Fleet World July 2016 by Fleet World Group

July 2016

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

Spotlight Tough new CitroĂŤn C3 profiled

BREXIT

...And what it could mean for UK fleets

Driven

Stand, and delivered

Mobiles and mobility

SEAT Ateca Volvo V90 Audi Q2

All the highlights from exhibitors at the Fleet Show 2016 at Silverstone

How smartphones are revolutionising business travel fleetworld.co.uk

contents July 2016

FLEETW RLD

All that matters in the world of fleet

Spotlight Tough new Citroën C3 profiled

Why the Government wants input from fleets, post-Referendum.

BREXIT

C4 Cactus-inspired new Citroën C3 aims for user-choosers.

...And what it could mean for UK fleets

Driven

Stand, and delivered

Mobiles and mobility

SEAT Ateca Volvo V90 Audi Q2

All the highlights from exhibitors at the Fleet Show 2016 at Silverstone

How smartphones are revolutionising business travel fleetworld.co.uk

Publisher Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

On the road in the stylish and surprisingly practical Audi Q2.

Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Highlights from suppliers at Fleet Show 2016.

Features Editor Katie Beck katie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Fleet Consultant Ross Durkin ross@fleetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor Dan Gilkes dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executives Darren Brett darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Claire Warman claire@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

46 BREXIT: what it could mean for fleets and the UK motor industry...

Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Samantha King sam@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Dan Desta daniel@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Published by Stag Publications Ltd, 18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ tel +44 (0)1727 739160 fax +44 (0)1727 739169 email fw@fleetworldgroup.co.uk web fleetworld.co.uk

VAN FLEETW RLD

STAG

Publications

The smartphone mobility revolution.

LCV News, plus... DRIVEN: Fiat Fullback, Fiat Talento, Citroën Dispatch / Peugeot Expert, VW Amarok.

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2015 18,052

fleetworld.co.uk / 03

fleetreview This month, editor Steve Moody moves on after seven successful years, but before he does, he considers the fleet implications of the UK deciding to leave the EU...

I’m off – but staying too This is my last column as editor of Fleet World. From next month, Alex Grant is taking over the reins as I move to be general manager of Fleet World Group. I started as editor in 2009, as the economy was rocking from the credit crunch, but in that time we’ve grown hugely with bigger issues, new events and digital products. This month sees the relaunch of our website and the MPG Marathon too which now has lots of exciting new categories and competitions that reflect the changing and more varied market. You can find out about it on page 64 and by visiting www.thempgmarathon.co.uk. So thanks very much for all your help, input and opinion for the magazine over the past seven years. It’s been a pleasure.

What will Brexit mean for fleets? What will Brexit mean for fleets? I’ve asked lots of people in the industry and the resounding response is: “we just don’t know”. It’s not really a surprise, as

04 / fleetworld.co.uk

there isn’t exactly a template for managing this sort of occurrence. Quite how the country has voted for a thing where there is almost no plan or cohesive strategy other than a fairly nebulous concept, I can’t fathom. But this isn’t the place for political diatribe. But one thing that we can be fairly sure of is that costs for fleets will go up in the short to medium term, irrespective of how cheap or otherwise it is to import cars from the continent and elsewhere. Quite how much is the question. I suspect consumer confidence will be shaky, which always has an impact on the used car market, and the price of fuel, which has been gently trending upwards, is likely to continue on that path, as will inflation generally. Fortunately the UK is in a pretty good place, with high employment, low interest rates and business looking sound. The manufacturing sector, for example, had a very strong first half of the year after a long period of stagnation. So with a fair wind, we may well negotiate through this period of uncertainty without too much pain, but cost efficiency in fleets will become ever more necessary. So some things don’t change.

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Government: we want to hear Brexit ideas... 06 / fleetworld.co.uk

The World of Fleet

usiness Secretary Sajid Javid has moved to reassure the fleet and automotive sectors over Brexit, saying he wanted to hear ideas from firms about how the business landscape will be shaped during and after leaving the EU. Speaking at the SMMT International Automotive Summit in London, he told delegates: “From multinationals to small specialist suppliers, the automotive industry was almost unambiguous in its support for a Remain vote. I do not doubt that these will be difficult times for Britain, particularly British employers. We are facing a period of uncertainty, and we do not know how long it will last. “What happens next for Britain, for manufacturing and the automotive industry? It creates a number of large, complex issues that we will all need to work together to overcome and we are sailing into untested waters. But we are far from rudderless. Con-

trary to some of the more alarmist headlines, the business of government continues. I have been in regular touch with the heads of some of our biggest companies to reassure them and hear their concerns. “The UK automotive sector has been a model of co-operation between government and industry. Politicians and engineers are coming together to do what is right for British business, and what is right for British jobs. That is what is going to matter going forwards. “The decision the British people made will undoubtedly create challenges. But it also gives us a unique opportunity to re-build from the ground up in a way that really works for Britons, its employers and workforce, and I want to hear from the automotive industry during this process.” For more coverage on how Brexit will affect fleets, see pages 46-49 of this issue.

fleetworld.co.uk / 07

inbusiness

JLR to double true fleet share J

aguar Land Rover will have more than doubled its sales in key fleet sectors over a two‐year period, but it’s expecting volumes to stabilise despite a multitude of new products. Jon Wackett, general manager, fleet and business sales, said the aim is to offer desirable, efficient vehicles with a strong TCO proposition, in turn turning drivers into brand advo‐ cates. Its sales team works across both brands. New, significantly more efficient, ‘Ingenium’ four‐cylinder diesel engines in the Evoque and Discovery Sport, plus the new Jaguar XE and XF, resulted in 44% of 2015’s sales being recorded as ‘fleet’ compared to 37% in 2013. Growth among contract hire and leasing, sub‐25 and 25‐ plus vehicle fleets has been particularly encouraging – up

from 14,055 in 2014 to 21,034 in 2015 (+49.6%), Wackett said. Helped by the F‐Pace SUV, it’s aiming to exceed 30,000 units in those areas this year. But, despite 50 ‘product actions’ by the end of 2020, 2016 will be the last year of rapid growth: “We will continue to bring fleet and business products to market, but we don’t expect to see 50% growth,” said Wackett. “These are the two years where that was going to happen, but it’s not volume for volume’s sake. I’d much rather be steady and deliver a good sustainable long‐ term volume benefit to the business.”

MPs attack all-lane motorway plan

Ps have told the Government it needs to prove that all‐lane running schemes do not present road safety risks before proceeding with current plans. A report by the Transport Select Committee has slammed the Government’s current schemes to permanently convert the hard shoulder into a running lane on around 300 miles of motorway and says that motorway hard shoulders shouldn't be used as permanent driving lanes. Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman MP, commented: "It is undeniable that we need to find ways of dealing with traffic growth on the strategic network. But All Lane Running does not appear to us to

10 / fleetworld.co.uk

be the safe, incremental change the Department wants us to think it is.” She added that the Committee had been told of signifi‐ cant concerns about the scarcity, size and misuse of emer‐ gency refuge areas and also about worryingly high levels of non‐compliance with Red X signals. In response, Alan Stevens, chief scientist, transportation at TRL, said that TRL has conducted several research proj‐ ects to see how people respond to both dynamic hard shoulder and all‐lane running and found both to be no less safe than other motorways. However he echoed the need for suﬃcient ongoing evaluation.

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inbusiness

Beyond retail therapy How useful is a car's retail price when fleets are deciding what to source? Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader, reports.

o-one really talks about recommended retail prices anymore do they? After all wholelife costs determine company car choice from SMEs through to the blue chips and rightly so as they provide accurate budgeting and remove potentially costly guess work. Curiously, though, whole-life costs mean little in the retail sector where the focus has also moved away from RRP and turned to the monthly payments of manufacturer subsidised Personal Contract Purchase schemes with buyers effectively paying for vehicle usage rather than outright ownership. PCPs have been hugely successful at coaxing buyers back into the new car market with some incredibly competitive low interest deals which have seen some buyers source new cars for less than they spend on their monthly Sky package. So how should SMEs, who source their vehicles from dealers, evaluate the cars they put on their books? While whole life costs are central to the equation, there are other criteria to take into account. RRP is still an important consideration. It is after all where the P11D value is derived and this aspect of the sourcing process requires buy-in from the user who will be paying personal tax based on the vehicle's price and CO2 emissions. Murray Wilkinson, the owner of the Camargue Group, the Stirling-based fleet management company that provides cars and finance to businesses, advises companies to consider a number of elements in the round but retain a focus on whole life costs. “It is impractical and inaccurate to use factors such as retail price, C02 emissions, mpg or fuel type in isolation. While the retail or manufacturers list price is important to the employee, especially for tax reasons, it may not be the most economical car for the company to run.” Fuel is another important consideration. With new generation petrol engines benefitting from lower CO2 emissions and better economy than ever before, an increasing number of brands offering longer range electric cars and diesel being widely vilified for their NOx emissions, how should SMEs tackle fuel choice? “We recommend the full range of vehicles, including new vehicle technologies, as long as they can meet the specific needs of the customer. As long as a vehicle fits within the organisations’ whole-life cost parameters, and any other restrictions they may have linked to their business priorities, the fuel type shouldn’t

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matter,” said David Nicholas, fleet consultant at Arval. “The only current exception comes with fully electric vehicles where additional factors need to be considered, for example the profile of the journeys undertaken by the driver and how a business mileage reimbursement policy will work. “In the last couple of years, we have seen a significant increase in driver interest in plug-in hybrid vehicles because of the relatively low Benefit-in-Kind associated with them, and the increasing number of models becoming available. For some drivers this is a good option, but not for all, and tax shouldn’t be the sole consideration when selecting a vehicle. For example, for a driver regularly completing high mileage, a standard diesel could be a much more practical and fuel efficient choice.” Restrictions are also important when drawing up a choice list as a three-door may lack practicality if the car is passed onto another member of staff, while a convertible or 4X4 may be at odds with the image the company is trying to convey. “Ultimately, the restrictions applied within a policy should be tailored to specific needs. Having said that, it is often appropriate that outward, or customer facing drivers, completing high business mileage face more restrictions than those drivers operating in back office functions and perk drivers. These restrictions are in place to ensure the vehicle is fit for purpose and that the correct image of the organisation is portrayed. “It is also common to set a CO2 cap for the various entitlement grades within the company car policy. With a wide range of efficient vehicles available, it is now possible to reduce the company’s environmental impact while still offering drivers an attractive choice of vehicles.” Finally, with most brands now offering a selection of models suitable for fleet needs, how should a company decide which marques fit the bill? “Once a business is clear on their fleet requirements, they should consider the full range of vehicle manufacturers, finally selecting the product that can best meet their needs. Business priorities can range across areas like cost reduction, driver satisfaction, employee recruitment and retention and environmental impact. Some manufacturers will be better at delivering against these goals than others.” So while whole-life costs are central to sourcing smartly, fleet managers still need to consider RRP along with fuel type and a vehicle’s suitability for staff needs.

inbusiness

The only certainty is uncertainty The Insider reckons that while Brexit may bring increased costs for fleets, there could be opportunities too.

o we’re out! I am of course referring to Brexit, although the sentiment could apply equally to a major football tournament which just happened to be taking place in France at the same time. The fallout is much the same, actually. Everyone says they didn’t expect that to happen, and what shall we do now, and the man in charge says he doesn’t want to play any more and resigns, followed by several other of the main players. Never before have I heard news reporters use the word “maybe” so often. Maybe it’ll be okay, maybe it won’t. Maybe people will still want to trade with Britain, maybe they won’t. I guess there aren’t too many people still working who remember how it was before we entered the Common Market, as I think it was called in the Seventies. The only certainty is a period of uncertainty. Oh, and fuel prices will rise because they always do at the sniff of any uncertainty. And when fuel prices go up, so does the cost of everything else. That said, we haven’t seen those increases just yet due to a fortuitous drop in the price of crude oil. But I’m sure they will come, especially since continuing concerns about public finances means the Chancellor may well be looking for a source of additional income. So we shouldn’t bet against further increases later in the year anyway. I suspect the next two years in fleet – longer if Article 50 is not invoked soon – are going to be similar to when the country is in recession. Expect pessimistic views on residual values and hence more expensive contracts; currency fluctuations leading to higher prices, perhaps difficulty getting credit. And we were pre-warned of tax increases so that’s a given. As negotiation on trade agreements commence over the next two years will we see significant restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles imposed, and what might these cost? I’m guessing a lot of UK companies will sit tight and refrain from major investment until the future becomes clearer.

More worryingly, on the human side of things, is evidence of an unpleasant rash of racism surfacing – I wonder if we will see cars vandalised, leading to an increase in insurance claims, and thence premiums. There is so much to be sorted out and naturally every business sector wants their area tackled first. So while government sorts out a plan for our future economic stability and security, the rest of us will muddle along in our uncertainty. But there’s an opportunity for our fleet heavyweights to get involved here too. With government resource standing at around 30% less than in past decades, there is likely neither sufficient expertise nor the appropriate skills to negotiate with European government at the required levels. What an opportunity for our fleet trade and other associations to offer assistance so that we are more likely to achieve the desired outcomes. What a pity that the business of getting Britain to stand on its own feet must surely delay future progress in other areas. Or will it? Take, for example, the news that 38 out of 43 geographical zones in the UK are failing EU air quality standards due to high levels of NOx. Our departure from Europe does not mean we will wriggle out of the requirements, and in London alone we still need to reduce the startling number of 10,000 deaths a year from air pollution. With Brexit dominating the news, it would be easy to miss new London Mayor, Sadiq Khan’s proposals to not only double the size of the London congestion zone using borders formed by North and South Circular roads, but also to bring the ULEZ effective date forward significantly. This could mean fleets running vehicles bought just before Euro 6 was implemented falling foul of increased congestion charges, since the period for changeover will be less than originally promised. Another example of our attempts at forward planning falling foul of those in high places. Interesting times.

fleetworld.co.uk / 13

A BUSINESS SENSE OF ADVENTURE.

CO2

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jeep.co.uk/ďŹ&#x201A;eet 315 TO 115 G/KM. Fuel consumption and CO2 ďŹ gures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. Factors such as driving style, weather and road

inbusiness

Q &A

Tom Hughes, recently appointed business development director of road safety organisation the TTC Group, on the latest developments... Are fleets waking up to the message of managing workplace road safety? It is a mixed picture and experience tells us that while there are a few excellent examples of best practice, the majority are not waking up to the message that they must manage work-related road safety effectively and perhaps more importantly, that they don’t fully understand the implications of not doing so. Our market intelligence tells us that while most companies have some awareness of their obligations, the reality is that a vast majority have a misplaced view of what being fully compliant actually is. The perspective of where the process starts and stops sometimes can be quite limited and often there is a degree of confusion from company to company with regard to what they actually need to do. Our feeling is that many organisations are missing the opportunity to not only address their compliance responsibilities but also improve the behaviour and skills of their driving pool, resulting in tangible business and financial benefits that positively impact on the bottom line. What about the grey fleet? The grey fleet is an interesting topic because managing work-related road safety varies among grey fleet operators. What it means to one, may well be different to another, with the result that quite often grey fleet drivers are overlooked. For clarity though, as health and safety law does not differentiate, there is no difference between someone driving a company vehicle or their own car for company use. Those companies that don’t fully understand their grey fleet obligations are potentially leaving themselves open to compliance breaches with ever increasing severity of penalties.

What type of fleets is DriverProtect aimed at and how does it stand out in the marketplace? The business benefits and compliance position that companies need to realise to manage work-related road safety effectively applies to companies of all sizes. With that being the case, TTC DriverProtect has something to offer all types of organisations and because of the modular nature of the service it can be deployed as individual

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point solutions or as a fully-fledged managed service. Effectively managing work-related road safety is an ongoing journey for any organisation and we feel that TTC DriverProtect stands out in the marketplace as it offers an end-to-end life cycle service encompassing driver risk and policy management; licence checking and grey fleet documentation services; individual driver aptitude assessments and risk profiling with a full suite of driver training services (both online and physical) being offered in addition. We are different in that we leverage the perfect blend of people, process and technology to underpin our service offering to not only improve a client’s business but also to measure that improvement and demonstrate clear return on investment. Furthermore we have a pedigree that is unsurpassed in the industry with more than 20 years’ road safety knowledge and a track record of developing the driving skills of more than 330,000 individuals each year. How will the rise of connected cars affect road risk? In a general sense there are huge benefits to be realised from some of the new technology being deployed in vehicles which assist the driver in managing their journey in a safer fashion – developments such as dynamic braking, lane assist systems and speed management technology can only be seen as a good thing. As ever with technology though there is often a flip side – in-car technology that allows the driver to be connected on a constant basis, through SMS, email, hands-free telephony and even satellite navigation, potentially causes distractions and therefore increases the risks to both the driver and other road users. The opportunity to email or text when driving is sometimes difficult to resist for those addicted to their smart phone. This ‘nodding down’ effect is being seen as an ever increasing problem and is very much a hot topic for law enforcement bodies. To address this specific issue we have developed a ‘managing driver distraction’ training module that can be deployed on its own or more commonly as part of a broader training and development programme.

THE JAGUAR XF

THIS IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL

Advertisement Feature

Crowned ‘Best Executive Car’ at the 2016 Fleet World Honours, the Jaguar XF has been recognised as offering business drivers one of the best all-round packages of efficiency, sports performance and premium appeal in its class.

aguar founder Sir William Lyons once said that “Success comes from believing in what you are doing” – and it’s a statement that encapsulates the Jaguar XF perfectly.

includes the pulsing red Start/Stop button – with a gentle touch the engine purrs into life which exempliﬁes that emotional connection between man and machine.

This is particularly true of the second-generation model which has been completely rebuilt from the ground up, using an all-new structure, design and powertrains. The result is an executive saloon with awardwinning design, luxury and packed full of technology, but really adds up ﬁnancially, too, providing the perfect tool for ﬂeet drivers – the reason why it was awarded ‘Best Executive Car’ at this year’s Fleet World Honours.

In fact, cutting-edge technology that excites the senses is a core theme for the XF, features like Jaguar’s ‘InControl’ connected car system offers the latest in seamless, intuitive connectivity.

STAND-OUT APPEAL The XF doesn’t just stand out from the crowd for its quality focus, but for its purpose and character too. And because it’s a Jaguar, it never brags or shouts about it prowess – it has class, good taste and a unique sense of ‘Britishness’ that only a Jaguar can deliver – both inside and out. Jaguar is renowned for luxury and innovation. Inside a key feature

OUTSTANDING DRIVING DYNAMICS AND EFFICIENCY The XF boasts the latest in chassis and engine technology developments. Thanks to an all-new Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, the XF is the lightest car in its class, bringing efficiency gains but also offering an unrivalled blend of reﬁnement and agile handling. 50/50 front to rear weight distribution delivers a balanced drive. This is enhanced by the all-aluminium Ingenium engines, which add to its appeal as a true driver’s car while also bringing competitive low emissions and fuel economy. Combined-cycle fuel economy for

the Manual is up to 70.6mpg while emissions start from 104g/km. PERFECT BUSINESS SENSE Designed with business customers in mind, the XF doesn’t just appeal to business drivers but to fleet managers too. Alongside its ultralow emissions and class-leading fuel economy figures, the XF also brings longer service intervals. So drivers won’t have to think about a service until up to 21,000 miles or two years. And with leasing prices starting from £289 per month + VAT on Jaguar Business Contract Hire*, the XF really means business for fleets. For all your fleet enquiries contact the Jaguar Business Centre on 0845 600 2214. Offer based on a 36 month Business Contract Hire agreement, 10,000 miles per annum with an initial rental of £1,734 +VAT. VAT payable at 20%. Model shown (including optional metallic paint and 19” Razor alloy wheels†) from £315 a month +VAT, plus initial rental of £1,887 +VAT. ċ

Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 17.4-64.2 (16.2-4.4); Extra Urban 33.2-83.1(8.5-3.4); Combined 25.0-75.0 (11.3-3.8). CO2 Emissions 269-99 (g/km). Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world ﬁgures may differ. *Important Information, Business users only. XF Saloon 2.0D R-Sport (180ps) RWD 17MY standard speciﬁcation, non-maintained. Excess mileage charges apply (at 10.4p per mile +VAT). Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles registered by 30th September 2016. Contract Hire provided by Jaguar Contract Hire, a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. †Model shown is an XF 2.0D R-Sport (180ps) RWD with optional extra’s.

inbusiness

What I’ve learnt Andrew Cope, the driving force behind vehicle leasing giant Zenith, on lessons learnt when managing teams and identifying top talent – along with some insights into the fleet industry.

Leading-edge people create leading-edge teams Identifying top talent and building ‘can do’ teams are pivotal to a company’s success or failure. Outstanding teams – whether in sport or business – invariably always understand and are committed to achieving the end goal. Wholly bought into the company’s vision, they are consistent in their collective purpose. The challenge is creating the right dynamics while ensuring you have the right people on the bus – and in the right seats. Hire on attitude A company’s culture, values and behaviours are set by its leader, whose role is to build a team of talented and skilled people – cornerstones – who move the business forward. I’m a firm believer in the adage that good leaders hire people who are better than themselves – surprisingly this does not happen as frequently as you might think. Recruiting people who are aligned with a company’s culture is vital – as is hiring on attitude. I’ve learnt not to take CVs at face value and have often taken on candidates whose track records are not the strongest, but whose qualities and ‘can do’ ethos stand out. I’ve also learnt that people are not wholly incentivised by money – it’s about making them feel valued and knowing that they are instrumental to the company’s success. I’m aware that a lot of people outline money as a motivator but, in my experience, few people are primarily motivated by the green stuff. Act fast if it’s not right On realising they’ve taken on the wrong person, many MDs fail to remove them immediately from the business. If the candidate is not working out for whatever reason - whether it is underperformance or not fitting in with the team dynamics – I realised a long time ago that it’s best to let them go at once. Respect your gut instinct Millions of MDs are all too aware that recruitment mistakes are not only detrimental to the bottom line;

18 / fleetworld.co.uk

they also impact on morale – and on your credibility as a boss. I’ve made my biggest and most expensive hiring errors when I’ve gone against my gut instinct. The importance of instinct can’t be overstated – for example, when I first met Paul Parkinson, the MD of Synergy Automotive – one of the UK’s leading vehicle leasing and finance credit brokers – I instinctively knew that the business and its team had the right culture, values and dynamics. These criteria attracted me to join its board in May this year and I’m looking forward to helping the business to accelerate its wider goals and vision. A tip on hiring I always recommend is from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg – one of the world’s youngest and most successful entrepreneurs – who will only hire people who he himself could work for. Industry insights – BVRLA The BVRLA is a fantastic organisation which has had a genuine influence on curbing ‘legislator zeal’ and shaping what has sometimes been conflicting and silly legislative ideas into something practical and workable. The wider industry has changed since I came into it 30 years ago, when there were hundreds of different types of leasing companies and organisations. In some ways it was like the Wild West, with some really colourful characters knocking about, compared to being extremely professional. Although the industry might not be as much fun now – it’s certainly better run! Status quo fundamentally changing My overarching observation of the industry today is how the previous status quo of company vehicles on one side and retail vehicles on the other is fundamentally changing. With PCH and PCP taking off in a big way, the fleet world is morphing into a hybrid one where many of the features of fleet are now incorporated into personal leasing and vice versa. We’re witnessing a new market where the traditional car ownership model is a thing of the past and where flexibility of use, value and price are the watchwords of the future.

inbusiness trading places

out

FuelGenie appoints Robert Pieczka as MD Robert Pieczka has been appointed as the new managing director of supermarket fuel card provider fuelGenie. Pieczka was previously marketing and international group marketing director at BNP Paribas subsidiary, Arval. He was also the MD of Allstar and oversaw the development and sale of the business to Fleetcor in 2011. Pieczka commented: “To encourage strong growth as we move forward we will develop our sales channels, including the cultivation of new partnership opportunities. We will work hand in hand with customers and partners, both large and small to continue offering an exceptional service, which in turn will help those companies to grow.”

Andy Allen to head up BP Fuel Cards Andy Allen has been appointed to the role of head of BP Fuel Cards after more than a decade at BP. His new role includes all sales activities, customer management and engagement, enhancing BP’s offer as well as relationships with key business partners such as fuel card distributors. Allen said: “Our branded network includes more than 1,200 sites and fuel cards will play a key role in growing this network over the next few years.”

Richard Schooling moves to Alphabet International Richard Schooling, previously chief executive of Alphabet (GB) Limited, has been appointed to the newly created position of chief commercial officer at Alphabet International. In his new role, Schooling is responsible for the strategic coordination and development of all 18 Alphabet markets. The CEO role at Alphabet (GB) has been filled by Nick Brownrigg, who brings significant leadership experience in the UK and international leasing industry, having previously fulfilled a number of UK, pan-European and global CEO positions for Ally Financial Inc (previously GMAC) and Masterlease Group prior to his move to the Dubai-based ALJ Group in early 2013.

Vauxhall offers new SMR fleet package

auxhall has introduced a new Service, Maintenance and Repair package to enhance its aftersales service to ﬂeets. Dubbed SMR+, the product is iFleet‐ administered for routine servicing and includes additional items such as brake ﬂuid changes, maintenance work (brake discs, pads and clutches), and mechanical/electri‐ cal warranty work. The package also brings a bespoke concierge‐style service including all service items, as well as warranty and wear and tear replacements.

New E-Class Estate offers class-leading space and 109g/km CO2 he new Mercedes‐Benz E‐Class Estate will offer class‐leading Tload volume and CO emissions from 109g/km when it launches 2

later this year. UK drivers will initially be offered the 192bhp E 220 d four‐cylin‐ der diesel and nine‐speed automatic transmission, which offers claimed economy ﬁgures of 67.3mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 109g/km. Boot space stands at 670 litres with the rear bench upright or 1,820 litres with it folded. Self‐levelling suspension is ﬁtted as standard, and Mercedes‐Benz will offer a third‐row folding bench seat for children.

fleetworld.co.uk / 19

business inb

Problems Shared As the first car-to-X system comes to market, Alex Grant explains how connectivity is making use of familiar technology to improve safety for drivers. What is it? The start of technology which will enable cars to communicate between each other, sharing information which essentially means drivers can ‘see’ what’s happening around the next corner.

How does it work? It’s a combination of hardware which is already fitted to many modern cars, but the tipping point is the growth of on-board internet connectivity. This typically adds an antenna and built-in SIM card for data access via mobile networks providing access to connected features such as music streaming, in-car internet access and WiFi and live traffic updates, as well as emergency services calling. The other part of the puzzle is actually more common. Even the most basic cars now feature a network of sensors which are used to detect and respond to road conditions at a local level, whether that’s hardware for anti-lock brakes, skid control, automatic headlights and wipers or even which airbags have activated and how many passengers are on board. Combining that information provides a very detailed view of the car’s surroundings – weather, grip, the speed at which traffic is flowing. All of that can be aggregated and uploaded to the cloud, before being sent back to vehicles which could be affected by a change in conditions.

What can it do? Think of this as a next step for active safety. Where cameras and radar can only monitor the immediate vicinity, this technology turns all connected vehicles into traffic

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probes, capable of warning following traffic about accidents, sudden tailbacks and weather conditions ahead. In turn, it means drivers can make decisions earlier and avoid sudden manoeuvres or a collision. Connectivity could lead to vehicles receiving more accurate traffic and roadwork information, and to get live warnings about approaching emergency services. And there are potential benefits for infrastructure, too – the data could be used to alter traffic light sequencing based on traffic flow, and to give better information on gantry signs.

What are the challenges? Aside from patchy mobile data coverage, which arguably affects some of the areas where this is most needed, the biggest potential issue has always been interoperability. A system like this requires a standardised way for cars to share information, to ensure it’s not manufacturer-specific. And they are working together – the Car 2 Car Consortium includes 17 carmakers as well as technology companies. There’s a clear move to co-operate.

When will it be available? It’s already available. Having conducted on-road testing since 2013, Mercedes-Benz has introduced Car-to-X technology in the new E-Class in a move said to be a production first. Recent concepts suggest BMW and Volvo aren’t far behind, and the widespread roll-out of connectivity in new vehicles can only pave the way for ongoing growth. The more cars are part of this social network, the more useful it will become.

BAROMETER Making sense of the surveys

We’ve pulled together the pertinent points from the myriad of research done in the fleet industry this month to give you a clearer view of what’s really going on...

vehicle driver stereotypes

Source: TomTom Telematics

A survey of over 1,000 British drivers has revealed the stereotypes associated with the skill level and attitude of drivers of different types of vehicles. When asked to select the category of drivers they believed to be safest, small and compact car drivers came top (27%), closely followed by drivers of saloon cars (23%). Small and compact car drivers also finished top when it came to the most polite and courteous drivers (26%). Van drivers were considered to be the least safe road users, with only 3% of respondents selecting them in this category.

“While telematics has traditionally been the focus of fleet managers and operations directors, this survey clearly shows that it should also be on the radar of the marketing department too,” commented Taco van der Leij, VP marketing at TomTom Telematics. “By improving how they are perceived on the road, businesses can establish themselves as responsible brands worthy of consumer trust.”

Van drivers also came last for perceived courtesy (3%), tied with drivers of high-performance and sports cars (both 3%). 65% of motorists questioned said they would be less inclined to do business with companies whose drivers behaved unsafely or discourteously on the road.

sleep-deprived driving The findings of a new experiment commissioned by bedroom furniture supplier Time4Sleep.co.uk suggest that short-term sleep disruption can pose a significant driving risk. The experiment was designed to test how sleep levels affect concentration. 27-year old triplets Robert, Steven and Patrick Davis were given a full night’s sleep, disrupted sleep, and no sleep respectively. They were then tasked with staying in-lane at a constant speed of 60mph for 90 minutes on a motorway simulator.

z z z

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Source: Time4Sleep.co.uk

Robert had no fatigue alerts from the heart rate monitor, and had the fewest lane departures (30 departures and a total of 39 seconds out of his lane). Steven had four fatigue alerts and left his lane a total of 58 times for a duration of 1 minute and 40 seconds. Patrick received 12 fatigue alerts, but his ability to stay in the same lane was severely reduced, with 188 separate lane departures, equivalent to 6 minutes and 26 seconds travelling out of his lane. However, it was Steven, who had disrupted sleep, who had the slowest reaction times. He failed to react 10 times, which was twice as often as Patrick and substantially more than Robert, who had no missed reactions.

white at a premium

Source: cap hpi

Whilst white used to be a free colour choice, figures from cap hpi reveal that eight out of the top 10 new car models ordered in 2015 now add an extra premium of at least £250 if ordered in white. Last year, over 2.6 million new cars were registered and more than half a million of them (21.4%) were white, reports the SMMT. SMMT found that the popularity of white as the vehicle colour of choice has grown by over 2% since 2014. Among the models that are offered in white as a ‘premium’ option, the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus were the cheapest, at £250 extra. Metallic white on a Vauxhall Corsa, however, can cost a premium of up to £545. “As it’s become more desirable, it makes business sense for manufacturers to start charging extra for the snowy tones,” commented Mark Norman of cap hpi.

varied use of telematics

“Buyers should be wary of paying extra for more unusual tones however, just because they’re on trend now (for example, the SMMT has reported that mauve, orange and yellow cars are in demand), as it could make your car difficult to sell once that colour goes out of fashion.”

Source: RAC Business

The results of a national survey conducted by RAC Business suggest that the use of telematics is now widespread among UK businesses, with companies using the technology for a variety of reasons beyond simply tracking vehicles. Around the UK, 45% of businesses in London said they have telematics, above the national average of 38%, followed by Scotland and the North East of England, which both report telematics levels of 44%. Parts of the UK with the lowest take-up include Northern Ireland, (27%), Wales (30%), and the North West of England (30%). 8% of UK firms across all industry sectors reported savings on their vehicle fuel bills due to telematics. 55% reported a reduction in wear and tear, and 48% said there was a reduction in downtime for their vehicles. 43% of firms use telematics to support their Duty of Care policies, while 58% saw a reduction in speeding incidents and fines, and 52% claimed a reduction in accidents involving staff.

for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 23

g fleet e k

Nextbase 312GW Dashcam A proven way to reduce insurance premiums, the dashcam market is said to have quadrupled over the last 12 months, and innovations are continuing to move the technology forward. Nextbase’s unit is WiFi enabled, which means it can upload content directly to a smartphone app for easy sharing, and it features a magnetic mount with a built-in charger for plug-and-play recording. Price: £99 from halfords.com

Omologato British Racing Green Inspired by motorsport liveries and built in Britain, watch brand Omologato is launching a limited edition watch celebrating the UK’s long racing history. Set into a stainless case, the watch face is finished in unmistakeable British Racing Green, with lettering harking back to the instruments of 1950s and 1960s racers and orange needles as a nod to the grille surrounds of the BRM Racing team. Price: £339 from omologatowatches.com

TomTom Start Series A new line of affordable portable navigation systems, packing plentiful features into a slimline case. The Start range includes 4-inch, 5-inch and 6inch versions, all offered with lifetime map updates for 42 countries and advanced lane guidance. It can also show the car’s average speed through zones with SPECs cameras, helping to avoid a fine. Price: From £109.99. See tomtom.com/en_gb for details

apps of the month

Watercheck

Swackett

Dropbox

It might sound like a peripheral consideration for business travellers, but staying hydrated is vitally important for maintaining concentration behind the wheel. This app enables users to track how much water they’ve consumed – including through other drinks – within a day, with easy sliders to set goals and tweak inputs. Price: 79p from iTunes Store

Ideal for unpredictable British summers, this app offers a oneglance view of the day’s weather in an unusual form. Based on detailed forecasts, Swackett represents the daily forecast as a character, dressed and carrying the essentials needed not to get caught out by the conditions ahead. Detailed weather information is also available when needed. Price: Free from iTunes Store

Already a familiar app, the cloudbased file sharing and storage service has bolstered its functions to add value for businesses. The app now enables users to ‘scan’ documents, including whiteboard notes and sketches, and upload them to the Cloud. Optical character recognition means these can be searched, and a tool for real-time comments is also on the way, for collaborative sessions. Price: Free from Google Play, iTunes

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THE NEW VOLVO V40

Make a statement Through its luxurious touches and cutting-edge innovations, the new Volvo V40 will drive a clear statement about your business. Its iconic T-shaped LED lights, for example, provide drivers with a striking, unique presence on the road. But as they emit twice as much light as their halogen equivalents, they can illuminate your ďŹ&#x201A;eetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety credentials, too.

VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/V40BUSINESS

89G/KM C02

84.1 MPG

18% BIK

(combined) HUMAN MADE FOR BUSINESS

Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 D2 R-Design manual in MPG (l/100km): Urban 74.3 (3.8), Extra Urban 88.3 (3.2), Combined 84.1 (3.4). CO2 emissions 89g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results.

SPOTLIGHT Citroën C3

Vive la différence Distilling the C4 Cactus’s avant-garde styling into a technology-packed supermini should put Citroën a lot higher on the user-chooser wishlist, reckons Alex Grant.

Personality Don’t let the plastic cladding trick you – this is a supermini, not a compact crossover. It’s actually a little lower than its predecessor, which helps with aerodynamics, and measures four metres from bumper to bumper. That places it at the core of this segment, but marked out by Citroën’s now instantly recognisable twopiece headlights and gentle, rounded bodylines. There are no plans to offer a three-door version, but the single bodystyle is one of the few restrictions. Citroën is offering nine body colours, with a choice of red, white black contrasting roof. The latter is matched to fog light surrounds, mirrors and accents of the rear quarter and Airbump panels. It’s not quite as off-beat as the C4 Cactus, but it’s definitely part of the same family.

Technology With a young target audience, the C3 doesn’t hold back on gadgets. The seven-inch touchscreen includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink smartphone app streaming, as well as an optional navigation system with TomTom live traffic updates and internet-connected weather, car park and point of interest information. Keyless entry and start is new to the C3, and the built-in HD dashcam is a segment first. Citroën is marketing it as a way to record and upload road trips, but it also automatically starts recording if the car is involved in a collision – something which should contribute to reduced insurance costs.

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Comfort Relaxed and comfortable. That’s Citroën’s mantra as it seeks its own identity separate from DS, and it’s an approach that’s been defined by the C4 Cactus. The C3 isn’t quite as pared back as its sibling, but features a similarly de-cluttered dashboard with most of the functions controlled via the central touchscreen. There are four colour themes to choose from, and it’s said to have been designed to feel like a calming extension of the home. This isn’t just a design theme, though. It uses the same chassis setup as the old car, tuned for supple ride quality rather than sportiness, and Citroën has liberated a little extra room inside too. The front seats are shaped so that rear passengers get a good view out of the front, and some versions feature a large panoramic roof to add a feeling of space.

FLEET FACT The outgoing C3 took almost a fifth of Citroën’s sales volume.

What we think... Following the crowd has never suited Citroën. The C3 is a bold design, but a hint of fashionable crossover-esque muscularity and a selection of bold colour options mean it’s no longer a wallflower in this segment. It’ll polarise opinions, but that’s not doing the C4 Cactus any harm, and this is likely to offer some attractive fuel efficiency figures and strong value for money to help seal the deal. AG

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SEAT Ateca Can SEAT’s long-overdue crossover take on the best in its class? Alex Grant finds out. SECTOR Crossover PRICE £17,990–£29,990 FUEL 52.3–65.7mpg CO2 112–131g/km

hanges are afoot at SEAT. Having spent its first three decades under Volkswagen Group rule defining itself with hot hatches, wild colours and low pricing, newly appointed president Luca De Meo is out to give the brand its own identity, and to find mainstream segments where it can compete credibly. That’s a focus it’s needed for a long time, and the Ateca crossover feels like an entirely logical and long overdue addition. This Leon‐sized SUV puts SEAT into a segment with lower discounts, higher margins and more user‐ chooser volume than its traditional target areas. It’s a fash‐ ionable family‐mover to replace the Altea, an upmarket motorway cruiser to retain upsizing Leon customers in ways the Exeo never managed, and a key conquest car. There’s certainly a sense of that move upmarket. Though it looks like an upwardly‐stretched Leon, the Ateca feels noticeably more premium. Cabin materials are consis‐ tently higher quality, and it’s full of neat design details, projecting its own silhouette from the puddle lights, bathing the interior in an ambient glow at night and turn‐ under‐floor compartment, there’s nowhere to store it ing the daytime running lights orange while indicating. It’s when it’s out of use. the best‐finished SEAT to date. On‐board technology is more impressive, particularly The driving experience will be familiar to SEAT’s ﬁrst overhead camera system with its anyone who’s driven a Leon. It’s sure‐footed and myriad of viewpoints including one for hitch‐ FLEET FACT agile, though obviously slightly more top‐heavy ing trailers, which is far more useful than the than its sibling, the controls are reassuringly usual ultrasonic sensors, though it has those weighty – particularly in Sport mode – and it too. All cars get an intuitive touchscreen info‐ SEAT’s rides much like any other road‐biased SUV. tainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Juke-rivalling Adaptability is a key selling point, and the Auto are included from SE upwards, but navi‐ smaller SUV will Ateca is good, if not outstanding. There’s gation is only standard on the top X‐CELLENCE launch in 2017. plenty of room for front and rear occupants trim. SEAT has also included autonomous and the boot is generous for a car which is at emergency braking across the range. the smaller end of its class. However, the rear seats don’t The majority of fleet orders are expected to be equipped slide to extend the cargo area and the load cover is a solid with the 115bhp 1.6‐litre TDI engine. This wasn’t available shelf instead of a retracting blind. Without the optional on the launch, but should be as quiet and efficient as it is in other Volkswagen Group products, if a little behind Renault and Nissan on CO2. The larger 2.0‐litre TDI is offered with 148bhp or 188bhp, the latter getting a DSG transmission and four‐wheel drive, the former offering both as options. While it’s a capable off‐roader, SEAT expects most to be front‐wheel drive. Petrol options are just as noteworthy. UK buyers will get a choice of 1.0 and 1.4‐litre turbocharged engines, each with only marginally higher on‐paper fuel consumption than their diesel equivalents. That means slightly lower BiK costs for drivers with only a small difference in fuel spend. The larger felt plenty potent enough and, though the 1.0‐litre engine wasn’t available to test, the Golf and A3 with the same unit suggest it’s an option best suited to urban drivers. So the Ateca shapes up to be a competitive, if not class‐ leading, crossover as well as a great fit within the SEAT portfolio. It’s all the best qualities of the popular Leon, scaled up for one of the most desirable and fast‐growing sectors of the market, and deserves to do very well.

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what we think De Meo sees crossovers as sports cars for families, and the Ateca is well positioned to take on the driver-focused part of this segment. It looks, feels and drives like a quality product, and offers a wide choice of technologies and engines for fleets. That should bode well for success in the corporate sector.

highlights Two fleet-relevant petrol engines, three competitive diesels

key fleet model SEAT Ateca SE 1.6 TDI Ecomotive

Spacious, high-quality cabin with large luggage area Touchscreen on all models, Apple and Android connectivity on most fleetworld.co.uk / 29

Audi A5 Coupe The all-new A5 is a technological leap masquerading as a facelift, reckons Alex Grant. SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE £29,000-£50,000 (est) FUEL 38.7–68.9mpg CO2 114–136g/km

udi prides itself on timeless design, on cars Most of the cabin is shared with the A4, too, with metic‐ which stay desirable and modern long beyond ulous attention paid to the quality of materials and their showroom life and which don’t follow fad switchgear throughout. All cars get selectable driving fashions. An easy win for conservative hatchbacks and modes, most get internet connectivity and the all‐digital executive saloons, but play‐it‐safe coupes are perhaps a instrument panel is optional. It’s also slightly larger little riskier. inside, there’s more room in the back and the boot capac‐ This is a segment encompassing the brawny Mustang ity is on par with a compact executive saloon. and the slashed flair of the Lexus RC, and one which Diesel engines start with the 188bhp 2.0 TDI, a remark‐ borders increasingly coupe‐like saloons like the Jaguar ably smooth and quiet four‐cylinder unit with a wide XE. Yet Audi’s design brief appears to be evolution not spread of torque, optionally equipped with a seven‐speed revolution – the new A5 Coupe is a little longer, the rear dual‐clutch transmission featuring a freewheeling mode lights and wheel arches are a little more to save fuel. But British buyers won’t be sculpted and the bonnet is domed, but offered the 106g/km Ultra version of that’s your lot. this engine, and the A4’s 148bhp 2.0 Should anyone be surprised, though? TDI isn’t likely to appear in the A5 until Audi sold 10,500 A5s in the UK last the Sportback launches. year, which is only 1,800 less than the Unfortunately, the two‐wheel drive entire Lexus range. Helped by competi‐ 2.0 TFSI petrol isn’t coming here. Audi tive engines adopted from the A4, a describes it as a ‘rightsized’ petrol little over half of that volume went to engine ‐ it’s not over‐worked when fleets. That’s momentum that Audi drivers need the power, but it’s also won’t be wanting to curb, so you can capable of an ultra‐efficient combus‐ bet that the inevitable next A5 Sport‐ tion cycle at low loads. This produces back won’t be a big departure either. the same 188bhp as the 2.0 TDI, with Instead, the changes are under the similar CO2 emissions and lower pric‐ skin. The platform is all new, and ing, which could have made it a worthy Stylish, good to drive shared with the latest A4. That’s good user‐chooser option. and beautifully built, news – the longer wheelbase, increased There’s no questioning that the A5 is but it could perhaps body rigidity and reduced weight giving a massive generational advance over a much more rewarding drive, paired the old car, but its biggest problem will shout a little louder with a noticeable effort to engineer a be getting people to notice. As stylish about the changes little feedback into the controls. Even in as it might be, it caters best for existing beneath its subtle S5 guise this is still more grand tourer owners and, if you’re one of them, new styling. than outright sports car, but the you’ll love it. But it could have trouble balance has shifted towards the latter. luring drivers out of rival brands.

what we think

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Aiming to halve corporate emissions and save £140,000* on contract hire and fuel. By quitting a conventional ﬂeet for petrol full hybrids, Nick is helping to cut Itec’s CO2, NOx and particulate emissions by 50%. Thanks to lower BIK, drivers will also pocket average tax savings worth £1,200 each over the next three years. And, as contract hire and fuel costs will also fall by £140,000, Nick can breathe easy too.

Read Nick’ss story at toyotalexusﬂeet.co.uk

* Saving based on switching original VW diesel ﬂeet to Toyota and Lexus hybrids.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Feel the drive with the All-New Renault MEGANE The highly anticipated All-New Renault Mégane is here. With its bold, striking design and innovative technology, it takes driving pleasure to a whole new level, making it a truly unique offering in the sector and a compelling proposition for ﬂeet managers.

The official fuel consumption ﬁgures in mpg (l/100km) for the All-New Renault MEGANE Signature test environment ﬁgures. Fuel consumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road *For full service plan terms and conditions visit renault.co.uk/warranty. **For full service plan terms and conditions

DESIGN The All-New Mégane looks set to take the ﬂeet sector into new territory with a blend of seductive design and assertive style, showcasing the best of Renault, inside and out. With a low stance and wide shoulders, the exterior is a true mark of the Mégane’s sporting ﬂair. A new distinctive C-shaped lighting signature and prominent wide front grille also contribute to its unique on-road personality to make it a stand-out model in the segment.

control: Launch Control helps minimise skidding, while Multi-change downshift selects the best gear before entering bends, allowing you to feel in command of the road.

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

With the All-New Mégane GT, experience the high quality of an executive car with the power of Renaultsport. Boosted by 4-Control, the four-wheel steering provides unrivalled agility coupled with a feeling of being more reactive to whatever comes your way. Precise and easy to handle, you’ll be able to negotiate even the most difficult bends. Two Renaultsport features further improve

In continuing to re-deﬁne C-segment standards, the All-New Mégane is equipped with premium technology and innovative features available at your ﬁngertips, which combine everyday practicality and driving pleasure. The R-Link 2 multimedia system, which is optional from dynamique nav and above, allows you to control multiple functions via a digital dashboard, while a portrait 8.7” touchscreen with satellite navigation gives you instant access to your contacts and music library.

Nav dCi 110 are: Urban 64.2 (4.4); Extra Urban 78.5 (3.6); Combined 72.4 (3.9). The official CO2 emissions are 96g/km. EU Directive Regulation 692/2008 conditions and other factors. visit renault.co.uk/services/service-and-maintenance/service-plans.

WARRANTY & SERVICING

To heighten your driving experience further, our Multi-sense system offers a driving mode selector, allowing the Mégane to adapt in harmony with your mood. There are ﬁve modes for ﬁve unique driving experiences: enjoy reduced steering effort in Eco mode, improved engine response in Comfort mode, or the most dynamic performance in Sport mode – the choice is yours.

As you’d expect from Renault, customer peace of mind is reinforced by a comprehensive 4 years/100,000 mile warranty* and 4 years roadside assistance. The Renault Service Plan** allows you to budget for the future cost of routine servicing, so you know exactly what you’ll pay. Wherever you go you’ll be in good hands.

EFFICIENCY & ENGINES Beyond the design and technology, the All-New Mégane enjoys CO2 emissions from as low as 96g/km, all the while maintaining its dynamic, powerful presence on the road.

ENERGY TCe 205 – Experience strong sensations with the most powerful engine offered: dual clutch transmission, sporty pickups and clean acceleration. ENERGY TCe 130 – Enjoy absolute performance and comfort. Direct injection and integrated turbocharger give exceptional ﬂexibility and responsiveness.

FIND OUT MORE

ENERGY dCi 110 – The highest level of efficiency guarantees the lowest carbon footprint in the entire range with CO2 as low as 96g/km.

To ﬁnd out more about the All-New Renault Mégane, visit renault.co.uk/business or call 0800 731 7066 to make an appointment with a Renault Account Manager.

Volvo V90/S90 Alex Grant finds out if Volvo’s stylish newcomer can put the brand back on drivers’ wishlists. SECTOR Executive PRICE £32,555–£44,055 FUEL 57.6–64.2mpg CO2 116–129g/km

f Volvo’s global sales figures are anything to go by, it’s a brand often overlooked when drivers draw up a shopping list for a full‐size executive car. But the S90 and V90 might be about to change that. Bringing large Volvos under a single ‘90 series’, along‐ side the XC90 introduced last year, these replace the near‐ invisible S80 saloon and ageing V70 estate. And they’re not just sharing a platform, engines and technology with their SUV sibling – the XC90’s increased sales volumes and top‐ heavy demand is predicted to be replicated here, too. Granted, we’re not talking about turning the segment on its head – residual values were never the S80 and V70’s strongest point, so volumes will be controlled in the UK – but Volvo now has a genuine alternative to the 5 Series, A6 and E‐Class. In the UK it’s predicting a modest 1,000 units per year average for the S90 saloon, a car aimed more at North America and Asian markets than Europe, and around 4,500 for the V90 estate. Both are aiming right at the heartland of this segment, too. Volvo expects the vast majority of UK buyers to opt wind, road and engine noise all add to that laid‐back for the 188bhp D4, which gets an eight‐speed automatic character which is typical of the brand. gearbox as standard. There’s also a 233bhp D5 AWD, Of course, the caveat is that Volvo had rolled out a featuring a system which uses compressed fleet of D5 AWD versions on the launch, fitted air to spool the turbocharger and improve with the air suspension and multi‐link rear FLEET FACT acceleration off the mark. UK buyers won’t be axle which will be a rare choice in the UK. offered the T6 petrol, but special orders for Front‐wheel drive versions with the simpler blue light fleets are under consideration if leaf‐sprung rear axle have a lot to live up to, Volvo is working there’s demand for it. particularly with 20‐inch wheels on the on a V90 for the Volvo’s point of difference is that the S90 option list. emergency and V90 are tailored towards the brand’s The range follows the same trim levels as services. typical customer demands for comfort over the XC90. Entry‐level Momentum versions outright sportiness. It shows, too. Despite the include LED headlights, navigation, leather selectable driving modes and plentiful grip, it’s a car best upholstery and adaptive cruise control, plus a powered suited to the default Comfort settings and relaxed driv‐ tailgate for the V90. From there, it widens to the chrome‐ ing. As in the XC90, the calming hues of the cabin and low accented, luxury‐focused Inscription and aggressive R‐Design which, ironically given this car’s R&D brief, is expected to take half of UK volume. A Cross Country version, which would replace the XC70, is also likely. From an evolution point of view, the biggest potential issues are compromises made in the name of design. Rear three‐quarter visibility in the S90 suffers from the kicked‐up windowline and, while the V90 is the prettiest Volvo estate since the Amazon, that comes at the expense of the practicality which once defined its predecessors. There’s less space behind the rear seats than most in this class, and an Astra Sports Tourer has more capacity with the bench folded flat. But that’s an ongoing trend, and the outgoing V70 was smaller than its predecessor too. Volvo is carving its own niche within the executive class, one defined by design and luxury and not driven by a need to copy the Germans. Emerging from the shadows of this segment could have looked like a genuine challenge, but Volvo’s offering now looks like a tempting option.

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what we think

highlights Navigation, leather and driver aids as standard

A stylish executive car with its own sense of character, but one launching into a segment where Volvo hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had much presence recently. Sub-110g/km CO2 emissions for the D4 diesel would certainly have helped sway those seduced by the way it looks.

44-47g/km T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid due shortly after launch Platform, engines and design shared with the XC90

fleetworld.co.uk / 35

Audi Q2 Is Audi’s Juke-sized crossover all style and no substance? Alex Grant finds out. SECTOR Crossover PRICE £20,230–£30,610 FUEL TBC CO2 TBC

rawny RS models aside, opting into an Audi as a company car is a style statement as safe as a well‐ fitted suit. But the Q2, Audi says, is something a little different. Something a little more Superdry than Savile Row. A little longer end‐to‐end than the A1, and a little shorter than the three‐door A3, it’s a new nameplate and a new segment. The Q2 takes the compact crossover, made popular by the likes of the Juke, Mokka and Captur, and combines it with a premium badge. This isn’t a crowded sector (yet). MINI has had free rein with the similarly‐sized Countryman, and it’s not a part of the market that Daimler has ventured into with the Smart brand. Offered in a choice of primary colours and with bodylines which appear to have been inspired by Kryten, the chisel‐headed mechanoid from Nineties sitcom Red Dwarf, hint at a target audience customer that’s younger than most of its stablemates. The business case is obvious. Just as Juke and its rivals have found a niche luring upsizing supermini drivers and among fleets, reasonably quiet if a little reliant on shifting those for whom a larger hatchback or MPV would be too up and down through the gears to make the most of it. boring, so the Q2 stands to bring new customers into show‐ There are no official economy figures yet, but expect it to rooms while ﬁlling an unexplored gap between return around 70mpg with CO2 emissions of the A1 and A3. It’s a corner of the market that’s about 105g/km. FLEET FACT unlikely to stay neglected for long. It’s not short of choice for company car driv‐ Around a third of UK Q2s are expected to go ers. The peppy 1.0‐litre, three‐cylinder turbo to fleets, who’ll be pleased to hear that the petrol, again shared with the A3, makes plenty All Q2s feature newcomer is entirely familiar underneath. It’s of sense for city‐based drivers. Audi is also autonomous on the same platform as the new A3, and equipping it with two 148bhp engines – a 2.0‐ emergency shares its wheelbase with the three‐door litre TDI and 1.4‐litre TFSI, both available with braking. version, but it’s around 50mm shorter from quattro four‐wheel drive. If recent Volkswa‐ bumper to bumper, with the axles pushed out gen Group products are anything to go by, to the corners. diesel won’t be a no‐brainer in terms of running costs, The 1.6‐litre TDI will be available from launch, with particularly with a price gap of over £2,000. 113bhp compared to the A3’s 108bhp. It’s a proven engine Audi also seems to have benchmarked MINI‐esque handling. It’s a fun car to drive, light on its feet and not as top heavy as you might expect, and the variable steering works brilliantly. Operated through a tiny, dished steering wheel, it offers quick responses to armfuls of lock, but without the downside of twichy motorway manners. But it’s customisation that sets the Q2 aside from the rest of the range. For example, the C‐pillar ‘blade’ is removable, so it can be swapped for other colours whenever the driver feels like a change, and the A3‐like interior is livened up by brightly‐coloured accents – if desired – and backlit graphics which glow at night. The result is a car which can be tuned to masculine or feminine tastes. Or, alternately, it can be dialled back to the typical subtle tones that are used elsewhere in the Audi range, becoming a fashionable, understated small SUV. Either way, it’s a welcome injection of youthful character, and Audi should have no problems luring customers into showrooms for a closer look.

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what we think A stylish and surprisingly practical alternative to the ‘ordinary’ family hatchback, the Q2 is cute and customisable, has plenty of character and the right badge on the bonnet. But it’s unlikely to have such a free run of this segment for very long.

highlights Rugged SUV styling, but only slightly larger than an A1. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range.

key fleet model Audi Q2 1.6 TDI Sport

More boot space than an A3 or MINI Countryman.

fleetworld.co.uk / 37

Stand and delivered Dozens of fleet service companies exhibited at the Fleet Show at Silverstone. We highlight some of the best products, services and news from them during the event. By Steve Moody, Natalie Middleton, Katie Beck and Alex Grant. Prestige Fleet Servicing As well as providing details of its vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair work, Prestige Fleet Servicing once again ran a competition offering speedway tickets to a venue of the winner’s choice in a special time challenge against a professional rider. Joe Bhamra, commercial director, also said there had been some major business devel‐ opments since the irm exhibited in 2015, including some substantial leet contract wins, an expansion in staff plus new accolades including LeasePlan’s In‐Life Services Supplier of the Year Award. Asked about the business plans for the rest of the year, he added: “Our network [of independent service centres] is around 300, which we are going to grow to 350 by the end of the year. We’ll also continue growing the business and our customer base and developing our in‐house ‘Unity’ system.”

Activa Contracts Activa Contracts had an extremely busy show, giving visitors a look at its range of funding options and management solutions. Its serv‐ ices include contract hire, leet management, sale and leaseback, and salary sacri ice, and used the event to demonstrate what busi‐ nesses can achieve with a cost effective, tax ef icient, and it for purpose leet proposition.

Elektromotive Elektromotive’s stand focused on showing its one‐stop shop approach to offering a charging infrastructure for everyone from public and commercial sector leets to domestic users. The irm also highlighted its Charge your Car back‐of ice system that manages charge points, offering drivers 24/7 support while offering charge point owners remote diagno‐ sis, data management and the ability to set a tariff for each point on the network. Tom Reed, account manager at Charge Your Car, said: “Your next fuel card should be a Charge Your Car access card.”

38 / fleetworld.co.uk

Jaama This year’s show once again saw Jaama provide the of icial licence vali‐ dation for visitors wishing to test‐ drive vehicles while, on the Jaama stand, the need for professional vali‐ dation of employee driving licences by leets came under particular focus. Managing director Martin Evans also said that cost and, in particular, compliance were a common theme to visitor queries, with many atten‐ dees still using spreadsheets or even the proverbial back of a fag packet to run fleets. Richard Evans, major account sales manager at Jaama, added: “Every different customer who chooses our key2 application chooses us for a different reason so you might have a leet manager who’s hot on cost control looking to reduce their spend in certain areas, or the maintenance or managing their supply change. On the other hand you might have a local council who’s seen the stories about the Glasgow bin lorry and they’ve got a real concern at the moment that they’re not 100% compliant to tackle driver risk. The only way they can start to do anything is by having a solid foundation of management informa‐ tion. And the only way they can do that is not on the back of a cigarette packet or on a spreadsheet, it’s by bringing it altogether and making some sense of it and that’s what our Key2 leet management software does.”

Fleetondemand Fleetondemand showcased its new corporate mobility solution ahead of its launch early next year. Dubbed Mobilleo, the solution offers a six‐way journey discovery engine, using door‐to‐door search, by calendar integration, email, on demand booking, manual creation or preference based. This is underpinned by an end‐to‐end ind, book and pay user experience. Users can assess multi‐ ple options for any work‐related journey whether that be commuting by car or conventional global business travel arrangements. Chief executive Justin Whitston, said: “You’ve heard of the term ‘Software as a Service – SaaS’. Well this is Mobility as a Service. So that means plugging in as many transport providers into the platform to deliver that. And that’s very much where we’re at.”

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ABAX ABAX not only showcased its mileage claims solu‐ tion at the show but also its stadium mascot ‘Alviss’ to highlight its sponsorship of Peterborough United. Earlier this year the Norwegian‐owned company – a specialist in leet vehicle tracking and leet management technology – reported strong take‐up for its Triplog telematics device in the UK and visi‐ tors at the Fleet Show were able to ind out more about how its HMRC‐compliant electronic mileage logs can help companies and drivers remain tax compliant and avoid costly ines and penalties.

Mobileye Mobileye is seeing a lot of interest in retro it Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), especially in the LCV sector. As a maker of crash avoidance systems for carmak‐ ers, the irm said it is expand‐ ing its own branded products to cope with demand.

Fuelmate While Fuelmate aren’t new to the show, the fuel card special‐ ist’s JourneyTrack mileage‐capture solution made its debut – actually marking the irst time it’s been shown anywhere. The solution, which consists of a mobile app and online management dashboard, captures business and private mileage information and integrates with all fuel card networks provided by Fuelmate. As a result fuel usage can be aligned with mileage to drive substantial savings for commercial leets of any size, the compay claims. The solution is scalable to meet the needs of SMEs up to major leets and taking in grey leet users too. As a further key bene it no hardware is required.

WHOLE LIFE COST LEADER . †

YES, IT’S AN ASTRA SPORTS TOURER. P11D FROM £16,680 | CO2 FROM 89G/KM UP TO 83.1MPG | LOADSPACE UP TO 1,630 LITRES

SEARCH NEW ASTRA BUSINESS

Ofﬁcial Government Test Environmental Data. New Astra Sports Tourer range fuel consumption ﬁgures mpg (litres/100km): Urban: 35.3 (8.0)-74.3 (3.8), Extra-urban: 55.4 (5.1)-91.1 (3.1), Combined: 45.6 (6.2)-83.1 (3.4). CO2 emissions: 142-89g/km.

ALD Automotive

Fuel Card Services

ALD Automotive gave visitors a look at its holistic consultancy service which covers everything from leased cars, short‐term rentals, salary sacri ice, grey leet management and personal leas‐ ing through to alternatively fuelled vehicles and even scooters.

A key focus for Fuel Card Services was its recently launched Fleet Toolbox package of tools to provide comprehensive leet control. The add‐on service offers fuel ef iciency reports, licence checking, whole‐life vehicle costs and a document cloud. The business also highlighted its associate partnership stats with FORS and how, as well as providing bespoke fuel solutions for members, it can also provide assistance with accreditation, for example with carbon emissions, fuel usage and MPG breakdown.

Autoserve

IFC Fleet Services Fleet management solutions group IFC Fleet Services promoted its three main companies – BBS Fleet Logistics, Vertivia and IFC itself – including the new developments from each of them. Bedford‐based BBS highlighted its major investment in its vehi‐ cle handling and refurbishment operation, including new state‐of‐ the‐art information technology systems and smart repair facilities. Vertivia showcased its latest 4.0 Mileage Management system while parent company IFC demonstrated the new functionality and features of its online vehicle selector. IFC’s commercial manager James Pestell said: “We’re the one‐stop shop. We give the bene its of a multi‐supply arrangement, but with the bene it of a one‐stop arrangement. And everything is consolidated as well.”

Although Autoserve offers a wide range of products for leets, ranging from vehicle rental and funding to guaranteed mainte‐ nance, the irm’s main focus at the show was its Fleet Safe solution – intended to provide a one‐stop shop for leet risk management. The product covers everything from a fleet safety audit and written safety policy to licence monitoring, accident manage‐ ment and breakdown assistance and vehicle servicing and maintenance. The solution is aimed at all types of fleets but at the show Autoserve was particularly focusing on its bene‐ fits to the grey fleet.

Milestone Insurance Milestone showcased details of its full commercial motor of‐ fering, which offers a personalised insurance consultancy with competitive offers. The irm specialises in commercial vehicle leets, van & car hire leets, courier & haulage leets and taxi leets. A key focus was its bespoke courier solution, which launched earlier this year and provides speci ic cover for carriage of goods for hire and reward or courier use. The product covers small to large businesses as well as a range of vehicles.

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Ofﬁcial EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. General Motors UK Limited, trading as Vauxhall Motors, does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regards to their particular tax position. * = Terms and conditions apply and vehicles are subject to availability. Please call 0870 240 4848 for full details. All ﬁgures quoted correct at time of going to press (June 2016). † = Whole Life Cost leadership compares the following vehicles: New Astra SRi Sports Tourer 1.6CDTi 110PS ecoFLEX 92g/km, Focus Zetec S estate 1.5 TDCi 120PS 99g/km, Golf SE estate 1.6TDI 110PS 102g/km. New Astra Sports Tourer SRi model shown above is for illustrative purposes only and features 18” alloy wheels (£395), Dark-tinted rear windows (£275), Keyless entry and start (£395) and LED tail lights (£195) with P11D from £19,980, CO2 from 92g/km and fuel consumption up to 80.7mpg.

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Fleet Evolution Andy Leech, director of Fleet Evolution, had very positive feed‐ back, both to the show and the response to the debut of its new ‘Carf inity’ af inity programme – designed speci ically for those whose income, hours or contracts mean they can’t take advan‐ tage of the salary sacri ice schemes offered by their employers. He commented: “We’ve attended the Fleet Show for a few years now and it’s the only event of this type that we exhibit at purely because most tend to attract non decision‐makers whereas the venue, topics and vetting process ensure the Fleet Show attracts people involved in crucial decisions on leet and car bene its. “This year we have a great response to our new Carf inity and ECOs products in addition to some great networking and discus‐ sions on green motoring in general, plus the chance to try the latest product in this area, all in all a fantastic day!”

Brake & Service World Although vehicle and servicing specialist Brake & Service World has a 65/35 retail/ leet split, the business says it’s looking to grow its leet business. The company caters for all serv‐ icing and mechanical repair work for leet‐ operated company cars and light commercial vehicles, and deals with both leasing and leet management companies and end‐user leets, including smaller leets.

Chevin Global marketing executive Brendan Adams was at the show and told Fleet World that a key focus for the business is enhancing the data collection for its app and software. He said: “Understanding what your fleet operations are doing is about collecting the right data. So we do a lot of integrations and it’s pretty standard now, integrations with telematics, integrations with Sage. We’re putting in the missing piece which is the driv‐ ers, so we’re helping collect accurate odome‐ ter readings, monitor drivers in the field, review accident paperwork. We’ve already done so much to the system, what we’re trying to do is make that data more available.”

First Travel Solutions First Travel Solutions demonstrated a suite of new corporate offerings, including a fully‐auto‐ mated driver licence checking system with direct access to the DVLA database. The Driver Licence Check Solution has been developed by a team of experts in‐house, and is currently being used to verify the details of 15,000 First UK Bus drivers. The company offered up to 20% discount on checks to visitors at the Show, and teased the imminent launch of a new corporate website.

42 / fleetworld.co.uk

BlackVue

Inchcape Fleet Solutions

BlackVue presented its full range of premium dashcams, boast‐ ing fully‐HD quality and 3G/4G connection for live‐streaming of images. All footage is date and speed stamped for use as evidence in the event of an incident, and can be sent securely to connected devices via iOS and Android‐compatible Apps for analysis. Specialist units on display included a water‐proofed exterior camera for use on commercial vehicles, with the abil‐ ity for operators to track vehicles live using online feeds.

The main focus on the Inchcape stand was on the irm’s Autobid competitive tendering solution. Business development director Matthew Boswell explained: “We’re about 18 months into Autobid and it’s been really successful – it’s unique in the marketplace. It gives the client the chance to competitively tender every single vehicle that they’re putting through contract hire but it also gives them all the bene‐ its of a sole supply agreement, ie. consolidated invoicing and consolidated reporting. It also allows them to competitively tender in six seconds as opposed to what would typically take them 48‐72 hours. It’s proved very popular.”

Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) A number of members from the ICFM were on hand to discuss the bene its of joining the Institute at all stages of career development; from training and educational courses for newly appointed leet professionals, through to accredited, voca‐ tional quali ications for experienced members. ICFM repre‐ sentatives reported a healthy interest in the work of the association, and had brochures available to take away with further information and criteria for joining.

BP BP offered a number of attrac‐ tions at its stand, including the opportunity for visitors offset their carbon emissions from travelling to the event. The fuel card specialist also spoke to visitors about its refu‐ elling network, made up both of BP, UK and European partner sites. Attendees were able to explore some of the features included in BP’s private mileage capture solution launched earlier this year.

Fleet Operations Fleet Operations’ Ross Jackson was on hand at the show to give visitors an in‐depth look at the irm’s award‐winning multi‐bid platform MOVE, which enables leet managers to manage and administer their own choice of leasing suppliers bringing what he claimed was, for the irst time, the pricing ef iciency of multi‐ supply with the simplicity of sole supply.

National Accident Repair Group

Zenith

National Accident Repair Group was at the show to talk to fleets about its vehicle accident repair network – the largest BSi accredited network in the UK with in excess of 235 car and commercial bodyshops. It provides bespoke services to leading insurance companies, claims management organisa‐ tions and blue chip fleets.

Zenith’s outsourced packages for end‐to‐end vehicle manage‐ ment solutions for mid to large corporates proved a popular draw at the show. Representative on the stand showed visitors how its flexible vehicle based solutions, specialist LCV prod‐ ucts, vehicle rental and salary sacrifice schemes work for all employee populations.

fleetworld.co.uk / 43

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Innovation Professional Services Experts were on hand to explain how the company’s HMRC‐compliant mileage capture system, coupled with unique cost‐down inancial solutions, could help clients to save an average of £1,350 per employee per year. The car and fuel taxation specialist also demonstrated how private fuel and cash allowance solu‐ tions are being used by some of the UK’s best known companies to reduce unnecessary fuel spend by over £15m a year.

Opus Claim Solutions Demonstrations of Opus Claim Solutions’ new myOpus client portal (launched in January) attracted attention throughout the day. The system offers secure access to a live claim system at any hour of the day or night, as well as up‐to‐date dashboard and table reports to give an immedi‐ ate overview of how a claim is progressing. Developed by a team of experts in‐house, myOpus offers complete personalisation to meet customer requirements.

Ensto Chago UK

ACFO

Workplace EV charging is a grow‐ ing consideration for leets, and Ensto Chago debuted its Wallbox at the Fleet Show as a simple solution. It’s a modular unit, which means it can be equipped with one or two sockets and offer charging at up to 22kW, while an in‐built data connection enables over‐the‐air updates and diag‐ nostics, as well as integration into businesses’ own back‐of ice systems to monitor usage and maintenance data.

With the role of the leet manager evolving, and new technologies bringing addi‐ tional challenges and oppor‐ tunities, ACFO is looking to offer focused seminar sessions to deal with the biggest issues. The idea is to provide those in the indus‐ try with an opportunity to discuss topics in detail, rather than a more super i‐ cial discussion as part of a broader session.

eVolt

Nexus Vehicle Rental

Charging point manufacturer, eVolt, offers a full end‐to‐ end service, including installing and maintaining a range of units to suit leets’ needs. So far, it’s been focused on the public sector, but it’s looking to make inroads into private sector applications too. Workplace charging is seen to be a driving force to encourage employees to opt into EVs, in turn offering CSR bene its for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Nexus showcased its online vehicle rental platform, which gives leets access to over 500,000 vehicles in 2,000 locations, with repeat booking available in 10 seconds. The company’s online licence checking software was also on display. If a manager needs to hire a vehicle for an employee, they can use the system to check they are legal to drive before they get behind the wheel, ful illing duty of care requirements.

Chargemaster plc Already the UK’s largest EV charging network, Luton‐based Chargemaster is beginning to install strategically distributed rapid chargers across London – an area which is lacking short‐ stop units. These will be its own Ultra Chargers, compati‐ ble with the three most common charging standards and with the option to increase power outputs and add features such as number plate recognition in future. 44 / fleetworld.co.uk

Lex Autolease

GMAC

Lex set out large‐scale growth plans in 2012, and it’s well on the way to achieving them. Its UK leet grew by 20,000 vehi‐ cles last year, and it says businesses are now looking for a consultancy‐type approach rather than simply shopping around for the cheapest rates. Its team of specialists is leading to a more diverse leet, including more than 4,000 ultra‐low emission vehicles.

Specialists were on‐hand to explain the programme of services speci ically developed for the motor industry; including GMAC’s new and used retail inance offerings, web‐based dealer plat‐ forms, advanced training, equipment loans and working capi‐ tal loans. The company also presented lease purchase funding facilities targeted at UK leet operators of all sizes, and end‐user leet funding opportunities for various manufacturer brands.

Thatcham Research

POD Point

Silverstone’s Copse runway provided a large space for Thatcham Research to give deci‐ sion‐makers irst‐hand experience of the tech‐ nologies making new cars safer. The agency is working hard to push home the bene its of autonomous electric braking, which is already proven to dramatically reduce accident rates, and drive increased itment across entire model ranges. It’s also undertaking research into more affordable accident repairs, and to set a code of practice for windscreen replace‐ ment on vehicles with forward‐facing radar and camera systems.

With aims to offer charging wherever vehicles park for an hour or more, POD Point not only operates a widespread public network but it provides domestic and workplace solutions too, the latter available via a leasing package. It counts carmakers and high‐pro ile clients among its customers, and recently enabled app‐based access to its public network to let drivers plug in as easily as possible.

Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres returned to the Fleet Show this year to show how it can save leets money by centrally managing their accident repairs through its approved repairer network. The company has a network of over 120 car, van and HGV accident repair centres across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Selsia also provides bespoke SLAs that ensure clients’ needs are consistently ful illed across the UK.

IAM RoadSmart

Trakm8

Recently rebranded, the IAM has revamped its driver training courses with an increased focus on the serv‐ ices it can provide to leets. This has included incorporat‐ ing the economy training into the Advanced Driving course, and a move to better market itself to health and safety individuals. It’s paying divi‐ dends, too, with almost half of the charity’s activities now concerned with leet.

Trakm8 demonstrated its expanded range of offerings following the acqui‐ sition of the RoadHawk dash cam company and Route Monkey schedul‐ ing software in 2015. Integration with the Route Monkey system allows Trakm8 telematics customers a complete overview of the status of the leet via a small OBD device plugged into the vehicle. Launching in the summer, the device cross‐references vehicle location with the scheduling software to offer alternative routes and diversions on the move. fleetworld.co.uk / 45

FEATURE Brexit

BREXIT

What it means for fleets...

Professor Colin Tourick looks at the financial, taxation and business ramifications for fleets of leaving the EU.

n awful lot of business people woke up on 24 June and were shocked to discover that the Leave campaign had won the Brexit vote. Whilst there were certainly a number of captains of industry in favour of Brexit, the weight of opin‐ ion – particularly informed economic opinion – was that it would be bad for Britain. Those warnings appear to have gone unheeded, leaving leet managers to wonder what on earth is likely to happen next. Conventional wisdom is that the short term macroeconomic outlook will run something like this. Sterling will either remain at its current level (10% down against the Euro and 9% down against the US dollar since last November) or fall further. As we import so much, this will push up in lation. Cars will cost more and so will fuel (which is traded in dollars). Interest rates will rise (the Treasury predicted a rise of 0.7%‐1.1% before the poll and before Moody’s down‐ graded the UK’s debt outlook from Stable to Negative). This will push up mortgage rates and housing rents, leaving people with less to spend. The impact on rents will be greater than in the past now that mortgage interest is only tax deductible at basic rates for buy‐to‐let landlords, so that rises in interest costs hurt them more than in the past. Growth will decline – it had been trending slightly downwards anyway for the past 18 months – as businesses

46 / fleetworld.co.uk

delay making investments. Even worse, we could see multinationals moving their operations out of the UK and into the EU, which would have a signi icant effect on national income and also employment. There is a counter‐argument to all of this of course. Some argue that if the value of Sterling stays relatively low, this will encourage exports which will boost employment, encourage invest‐ ment and encourage people to invest in Britain as a safe place for their money. In this scenario, interest rates don’t have to rise, they could actually fall. If employment stays high and inter‐ est rates stay low, there will be little impact on house prices in the medium term, but in the short term the uncer‐ tainty is likely to drive house prices down. When home‐owners see the value of their properties fall they feel less well‐off and are less likely to spend money, which in turn can lead to a slowing of the economy. In the middle of all this we have a government that is trying to balance

George Osborne says the economy is strong enough to face the Brexit challenges.

the books and reduce the de icit. If GDP declines, government revenues decline. That leaves them with three options: spend less, borrow more or raise taxes. Spending less will be a tricky option if unemployment rises. The bene its bill will rise. However, we also now have the problem that many people expect that the government will soon have an extra £350m per week avail‐ able to spend on public services, this being the headline (though not the net) amount that was being bandied about during the Referendum campaign as our weekly contribution to the EU. One option here would be to push out austerity for another few years, though this will go down very badly in some parts of the country. Borrowing more would be an option though this would represent a reversal of government policy. And if the government does try to borrow more than the market feels comfortable to lend, that would create pressure for interest rates to rise. The alternative would be to go for more quantitative easing, which would feed cash into the economy and probably reduce interest rates. Good for businesses but not great for pensioners buying an annuity. Which leaves raising taxes, and this is the one issue that could affect leets because there are no votes to be lost in business taxation or Bene it‐in‐Kind tax. Before the Referendum George Osborne suggested that the basic tax rate tax might have to rise by 2p and higher rate by 3p if we voted to leave. So if that’s the macroeconomic background, how will this affect

What should fleet managers be doing now?

fleets and what should fleet managers be doing about it? The smart bet is that in the short term we will see an increase in leet costs. Petrol and diesel costs and new car prices will rise. In all probability, leasing companies will assume that used car prices (residual values) will fall over the next few years, so they’ll reduce the RVs they put into their lease calculations which will lead to an increase in lease rentals. And that’s even before any increase in interest rates, which would hike up lease rentals even more. The government may well take the opportunity to try to raise more from the taxation of business cars. It’s dif icult to see how they might do this because they announce Bene it‐in‐Kind tax rates, etc, well in advance, to give drivers the ability to choose new company cars knowing how much tax they are going to be paying over the life of the car. We already know that the govern‐ ment is reviewing the operation of most salary sacri ice schemes. They haven’t included salary sacri ice for cars on the list of schemes they are not approving, so we can only assume that they will be looking closely at those schemes. The industry has tried hard to prove to government that these schemes do not reduce the government’s tax‐tax over the long term, but this will be a government keen to raise cash in the short term, so those good arguments for salary sacri ice (reduced CO2, reduced NOx, etc) may fall on deaf ears in the Treas‐ ury. Time will tell.

First, accept the fact that those budgets you set last autumn may well no longer be achievable unless you do something. Costs are likely to rise in the short term. If you are in a business that is likely to be harmed when the UK leaves the EU, and you are likely to see a reduction in headcount soon, now might be a good time to start planning for this. If you are likely to need fewer cars there is no point buying new ones now or tying the company into a new three or four year lease deal. Have a look instead at holding onto cars for a few months longer, until things have become clearer. And now might be the ideal time to put more lexibility into your leet by talking to your leasing company about mini‐leases; 3‐18 month leases that don’t tie you into a long term commitment. If your annual fuel bill for motoring is large, now would be an excellent time to look at how this can be reduced. How about changing your fuel cards to a card that can only be used at supermarkets? Or introducing telematics to get tighter control on mileage claims? Or doing away with offering free private fuel to your employees, something you should probably have done years ago? Or looking at the fuel economy of each of your cars and trying to identify where heavy‐footed drivers are costing you money? You can get 10% more mpg out of most cars by driving gently rather than aggressively (which is something else that telematics units can help you identify). Now might also be a good time to see whether some of your drivers might be better off in electric cars. If they are doing a lot of short journeys in urban areas, the fuel cost saving over the life of the vehicle can outweigh the additional amount you will spend on buying the car. Now might also be a good time to review the way you fund your vehi‐ cles. Whilst contract hire has been the most popular form of vehicle inance for years, it doesn’t work for all businesses or for all cars, and there are some real savings available by doing a detailed analysis of the costs and bene its of other forms of inance. Have a look at employee car ownership schemes. These can deliver real savings, though they are de initely much more complex than conventional inance schemes. If you’ve not done so recently, have a look at the cars that you make avail‐ able to your employees. 110g/km should be the upper limit if you want to save tax and National Insurance. Don’t automatically go for diesels. These have been the backbone of car leets for more than a decade but some of the lighter petrol‐engined models are now superb, offering great performance, low CO2 and low tax and national insurance bills. And inally, if your leet arrangements have remained unchanged for years – same car policy, same leasing company, same cars, insurance arrangements, etc – now would be a good time to carry out a holistic review to see how you can reduce your costs, emissions, mileage, accidents, tax burden and national insurance without negatively impacting on your business operations. The tectonic plates are shifting: now is the time to act.

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FEATURE Brexit

BREXIT

Where next for new cars?

As a large importer and exporter of new cars, clarity about the future of trade with the EU can’t come soon enough, as Alex Grant explains.

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he UK is Europe’s second largest market for passenger cars, behind Germany. Figures from the SMMT show more than 2.6 million were registered here in 2015, the fourth consecutive year of post‐ recession growth, and that was and is expected to continue during 2016. It’s also a large‐scale manufacturer.

UK automotive supports 814,000 jobs

48 / fleetworld.co.uk

As well as component manufacturing and technological R&D, almost 1.6 million cars were made in the UK during 2015, by an industry which supports 814,000 jobs. Of those, 80% are exported, and 57.5% of that total are sent to EU markets – both are higher than average. Little wonder, then, that 77% of those surveyed by

the SMMT earlier this year said they were keen to stay in the EU. But the car market is one of the most volatile in a period of inancial uncertainty, so is a Brexit vote a disas‐ ter? Not necessarily. It’s still too early to talk about the result on the markets, but there was an immediate economic shock in the

days after the Referendum, marked by frantic trading and the pound slipping brie ly to a level not seen for 31 years before it began making a recovery. In the short term, that weakened currency has the potential to make it more expensive for manufacturers to bring products into the UK – a poten‐ tial problem for a country which, by NFDA figures, imported £35.3bn of new cars last year. IHS Automotive, which published its predictions the day after the vote, said a weaker currency and GDP will undoubt‐ edly slow the market for new cars and vans. It added that manufacturers are already considering pricing alterations to offset the effect of shifting import costs – something which could reduce margins for dealers. It’s downgraded its volume predictions for the next two years, expecting the UK light vehicle market to reach 2.71m units in 2018 versus the 2.94m in its original forecast. John Leech, head of automotive at KPMG UK, agrees that there are chal‐ lenges ahead: “In recent months we have seen some industry commenta‐ tors believe that UK new car sales could top three million in the coming years. The vote to leave the EU means that this has become highly unlikely and I now forecast that new car sales will fall to 2.5m cars in 2017.” However, he adds, the news could be better for UK automotive, as the weaker pound makes British‐built cars and vans more competitive else‐ where: “I still anticipate that UK car production will grow by double digits

in 2016 to 1.7 million cars driven prin‐ cipally by EU exports buoyed by the weak pound,” he says. But car sales aren’t entirely driven by the screen price. The leet sector is reliant on inance and any luctuation in demand for used cars could affect residual values. Glass’s says this could be compounded by the untimely arrival of rising volumes of stock created by booming new car sales from three or four years ago. Rupert Pontin, director of valua‐ tions at Glass’s, says: “Markets will be affected, as will the value of the pound, and we expect to see consumer con i‐ dence tail off until the view of the way forward becomes clearer. How long this will take is dif icult to predict. “For the motor industry, all of these developments are very likely to have negative effects including a period of instability for new and used car sales, as well as an increase in pre‐reg activ‐ ity and downward pressure on values.” What happens further ahead depends on trade deals. Law irm, Baker Botts, points out that the UK could have to renegotiate trade deals with the 50 global markets it deals with through the EU to avoid 10% tariffs imposed under World Trade Organisation rules – a lengthy process, with rami ications for imports and exports. There are also concerns that investment in UK production, to add new vehicles or increase volumes, could be taken elsewhere, and that British companies will have to conform to international standards that their

country no longer has any say in. Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA said: “We urge the UK government to swiftly negotiate a trade deal across Europe and the rest of the world and to secure currency stability, such that there is a level playing ield for our members to operate in. Clearly it is as important to European importers as it is to the UK market that a deal is put in place very quickly.” Of course, the process of leaving the EU will take at least two years, and so far there hasn’t been a rush to get this moving. In the meantime, the UK remains in the single market, which should add some short‐term stability, the Bank of England is mobilising a contingency plan to stabilise the markets, and manufacturers are saying that near‐future plans were drawn up before the referendum. Brexit could shape up to be positive for the UK, but at the moment it’s too soon to say.

“I still anticipate that UK car production will grow by double digits in 2016 to 1.7 million cars driven principally by EU exports buoyed by the weak pound.” John Leech, head of automotive, KPMG UK

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ELECTRIC AS STANDARD Electric vehicles are practical to use and can save your business money. Huge strides in technological development by mainstream manufacturers have made EVs operationally viable.

onica Guise, Sustainable Logistics Manager at the University of Birmingham, oversees the university’s 98-strong fleet and has adopted a policy which makes electric vehicles the first-choice when ordering new vehicles. She said: “Production of capable vehicles by the world’s largest motor manufacturers has been game-changing and the contract hire and leasing companies taking those vehicles seriously, providing fleets with viable whole life cost data and lease rates, is hugely influential.” The university already uses 15 100% electric cars and vans, and Monica believes that 40% will be plug-in by 2020. It was on this basis that the university was named as one of the inaugural Go Ultra Low Companies, when the scheme was launched in May 2016. Go Ultra Low Companies recognises public and private sector organisations that already use electric vehicles (EVs), or offer them to employees as company cars, providing there’s a commitment for them to make up at least 5% of their vehicle fleet by 2020. “The University of Birmingham is actively committed to seeking innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions from its transport fleet and has seen a number of benefits through the use of electric vehicles. Being part of Go Ultra Low enables the university to share its best practice and learnings with other organisations looking to incorporate

Monica Guise, Sustainable Logistics Manager, University of Birmingham

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the use of electric vehicles in their day-to-day activities,” commented Monica. The university has long had a focus on ultra-low emission technology – it recently added a leased hydrogen vehicle to its fleet and already has a hydrogen filling station on site. The wide range of plug-in vehicles now available and leasing companies making those models affordable is changing fleet opinion, according to Monica. “Fleet managers cannot increase their transport costs, but leasing companies are supporting the introduction of EVs with figures that make those vehicles operationally viable. “We have made a commitment to this technology and when ordering new vehicles our first choice is pure electric. If electric is not fit-for purpose – and it is not in some instances, as the fleet includes refrigerated vehicles and large vans – then a case has to be made as to why plug-in is not suitable,” she said. The university’s 15 plug-in vehicles are leased from Lex Autolease and the campus site has a number of chargepoints. Monica added: “Electric vehicle demand is gathering momentum. Manufacturers and leasing companies are investing in plug-in vehicles. They are the key influencers and there will be a big momentum shift by fleets in the next two to three years. “Once people drive the new generation of electric

More information about Go Ultra Low and the benefits of EVs can be found on the Go Ultra Low website. www.goultralow.com GoUltraLow @GoUltraLow

vehicles they are won over and their scepticism vanishes. Plug-in vehicles have a major role to play in fleets today and in the future.” According to new automotive industry forecast analysis by Go Ultra Low, electric power could be the dominant form of propulsion for all new cars sold in the UK as early as 2027, with more than 1.3m electric cars registered each year. The Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) began in 2011 with just over 1,000 annual registrations of plug-in cars. Since then, record-breaking volumes of EVs have been registered every year – 2015 saw more than 28,000 electric cars registered. This year started with the best period for EV uptake since records began, with UK buyers registering the equivalent of one electric car every 13 minutes. With vehicle manufacturers introducing more and more electric and plug-in hybrid models, the new car market is accelerating towards a

point in the future where plug-in power overtakes petrol and diesel as the dominant fuel type. Poppy Welch, Head of Go Ultra Low, said: “Electric vehicles are practical to use and can save your business money. The huge interest in electric vehicles and their subsequent rapid rise in uptake has been spectacular so far, with more than 60,000 EVs registered in the past five years. These rises are just the start of the electric revolution as Go Ultra Low analysis suggests that electric vehicles could dominate the new car market as early as 2027.” For more information about EVs and how you can introduce them to your fleet, visit www.goultralow.com/fleet

“The huge interest in electric vehicles and their subsequent rapid rise in uptake has been spectacular so far.” Poppy Welch, Head of Go Ultra Low

FEATURE Fleet Mobility

MOBILES &

MOBILITY The smartphone is revolutionising the way business people travel. We ask experts what effect it is having on rental and leasing markets. By Katie Beck.

52 / fleetworld.co.uk

“Traditional fleet strategies are being sidelined” David Brennan – chief executive at Nexus Vehicle Rental The leet marketplace is seeing traditional strategies being sidelined in favour of approaches that facilitate business mobility, offering cost‐effectiveness, and a lex‐ ible, integrated range of transport options to suit indi‐ vidual traveller needs. Decreasing car ownership, the proliferation of – and access to – technology and changing consumer behav‐ iour have been central to driving this change. Like most things in life, consumers, and business users alike, want on‐demand, lexible access to vehi‐ cles in any location and for any duration. Technology, and indeed the smartphone, has played a huge part in fuelling this groundswell of demand. The ability to access travel options from the device in the palm of your hand has opened up immediate access to new channels of mobility and a range of travel options. Although there is much more talk of mobility and the many modes of transport that make up the new ‘mobil‐ ity mix’, daily rental will continue to play an important role, certainly for business users anyway because of the range of vehicles that can be accessed, the avail‐ ability of those vehicles and price competitiveness. It’s still early days in the great mobility debate but we will start to see all players in the automotive industry, from rental companies to dealers, adapting their business models based on technology and changing customer behaviours.

“Leasing and rental firms will have to consolidate services” Carlos Montero, commercial director, FleetEurope The term mobility is being increasingly used as a buzz‐ word in the leet and rental industry. Many companies are now tailoring their service for customers by offer‐ ing a package of alternative travel options to the company car. This will only be possible through the consolida‐ tion of new and existing supply partnerships. Leasing and rental companies should look towards develop‐ ing/outsourcing different mobility solutions, allow‐ ing them to focus on their core topic of fleet management. This is entirely dependent on the marketplace continuing to develop software and technology to bring these services together under one, uni ied mobility package. Alternative mobility solutions should there‐ fore be researched for future use to see if they could be integrated into the realm of leet management.

“It’s all about choice” Ken McCall, managing director, Europcar UK Group It’s all about choice, and that includes choice for employees. They need to be assured that an alterna‐ tive to driving their own vehicle is not going to be less convenient or impact on their productivity. Rather than having a leet of vehicles sitting in a car park ‘just in case’, our Bettercar Sharing and E‐Car Clubs work on the principle of dedicated car sharing vehicles for a company, which are parked in the company’s

own car park, ready to use by authorised drivers. A number of employees can, therefore, share a small number of vehicles, reducing the need to use their own cars. Users simply register and reserve a car for a selected period of time. The car is accessed using a card or smartphone, making it a fast, simple and convenient booking and collection process. And once the journey is over, users simply return the vehicle to its parking space and replace the keys in the glove box, leaving the vehi‐ cle, which locks automatically.

“It’s all about accessing different modes of transport” Chris Ness, UK managing director, Ubeeqo “Mobility can on the face of it appear more like a ‘buzzword’ to replace good old fashioned trans‐ port. However it’s far more than that. The days of planning journeys using different types of transport are long gone. For example consumer behavior has altered from thinking simply about moving from ‘A to B’ – that is to say where you are now, and what is your end destination – the concept is mobility, not transport. Taking my example, it demonstrates that it is far more relevant to consider mobility – encompassing all the available modes of transportation enabling people to bene it from the convenience and lexibility while travelling seamlessly. The multimodal booking app from Ubeeqo is a lifestyle enabler, designed to make its user’s lives easier by providing access to different modes of transport for any number of possible journeys.

“Data capture and usage analysis will be essential” Nick Butler, head of corporate mobility, Alphabet I think companies are thinking more about the cost of mobility as a whole rather than just the cost of company cars. It fits into the on‐demand model, and satisfies that last minute, ‘want it now’ immediacy and allows employees access to a vehicle as and when they want it. The approach we take is to speak to customers and analyse their patterns of use for rental vehicles, and establish if any of the lighter‐use vehicles could be trans‐ ferred to AlphaCity car clubs to reduce rental spend. What we’ve found is that not all companies are aware of what they are spending on rental and how employ‐ ees are using the rental vehicles. Data capture is vital for establishing a corporate mobility budget – without knowing spend and journey types it’s virtually impos‐ sible to scope out what the funding should be. Bookings for AlphaCity are currently made online but that will develop; all rental and leasing companies are looking towards apps here. The technology must support on‐demand services, and smartphones have really changed the face of the industry. I think we, as an industry, really need to push forwards to keep up with demand.

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fleetworld.co.uk / 53

FEATURE Fleet Mobility

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“Technology is enabling transport solutions to be offered more flexibly and affordably to workforces” Toby Poston, director of communications, BVRLA “There is de initely a general trend towards rental and leas‐ ing companies offering wider ‘mobility’ services. This can include corporate car sharing, lexible car rental and support for companies that want help with their travel as well as their leet management. However, there are still some signi icant barriers to wider uptake. To deliver true mobility as a service – which

means accessing travel as a service rather than a particular journey in a particular mode of transport – means that you need integration of the different modes. You need to be able to explore travel options, book them and pay for them via your smartphone, ideally. This is not happening yet, although lots of people are working at it. Technology is enabling transport solutions to be offered more lexibly and affordably to workforces, whether as a business‐ need service or a perk for employees. Ultimately mobility is about bringing several modes of transport together under a single access point, so everything from planning travel to record‐ ing expenses is personalised and easily accessible to the user.

Or why not just book a cab...?

Smartphones and apps have shaken up the taxi market too. Katie Beck takes a ride in an Uber taxi. ounded in 2008 by two disgruntled entrepreneurs F after they struggled to hail a taxi, San Francisco‐based ‘ride‐hailing’ giant Uber now operates in over 400 major cities worldwide. Uber reached a landmark one billion journeys in December 2015, and while services such Lyft have gained a share of business, the company is now rivalling traditional taxi and minicab use in some markets. Based on reports from US business travellers in Q1 2015, for example, expenses management specialist Certify found that 46% of all car rides were through Uber in major markets, up from just 15% in Q1 2014. Meanwhile, the number of rides in taxis, limos and shuttles was found to have fallen from 85% to 53% over the same period. An estimated 30,000 people a week now download Uber for the irst time in London, and following a recent night bus cancellation and without a taxi in sight, I joined the ranks. Creating an Uber pro ile was simple; after down‐ loading the app to my iPhone for free I was prompted to provide payment details for future journeys. Paying directly through the app removes the need to carry extra money or hunt for a cash point, and is a feature that I ind particu‐ larly useful in quieter parts of town. The fact that the journey is tracked on screen and the exact GPS pick‐up and drop‐off locations are recorded also means that a driver cannot attempt to overcharge for a jour‐ ney ‐ a fare is calculated relative to the distance covered and that exact payment is taken when the journey is completed. The amount of detail provided when a journey is

54 / fleetworld.co.uk

con irmed is extremely useful – a car‐shaped icon on the map mirrors the real‐life progress of the vehicle as it makes its way to the pick‐up location and provides a countdown for how long it will take to arrive. This gives the passenger the option to remain inside a building until the vehicle is directly outside instead of standing out on the street late at night, for example. Added security is provided by the sharing of driver details; the driver’s name and the registration number of the vehicle that is registered to Uber are displayed along‐ side a small head‐and‐shoulders photograph. This ensures that the passenger knows exactly which car to get into and can check that the registered owner is behind the wheel (in London all drivers also have to go through a TfL licens‐ ing process). This helps to address some of the concerns associated with a leet of unliveried vehicles and lends a sense of accountability to the service. All journeys are recording in the Trip History section of the Uber app for easy analysis. The pick‐up and drop‐off locations of each trip are clearly presented alongside the driver details and the exact total cost of the journey, so for business expenses, this could be very useful. The Help section of the app allows the user to submit a comment if they are unhappy with the service they received, or to report an item that has been left behind. I have noticed a steady increase in the popularity of the Uber app, and I will continue to use the service as an alternative to public trans‐ port when I am in London and other major cities.

It… is about ideas and technology. ARI is known and trusted by fleet management decision-makers worldwide for innovation and controlling costs. Transforming data into information, making it instantly actionable, when and how fleet managers need it. Using technology to solve complex fleet challenges with real-world results. A world that is streamlined, less complex and more predictable. It is about fleet management success. Moving the needle, and the bottom line. Learn more about ARI’s professional ﬂeet management services: 0844 8000 700 | www.ariﬂeet.co.uk

MARKET OVERVIEW Fleet Management Software

Bynx

Chevin Fleet Solutions

Bynx is a market-leading developer of software for vehicle fleet management. bynxFLEET enables leasing, fleet management and rental operators to manage vehicles, contracts, transactions and drivers and control lifecycle costs. Using the product, such companies are able to retain asset value and engage with stakehold-ers online. bynxFLEET provides a platform, plus the tools and applications required to run every aspect of a fleet business – whether the fleet is owned or managed on someone else’s behalf. The product provides functionality to automate and streamline pro-cessing and enables greater productivity, efficiency and utilisation. bynxNET improves the user experience and communication between dealers, customers, suppliers and drivers by bringing it all online.

Chevin Fleet Solutions is the leading global provider of dedicated fleet management software. Their multiple award winning software, Chevin FleetWave®, is a web-based system used by fleet operations across the globe, proven to help businesses measure and reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, reduce administrative resource, and ensure compliance & risk requirements are met. FleetWave is designed to meet the demands of any type of operation from any sector, by providing extremely flexible software configurations. The systems manages the whole lifecycle of a fleet, from initial acquisition of a vehicle, through to the deployment, operating expenses, incidents, work orders, maintenance, legal requirements and finally disposal. This includes businesses with cars, vans, commercial vehicles, heavy machinery, plant and associated assets. Covering nearly every aspects of managing the vehicles, assets, drivers, workforce and even workshops that make up the operation.

Contact: Gary Jefferies sales@bynx.com

Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Contact: David Gladding Sales@chevinfleet.co.uk

Drive Software Solutions Limited DRIVE Fleet Management and Leasing software is a single generic product applicable to vehicle management requirements worldwide and which represents over 150 man-years of development by our software experts. DRIVE is a proven product our policy of continuous product enhancements and DRIVE’s modular structure enables it to be configured to meet the precise and unique needs of each of our clients. This has been enhanced with our managed service host offering DRIVE-Direct. DRIVE is used throughout the world by leading vehicle leasing companies, major vehicle manufacturers, and other operators of large fleets to whom we continue to provide additional services and on-going 24/7 support. Contact: Simon West-Oliver Tel: +44 (0)1438 317731 simon.west-oliver@drivesoftwaresolutions.com www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

Tel: 01773 821992 www.chevinfleet.co.uk

Jaama Jaama’s market leading, multi award winning Key2 system is a totally integrated vehicle, asset and driver management solution covering everything from owning to disposing of vehicles, plant and asset related equipment. Recent enhancements include: EDS – a repository for fleet information allowing drivers (company car and grey fleet) to submit expense claims on-line and keep personal and vehicle data up to date as well as reducing administration for fleet managers and providing a fully auditable duty of care trail. Jaama continue to invest heavily to ensure the world’s only web based fleet system to use next generation .Net Microsoft ‘Smart Client’ technology – Key2 – remains visibly and functionally years ahead of the market. Designed for all fleet sizes and budgets, Jaama links users live to data providers, customers, suppliers, vehicle telematics and the DVLA. Contact: Ellie Whiten enquiries@jaama.co.uk

Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

Teletrac Navman Teletrac Navman empowers 40,000 businesses and 500,000 vehicles across six continents to achieve high performance by making fleet management simpler. DRIVING FLEET INTELLIGENCE: Our mission is to rethink and innovate technology in Fleet Management. Every day, we provide tools for companies to dream bigger, to access a world they can’t see at first glance, and to herald in a new age of what’s possible. Born of Teletrac, Trafficmaster and Navman Wireless, Teletrac Navman leverages over 25 years of combined expertise in telematics. The company’s ever-evolving fleet management technologies offer a unique combination of features, functionality, compliance and workflow solutions paired with unparalleled platform reliability.

Sofico NV

Contact: Director Sales fleetsales@teletrac.co.uk

Contact: Jan Bouckaert cm@sofico.be

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Tel: 0345 604 8813 www.teletracnavman.co.uk

Sofico is an international software provider with 28 years’ experience in the industry. Sofico manages to make a difference through innovation and technological leadership. We have a solid reputation in the market due to our extensive know-how and our track record of 30 successfully completed Miles implementations. Through continuous strategic investment our software solution, Miles, always evolves with the market both in terms of technology and functionality. Sofico employs 200 people across its offices in Belgium, France, Australia and Japan and has customers in over 20 countries. Our systems help manage over 1.25 million vehicles worldwide. Tel: +32 9 210 80 40 www.sofico.be

Do you offer software that calculates EV wholelife costs (inc work/home charging) ? Is your system suitable for multiple-user networking? Do you provide on-line P11D submissions to HMRC? Does your system permit electronic download of data from suppliers? Does your fleet software provide electronic supplier invoice reconciliation? Does your system include a vehicle order tracking function? Does your fleet software provide on-line grey fleet management? Does your system include a fuel management module? Does your system allow users to design their own reports? Does your system use exception reporting? Does your system integrate with external telematics systems? Do you offer a KPI dashboard? Is it smartphone and/ or tablet compatible?

FLEETW RLD

Key to services

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FEATURE Taxation & Funding

The dawn of ‘mobility solutions’ Professor Colin Tourick examines how the role of fleet management is changing to include wider responsibility for all journeys.

leet managers are going to start hearing a lot more about ‘mobility solutions’ in the near future. In this article we will look at what the fleet industry means by ‘mobility solutions’ and why these solutions might be of interest to you. Traditionally, fleet managers have focused on running their fleets efficiently and adopting best practice. They have spent their time trying to minimise costs, damage, risks and admin‐ istration, making sure that vehicles were being serviced and taxed on time, trying to ensure that each employee was driv‐ ing the right vehicle for the job and was happy with the range of vehicles that was available. This role was therefore quite vehicle‐centric. The given was the vehicle. The employee needed a vehicle to do their job, so what was the best way to organise these vehicles? Mobility solutions look at this from a different angle.

Pay as you go: Car sharing services such as Ford's GoDrive can reduce vehicle downtime if a fleet car is rarely used.

58 / fleetworld.co.uk

Employees need to get from A to B to do their jobs, so what’s the best way for them to do this? Once you start thinking about a journey‐centric rather than a vehicle‐centric approach, you have to start consider‐ ing all of the different types of transport an employee might use for a business journey. These include their company car, a colleague’s company car, their private car, a car they might share with someone for a particular journey, a pool car, a car club car, trains, planes, buses and even just walking. In a recent piece of research, University of Buckingham and International Auto Finance Network, with CHP Consult‐ ing and Grant Thornton (free download at www.internationalautofinance.net) senior fleet industry executives were asked about innovations their clients are demanding. Mobility management solutions came fourth (after smarter IT, more flexible leases and cost‐reduction advice), which was two places higher than when the same ques‐ tion was asked in 2014. Clearly the fleet industry sees this as a major upcoming requirement. However, mobility solutions aren’t easy to deliver. To be able to choose the optimal mode of transport you require integration between disparate databases, co‐operation between organisations that don’t typically co‐operate and the resolution of some thorny problems. The BVRLA has stepped into this area and asked the Government to get involved in estab‐ lishing common standards for mobility data to allow communication between different systems. Quite a lot of personal data could be held by suppliers of mobility services: the location of users, the journeys they have taken, etc. The BVRLA has called for a new Information Commis‐ sioner to be introduced, recognising that in time much of the data that is going to be used by

mobility solutions will be coming direct from the vehicles the employees are driving, as we move towards the era of the connected car. Some of these systems already exist and they raise a whole host of issues including cyber security. How to ensure a car doing 70mph on a motorway is not suddenly hacked into? We need a security rating for car cyber security. Several fleet suppliers have started to offer mobility solu‐ tions. These include car sharing arrangements, car clubs, electric car solutions and (currently on the Continent only) integration with public transport ticketing systems. Some believe that ‘intelligent mobility’ needs to be more widely defined than in the past, and to consider the advent of connected vehicles (which talk to each other as well as other vehicles). Many modern cars contain black boxes that can collect data and transmit it to a central station. This data can prove invaluable for the fleet manager; data on engine oil quality; wear and tear on different components, tyre pressures, fuel efficiency, etc. can be made available to the fleet manager (or their leasing company) in real time. If a mobility manage‐ ment system had access to this data and saw, for example, that a particular pool car was available but the tyre tread depth was getting low, it might discount the use of that car for a particular journey. All of this car‐generated data quickly brings us back to the issue of data privacy. Who will see this data, what controls will there be over its use and will it be possible to delete historic data when an employee no longer needs the car? Elsewhere in Europe we have begun to see companies offering solutions that tie together information from disparate sources and bring them together to offer a unified solution to ensure the optimum journey method is always selected. No such solution is available yet in the UK, but no doubt suppliers are working on these right now. If an employee wanted to make a journey right now, such

a system would need to know about: The journey: when it would be taken, the ‘arrive by’ time, etc. The employee: where they live and work, the journeys they routinely take, whether they have any specific transport needs (to meet medical or disability needs, etc). Also, the cars currently available to them and the location of those cars. This includes their company car, pool cars, other employees’ company cars, rental cars, taxis, their private car, a car club car, a car that could be shared with another employee. Public transport options. Cost, timings, when the bus or train was due, how long the whole journey would take and how much it would cost. Other important considerations such as the CO2 emissions that would be generated by each mode of transport. This system would need to contain an algorithm that determined the optimum journey, trading off cost, journey time, CO 2 emissions and maybe other factors (such as comfort) so as to meet the company’s objectives. One employer might be prepared to spend an extra £60 on a jour‐ ney to save 5% of the journey’s CO2 emissions, another might just prefer to save the cash. It’s worthwhile having a chat with your leasing or fleet management company to find out what mobility solutions they are currently offering and which they plan to offer, and don’t forget to ask about data security. Mobility solutions are coming and they will be exciting. How long will it be before most fleet managers have become mobility managers? Professor Colin Tourick www.tourick.com

Greater flexibility: BMW Group's DriveNow service offers a range of vehicles to meet varying business needs.

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our fleet Nissan LEAF 30kWh Tekna AS a journalist (and technophile), it’s easy to get distracted by the LEAF’s technological aspects; the drivetrain and the benefits of running one. So I’ve been trying to consider this from a different angle – as if it had a petrol or diesel engine. Thankfully, the LEAF isn’t a one-trick pony. Cabin space is generous and, though the boot is awkwardly shaped and home to a scratch-vulnerable Bose subwoofer, it’s having no issues swallowing a large buggy, suitcases and two bags containing charging cables. It’s a good motorway car. The drivetrain is silent and there’s almost no wind noise, and unusually no air buffering with a

single window open, while ride quality is on par with other hatchbacks, even with the Tekna’s larger wheels. However, the lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel means I’m struggling to find my perfect driving position. I’ve taken to sitting further forwards so I can bend my arms, and bruising my left knee on the steering column while getting in and out. Friends and family have differing opinions on the styling, it’s functional so I don’t dislike it, but we’re agreed on the lacklustre cabin. The panel around the dusk sensor has warped and separated from the dash top, and the abundance of hard, black plastic – though not badly screwed together

– is unwelcoming in a car costing this much. But it’s down to details. The LEAF is an accomplished hatchback home to fascinating technology, certainly enough that the ‘ordinary’ parts are easy to overlook. Alex Grant

Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI S line 190 PS S tronic

THE all-new Audi A4 looks pretty similar to the last one. The lines are a little sharper, the lights have some flashier LEDs in them and the overall effect is sleeker, but plenty of people would be forgiven for not noticing the changes. But having been driving the car for about a month now, there are some massive, and fundamental, differences and we’ll be using the time the car is on fleet with us to see just how effective those changes are. I had the opportunity to spec the car myself, and I must admit I went a bit mad with the options list (where’s a fleet

manager to reign you in when you need one?), but I reasoned that the new A4 has such a plethora of tech available, why not try as much of it as possible? So alongside the gorgeous deep, dark Manhattan grey paintjob and 19” ‘10-V spoke’ design alloy wheels, we also have a rear-view camera, Driver Assistance Pack, Tour Storage Pack, privacy glass and front acoustic glazing, Technology Pack, Light and Vision Pack and Adaptive Comfort suspension with damping control, pushing the overall price of the car up to more than £44,000. Sorry about that. But on first impressions my box-ticking spree has resulted in a staggeringly refined, classy and luxurious car. In fact, when the tech is added to the already high overall quality of the cabin, this A4 feels like a car from a class or two above. I drove it to the Le Mans 24 Hours race, stuffed with camping gear and it was a brilliant long distance cruiser, and didn’t feel out of place among the hundreds of high end vehicles also making the trip. So it has been a very good start – and special mention must be made for the onboard Apple CarPlay system: I don’t seem to be able to live without it already. More on this next month. Steve Moody

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Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI SE Business

Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI SE Business Estate STRANGE noises to report this month, one from under the bonnet and the other from inside the dashboard. The bonnet noise first. At idle our 1.6 TDI emits a strange noise beneath the usual diesel clatter, sounding something akin to a mechanical frog belching away. However, a friend’s Passat does the same thing so I’m not too worried about it. The second noise centres around the optional £500 head–up display fitted to our car. When the little screen rises or retracts, it makes a graunching noise which sounds as though it isn’t running smoothly over its runners. This minor glitch vindicates my original thoughts that this is an option box probably not worth ticking. Julian Kirk

Kia Sportage 3 1.7 CRDi I am suffering a little from engine envy. While the 1.7-litre CRDi motor in our Sportage is perfectly capable and deemed to be the fleet-friendly engine of choice, it is leaving me wanting. This is compounded by colleagues reporting that the 2.0-litre diesels and 1.6-litre petrols on offer have a level of performance that is unfortunately missing from our Kia. Perhaps it’s the Ecodynamic badge on the back, with its promise of 61.4mpg and 119g/km, plus £0 first year VED that attracts fleet buyers. However while returning a real-life average 42mpg, our Sportage is not proving particularly economical, nor indeed very dynamic. Dan Gilkes

OUR Superb has now departed but managed to win friends from everyone in the FW office who has had the pleasure of driving it. I managed to use it in every possible seating/accommodation combination from transporting five in comfort to collecting my daughter from university, utilising the enormous space with all rear seats folded – only just big enough for a student at the end of a year... Rear seat passengers always commented on the amount of space, while my youngest son is bowled over by the twin umbrellas in the front door, just the thing for a British Summer. I was impressed with how little time I spent in fuel stations. Our car was equipped with the 2.0 TDI four-cylinder turbo diesel used widely across so many VW Group models. It just seems to get better with every new variant, despite being at the centre of the VW emissions scandal. It's an engine that seems to let you have your cake and eat it. On one long drive, I logged an average of 62mpg according to the on board computer, without making a particular effort, but at the same time it provided spirited performance when needed. I should add that I returned the 62mpg when in ‘Sport’ drive mode. ‘Normal’, or ‘Eco’ could have improved on that. The one option that I would have chosen, not fitted to our car, would have been the DSG automated twin clutch transmission. It would have complemented the engine and the car very well. While the Superb doesn't offer the chassis responses of an Audi A6, I would argue that if you wanted an A6, you wouldn't choose the Superb. As a spacious family car with an impressive compromise between performance and economy, though, there are few direct competitors. Our Superb's replacement has already arrived a Superb estate with 120hp 1.6-litre TDI power in Greenline Eco spec. Will the big car/smaller engine combination work? John Kendall

the figures OTR PRICE £22,090 POWER 148bhp @ 3.500–4,000rpm TORQUE 251lb.ft @ 1,750–3,000rpm 0-62mph 8.8 seconds TOP SPEED 137mph COMBINED MPG 68.9mpg CO2 108g/km (19% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk / 61

our fleet Mazda CX-3 1.5d SE-L Nav

SUPPLIER

DIRECTORY electric vehicle charging Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

IT’S been a rough month for our long-term fleet as, within a fortnight of someone demolishing the passenger side mirror of our Astra to remove the colour-coded cover, our CX-3 suffered a non-fault, low-speed prang just outside the Fleet World office. Crossovers are, of course, known for offering that high-riding driving position which gives an air of safety on the road. It’s been a key part of their popularity. But, until recently, it hadn’t occurred to me that the unpainted plastic extremities which give these cars their rugged off-road muscularity are useful as sacrificial parts. Long after we’ve moved from black plastic bumpers to vulnerable painted ones, the popularity of body cladding once designed to avoid trees and rocks

snagging the paintwork is proving it’s just as well suited to the rigours of urban use. The wheel arch trim on our CX-3 took the brunt of the impact, which made for a simpler repair. We even had access to an identical car while it was in the workshop. It’s unquestionable that crossovers draw most of their appeal from aesthetics, but as I spend more time with our little Mazda I’m finding that it’s a very appealing alternative to a similarly-sized hatchback. A way to cocoon myself in something which, from behind the wheel, has the sturdiness and presence of a bigger SUV but with the convenience of a supermini when I need that. It’s no wonder other manufacturers are keen to get into this part of the market. Anne Dopson

Renault Kadjar Dynamique S Nav dCi 110 OUR long-term Renault Kadjar continues to win praise from people whilst I’m out and about for its exterior looks but I’ve also got a lot of praise for the interior. It’s not quite as flamboyant as the outside and brings a slight preponderance of dark materials, but the cabin offers a wide array of soft-touch materials, with just a few hard panels. Our Dynamique S Nav model also gains part-leather upholstery amongst a number of features likely to appeal to company car drivers. It also scores well in terms of practicality. There’s plenty of cubbies on board, with fair-sized door bins and glovebox and a sizeable centre box. Interior space is good, with plenty of head and foot room, though the middle seat loses out on foot space due to the central tunnel – but I’m making use of its functionality as a centre rear armrest with two cupholders. The Kadjar also serves well for boot practicality – using the handy one-touch lever to fold down the rear seats gives rise to a good flat load space. I’m currently keeping the multiposition floor – which like the one-touch lever

62 / fleetworld.co.uk

is introduced from our Dynamique S Nav trim up – in its top position as I like the fact there’s no loading lip then. The rubber ‘trunk protector’ (an optional extra for £65 plus VAT) is also helping to keep things immaculate at the moment, and is a real benefit. The only things I’d question about are having the cruise control and speed limiter main control buttons down by the electronic park brake as I’ve pressed them twice by accident. Other than that the Kadjar is proving very comfortable and convenient for everyday life on board. Natalie Middleton

Promote your company here and online for just £500/year.

accident management Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres Ltd

Tel: 0845 468 6800 www.selsia-vac.co.uk

Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

fleet insurance insureFLEET Tel: 0333 202 3133 www.insurefleet.com

Bond Lovis Insurance Brokers Tel: 08000 113 444 www.bondlovis.co.uk

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

driver licence checking Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance

0845 815 0019

daily rental

risk management

fleet management software

LeasePlan UK Ltd Tel: 0844 493 5810 www.leaseplan.co.uk

Thrifty Car & Van Rental Tel: 01494 751 550

Tel:+3292018040

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IAM RoadSmart Tel: 020 8996 9600 www.iamroadsmart.com

www.soficoservices.com

Lex Autolease

Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

Roadmarque Tel: 01792 824438 www.roadmarque.com

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

Chevin Fleet Solutions Tel: 01773 821 992 www.chevinfleet.com

Sofico NV

daysfleet.com

Contract Hire a Car Tel: 0370 218 8015 www.contracthireacar.com

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Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.co.uk

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

Zenith Tel: 0344 848 9327 www.zenith.co.uk

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Tel: 01786 468 700

Bill Plant Ltd Tel: 01765 645023

www.arnoldclarkrental.com

www.billplant.co.uk

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 991402 www.venson.com

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

Fourways Vehicle Solutions Tel: 0344 8000 385 www.fvsl.co.uk

ARI Fleet UK Tel: 0844 8000 700 www.arifleet.co.uk

Civica UK Ltd Tel: 0117 924 2703 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

SMR

MAC GB Ltd Tel: 01745 828180 www.reduceroadrisk.com

Enterprise Software Tel: 0161 925 2400 www.essl.co.uk

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732

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Alphabet (UK) Limited Tel: 0870 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

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Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk FLEETW RLD FLEETW RLD November 2014

November 2014

All that matters in

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AFF Tel: 0844 879 4770 www.autofuelfix.com

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email

The Fuelcard Company Tel: 0845 073 0873 www.fuelcards.co.uk

tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

telematics & tracking

www.quartix.net

Airmax Remote Limited Tel: 01932 504300 www.airmaxremote.com

BOX Telematics Tel: 0330 333 4118 www.boxtelematics.com

MiX Telematics Europe Tel: 0121 717 5360 www.mixtelematics.co.uk

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

euroShell Card Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

TRACKER Network (UK) Limited Tel: 0845 604 6091 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Trakm8 Tel: 0330 333 4120 www.trakm8.com

Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

Teletrac Navman Tel: 0345 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

Fleetmatics Tel: 0800 975 4566 www.fleetmatics.co.uk

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fleetworld.co.uk / 63

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VAN

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FLEETW RLD

p71 Fiat Professional claims that the longer van could account for as much as 30% of the mid-weight market sector.

at a glance driven... • Volkswagen Amarok • Fiat Fullback • Fiat Talento • Peugeot Expert / Citroën Dispatch

plus... The latest van news vanfleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

Renault Alaskan unveiled

inshort bitesize stories from a month in the van fleet world...

Fiat Fiorini updated

enault has of icially taken the wraps off its Alaskan 1‐tonne pick‐ up at a launch in Columbia, where the truck will initially be offered for sale. Based on alliance partner Nissan’s NP300 Navara, Alaskan boasts a Renault front‐end treatment with C‐ shaped LED daytime running lights and large corporate diamond grille. Beneath the contoured bonnet are two versions of the irm’s twin‐turbo 2.3‐litre dCi engine, delivering 160hp and 190hp. The trucks will be offered with two and four‐wheel drive, plus six‐ speed manual and seven‐speed auto‐ matic transmissions. Off‐road capability can be enhanced with an electronic limited slip differen‐ tial and a rear locking diff, while Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control further aid the driver both on and off the road. As with the big Nissan, double‐cab versions of Alaskan will bene it from a ive‐link rear suspension to improve

the ride on road. Payload remains over 1‐tonne, with a towing capacity of up to 3.5‐tonnes. One‐tonne pick‐ups account for 17% of the global LCV market, with a growth projection of 19% between 2014 and 2019. Renault has already launched into the half‐tonne pick‐up class last year, with its Dacia‐based Oroch, which is produced in Brazil and has already become the best selling LCV in Columbia. Alaskan will be built in Mexico and in Argentina for South American markets, with Nissan producing European trucks in Barcelona, Spain. No date has been given yet for a European launch. “This stunning pick‐up will ful il the needs of professional users and indi‐ vidual customers across the world,” said global head of LCV business Ashwani Gupta. “With Alaskan, we are on track to take Renault’s LCV range forward from being a top regional player to a top global player.”

Mercedes-Benz Vans Approved Used

ercedes‐Benz Vans, which at the end of this year will become a stand alone company within the irm’s UK oper‐ ation, is improving its Approved Used offering. Extending the offer to older models, Approved Used vans will now be available up to six years old with a maxi‐ mum 150,000 miles on the clock. All vans will come with a full service history and will have to meet pre‐sale checks to qualify. They will be backed by a 12‐month wear and tear warranty, that can be extended if desired. The vans will also get a 12‐month MOT and be serviced if they are within 5,000 miles of the next scheduled maintenance period. All M‐B Approved Used vans will come with a £500 deposit contribution, the corrosion warranty is renewed and the dealer will ensure that all tyres have at

66 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

least 5mm of tread. Mercedes’ MobiloVan UK and European roadside assistance programme is reactivated with the vans, providing up to 30 years of cover from first registration. Mercedes is also adding to both ends of its van line‐up, with a Sprinter Premium Edition and the introduction of a trade speci ication for Vito. The Premium Edition Sprinter is available on all 3.0 and 3.5‐tonne panel van versions and includes integrated Becker sat nav, a chrome effect grille, Audio 15 infotainment screen, air conditioning, a comfort driver’s seat, outside temperature indicator, wheel trims and badging. The trade speci ication Vito model’s speci ication has still to be inalised, but is expected to feature improved seating, a tail‐ gate rather than twin rear doors and should be available on any front driven Vito model.

Fiat Professional has updated its Fiorino compact van, offering a choice of three Euro 6 engines. These include a 77hp 1.4-litre petrol and two 1.3-litre diesel engines, delivering 80hp and 95hp. An EcoJet version of the diesel, with Start&Stop, a smart alternator and a variable displacement oil pump is said to offer a 14% saving in fuel costs, when combined with Fiat’s Comfort-Matic automated gearbox. The van delivers a claimed 74.3mpg and 100g/km emissions. The updated vans have a new front bumper, updated wheel trims and alloys, with a new steering wheel, instrument graphics and a more functional storage compartment in the dashboard. A 5” colour touchscreen is offered for the first time with Bluetooth, DAB radio and the availability of sat nav. Prices start at £11,315. Fiat Professional will add an entry-level 2.0-litre diesel engine, delivering 115hp, to its Euro 6 engine line-up in Ducato. This replaces the previous Euro 5, 2.3-litre 110hp engine, while a new 180hp version of the 2.3-litre motor now replaces the previous range-topping 3.0-litre engine with the same output. The 2.3-litre MultiJet engine will also be offered at 130hp and 150hp.

Renault goes green with Eden Project Renault has supplied a fleet of 18 electric vehicles to the Eden Project in Cornwall. The fleet, which includes Kangoo Z.E. vans, ZOE superminis and Twizy quadricycles, will be used by site maintenance, horticulture, security live programming and catering teams throughout the attraction and further afield to promote the venue.

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Fiat Fullback Fiat Professional is joining the pick-up sector, with the launch of Fullback, says Dan Gilkes. SECTOR Pick-up POWER 150–180hp PAYLOAD 1,030–1035kg CO2 169–189g/km

he pick‐up sector just got busier, with the launch suspension with 17‐inch wheels. of the Fiat Professional Fullback. Based on the lat‐ The automatic transmission also comes with a larger est Mitsubishi L200, Fiat’s first entrant in the 1‐ 7‐inch infotainment screen and paddle gear shifters tonne pick‐up sector will be offered in two trim levels, behind the steering wheel. All models have a full range of with a choice of 150hp and 180hp versions of the L200’s safety kit, including ESC with ASR, trailer stability assist, 2.4‐litre diesel engine. hill start assist, cruise control and seven airbags. For the UK, the entry‐level SX model will come with a Both SX and LX cabs provide a comfortable six‐speed manual gearbox only. The LX trim level can be working environment. had with the manual or a five‐speed automatic transmis‐ As with the L200, Fiat’s Fullback can carry over sion, while all UK Fullbacks will have four‐wheel drive. 1‐tonne, to allow registered owners to reclaim the VAT. The Fiat is claiming 44.2mpg and trucks can also pull a 3.1‐tonne trailer, 169g/km for the 150hp manual pick‐ which is a bit behind most pick‐up rivals, up, rising to 39.2mpg and 189g/km for that can handle the full 3.5‐tonnes. the 180hp auto. That said, Fiat has made a good Externally, Fiat has integrated its choice with the Mitsubishi, which family face onto the truck well, doing remains an accomplished truck. Per‐ without much of the heavy chrome of haps more importantly, it has been the donor vehicle. There has been little proven over many years to be among more than a change of steering wheel the toughest of pick‐ups, which may centre in the cab though. prove essential for Fiat’s international Once in the driver’s seat though, SX growth plans. The pick‐up market in trim gets you leather trim for that the UK is currently around 40,000 steering wheel. You also have 16‐inch trucks. However in Europe, Africa and alloy wheels, remote central locking, the Middle East, where Fiat would like electric windows and mirrors, Blue‐ to greatly increase its LCV penetration, tooth, DAB, steering wheel‐mounted pick‐ups account for more than Fullback is a good fit for audio controls, air conditioning, 650,000 vehicles, or 22% of the total the Fiat Professional Start/Stop, front fogs and side steps. LCV market. range, allowing dealers Upgrade to LX trim and you also Fullback arrived in UK Fiat Profes‐ to provide complete LCV get keyless go, leather upholstery, sional dealers at the beginning of July, fleet coverage and taking electrically‐adjusted and heated seats, with prices starting at a very competi‐ bi‐xenon headlights, privacy glass, a tive £20,995 for the SX model. LX Fiat into new market 6.1‐inch touchscreen with sat‐nav, trucks go from £22,995 for the manual, sectors across the UK. lane departure warning, a reversing to £24,395 for the Fullback LX with camera and comfort‐oriented Touring automatic transmission.

what we think

70 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Fiat Talento Fiat has replaced the PSA-based Scudo with Renault-based Talento, says Dan Gilkes. SECTOR Mid-weight van POWER 95–145hp PAYLOAD 1,074–1,249kg CO2 155–78g/km

iat Professional has a new mid‐weight van, called adds air conditioning, Mobile Office (includes a folding Talento, that will already be familiar to many. passenger seat, clipboard holder and underseat storage), Where the previous Scudo shared much with Peu‐ rear parking sensors, upgraded interior trim and geot’s Expert and Citroen’s Dispatch, Talento is based on enhanced exterior detailing. SX Combi models, at £2,000 the Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivaro. over the standard Active Combi, comes with 17‐inch alloy That means a choice of two wheelbases and two roof wheels, auto lights and wipers, front fogs, cruise control, heights in panel van, crew cab and people carrying sat‐nav and upgraded audio. versions are available, along with a long wheelbase chas‐ Prices start at £19,745 for the 95hp L1H1 van, while sis cab option. Load volumes range from 5.2m3 in the the range‐topping twin‐turbo 145hp model starts at L1H1 model to 8.6m3 for the L2H2. Load carrying ability £21,245. Long wheelbase models start at £21,395. can be extended through a CargoPlus The longer vans are particularly hatch in the standard bulkhead, that important for Fiat Professional, as the allows longer loads to protrude into the company claims that the longer van passenger footwell. could account for as much as 30% of the Available payloads range from mid‐weight market sector. The previous 1,074kg to 1,249kg from gross weights Scudo model was unable to compete of 2.8 tonnes to 3.04 tonnes. with the longer van, so Talento will open There are two single turbo and two up new opportunities for Fiat. twin‐turbo versions of Renault’s Indeed having a new van in the mid‐ 1.6‐litre engine on offer, delivering weight market at this time is critical for 95‐145hp. All four drive the front Fiat, as the company said that the sector wheels through six‐speed manual gear‐ had grown by 30% over the last ﬁve years boxes. Fiat is claiming fuel consump‐ in Europe. With a number of equally new tion of up to 46.3mpg should be competitors, replacing Scudo was essen‐ possible in the most economical EcoJet tial for continued growth. models with Start/Stop, with CO2 emis‐ Given that this van will also form a With the option of two sions as low as 155g/km. base for the upcoming Nissan NV300 wheelbases, Talento All Talento models will come with later this year, Fiat believes that it will overlaps both Doblo LED daytime running lights, ESC with be the level of service and back‐up Cargo and the larger Hill Holder and Traction+, remote from dealers that provides the neces‐ Ducato models, to prolocking, electric windows, electric sary differentiation in the market. heated door mirrors, a full bulkhead, Certainly Talento provides Fiat Profes‐ vide Fiat Professional Bluetooth, DAB and steering wheel with a convincing line-up. sional dealers with a much better mid‐ mounted audio controls. weight van proposition with which to SX specification, priced at £1,000, approach customers.

what we think

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 71

Peugeot Expert / Citroën Dispatch Peugeot and Citroën’s new Expert and Dispatch offer a much improved drive, says Dan Gilkes. SECTOR Mid-weight van LOAD VOLUME 4.6–6.1m3 FUEL 46.3–55.3mpg CO2 133–151g/km

nveiled at the CV Show this year, Citroën’s new Dispatch Opt for the Dispatch Enterprise of Expert Professional and the latest Peugeot Expert almost deserve new and you get a Connect Radio with the 7‐inch screen, incor‐ names, they are so different from what has gone before. porating DAB, Bluetooth, USB and MirrorLink connectivity. Available in three body lengths, on two wheelbases and with a You also get a Moduwork load‐through bulkhead with fold‐ choice of 1.6 and 2.0‐litre BlueHDi Euro 6 diesel engines, the ing outer passenger seat, extending the load area into the vans represent a massive step forward for the PSA duo. cab for longer loads. These models come with air‐con, rear The 1.6‐litre models, which offer 95hp and 115hp, can carry parking sensors, heated electric mirrors and an alarm. just over 1‐tonne, while the 2.0‐litre vans, delivering 120hp, Enterprise Plus by Citroën and Professional Plus by Peu‐ 150hp and 180hp get a maximum 1.4‐tonne payload. Towing geot, adds body coloured bumpers, door handles and mirror capacity is a hefty 2.5‐tonnes. The 95hp engine comes with a housings, front fogs, LED DRLs, 17‐inch alloys, auto lights five‐speed manual gearbox while all other and wipers, plus front and rear parking models apart from the 180hp get six‐speed sensors with a rear view camera. manuals. The 180hp has a six‐speed auto‐ Option packs include an Easy Entry matic transmission as standard. Pack that allows a driver to wave a foot As well as three panel van lengths, under the rear bumper to open the which include an all‐new 4.6m long electric sliding side doors, when model dubbed Compact by Peugeot and carrying parcels. XS by Citroën, there are crew van ver‐ Far more impressive is the option of a sions and platform cabs that allow cus‐ head‐up display, that projects speed and tomers to fit their own bodies. navigation data onto a glass block on top All models come with a 22.4‐litre of the dash, in the driver’s line of vision. AdBlue tank, that should last up to 9,300 It’s only available if you also opt for the miles between refills. Service intervals Connect Nav option and Drive Assist have been set at 25,000 miles/two years Pack, but once you try it, you will be sold. for all but the 180hp vans, which require Both vans will be offered with a 3D an oil change at 18,600 miles/two years. TomTom Traffic system running New Expert and Dispatch The vans are as unrecognisable inside through the 7‐inch touchscreen, with are world’s away from the as out, with a 7‐inch touchscreen domi‐ Citroen set to phase out its long‐term previous entrants, delivernating the dash in all but the most basic S deal with Trafficmaster Smartnav. ing excellent economy specification Expert and X trim Dispatch. Both the 1.6 and 2.0‐litre engines are and performance, with However even these starter models come smooth and powerful enough to pull half‐ with twin sliding doors, a full steel bulk‐ laden vans along with ease, offering a new levels of driver head, DAB radio with Bluetooth, electric refined, comfortable drive. The handling comfort and technology. windows, dual passenger seats and is reassuringly good and the ride comfort cruise control with speed limiter. on smooth French roads equally capable.

what we think

72 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Volkswagen Amarok Volkswagen is taking the already premium Amarok further up-market with V6 power, says Dan Gilkes. SECTOR Pick-up POWER 163–224hp LOAD AREA 2.52m2 CO2 199g/km

aving turned the pick‐up market upside down by of CarNet and App Connect systems. offering the original Amarok pick‐up with a range of Bluetooth is now standard on all trucks, along with VW’s 2.0‐litre engines, when all major competitors had Automatic Post‐Collision Braking System. Indeed electronic 2.5 and 3.0‐litre motors, Volkswagen is going against the driver aids make it easy to control Amarok both on and off norm again and upsizing for the updated truck. While Nis‐ the road, where an optional mechanical rear differential san has downsized to 2.3‐litre engines and Mitsubishi’s lock helps to deliver impressive traction. L200 is now powered by 2.4‐litre motors, VW is to offer It is on the road however where Amarok is at its most Amarok with a range of three V6 3.0‐litre power plants. impressive, with that smooth V6 engine delivering any‐ To be offered with 163hp and 204hp versions later in speed acceleration and relaxed cruising. The automatic 2017, VW will launch in the UK with the range‐topping transmission comes with small paddles behind the steering 224hp engine only. While the 163hp will wheel spokes, but there is little need to come with a manual gearbox and cus‐ use them in normal driving as the box tomers can choose between manual and smoothly passes up and down the gears. automatic transmissions in the 204hp All of that power is easily held in check Amarok, the 244hp engine will be paired too, with Amarok boasting 17‐inch front with the excellent eight‐speed automatic disc brakes and 16‐inch discs at the rear. transmission as standard. Despite the The big truck also boasts supple suspen‐ power and capacity, VW claims up to sion that manages to contain the forces 37.2mpg for the 224hp engine, with CO2 at work beneath the bodywork well. emissions of just 199g/km. Volkswagen sold 3,908 Amarok pick‐ That 224hp is backed up by a massive ups in the UK in 2015, a gain of 25% over 550Nm of torque, which provides the year before. The majority of those remarkably smooth and rapid accelera‐ trucks were driven by the most powerful tion. Amarok will also be able to pull up 180hp engine, in higher trim levels. to 3.5 tonne trailers, while the truck’s Though this new model will continue to be payload will sit just over 1‐tonne to allow offered in Startline, Trendline and Highline Though perhaps moving customers to reclaim VAT if registered. specifications, which have yet to be set for even further from its As with other VW commercials, the the UK market, expect the higher trim lev‐ commercial vehicle roots, updated model gets a sharper front els to dominate sales again, with special VW’s Amarok retains the bumper and radiator grille with editions proving equally popular. carrying capacity and horizontal angles and folds in the Full specifications and prices will be bodywork. This angular look is echoed available closer to the new Amarok’s on‐ towing ability to appeal to in the revised cab interior, where sale date in September, with the majority premium pick-up buyers. there is a new dash with updated info‐ of UK‐bound trucks being assembled at tainment, that now includes the option the firm’s Hanover plant in Germany.

what we think

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 73

VAN

MARKET OVERVIEW Risk Management

Do you offer on-line LCV driver appraisal?

Do you offer psychometric driver proﬁling?

Do you offer risk assessment for LCV’s as part of your programme?

Do you offer an on-the-road LCV driver training programme?

Do you offer a classroom-based LCV driver training programme?

Do your instructors provide a demonstration drive?

Do you offer operator licence training?

Do you offer CPC Training?

Do you offer Driver CPC Periodic Training?

Do your instructors carry out a driver eyesight test?

Do you offer a licence checking facility?

Are your training programmes Insurance Company approved?

Do you offer Post Accident Investigations training?

Do you offer e-training as part of your programme?

FLEETW RLD

AA DriveTech

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ALD Automotive

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ARI

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eDriving FLEET

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ROADMARQUE®

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Key to services ✔

Service provided

Service unavailable

AA DriveTech Employers have a duty of care DriveTech for staff who drive for work. As one of the UK leaders in road risk management and driver education, AA DriveTech works with you to deliver driver risk management solutions throughout the UK. This includes ‘driving for work’ programmes, actions plans, licence validation, driver assessment (paper, on road and online) as well as in-vehicle work workshop training for all vehicle drivers including Driver CPC. Visit our website to find out what customers have achieved from implementing occupational road risk strategies with us. Case studies include: • Center Parcs • Cordek • Feedwater • Thatcham – The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre • Sainsbury’s Online • Shred-it

Contact: Sam Harris-Jones tellmemore@AAdrivetech.com www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe

Tel: 01256 495732

ALD Automotive The ALD Automotive group is the second largest vehicle leasing operation in Europe and manages over 1 million vehicles across 40 countries worldwide. Within the UK ALD is widely recognised as one of the industry’s leading service providers, with a proven portfolio of award winning products for major plc’s, small businesses and individual drivers alike. As an integral part of ALD’s product range, their award winning DriveSafe programme offers a straightforward, practical and cost effective solution to help establish a lasting road risk reduction programme for all employees who drive on business. Utilising the expertise of specialist partners, DriveSafe provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated solution, all managed under ‘one roof’ and uniquely delivered via ALD’s threesixty online portal.

Contact: Matt Dale matt.dale@aldautomotive.com www.aldautomotive.co.uk

Tel: 0370 00 111 81

ROADMARQUE® eDriving FLEET eDriving FLEET provides researchled fleet risk management solutions. Our Virtual Risk Manager tool is proven - with 1,000,000+ car, heavy and light commercial, bus, two wheeler and lift-truck drivers, riders and operators registered across 90+ countries. Organisations of all types and sizes are supported to lead their people to safety, with reductions in collisions, costs and non-compliance. The best way to experience our programs is via a live demonstration followed by a pilot study. More information, including a number of highly successful fully validated and evaluated case studies from BT, Nestlé, Transport for London and ASDA are shown at www.virtualriskmanager.net

Contact: Andy Cuerden Tel: + 44 (0) 1484 551070 andy.cuerden@virtualriskmanager.net www.virtualriskmanager.net

74 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Reduce risk, protect your people, save money. These are the benefits you can realise by using Roadmarque®. We understand that no two organisations’ requirements are the same. We focus on delivering the best return on investment for you, following an analysis of your objectives. Roadmarque® contains a number of elements: Compliance (licence check and grey fleet management), Mileage logs, communication, factual Driver Survey, Aptitude Assessment, Training recommendations / implementation. We don’t impose a fixed programme, but provide the flexibility for you to achieve your aims and comply with legislation. We work with organisations of all sizes delivering practical and effective solutions. As an independent provider working with many partners we guarantee that we won’t sell you what you do not need. Contact us now to find out more…

Contact: Dr Gerhard Manogg hello@roadmarque.com

Tel: 01792 824438 www.roadmarque.com

VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW RLD daily rental

contract hire, leasing & finance

racking systems

tail lifts

fleet management software

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.co.uk

Sortimo Central Tel: 0121 511 2303 www.sortimo-central.com

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

Lex Autolease Tel: 0344 824 0115 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Tevo Limited Tel: 01628 528034 www.tevo.eu.com

Ratcliff Palfinger Ltd Tel: 01707 382880 www.ratcliffpalfinger.co.uk

Civica UK Ltd Tel: 0117 924 2703 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229 www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

Bott Ltd Tel: 01530 410600 www.bott-group.com

DEL Equipment (UK) Ltd Tel: 01993 708811 www.del-uk.com

Chevin Fleet Solutions Tel: 01773 821 992 www.chevinfleet.com

Avis Rent A Car Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5000 08701544 56 56 56 www.avis.co.uk www.budget.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 991402 www.venson.com

automatic transmissions

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Stephens Engineering Automatics Limited Tel: 01920 462530 www.stephensengineering.co.uk

Full listings online at

Alphabet (UK) Limited Tel: 0370 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Full listings online at

Clarks Vehicle Conversions fleetworld.co.uk Tel: 0845 319 2787 www.van-conversion.co.uk

Teletrac Navman Tel: 0345 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk www.navmanwireless.co.uk

www.quartix.net

Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

Trakm8 Tel: 0330 333 4120 www.trakm8.com

Mycompanyfleet Tel: 0845 077 7760 www.mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

Tel: 0870 013 6663

fleetworld.co.uk conversions

telematics & tracking

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731

Zenith Tel: 0344 848 9327 www.zenith.co.uk

STEPS

vehicle data

AVS Steps Ltd

Tel: 01939 235900 www.avssteps.co.uk

International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

fast-fits & tyres

vehicle CCTV

ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

Exeros Technologies Tel: 020 8303 1188 www.exeros-technologies.com

vehicle ventilation

accident management

Flettner Ventilator Ltd Tel: 020 8200 2321 www.flettner.co.uk

Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

Promote your company here and online for just Â£400/year.

fuel management

euroShell Card Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk risk management

TRACKER Network (UK) Limited Tel: 0845 604 6091 www.TRACKER.co.uk

IAM RoadSmart Tel: 020 8996 9600 www.iamroadsmart.com

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Bill Plant Ltd Tel: 01765 645023

WEX Europe Services Tel: 0800 626 672 www.wexeuropeservices.com

Roadmarque Tel: 01792 824438 www.roadmarque.com

www.billplant.co.uk

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk vanfleetworld.co.uk / 75

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