: £328 million).

SKODA bosses are celebrating pulling off a trailblazing deal which has opened the door to Britain's fleet car market.

EURODOLLAR has won a three year £20 million solus deal to supply leasing and fleet management company Lease Plan with all its daily rental vehicles.

A NEW range of 850cc budget-priced Malaysian cars is due go on sale in the UK later this year. The five-door hatchbacks, made by Perodua, will be imported into the UK from August by European Motor Holdings, which has acquired a 90% interest in Perodua Cars (UK) - the subsidiary set up to operate the import franchise.

AVIS Europe's flotation on the London Stock Exchange has been hugely oversubscribed. The offer price was set at 124 pence per share, and conditional dealings saw that rise to 131.5 pence by the end of the first day's trading.

TRAFFICMASTER is to export its information system to Germany heralding the start of a pan-European system which could be operating within 18 months. The Milton Keynes-based company has signed a 12-year agreement with Mannesmann Autocom to introduce its information on to the German autobahn network.

THIRD party insurance, coupled with a comprehensive risk management programme, may be more cost effective than paying out for comprehensive cover according to new figures from Lease Plan UK.

LEADING trade associations representing vehicle manufacturers, dealers and the leasing industry have joined forces to lobby the next Government on the August registration plate changes.

NATIONAL Car Auctions has held its first fully 'paperless' car auction using computer technology to collect and transfer data on vehicles and sales.

VEHICLE wholelife costs are in danger of being ignored and could rise as fleets continue to debate whether to demand three-year warranties from major manufacturers. Wholelife costs are crucial to the warranty discussion and Fleet Cost Management claims that introducing three-year warranties could result in increasing list prices with wholelife costs rising as a result.

MORE than 1,000 fleets spending up to £60 million could take advantage of a new initiative by the Energy Saving Trust which is offering funding to businesses and local authorities interested in using alternatively fuelled vehicles.

ONE of Britain's best-known fleet car names is set to be dropped from the next new lower medium model range to be launched by Ford. Fresh badging is believed to be under consideration for the car which is due to take over the mantle of the long-running Escort next year.

THE RAC and Fleet Cost Management are attempting to pin down the major political parties on the UK's crippling traffic congestion problems. Both organisations have approached the big three with questions on how they will tackle congestion set to reach crisis point in key marginal constituencies.

TWO flagship London fleets - Fleet News Environmental Award winner London Electricity and Westminster City Council - are switching to City Diesel in a bid to improve the environmental impact of their vehicles.

TWO more directors have left vehicle technology group Toad, a month after chief executive Charles Parker's departure from the loss-making company. Parker resigned last month after less than six weeks as chief executive.

THE Association of Car Fleet Operators' South West and Wales Region, has donated £1,500 to a new hospice for terminally ill children.