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Y DANIEL ATTWOOD

s many as one-third of grey fleet drivers

ho lease cars without maintenance cover

e failing to have vital safety work carried

ut.

The findings follow on-site inspections of

most 6,000 cars both company and private

being used for business.

If non-essential service and repair costs

e not covered by the allowance, ouridence shows that cars are neglected,

id Simon Hill, of fleet consultants Total

otion. We estimate that around a third of

ivers surveyed were in this position.

The problem stems from drivers being

mpted to take non-maintenance contracts

ovided by brokers when they are not enti-

d to a company car or have chosen to opt

ut and take cash.

The difference between a contract with

ll maintenance cover and one without is

pically around 60 to 80 per month. By

ting for a non-maintenance contract, an

mployee can easily upgrade from a Ford

ondeo to a BMW 3 Series.

A fully-maintained Mondeo 2.0-litre dieseltate from one internet broker costs 491 a

onth on a 36-month/60,000-mile contract.

he same company offers a BMW 320d

ouring for 474 a month on a non-main-

ned contract.

But when a driver discovers that new

res on a prestige car cost 250 each and

ake discs can add another few hundred

unds, they find they cant afford the work,

id Mr Hill. It is the brokers that are creat-

ing this problem. If a driver has 300 a

month, he should be sold a fully maintained

contract, but then he is told he can afford a

prestige brand, but what he is not told is the

additional maintenance costs he faces.

Mark Sherry, of internet broker Car

Partner Fleet Solutions, which advertises allits vehicles with non-maintained contracts,

said the industry was becoming aware of the

issue. This is definitely a problem, he said

We find that employees of small companies

generally take non-maintained contracts.

They are more price sensitive.

Mr Sherry says he now advises anyone

driving more than 20,000 miles a year to take

a contract with maintenance cover included.

However, the decision lies with the employee.

And they often dont think about the main-

tenance costs, he said.

ACFO chairman Julie Jenner said more

stringent checks or a move back to company

cars were the only answers.

ACFO has always recommended that

fleet operators ensure that service recordsand MoT certificates, where required, are

provided to the company and on a regular

basis, she said.

In reality, though, I am not sure that this

happens as it can be an administration

burden where companies have a large

number of opt-outs. Of course, this problem

doesnt arise when company cars are

taken.

RoadworksrageReader questionsHighways Agencypolicy p25

GreenerPorscheCayenne getsless thirstyp15

EWS P5 DAILY RENTAL P17 CAREERS P19

Police trials of

electric one-person

transporters like the

Segway (pictured left)

as an environmen-

tally-friendly replace-

ment for patrol cars,

are receiving mixed

reactions.

Low-carbon

cars like the

diesel-power-

ed Volks-

wagen Polo

BlueMotion

(pictured) are gradually being introduced

by rental companies but there are

economic reasons why progress is slow.

Getting drivers to

complete paperwork

is a constant battle

for Katy Warren,

fleet administrator

for Cancer Research

UK. Find out more

about her in our

Fleet CV column.

Win a sat-navsystem worth500 p27

COMPETITION

FleetNewsBusiness motoring strategy and finance0.01.082.25

fleetnews.co.uk

HELPING

YOURUNA

CHEAPER

CLEANER

SAFER

FLEET

[email protected]

TOP STORIES ONLINE

Help compileFleet News/CAP report (TomTom up

for grabs as an incentive)

Ford 2008 calendarcompetition winners

Apply online for ourFebruary business forum

Fleet alert over

neglected cars

Phone useincreasesroad delays

The argument for banning employ-

ees from using hands-free phones

while driving is gathering momen-

tum after new research proved that

motorists on mobile phones

contribute to traffic congestion

because they drive more slowly.

The research found that motorists

talking on mobile phones while

driving on dual carriageways and

motorways were slower and less

likely to overtake.

The average persons commute

is longer because of that person

who is on the phone in front of

them, said University of Utah

psychology professor Dave Strayer.

If you talk on the phone whiledriving, its going to take you longer

to get from A to B, and slows down

everybody else on the road,

explained researcher Joel Cooper, a

doctoral student in psychology.

The findings back previous

research that using a hands-free

phone is as dangerous while driving

as using a hand-held phone

because it is the conversation itself

that is the major distraction.

Earlier studies also found that

mobile phone users followed at

greater distances, were slower to

brake and to regain speed after

braking.Strayer said it was important to

show how mobile phone use affects

traffic. When people have tried to

do cost-benefit analyses on whether

we should regulate phones, they

dont factor in the cost associated

with increased commuting times,

excess fuel used by stop-and-go

traffic and increased air pollution.

Drivers tempted by non-maintained lease contracts to get prestige cars

Drivers opting for non-maintained lease contracts are causing fleets a headache


2/28

EVENTS ROUND-UP

Finishing touches being put to Europe conference

Smart moveCoventry City Council has

taken delivery of a fully

electric Smart car as part of

a 100-car market trial prior

to the introduction of the

two-seater vehicle. The car

will be made available on a

lease arrangement to

selected UK corporate

customers.

Master strokeCliniserve has taken

delivery of 27 new

Renault Master 120.35

vans through Renault

Trucks distributor MV

Trucks. The vans will

replace the companys

remaining Iveco vehicles.

By the end of the year,

Cliniserve will have an

all-Renault fleet of 70

vehicles.

Porsche hybridPorsches forthcoming four-

door Panamera will come

with a hybrid option. The

technology seen in theCayenne Hybrid prototype

will enter the market at the

end of the decade, after the

launch of the regular

Panamera.

Engine changes

Peugeot and Citron

have added a new engine

to their MPV offerings.Both the Peugeot 807

and the Citron C8 now

offer a 2.2-litre HDi

diesel engine with

173bhp and 295lb-ft of

torque. It returns

42.8mpg with CO2

emissions of 191g/km.

NEWS

IN BRIEF

2 10.01.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

Final preparations are being

made for the seventh annual

Fleet News Europe Conference

in Brussels next month.

The event chairman will be

Christopher Macgowan, a

former chief executive of the

Society of Motor Manufacturers

and Traders in the UK and now

vice-chairman of the Motorists

Forum.

There is a record speaker

line-up for this years event,

sponsored by Hyundai and BCA,

which has already attracted a

number of top-level directors as

delegates.

Issues covered at the event

include green fleet in Europe,

market expansion, the future of

residual values, fleet safety,

technology, the manufacturer

viewpoint and an international

perspective.

Among the speakers will be

Vincent Rupied, international

director of the Corporate Vehicle

Observatory, Steffen Schick,

chief operating officer, Fleet

Logistics, and Pascal Serres,

vice-president, ALD Interna-

tional.

This years event takes place

at the Marriott Hotel, Brussels,

on February 7.

For information, ticket sales

and sponsorship enquiries,

contact Luke Clements on 01733

468325 or email luke.

[email protected].

Full details of the conference

are available on the dedicated

Fleet News Europe website at

www.fneuropeconference.com

ppl/ppg

DIESEL..............................108.4/492

SUPER UNLEADED........109.4/497UNLEADED......................103.4/468

FOUR STAR......................105.2/478

LPG......................................52.2/237

UK FUELPRICES

Fleet News and its sister company

CAP, the vehicle data specialist,

would like to hear from fleet oper-

ators.

We are preparing a feature and

report on fleet operators experi-

ences, and CAP is offering a

TomTom satellite navigation unit

as an incentive to take part. One

lucky respondent will be drawn at

random to win the sat-nav system.

All responses will be treated in

strictest confidence and your

name/company will not be

published, but we do need your

details for you to be eligible to win

the prize draw. We have three

questions for you:

Have you changed your fleet

car supplier in the past three

years on the grounds of unsatis-

factory ordering processes or

customer care in general during

the configuration and ordering

stage? (Yes or no)

Have you experienced prob-

lems configuring cars with the

exact combination features and

options that you require? (Yes or

no)

What percentage of your time

as a fleet manager is spent solving

vehicle specification and configu-

ration issues? (Answer as a

percentage)

Please email your answers to:

[email protected] and put

FN/CAP response in the subject

line.

Responses must be received

before January 25, 2008, and the

name of the lucky TomTom

winner (but not their responses!)

will appear on the Fleet News

website www.fleetnews.co.uk

One in 10 employees who drive

for work admitted they fell asleep while at the wheel during the

past 12 months. During the same

period, 2% fell asleep three times

or more while driving.

The consequences of nodding

off while at the wheel can be

devastating. An estimated six

people die each week in crashes

caused by tired drivers.

The figures, from research by

road safety charity Brake and

breakdown recovery firm Green

Flag, are from a survey of 4,640

drivers including 2,510 who drive

for work. The poll was conducted

at random and included a range

of motorists, including company

car, LCV and HGV drivers.

Its crucial that companies

introduce thorough procedures

to ensure employees are not

endangering themselves and

others when driving for work,

said Cathy Keeler, head of

campaigns for Brake. But

drivers themselves must also

take responsibility. Getting

behind the wheel when youve

not had enough sleep is deadly.

The research found that people

who drive for work are more

likely to drive after insufficient

sleep. Half of employees whodrive for work say they some-

times drive after less than five

hours sleep.

According to the Department

for Transport, drivers who get

behind the wheel after less than

five hours sleep have only a one

in 10 chance of staying fully

awake on a lengthy journey.

David Richards, marketing

director for driver training

company DriveTech, said:

Driving tired is a very serious

issue and journey planning is the

key to being safe.

Decline in fleet

market predictedBY DANIEL ATTWOOD The fleet market will decline in

the coming years as managers

enforce stricter policies to reduce

annual mileages and ultimately

acquire fewer cars, according to

the operations manager of Lloyds

TSB Autolease.

David Kershaw toldFleet News

that the European Commissions

decision, which will ultimately

force carmakers to cut average

CO2 emissions to 130g/km within

four years, will result in at least

another 5% being added to the

cost of a new car. As always, it

will be the customer who will pick

up the bill, he said.

This additional cost, coupled to

rising fuel bills and growing pres-

sure to reduce carbon emissions,

will force fleet managers to reas-

sess downwards the size of their

vehicle fleets.

There will be a decline in the

fleet sector, he said. Companies

are now taking seriously the need

to adopt technologies such as

teleconferencing and cut unnec-

essary car journeys. Companies

will reduce business mileages and

therefore will need fewer cars.

In addition, it is going to be

increasingly difficult to confi-

dently predict residual values of

models as they adopt different

solutions to reduce emissions.

This means fleets could be caught

out if they favour one technology,

such as biofuels, over another

before they have proven them-

selves in the market.

We are not convinced about

biofuels, said Mr Kershaw,

whose company has more than

130,000 vehicles under its

management. Biofuel is like LPG

it is not a long-term solution.

The new rules will also have an

impact on fleets that opt for diesel-

only vehicles. Most carmakers

agree that diesel engine technol-

ogy has been developed as far as

is practical, with any further

developments being too costly.

Therefore, fleets should expect

the popularity of newer, cleaner

petrol engines to take hold.

Win a sat-system withFleet News

David Kershaw, operations

manager, Lloyds TSB Autolease

Tired driverdangers arehighlighted

[email protected]


3/28

Green IrelandSmith Electric Vehicles has

secured an order for 100

zero-emission vans and

trucks for the Republic of

Ireland. The vehicles will

be supplied through an

Irish importer to both

commercial and private

fleet operators.

People investorsAi Claims Solutions has

received recognition

from the Investors in

People scheme for the

third consecutive term.

Ai Claims Solutions is a

provider of services for

the motor insurance

claims market.

Best routeTele Atlas will integrate

Ordnance Surveys digital

road routing information

into its digital map database

to help identify the most

appropriate road routes forHGVs. It says the system

will enable HGV drivers to

calculate the most suitable

routes based on road

height, width and weight

restrictions.

Venson contractVenson Automotive

Solutions has supplied

112 company cars to

Headcount Worldwide

Field Marketing. The

solus Ford diesel fleet is

largely composed of

Fiestas with some Focusand Mondeo models all

on two-year contract hire

leases. Venson is also

providing fleet manage-

ment and accident

management.

Reflex dealReflex Vehicle Solutions has

appointed Kwik-Fit Fleet to

its network of suppliers of a

range of fast-fit services,

including tyre and brake

repair and replacement.

Customers will have access

to Kwik-Fit Fleets 200-

strong mobile repair fleet,

as well as a network of 670

centres.

IN BRIEF

www.fleetnews.co.uk 10.01.08 3

BY DANIEL ATTWOOD

The Government is considering

scrapping the P11D form.

It has been criticised by the

Institute of Payroll Professionals

and the Administrative Burdens

Advisory Board as being one of

the most costly administrativeburdens for employers a finding

borne out by the KPMG Adminis-

trative Burdens HM Revenue &

Customs (HMRC) Measurements

Project.

The P11D is a detailed benefit-

in-kind (BIK) form that highlights

all benefits, such as a company

car or fuel, made available to an

employee. Currently, many

companies operate under an infor-

mal arrangement with HMRC

enabling them to deduct and

account for the tax due on BIK as

well as expenses in the payroll.

However, these arrangements

have no statutory basis.

Now HMRC is proposing

changes to the current reporting

structure that includes scrapping

the P11D form.

The proposal is to include all

benefits and expenses in the

payroll. Collecting the tax due on

all benefits and expenses through

the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE)

scheme provides scope to simplify

the current reporting require-

ments for benefits and expenses,

said an HMRC spokesperson.

The overall amount of informa-

tion that an employer needs to

provide to HMRC about benefits

and expenses could be reduced

significantly and the entire P11Dprocess, which is currently sepa-

rate from the PAYE process, could

be abolished.

However, while HMRCs move

will be welcomed, concerns

remain over the training of payroll

staff and what powers they will

have. There are also other issues

that need HMRCs attention, as

Julie Jenner, ACFO chairman,

explained: Unless everyone gets

their new/replacement vehicle on

April 6 (start of new tax year), the

BIK will need to be pro-rata, which

will cause further issues. There

will be a fine balance in the saving

of costs, time and administration

in removing the once-a-year

reporting compared to the addi-

tional workload, training and

resources potentially required by

payroll teams to cope with the

change.Such concerns should be raised

during the current consultation

process, which is also looking at

the removal of the 8,500 earn-

ings threshold for BIK below

which tax is not paid on benefits.

The consultation ends on

March 14. HMRC does not expect

implementation of payrolling of

expenses and BIK until at least

April 2011, although it said the

8,500 threshold change could be

implemented sooner.

P11D form could bescrapped in review

January is the quietest month

on the roads, with traffic

volumes 10% below average

levels for the year.

Despite this, motorists are

warned that traffic levels are at

an all-time high on Fridays,

with the afternoon scrum

starting to develop from

noon. This makes Friday the

most dangerous day to be

driving, with casualties hitting a

peak of 3,766 at 5pm, compared

to an average of 3,426 on other

weekdays.

According to new analysis by

the RAC Foundation, drivers

should also be on their guard

on Saturdays, when traffic

volumes peak at noon also

the peak hour for casualties, at

2,799. Failed breath tests are

also most common on a

Saturday, with 1,599 drivers

and riders caught over the limit

on Saturdays in 2006. Drink-

driving is at its highest in the

small hours and early evening.

Sundays are the safest days

to drive, with some 12,000

fewer casualties than Fridays

total.

Norwich City Council is to force

residents who require on-street

parking to pay depending on the

length of their car.

While cities across Europe

introduce charges based on emis-

sions, the Norfolk city took the

step of getting out its tape

measure to penalise residents

who drive long vehicles.

The charges, due to be intro-

duced in March, are aimed at

reducing pollution as well as

creating more parking spaces.

However, short cars (less than

3.92m) such as the MINI Cooper

S, which produces 149g/km of

CO2, will be charged at the lowest

level of 16. But longer cars, such

as the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi,

which produces just 127g/km of

CO2, will receive a 22 annual bill.

Cars longer than 4.45m, such as

the Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi, which

produces just 3g/km of CO2 more

than the MINI, will be charged at

the maximum 30 per year.

The council said: As well as

taking up less space, smaller cars

also produce, on average, less

greenhouse gas emissions and

air pollution than larger cars. So

small cars are also better for the

environment.

Bosch has developed a new safety

system that provides increased

protection for pedestrians and

cyclists.

The electronic system Elec-

tronic Pedestrian Protection

(EPP) detects an impact with a

human and activates systems to

cushion the victim.

The new technology consists of

acceleration sensors fitted to the

front of the vehicle and a control

unit used to trigger actuators that

raise the vehicles bonnet within a

fraction of a second.

This offers the impacting body

a more efficient deformation zone

and reduces the risk of injury to

pedestrians.

Bernd Hergert, head of the

occupant safety business unit at

Bosch, revealed that the system is

about to feature in two new cars.

He said: Two vehicles with the

Bosch EPP system are now in

series production and additional

applications will follow soon.

Further developments, includ-

ing the use of airbags, are also

being considered as added

measures for use in impact

protection.

Vehicle manufacturers can

provide active impact protection

with an independent control unit,

or it can be integrated into the

airbag control unit already present

in the vehicle.

New safety system increases pedestrian protection

Te long and the short of it Traffic peaks on Fridays

Boschs Electronic Pedestrian Protection reduces the risk of injury

e entire P11D process couldbe abolished by the Government

[email protected]


4/28


5/28

NEWS

Views soughtA new enquiry into road

safety has been estab-

lished by the Commons

Transport Committee.The committee is calling

on interested parties,

such as fleets and road

risk training firms, to

submit written evidence

before February 18 on

areas of road safety they

feel need targeting.

Green appealTwo thirds of UK motorists

would now buy a car with

better green credentials to

avoid paying higher road

tax, says Motorpoint.

Operations director Paul

Winfield said: Feedbackfrom customers suggests

that they are increasingly

putting a cars green

credentials higher up their

lists of important features

and benefits.

Nobilas contractNational Mobile Wind-

screens has signed a

deal worth more than

400,000 per year with

Nobilas, which provides

accident management

services for insurers,

leasing and rentalcompanies and corporate

car fleet owners. The

deal follows the compa-

nys recent appointment

as sole supplier to Total

Accident Management in

a contract worth more

than 100,000.

Deal clincherA-Plant has taken delivery

of 38 Mitsubishi L200 pick-

ups. Operating nearly 1,600

vehicles in the UK, A-Plant

has an ongoing programme

of renewal and decided thata mixture of single and

double-cab L200s will

replace its existing pick-up

fleet. It chose the L200s as

they were one of only two

pick-ups that could be fitted

with a digital tachograph.

IN BRIEF


BY STEVE MOODY

Police fleet managers are refus-

ing to trial electric one-person

transporters as an environmen-

tally-friendly replacement for

patrol cars, despite calls by a

group of MPs and the Police

Federation to do so.

However, several police forces

have already trialled the vehicles,

such as the Segway, or plan to in

the near future despite their fleet

managers stand. At least one London police

borough Sutton has already

tested the vehicles and another is

about to start. In addition, officers

in Scotland have used the vehicles

to patrol a shopping centre in

Glenrothes, Fife.

The trials have the support of a

dozen MPs who signed a House

of Commons early day motion.

They claim it could lead to a

notable drop in emissions as part

of the Governments commitment

to cutting transports impact on

the environment.

The Police Federation, thebody that represents the core of

the UK force, has also recently

called for the Segway to be

assessed.

But the National Association of

Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM)

said the Governments own rules

on personal transporters mean

such tests are not possible.

NAPFM said the vehicles do

not comply with construction and

use rules for electric vehicles, andare currently illegal to use on

roads and pavements.

According to Martin Davis,

fleet manager at Devon and Corn-

wall Constabulary, who has been

looking at their viability, the lack

of lights, tested braking system

and the fact they cannot be

insured or registered for on-road

use means there is little chance of

them taking over from the tradi-

tional panda car on police fleetsfor local patrols.

As company car drivers hit the

roads again after the Christmasbreak, their fuel cards will take a

beating with petrol now almost

15 pence per litre more than this

time last year. Diesel costs 14.2

pence per litre more.

For an average fleet of 100

diesel-powered cars, each of

which covers 20,000 miles a year,

the additional cost over 2008 at

present pump prices compared

to just 12 months ago is 32,400,

or an extra 324 per car.

The rises have been attributed

to the price of crude oil, which

peaked briefly at $100 a barrel at

the start of year, prompting fears

of further rises at the pumps.High-priced oil is here to stay,

and companies need to ensure

that their fleet and travel strate-

gies are able to cope, said Mark

Sinclair, head of Alphabet.

Even though oil prices will

almost certainly fall back into

double digits for a while, the

trend for 2008 will be for much

more costly oil.

Although this will drive up

business costs across the board,

fleet will be the key area where

firms can directly mitigate the

impact on the bottom line.

As the new year arrived, theaverage price of unleaded petrol

hit 103.3 pence per litre a record

that is predicted to be shattered

in the coming days, according to

the AA. Diesel prices fared a little

better at 107.95 pence per litre,

which remains marginally below

the record of 108.00 pence per

litre, set on December 6, 2007.

Vehicle acquisition policy will

be critical, because todays

purchasing decisions lock in fuel

consumption and CO2 emissions

for typically three years ahead,

said Mr Sinclair.

Maximising the fuel effi-ciency of all vehicles used on

business will be a vital element of

management.

Additional bad news to the

expected rises in the coming

days will be a two pence per litre

fuel duty increase that will come

into effect in April.

Thousands of business drivers

ignored advance warnings to

prepare their cars for the first day

back at work, and were forced to

call for help.

The past few days have been

AA Business Services busiest

period of the last 12 months for

attending breakdowns.

Almost 15,000 drivers had prob-lems starting their cars on

January 2, which was 58% more

than on a typical Wednesday.

Of that figure, 40% were busi-

ness drivers facing their first day

back at work.

One of the main reasons for

call-outs was flat batteries.

Now the AA is urging business

drivers and fleet managers to take

a number of straightforward steps

to avoid facing a battery or

electrical problem in the coming

weeks.

Fuel pricesexpected toremain high

Police split over

trials of Segway

Police officers trialling the Segway in the London borough of Sutton

Drivers struggle after ignoring advice

Avoid running car electrics any longer than necessary turn the heater fan

down and switch the heated rear window off once it is clear.

If the car stands idle for most of the weekend, a regular overnight trickle

charge is a good idea to give the battery a chance to revive.

When starting up the car, ensure that non-essentials like lights, the heated

rear window and wipers are turned off.

Use the starter in short five-second bursts if the engine doesnt start quickly,

leaving 30 seconds between attempts to allow the battery to recover.

Batteries rarely last longer than five years, so replacing them near the end of

their life can save a lot of time and inconvenience at the side of the road when

they finally fizzle out.

BATTERYADVICE

Photo:Sutton

Gua

rdian


6/28


7/28

EUROPEAN NEWS


Fleet News Europe is sponsored by

www.bca-europe.com

www.fleetnewseurope.com

FleetNewsEurope

BY DANIEL ATTWOOD

Managers operating pan-

European fleets must ensure that

all their vehicles have new emis-

sion stickers displayed before

driving into German cities.

Three of the countrys main

conurbations Berlin, Cologne

and Hanover have introduced

new laws stipulating that the stick-

ers must be displayed. They

reveal what levels of nitrogen

dioxide (NO2 ) and particulate

matter (PM) a vehicle emits. Red

stickers indicate the highest

levels and green the lowest.

The stickers will be introduced

in other urban centres across

Germany later this year.

Diesel powered vehicles

produced more NO2 and PM than

vehicles powered by petrol. As a

result, there are three stickers for

diesel vehicles red, orange and

green but only two for petrol

vehicles red and green.

Vehicles displaying any of the

three stickers can currently drive

into all areas, but from the start of

2010, only the cleanest ie those

displaying the green sticker will

be allowed into the new zones.

Drivers of vehicles without a

valid sticker displayed in the

windscreen risk a fine.

Foreign vehicles must also

display the stickers, which are

available from Germanys vehicle

registration offices, exhaust emis-

sion testing centres and autho-

rised garages in the cities. They

cost 3.60 (5).

Green rule for

German cities

Cars must display emission stickers in Berlin

Fleets operating in Italy must now pay congestion charges in Milan

after it followed Londons lead by introducing financial penalties

rather than banning the most polluting vehicles, as Germany will do.

Cars entering the new three-square-mile zone on working days

between 7.30am and 7.30pm will be charged between 1.50 and 7.50

(2.2 to 10) depending on engine type. Electric and hybrid vehicles

can enter for free.

However, some Italian drivers have already discovered novel ways

of evading charges applied in other urban centres. One report said

motorists were reversing into congestion zones so that on camera

they appeared to be leaving.

Congestion charging in Milan

Masterlease reaches 17 countriesMasterlease has launched in Norway and Denmark, giving thecompany a presence in 17 countries. It will operate in the two

countries via a partnership with DnB Nor Finans, which operates

under the brand Autolease.

This is another step towards of fering Masterlease customers full

pan-European leasing, said Nick Brownrigg, CEO of Masterlease.


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This weeks vehicle market news and informationEdited by Julian Kirk

WEDNESDAY

Down to Toyotas plant in

Burniston, near Derby, to drive

the all-new Land Cruiser V8

diesel, which replaces the

Amazon. This monster is huge,

has seven seats and is powered

by a 4.5-litre V8 twin-turbodiesel engine that produces

286bhp 40% more than the

Amazon.

The V8 has new suspension

and ride height control, and a

new chassis frame for increased

strength and reduced noise and

vibration. The new Land Cruiser

has lots more standard kit over

the Amazon, including 20-inch

alloys, adaptive suspension,

traction control, four-zone-

climate control and downhill

assist control, but costs 56,000

7,000 more than the Amazon.

There will only be 500 in the UK

this year and Toyota says thatdespite the price, they will all be

sold before they get here.

While we were at the factor y,

Toyota showed us the Auris

SR180 which replaces the T180,

and looks as it should have done

when it was launched. It now

has lowered suspension, privacy

glass, everything is colour-

coded, an imitation rear-diffuser

and an exterior styling make-

over it is a whole lot better,

and makes you wonder why it

wasnt done in the first place.

The SR180 is powered by a

2.2-litre diesel engine which has

loads of torque, is quiet and has

more than enough power. This

Auris is now, at last, a real

competitor to the Volkswagen

Golf GT TDI, Megane Renault-

SportdCi 175 and the Peugeot

308 GT HDi.

FRIDAY

A few figures from the

industry were invited toBMWs headquarters in

Bracknell to have a look at

the new X6. I had seen the

official photographs and

really thought it was either a

publicity stunt or a concept

car that would never see the

light of day.

But when we saw it in the

flesh, my first reaction was

What on Earth?. It is

slightly larger than the X5,

so a big thing 4,877mm

long, and costs around

2,000 more. BMW

describes it as a Sports

Activity Coup as it has a

sloping rear roof-line,

which has a dramatic effect

on the styling, but reduces

luggage space.

It is a strict four-seater, as

the centre rear does not have

a seatbelt, but all four seats

are very comfortable and

luxurious. The X6 has a

more technically advanced

4x4 system over the X5

called Dynamic Performance

Control which was

explained to us but I was lost

halfway through.

Apparently, it ensures

unsurpassed levels of agility

and stability, while the driver

can keep an eye on proceed-

ings via a schematic readout,

allowing you to visualise just

how your X6 delivers such a

satisfying drive. So there

you go, although Im sure it

will work perfectly.

After the initial shock,

some could see the potentialand the reason why BMW

has created the X6, but

others were not so sure. It is

different and will attract

loads of attention. If you

want to be bold, stand out

from the crowd and make a

motoring statement, then

form an orderly queue, as

there will only be 2,500

coming to the UK per year.

The X6 goes on sale on

May 31, with prices from

41,955. It did grow on me

as the day went on and I can

now see the attraction.

THINKING CAP

Hardworking Martin Ward scours the globe for the weeks insider fleet intelligence

Martin Ward isCAPs manufacturerrelationships manager

Awhole lotbetter thenewToyotaAuris SR180

GMs blue light fleetpxp p12

Standingout the newBMWX6

BY JULIAN KIRK

Mazda is aiming to target public

sector fleets with its new

supermini challenger.

The manufacturer is hoping to

attract local authority and NHS

Trust fleets, as well as driving

schools, with its new Mazda2

offering.

Mazdas national contract hire

and rental manager, Steve Tom-

linson, said: Contract hire compa-

nies and outright purchase fleets

have been attracted to the Mazda

range in recent years by strong

residuals and low wholelife costs

and sporty models packed with

standard equipment.

We are bringing these same

credentials to the supermini

segment and we believe that will

make the Mazda2 attractive to

fleet operators. We believe it will

become the car of choice in the

sector.

Initially available with a

choice of three petrol engines, a

1.4-litre diesel will join the range

in the next few months, offering

68bhp and claimed average fuel

economy of 65mpg.

As well as gaining more expo-

sure among fleets, the Mazda2 is

also proving popular in show-

rooms, helping the Japanese

manufacturer to a record run of

sales in the UK.

To the end of November Mazda

had sold 4,820 units, helping it to

record its largest ever sales

volumes in the UK.

Jeremy Thomson, sales direc-

tor at Mazda UK, said: Even

before Christmas we had already

exceeded our biggest ever sales

year of 50,166 units set in 2006.

Our growth has come through

retail sales which were 10% higher

than the same point in 2006.

Mazda2 retail sales exceeded the

Nissan Micra in November and

we have very strong orders for it

this year.

Mr Thomson predicts 2008 will

be another record-breaking year

for Mazda in the UK, with sales

likely to exceed 55,000 units.

He said: With the old Mazda2

we were selling about 4,000 a year

but in 2008 we are looking at sales

of between 12,000 and 15,000

units.

The firm will also be buoyed by

the arrival of the new Mazda6

upper-medium model.

Most models went on sale on

December 26 last year, but the

volume models such as the diesels

and estates are not due to arrive

until next month.

Mazda eyes public sector

Te Mazda2 is being targeted at local authority and NHS fleets, as well as driving schools


13/28


Gearbox debutThe latest version of

Volkswagens DSG twin-

clutch gearbox will make its

debut in the Golf

1.4 TSI and 1.9 TDI.

Sporting seven gears, the

new box reduces CO2 by

10g/km and improves fuel

economy by 3mpg in the 1.4.

Prices start at 15,982.

Five-star ratings

Renaults new Laguna

and the latest C-Class

from Mercedes-Benz

(pictured) have both

scored the maximum five

stars in their EuroNCAP

crash tests.

Greener IbizaSEAT has unveiled a new,

greener version of its Ibiza.

Called the Ecomotive, it

emits just 99g/km of CO2

and returns 74mpg from its1.4 TDI engine. The Ibiza

Ecomotive is on sale now,

priced from 10,995.

Sportier Civic

Honda has added a new

spec level to the Civic.

The SE+ features 16-inch

alloys, side skirts and a

spoiler for a sportierlook. Designed to appeal

to younger drivers and

powered by a 1.4-litre

i-DSi engine, the SE+ is

limited to 1,000 exam-

ples. It costs 14,900.

Match addedVolkswagens Polo range

has been broadened by the

introduction of the Match. It

replaces the S trim in the

line-up, and features 15-inch

alloys and front foglamps, as

well as leather steering

wheel and either a six-CD

changer or an iPod

connection. Prices start at

9,315.

IN BRIEF

After all the attention surround-

ing the launch of the XF, Jaguar

is now turning its thoughts to

the XJ range, spotted here intest mule form.

Carrying on the look seen in

the XF, the production XJ is

due in late 2009 with an edgier

design. XF designer Ian Callum

cites the Mercedes-Benz CLS as

an inspiration to modern large

saloons, so expect a similar

low-slung look but with Jaguars

new squarer grille and jazzy

LED lights.

Under the surface, things

arent likely to change much.

That means the existing chassis

and the acclaimed 2.7-litre

TDVi V6 diesel engine will stay.

Powered by...XJ gets an edgier look

For a full road

test archive, visit

fleetnews.co.uk

Long-term update p14 Porsche Cayenne V6 driven p15

Spyshot

Peugeot and Citron have

announced that they will launch

new small vans this year, both

based on the same platform.

The Peugeot Partner and the

Citron Berlingo update both

firms successful small van

offerings, and will also be

featured in MPV form for

passengers.

Both vans promise versatility,

value for money and a new best

load capacity in the small panel

van segment. They have a load

volume of 3,300 litres and a

maximum payload of 850kg.

The load area length is

extendable from 1.8 to 3m

thanks to a modular cabin

arrangement (called MultiFlex

by Peugeot and Extenso by

Citron), which allows three

people to sit in the front a

sector first.

Peugeot has said the Partner

will be powered by the 308s

HDi diesel engines. Citron has

not released engine details, but

has said that ESP and hill start

assist will be available.

Both vans will have MPV

siblings. The Peugeot Partner

Tepee includes three individu-

ally folding rear seats and a

multi-purpose roof designed to

let more light into the passenger

compartment.

Citrons Berlingo Multispace

features an independ-ently

opening tailgate window and

promises lots of storage inside.

Both brands will launch the

vehicles in the second half of

this year.

2008 debut for Peugeot/Citron twins

Toyota gives flagship Auris a sportier edgeToyota has welcomed the New

Year with a revised flagship model

Auris the SR180.

Designed to add a sportingedge to the hitherto demure

hatchback and replace the under-

stated T180 model, the new SR

version features a lowered suspen-

sion set-up from Toyota

Motorsport and a rear spoiler.

A set of 17-inch five-spoke

alloys are also included, as is

tinted rear glass.

The main difference, however,

is the 2.2-litre D-4D diesel engine.

It will make 175bhp and 295 lb-ft

of torque, which can propel the

car to 62mph from standing in 8.1

seconds, while it can still come up

with impressive returns of

45.6mpg.Vehicle stability control (VSC)

with traction control is provided

as standard, as is dual-zone air

conditioning, automatic head-

lights and wipers and cruise

control.

The SR180 is available now in

both three and five-door form,

priced from 17,995.

Peugeots new Partner van promises versatility Citroens Berlingo Multispace mini-MPV


14/28

Making up for lost timeDespite giving some rivals a four-year head start, Volkswagens small MPV is proving to be a big hit


BY JOHN MASLEN

If you search Google for the

Volkswagen Touran, it returns 2.3

million potential web pages, which

is pretty impressive considering it

was so late to the MPV party.

Arch-rival Vauxhall gets nearly

four million hits for the Zafira,

which had a four-year head start

after it launched in 1999.

Its a pretty basic test, but it

shows the clear in-roads made by

Volkswagen into this key terri-

tory. And with 4,000 miles fast

approaching on our long-termer,it is simple to see why the Touran

is such a strong contender.

It easily looks smart enough for

the company car park, although

its hardly a babe magnet. In fact,

it is more of a baby magnet thanks

to its third row of seats.

Over the holiday period, the

Touran was filled to the gunwales

with relations and their

squawking offspring.

Some of the seatbelts are quite

a fiddle when it comes to using

child seats. Most seats are OK but

the centre seat in the middle rowand one of the third row seats

have a twin buckle arrangement

that creates a three-point seatbelt

from a single overhead reel.

I found the best way to get

passengers in the back comfort-

able was to open the boot and lean

in to reach the buckles properly,

which provided bags of amuse-

ment for passengers.

With children in the rear two

rows there is plenty of room, but if

you throw in an adult who will

want to slide one of the middle

seats back on its runners to make

room, then space is at a

premium.

And as with all medium-sized

MPVs, the result is barely any

space in whats left of the boot for

all the stuff the passengers bring.

Still, I had no complaints once we

were underway.

This is partly down to the bril-

liant ride and handling, which

offers a perfect balance of compli-

ance and body control. The

Touran takes whatever the road

throws at it and even the impactsof potholes are filtered away

before they reach driver and

passengers.

It is also very quiet at speed,

despite the small 1.4-litre petrol

engine working hard in the back-

ground.

The 140bhp unit, which packs a

punch thanks to its supercharger

and turbocharger, coped well with

all seven seats filled, although you

can predictably feel a drop in

performance when carrying five

adults. That may also be why fuel

economy has fallen to 34mpg.

I spoke to another Touran

driver in the company car park to

get her thoughts on the car. She,

too, loved the back seats in her

TDI model, although she wasnt

sure how long it would be before

the children outgrew the rear-

most ones.

She liked the high seating posi-

tion because she said it managed

to avoid a mums minibus feel. I

also helped her with the on-board

computer, which offers an over-

speed warning that can be set to

sound an alert when the car

reaches a specified speed to avoid

accidental speeding. Unfortu-

nately, hers was set at 20mph and

she thought it was a serious

problem with the car, which meant

she drove into work at 19mph.

A couple of clicks later and it

was sorted, but its useful seeing

how modern safety devices can

actually have the opposite effect

for some company car drivers.

FACT FILEPrice: 18,262

(20,147 as tested)

Mileage: 3,750CO2 emissions 176Company car tax bill (2008)22% tax-payer: 73 per monthInsurance group: 9Combined mpg: 38.2Test mpg: 34.0CAP Monitor RV: 6,800/37%Contract hire rate 366Expenditure to date: NilFigures based on three years/60,000 miles

LONG-TERMER:VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN 1.4 TSI SE

Business talk: here to helpA regular series that oers help, advice and assistance to feet decision makers on a variety o current industry issues

Im thinkingabout expanding our

company car choice list. Whatis the

bestway to proceed?

If youre thinkingof including more

vehiclesin yourchoice list, thereare a

couple of things to bearin mind.

Firstly,if youaremovingfroma

restricted listto onewith a larger number

o makes and models, you could fnd it will

leadto an increasein the administrationyou willneed to provide: newsuppliers

anddealers andtheir associated

relationships, may haveto be set up.

Also, it is crucial to pick theright

models to keep control o your eet costs.

I your previous eet arrangement was

a single branddeal, you may well have

been ableto obtain better volume-related

discounts. Conversely, the more makes

andmodelsyou offer themore evenly

spread willbe yourresidual value risk.

Some model sectors,for examplethe

MPVand SUVclasses, generally enjoy

improvedRVs compared withestablished

eet models giving you the opportunity to

maximisereturns at disposal.

A wider choice of models also islikelyto makeemployeeshappier,especially as

moredrivers wantniche vehiclesthat suit

their particularlifestyles, or maypreferto

downsize.

Creating a choice list tosuit every requirement

For and against thedownsizing debate

Produced in association

with Honda CorporateSales

Should I diversiy feet policy to allow MPVs and 4x4s on our choice list?

Should I be encouraging the

trend among company car

drivers to downsize?

Drivers do seem to be moving

out of traditional family

saloons and hatchbacks and

into smaller cars. One of the reasons

is that over the years smaller cars

have got bigger, meaning a lower-

medium hatchback often has morethan enough interior space for many

drivers needs.

In almost all cases, drivers

choosing to downsize and pick

a smaller model with higher

specifcation and, perhaps, lower

BIK tax liability should not present

problems. But you need to ensure

their choice is still ft or purpose

and they are not selecting it simply

to save money at the expense of

practicality or the viability of their role.

Allowing drivers to downsize

should also reduce costs and

improve your eets carbon ootprint

as smaller cars generally are cleaner

and more economical, especially ifthey are diesel.

Increasingly, drivers ask me

whether they canhaveSUVs

andMPVsbut Imreluctant to

add themto the choicelistforcost

reasons. ShouldI allow these cars?

T

heres no reason to think that

giving drivers the option of sport

utility vehicles (SUVs) or MPVsshould be more expensive in running

cost terms.

For a start, the residual values of

many SUVs are often stronger than

those of upper or lower-medium cars

which means competitive leasing rates.

Other costs should not be markedly

higher as many modern SUVs use

advanced technology derived from

similar traditional vehicles anyway.

Take the Honda CR-V as an

example. It is a hugely popular choice

as a company car thanks to its generousinterior space, including boot capacity of

955 litres, making it as practical as the

biggest estate cars.

And in BIK tax terms it is highly

competitive, too. The CR-V 2.2 i-CDTi

manages 43.5mpg on the combined

cycle with CO2 emissions of 173g/km

comparable with many large estate

cars meaning costs or driver and eet

manager need not be prohibitive.

In the MPV sector, models such

as the Honda FR-V, with its six seats

and car-like driving experience, offerdrivers the best of both worlds. With

CAP Monitor currently predicting RVs of

around 40% after 3yrs/60,000 miles, it

will perform well on running costs too.

With RVs of around 40% over three

years/60,000 miles, the Honda FR-V

EX diesel offers low whole-life costs


15/28

ROAD TEST: PORSCHE CAYENNE V6 TIPTRONIC S

Cayenne takes its

first green stepsImprovements to SUV make it more efficient than before

BY JULIAN KIRK

For a relative minnow in the auto-

motive world, Porsche is a

company punching well above its

weight.

It may only be a small

sportscar manufacturer, but suchis the level of desirability of its

cars and the efficiency of its

systems that it is the most profit-

able car company in the world,

and it owns a fair chunk of

Volkswagen to boot.

And pushing much of this is the

success of its biggest-selling, and

most controversial, model the

Cayenne.

Launched four years ago, the

Cayenne was criticised from the

outset for a) being ugly, and b)

not being a proper Porsche

because it is an SUV (and a

Volkswagen one in disguise, noless) weighing more than two

tonnes.

But like it or not, the Cayenne

has done a job for Porsche

high sales in the US have allowed

the company to fund development

of its core 911 sportscar range.

And Porsche has recently

revised the Cayenne family in an

attempt to make it less ugly and

also more viable in this

environment-focused world.

While a two-tonne-plus petrol-

engined SUV will never be seen

as remotely green, Porsche has

made it more aerodynamic and

more fuel efficient. The new head-

lights and revised air intakes

make the Cayenne more slippery

through the air than before, while

in the V6 model on test a new

3.6-litre direct fuel injectionengine has been used. This offers

290bhp 40bhp more than the old

3.2-litre unit yet is up to 15%

more fuel efficient.

OK, so it still only returns an

average of 21.9mpg in Tiptronic

automatic mode, but at least

things are heading in the right

direction. And when Porsche

unveils its hybrid Cayenne next

year, things will be better still.

But for the moment the V6 is

the most affordable and viableCayenne to run, priced on a par

with entry-level models such as

the Audi Q7 3.6 FSI and Mercedes-

Benz ML350.

Where the Porsche scores

above them is in driving dynam-

ics. Although it is still a tall SUV,

the Cayenne does well to hide its

bulk and provide strong perform-

ance. Although it isnt in the same

league as the awesome Turbo

version, the 290bhp V6 Cayenne

teamed with the Tiptronic trans-

mission makes for a strong combi-

nation for real-world driving.

With the Porsche badge on thefront, a strong RV forecast and a

decent level of equipment, it

makes a strong case for itself if

one of your drivers desperately

wants a petrol-engined SUV.

Audi Q7 3.6 FSI

quattro Tiptronic

VW Touareg

3.6 V6 Tiptronic

Unsurprisingly, the Porsche is the

most expensive and the Volkswagen

is the cheapest, reflecting the level

of prestige behind the badges.

Interestingly, both models are based

on the same chassis. The Mercedes-

Benz and Audi look good value with

plenty of kit and a prestige badge.

Touareg 36,182ML350 37,867Q7 37,975Cayenne 38,860

THREE RIVALS TO CONSIDER

P11D PRICE

SMRCOSTThe Volkswagen, Audi and

Mercedes-Benz are closely matched

on service, maintenance and repair

costs, costing between 3,000 and

3,500 over 60,000 miles. The

Porsche is well off the pace, despite

being mechanically very similar to

the Touareg due to much higher

labour rates at Porsche dealerships.

EMISSIONS AND TAX RATESAll four are taxed at the highest

level thanks to their emissions. Most

people choose a diesel-engined SUV,

preferring the extra economy and

better driveability. Company car tax

bills range from 422 a month for a

40% taxpayer in the Volkswagen to

453 a month in the Porsche.

VERDICT

In the real world no-one is going to choose any of these cars instead they

will opt for the diesel versions. But if petrol is a must, the Audi makes a

strong case for itself. It is the cheapest to run and is competitive with the

others on tax bills. The Porsche drives very well for a car of this type and is

worth considering for its badge appeal and strong RV.

WINNER:Audi Q7 3.6 FSI quattro Tiptronic

FUEL COST

DEPRECIATION COST

With claimed combined fuel

economy of 24.1mpg, the ML350

leads this sector, and will cost justunder 11,000 in petrol over 60,000

miles. The Audi is second on

22.2mpg, while the Volkswagen

trails, returning 20.5mpg. The

Porsche returns a claimed 21.9mpg.

ML350 18.22/10,932Q7 19.78/11,868

Cayenne 20.05/12,030Touareg 21.41/12,846

The Audi and Porsche have a

significant advantage here, with CAP

estimating both will retain 44% of

their cost new after three years/

60,000 miles. The Mercedes-Benz

and Volkswagen will both retain

40%. The Audis low front-end price

sees it lose the least cash.

Q7 34.95/20,970Cayenne 35.85/21,510Touareg 36.05/21,630ML350 37.82/22,692

WHOLELIFE COST

The Audi enjoys an almost twopence-per-mile advantage over the

second-placed Mercedes-Benz. The

Q7s main advantage comes in

depreciation, where its high RV and

low front-end price see it lose the

least cash. The Porsches high RV

sees it outperform the Touareg.

Q7 59.96/35,976ML350 61.91/37,146Cayenne 62.22/37,332Touareg 62.64/37,584

ppm/60k total

Touareg 5.18/3,108Q7 5.23/3,138ML350 5.87/3,522Cayenne 6.32/3,792


ML350 279g/km/35%Q7 304g/km/35%Cayenne 310g/km/35%Touareg 324g/km/35%

Mercedes-Benz

ML350 Tiptronic

FACT FILEP11D value 38,860CO2 emissions (g/km) 310BIK % of P11D in 2008 35%Graduated VED rate 300Insurance group 19

Combined mpg 21.9CAP RV (3yr/60k) 17,150/44%Monthly lease (3yr/60k) 598

Porsche badge Strong RV Equipment level

Thirsty Conspicuous Still no looker


16/28


17/28

DAILY RENTAL: GREEN ISSUES


Cost puts brakes on

green rental growthFleets are not willing to pay extra fees involved in renting hybrids and low-carbon cars

BY PHILL TROMANS

Y

ou may have

picked up on the

message that

green is good.

Across the fleet

industry the environment is

more of a concern than ever, and

much is being done to reduce

the impact that business opera-

tions have on the planet.

Within the fleet world, there

have been many high-profile

developments to reduce emis-

sions, from improved journey

planning to more restricted,

greener company car lists.

But the world of daily rental

a significant part of business

road travel in the UK is finding

the going tough.

If you look hard enough there

are green options to be found,

but there are economic reasonswhy there arent more.

e way things areHistorically, most rental cars

have been petrol-powered, but

thats changing, according to

Tim Anderson, fleet advice

manager at the Energy Saving

Trust.

There are a lot more diesel

vehicles than ever before, which

is certainly positive.

Car club StreetCar has 25

diesel-powered Volkswagen Polo

BlueMotions available to hire

around London.Low-carbon cars have an

obvious benefit in the capital, as

hybrid and alternative-fuel cars

are exempt from the congestion

charge.

StreetCar co-founder Andrew

Valentine says: There has

always been a desire for green,

fuel-efficient cars but there is no

doubt that this desire is strength-

ening over time as the problems

associated with global warming

become more apparent.

It was a natural evolution to

move towards a fuel efficient

fleet when it became practical.

Some alternatively-powered

cars are also available, as Tim

Bailey, fleet director of National

and Europcar UK, explains.

We have a number of Toyota

Prius on our fleet. They are

predominantly in the London

area although there are a fewaround the country, he says.

Roger Grainger, sales director

at Avis, says: Between 40% and

50% of Aviss fleet in the UK has

CO2 emissions below 140g/km.

We aim to increase that percent-

age by bringing in more small,

low carbon-emitting diesel cars.

Alternative technology is also

being trialled. Avis UK has had

20 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles

on its fleet for six months.

Why arent more greencars available?

The simple answer is cost.Its great to have the hybrids

and people are constantly asking

for them, but theyre not prepared

to pay, Tim Bailey says. They

cost significantly more to buy

and operate.

National also runs Volkswagen

Polo BlueMotions, but not many

because of the extra expense.

People expect it as part of the

offering but in reality you have to

pay for it, Mr Bailey says.

Tim Anderson adds: Daily

rental is usually where vehicles

which manufacturers need to

move quickly end up. As a result,

they are quite highly discounted.

With emerging technology,

you dont get the same level of

discounts so those vehicles look

less attractive to daily rental

companies. Hybrids in particular

have that challenge. A lot of

money has been spent on devel-oping technologies and manufac-

turers are not going to be overly

keen on offering big discounts.

As for alternative fuels, there

are already some challenges with

misfuelling and communicating

with customers. People dont

want to spend ages being told

what fuel to use they just want

to pick up the keys and go.

What can be done?Investing in some of the tech-

nology may be more bother than

its worth, economically, for daily

rental companies, says MrAnderson.

The opportunities in providing

alternative-fuelled vehicles and

advanced technologies are

limited.

It is right that they have them

in small numbers for customers

that particularly request them.

There is more opportunity to

provide them but it will be

demand led. It has to be fleet led

the daily rental industry is very

responsive to what customers

want. Pressure from fleet opera-

tors looking to reduce their

emissions and costs will drive

demand.

Rental firms also have a role

to play.

The bigger the car hired, the

more profit daily rental compa-

nies make, so staff are incentiv-

ised to upgrade customers, he

says. We would generallyrecommend downsizing where

possible, which is diametrically

opposite. There is opportunity

for a cultural change on both

sides to act responsibly.

The daily rental industry has

a lot of work to do in a number

of areas, mainly in vehicles, their

culture towards vehicle size and

their own operation. Delivering

and picking up cars from loca-

tions away from the branch is

very fuel intensive and Im sure

that could be improved.

National is looking at group-

ing its cars by CO2 emissions,but there is no getting around

the cost to rental companies of

newer technology.

These vehicles are at the

cutting edge of technology and

the cost of research and devel-

opment is part of the cost of the

car. There are also not as many

of them, says Mr Bailey.

Corporate entities renting

cars need to prepared to pay

more. When that happens,

volume production can step up.

Its not going to be done byGovernment or taxes forcing

people one way or the other.

It needs to be a conscious

decision from fleets and their

companies. It will mean a short-

term rise in costs, but for the

benefit of the long term.

There are signs that the

demand is already growing in

certain areas.

Oz Choudhri, UK sales

manager at Enterprise-Rent-A-

Car, says: Over the last 18

months we have seen a signifi-

cant rise in the demand for

greener fleets among ourcustomers.

This growth is expected to

continue.

Volkswagen PoloBlueMotion Toyota Prius


18/28


19/28

Letters p23Duty of care issues mean

company car drivers are

starting to be mollycoddled

like children, says Graham

Hurdle.

Helplines p25

Is it reasonable to ask

every driver to fill in a

risk assessment form

before each business

journey?

First car p27

Symon Moore, of Computer

Bookshops, on his first

company car.

Competition p27

BY EMMA COOPER

Fleet managers are struggling to

hit targets and productivity is

slowing as workplaces are becom-

ing more bureaucratic.

A poll of nearly 1,000 managers

has revealed that the most

common management styles

exhibited in the transport and

logistics sector, including fleet,

were bureaucratic, reactive

and authoritarian.

The findings were released in

the Quality of Working Life report,

from business consortium Simply-

health and the Chartered Manage-

ment Institute (CMI).

Managers also perceived a link

between the company culture and

absenteeism, with 45% of respon-

dents saying sickness rates have

risen in companies with suspi-

cious and unapproachable senior

managers.

Jo Causon, director of market-

ing and corporate affairs at the

CMI, said: The effect of manage-

ment styles on performance can

be marked and have a direct

bearing on the levels of health,

motivation and commitment

linking employers and staff.

Improving the sense of well-

being, determination and produc-

tivity is no easy task but one that

cannot be ignored.

Left alone, it will only serve to

reduce morale and lower the

quality of working life.

Workplace red tapehitting productivity

Fiona Hall has replaced Liam

Donnelly as sales director at

Arval UK and will be responsible

for retaining business and

forging new sales relationships.

Ms Hall previously worked as

northern sales director for Lex.

Robin Shaw has taken over as divisional director at Robert Boschs

aftermarket division, based at Denham, Buckinghamshire. He has

previously held a number of senior roles with aftermarket companies.

Mr Shaw joins Robert Bosch from Federal-Mogul, where he was

managing director of aftermarket.

Arvals newsales director

Shaw heads Robert Bosch division

Karppinen joins Renault SloughElina Karppinen has been made the new general manager at Renault

Slough. After working in car sales in Finland, Ms Karppinen took on

the role of business manager at Renault London West when she

moved to the UK five years ago.

SETTLING INYouve recently returned to

the UK from China how do

working practices differ?

There is less openness and

sharing in Shanghai. Key

decisions are made by a small

number of managers. Power

naps are popular in China not

many people in Milton Keynes

grab 40 winks at their desk.

What is the biggest change

you have seen in the UKs

industry since you returned?

When I left, people were talking

about green issues. Now theyre

doing something about it.

What is the greatest challenge

facing the fleet industry at

the moment?

Keeping pace with legislation

whether its corporate responsi-

bility, congestion charging,

environmental issues or duty of

care.

How do you plan to develop

fleet sales at Volkswagen?

Im working with a great team,

and Im confident Volkswagen

can continue to build strong

relationships with customers.

What piece of technology

could you not live without?

My car.

Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy playing hockey and

squash.

MatthewBowden

National fleetsales manager

Volkswagen UK

Describe your fleet.

Our fleet consists of 218

cars, 54 light commercial

vehicles and two fork-lift

trucks. It mostly consists of

Vauxhall Astras and

Movanos.

What is your career

history?

I previously worked in

customer services for

NatWest before going

travelling. I then took the

job as senior fleet adminis-

trator at Cancer Research

UK.

What do you enjoy most

about working in fleet?

Solving the daily challenges

that crop up, providing good

customer service and,importantly, keeping the

drivers happy.

What is your greatest

challenge at work?

Getting drivers to submit

paperwork on time it is a

constant battle.

What would make your

life easier at work?

Encouraging drivers to

submit mileage forms more

regularly. In the long run

we hope there wont be the

need for constant chasing offorms.

Do you have any hobbies?

I play the violin and enjoy

travelling to far-flung places

around the world.


Katy WarrenFleet

administratorCancer

Research UK

Job ofthe weekTOYOTA FINANCIALSERVICES Fleet developmentmanager, Midlands/Central, p20

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Your views, your queries, your chance to get involved

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FLEET CV

Wilde joins Zenith boardZenith Vehicle Contracts has appointed James Wilde as non-executive

chairman. Mr Wilde will advise the board on business development

and strategic planning. He was previously chief executive at Rentokil

Initial.

Red tape gets in the way of fleet

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Your chance to win a

500 Road Angel

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Recruitment Call Daniel Bragg: 01733 468271email: [email protected]

01235 536440www.steele-dixon.co.uk

Brighter futureSales Executive Niche Surrey 40K

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Corporate Sales Manager Group South 80K

Account Manager Fleet South 50K

Service Mgr Niche S London 32K

Service Mgr Plant N London 32KBusiness Development Mgr Auction House Scotland 50K OTE

Quarry Fleet Administrator Construction Middle East Tax Free

straight talking : smart thinking : fast act ing

www.dwc.co.uk

NORTH SOUTHManchester High WycombeMarc Bridges/Claire Anderson Will Gardner/Gregg Dampier0161 601 7766/7760 01494 538866/[email protected] [email protected]

daniel williams consultancySales and Marketing Recruitment Specialists

COMMERCIAL FINANCE MANAGERMotor Manufacturer - East Midlands35K Basic 48-50K OTE Company Car Pension Scheme Private HealthcareSince its inception, our client's name has been synonymous with innovation, design and

flair. They are now looking to complement their existing Corporate Sales Team and in

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conjunction with each dealership's Corporate Sales teams, you will ensure that each site

achieves the agreed finance penetration targets. Ref. CA4944

NATIONAL SECTOR MANAGERLeasing Data - UK51K OTE uncapped Company Car Excellent Flexible Benefits

Your experience of working within, or selling into, the leasing industry will give you the

required experience for this exciting career opportunity. As a major player within the

automotive data market, the various solutions and software they develop allows some of the

UK's largest leasing companies to make business critical decisions. Strategically, you will

personally drive profitable customer relationships with approximately 10 Key FN50 clients.

Secondly, you will manage a field based Key Account Manager and hold responsibility for

the overall sales strategy within your sector. Ref. CA4633

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERContract Hire & Leasing - North West35K Basic 65K OTE Company Car Pension SchemeThis privately owned leasing operation is fast moving up the FN50. This success has been

achieved in part by an ethos which encourages a flexible approach to business and a

product range that provides an enviable edge over the competition. They now seek an

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open-ended commission package. Ref. CA5001

Specialist Search and SelectionTo view a variety of current positions visit our website www.alastairames.co.uk or ring for details.

Tel 0207 917 1855 Fax 0207 917 1856 [email protected] 211 PICCADILLY,LONDON W1V 9LD

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Please Mention FleetNewswhen calling

Area Sales Manager Truck Rental30-35k Basic, 45k OTE Essex

A superb role with a market leading commercial vehicle rental business. A

combination of account management and new business in this successful region.

An understanding of the rental market would be ideal. Ref-11741

Account Manager LCV Rental20-23k Basic, + c. 10k OTE South West

A national rental company with a superb reputation in LCV rental services.With national depots they are looking for successful B2B sales people,ideally

within the eet industry - but this is not essential. Ref-11515

Corporate Sales Manager Contract Hire30-38k Basic, 50k uncapped Midlands

One o the UKs leading contract hire and eet management service providers.

Targeting eet sizes o 75-500 you will be responsible or winning and managing

all business you bring on board. Ref-11234

Key Account Manager Fleet Management35-40k Basic, c.55k OTE MidlandsA reputable eet management company who are currently looking to expand

their account management team. A senior feld sales role working closely with a

handfulof theirmost committedcustomers. Ref-11748

Regional Sales Manager Public Sector32-37k Basic, c.50k OTE South East

A market leading eet management company who specialise in selling contract

hiretothepublicsector. Ideallyyouwillhaveanunderstandingof thepublicsector

but solid contract hire backgrounds will be considered. Ref-11973

Corporate Account Manager Contract Hire30-38k Basic, 50-60k OTE Midlands

One of the largest and most successful companies in the world. Selling a full

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Please contact Chris OConnor or Rob Pestridge to discuss these and many more exciting nationwide opportunities on

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FLEET SPECIALISTS - EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITIES!


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Get a letter publishedin Fleet News and youwill receive a 512Mbcomputer memorystick worth 15courtesy of fleet soft-ware and occupational roadsafety specialistJaama.

FREE GIFT

By writing to Fleet News you agreeto have your details passed on toJaama and may receive offers from orin association with Emap ConsumerMedia unless you state otherwise.

Childish drivers

causing concern The article Fleets advised to

select the right vehicle for the

job ( Fleet News, November

29) has highlighted a point

that should be stressed to all

fleet managers.

Too many fleets buy a

particular van because it is the

cheapest, or has the best sales-

person, or is the one theyve

always bought. This is particu-

larly prevalent if the fleet has

cars and vans, where often the

latter are an afterthought.

Fleet managers should look

at what they need their vans to

do. Driver input is vital. They

often know better than the

fleet manager what role

commercial vehicles play.

Ensuring your vehicles can

cope with everything you need

them to do is central, espe-

cially if your requirements are

likely to change. Using daily

rental to supplement your core

fleet can also often help with

flexibility, especially if you

have seasonal requirements.

Seemingly insignificant

details, from the height of the

van loading facilities to the

shelving and specialist equip-ment required inside the

vehicle, need to be understood

and taken into account.

Choosing the wrong van will

result in higher costs at best

and safety and legal issues at

worst. The key is to under-

stand that vans are not like

cars. They are not perks, but

are there solely to do a job.

Making a job easier and

more cost-effective is surely

common sense.

STEVE CRAWSHAW

LCV manager,LeasePlan UK

Care neededin fleet vanpurchases

Interface Email: [email protected]. Please include name, job title, company and addressLETTERS

The letter Hidden danger of

mobile calls ( Fleet News,

December 20) from Len Benson

is nonsense.

Does he seriously think that

anyone taking a call in a tight

situation on a mobile hands-free

kit would allow a caller to

continue yelling hello, hello,

are you still there, can you hear

me? without telling the caller

to shut up, Im in a tight spot

and need to concentrate, or

disconnecting the caller by

switching off his/her phone?

Wouldnt you just ignore the

phone?

Does he use satellite naviga-

tion? I dont, but I assume that

since these devices have a

screen they are programmed to

display a map which the driver

would look at. Is this not more

dangerous than talking to

someone on the phone?

Should they, too, be banned?

Last week I had a call from

someone who challenged me to

spend two hours of my time in

which he would convince me

that I am wrong about the ability

of drivers who use hands-free

mobile phone kits.

He was an advanced driving

instructor and said consider-

able research has proved thatusing any sort of mobile phone,

hands-free or not, in the car is

dangerous.

I agree hand-held phones

are dangerous and I am as

annoyed as most people about

the idiots who ignore the

current law.

I may or may not go through

with the challenge since it is

obvious to me that the real

reason for accidents is due to

driver inexperience or

incompetence.

FRED MACDONALDFleet manager, WilsonElectrical Distributors

Do you think

electric people

trundlers are a good

idea? Should we be

able to hop aboard

motorised pogo

sticks to get around

town? If you think

so, vote yes in the

poll at theFleet

News website: www.

fleetnews.co.uk

100

80

60

40

20

0YES NO

LAST WEEKS POLL

44% 56%

Should the police be doing moreto get unroadworthy vehicles(grey fleet or not) off the road?

Do we want to see police

officers trundling about on

electric people transporters? It

seems one or two police fleet

managers are not that keen.

When it comes to replacing a

patrol car, its not just the

questions around lighting,

brakes, insurance and

registration that holds

trundlers back. The fact that

they look a bit silly wont help.

If theyre not in patrol cars or

on motorcycles, police officers

should be on foot or using

bicycles like the rest of us. A bit

of exercise never hurt anybody.

Before long, everybody

would want an electric people

transporter. Imagine the

shopping centre carnage that

would follow uninsured

trundlers hurtling out of

control everywhere.

ONLINE POLL FleetNews COMMENT

The onus placed on companies is

now so great that company car

drivers are taking less personal

responsibility for their own safety

and their vehicles.

We have reached the stage

where company car drivers are

starting to be mollycoddled like

children.

So much is done for them and

so much responsibility is seen as

being the companys, that many

do very little to ensure they are

creating a safe environment while

on the road.

We see high numbers of drivers

who have not had eyesight tests,

know how many alcoholic drinks

would mean they are over the

limit the morning after, a number

that do not conduct regular

vehicle safety checks and many

who sit back and wait to be sent

their tax disc by their fleet

manager without giving a second

thought as to whether the car is

taxed or not until it arrives.

Companies need to adopt a

duty of care towards their

employees.However, there should be a

responsibility for employees to

also show a duty of care towards

their employers, rather than it

being one-way traffic from the

company to its staff. We are

moving towards a situation which

is grossly unfair on the employer,

and will lead to drivers becoming

increasingly nonchalant about

their own responsibilities. For

company directors to potentially

face prison when the driver of the

car could be back on the road

with what is effectively just a verystrong ticking off seems to be

shifting responsibility far too far

away from the true culprit.

The continuous squeeze being

put on companies will reach a

point where it no longer has the

desired impact on achieving safer

conditions for their drivers and

other road users, but instead

creates a lazy culture that causes

drivers to become an even greater

danger than before, and compa-

nies writing tighter and tighter

policies and handbooks to protect

themselves from prosecution.

GRAHAM HURDLEManaging director,E-Training World

Company directors face being jailed for their drivers shortcomings

He cannotbe serious

With reference to the article

Little protection against big

bills ( Fleet News, December

20), why are cars not fitted with

chrome or metal bumpers as

they were up to the 1970s?

I started work in a garage in

1959 and can rememberdamaged bumpers being banged

into shape again. Surely this

would be better than the plastic

bumper which damages easily?

Repairing cars is costing a

fortune by always fitting new

parts. A metal bumper would

save damage to the engine and

the chassis.In this day and age when we

are trying to save the planet, any

sort of machinery should be

repaired where possible.

Fitting new parts all the time

is not always the answer.

S A COTTER

Purchasing department,Fine-tubes

Modern policy increases cost of repairs


24/28


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Driver training

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