Fleet World July 2014 by Fleet World Group

July 2014

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

To Germany and back again 1,000 miles in an Insignia without refuelling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is it possible?

spotlight Audi TT

Driven Brilliant new C4 Cactus BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

A risk worth taking How RVs are looking for the rest of the year

MPG marathon 2014

plus... Fleet mobility & fuel management advice fleetworld.co.uk

contents

July 2014

Citroën’s radical C4 Cactus put to the test.

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

To Germany and back again 1,000 miles in an Insignia without refuelling – is it possible?

spotlight Audi TT

Driven Brilliant new C4 Cactus BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

Elon Musk of Tesla on the brand’s UK future.

The spotlight falls on the sharply-dressed new Audi TT.

MPG marathon

A risk worth taking How RVs are looking for the rest of the year

2014

plus... Fleet mobility & fuel management advice fleetworld.co.uk

Managing Editor Ross Durkin ross@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Publisher Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Features Editor Katie Beck katie@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

To Germany and back on one tank in an Insignia? Ok then, we’ll give it a go...

Claire Lake claire@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Tina Ries tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Samantha Hargreaves sam@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

What the future holds for residual values

04 / fleetworld.co.uk

Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro, Nissan e-NV200, Iveco Daily, LCV finance.

STAG Publications

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2013 17,985

Ford NEWS

inbrief

EcoBoost wins International Engine of the Year for a third consecutive time FORD’s innovative 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has fought off competition from supercars and premium brands to win the ‘Oscar’ of the engine world - International Engine of the Year - for an unprecedented third consecutive time. “The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is one of the finest examples of powertrain engineering today,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 16th International Engine of the Year awards and editor of Engine Technology International magazine. “This year’s competition was the fiercest yet, but the 1.0-litre EcoBoost continues to stand out for all the right reasons – great refinement, surprising flexibility and excellent efficiency,” Eighty two automotive journalists from 35 countries judged the competition on such criteria as drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. Launched in Europe in 2012 with the Focus, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, which was also named Best Engine Under 1.0-litre for the third time in a row, is now available in a further eight vehicles sold in Britain: Fiesta, B-MAX, EcoSport, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect and Transit Courier. The next-generation all-new Mondeo continues the European product roll-out of the EcoBoost 1.0-litre later this year. More than 200 engineers and designers from Ford’s research and development centres in Dagenham and Dunton, and in Aachen and Merkenich, Germany, spent more than five million hours developing the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

National Grid locked on Transit Custom NATIONAL Grid has taken delivery of 200 Ford Transit Custom vans for its engineers maintaining the gas supply network. They join the existing fleet of around 3,350 vehicles, the majority of which are Ford-badged. The Transit Custom ECOnetic models, powered by the Dagenham-built 2.2-litre TDCi 100PS diesel engine, are equipped with racking, first aid equipment and special lighting. Ford direct sales manager Stephen Gafson, said: “The new Transit Custom is ideally suited to its role with National Grid and financially it clearly makes sense to the company, too. We are very pleased that Ford’s long association with National Grid is to continue.”

For further information on any vehicle in the Ford range please contact the Ford Business Centre on 03457 23 23 23, email info@fordfleet.co.uk, or visit www.ford.co.uk/fordfleet

Ford News Feature // 05

All-new Transit proves durability FORD has ensured that the allnew Transit will survive at least 10 years of the toughest treatment by using an especially punishing accelerated ageing process as part of its development. Durability tests included the equivalent of driving almost seven million miles – or 275 round-the-world trips – at stateof-the-art proving grounds in Europe and the US and in extreme conditions across the globe from +40 to -40 deg C. Punishment included driving at top speed at maximum weight with a fully loaded trailer for two months, over gravel roads, and through salt- and mud-baths, corrosion resistance testing in high-humidity chambers for 12 weeks and a month of non-stop figure-of-eight manoeuvres. Vehicles faced 40 deg C heat in Arizona, Dubai and South Africa, 40 deg C cold in Finland and Canada, as well as challenging journeys through Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Turkey and the US. The new model covered more than 300,000 miles of tough real-world use with high-mileage Transit customers and, in the test labs, the 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine was subjected to 46 days of continuous high-load urban driving on specialised rigs, during tens of thousands of hours of engine testing. Component test rigs replicated the full 10-year vehicle lifecycle in just 30 days.

fleetreview This month, editor Steve Moody asks why occupational road risk is not having the desired effect, whilst bemoaning the lack of investment in the UK’s road network.

Is occupational road risk not delivering?

We need better infrastructure

RoSPA has produced an exhaustive report on the current state of occupational road risk and at-work driving injuries, and among all the findings about make-up of the UK fleet and how it has changed over the past decade or so, with fewer deaths and serious injuries being reported, one thing is worryingly clear: the percentage of KSIs involving at-work drivers has barely changed in that period. In 2006 there were 858 at-work road deaths and in 2012, 539, which is a welcome downward trend, but look at the whole picture: overall there were 3,172 road deaths in 2006 and 1,754 in 2012. This is mirrored in serious and slight injuries. There are wider issues than just looking at KSIs, of course, but they are an indicator of general trends. My question is this then: the design of vehicles is certainly the major factor in helping to bring the number down, but what of all the other time, money and effort being spent on occupational road risk? If the percentage changes only mirror what’s happening in the general public (who often don’t have access to risk profiling, assessments and training), then is the occupational road risk industry not delivering? Send me your views – we’ll publish them next issue.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the past year driving in Europe for one reason or another, and one thing is abundantly clear: we need investment in roads in the UK. I know Germany, France and Spain have more space than us, but that’s little excuse for badly designed and clogged motorway junctions, damaged surfaces and endless roadworks with little going on. PricewaterhouseCoopers has released a report on infrastructure spending which suggests that money spent on road infrastructure in the UK has fallen from an average of £5bn in the recession years of 2007-11 to £3.2bn annually from 2012 to 2016. This just isn’t good enough: how are we supposed to work our way back to prosperity when UK PLC is stuck in countless traffic jams? The report does predict a “substantial rebound” in transport spending over the next 10 years, but much of that investment will be in Londoners getting to Birmingham a bit quicker on a train, and perhaps even a new airport in the South-East, should anyone make a decision. The fact is that roads are still the key enabler for British business, and “British” is the word here: the infrastructure can’t be neglected just because a load of bureaucrats in Westminster have never been further north than Watford or further west than Staines.

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Don’t miss out on all the latest daily news! Visit fleetworld.co.uk

renault.co.uk

RENAULT CLIO

Renault Clio Dynamique MediaNav ENERGY dCi 90 S&S Eco, inspired by love, the love of huge savings. • Touchscreen navigation • Bluetooth and iPod connectivity • Cruise control and speed limiter

• 88.3 combined mpg • 83g/km of CO2 emissions • P11D from £15,490

Renault Business Quality Commitments • Like for like vehicle replacement • Pro+ specialist fleet network • Free collection and delivery T&Cs apply. For full list of commitments visit renault.co.uk/business for details

Visit renault.co.uk/business or call the Renault Business Team on 0800 040 7344

Model shown is Clio Dynamique S MediaNav in optional Flame Red i.d. paint at total P11D of £15,735. The official fuel consumption figures for the Renault Clio core range are: Urban 40.4 (7.0) – 78.5 (3.6); Extra Urban 60.1 (4.7) – 94.2 (3.0); Combined 51.4 (5.5) – 88.3 (3.2). The official CO 2 emissions for the range are 127-83g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environment figures. Fuel consumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.

inbusiness

Up to a third of road deaths involve at-work drivers 2006 almost 30% of road deaths have occurred in accidents involving at Since least one at-work driver or rider.

That’s the finding of new research from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), which also finds that often, it is not the at-work driver or rider who is killed or injured, but another road user. In 2012, 87 at-work drivers were killed and 16,720 injured in these collisions, but 422 other road users were also killed, and 25,484 injured. The review, which was carried out as part of the RoSPA/BNFL scholarship scheme, makes a number of key recommendations, including making sure that work-related road safety is given the same widespread attention as general health and safety. Dr Shaun Helman, TRL’s head of transport psychology, added: ‘Although some businesses are switched on to the issue, most of the time injuries sustained on the road are not afforded the same priority as injuries sustained on work premises and sites. This needs to change.’

fleetweet a few soundbites from a month in fleet

@deanslavnich Dean Slavnich, automotive journalist

It’s a stunning win for Ford's 1.0 EcoBoost. First engine to win the overall Award for three consecutive years @forduk.

@torquespeak Ed Callow, deputy content editor, whatcar.com

HMT gets £35bn from fuel duty and VED. It only spends about 10% on road improvements. Imagine if it also spent 10% on EV infrastructure.

@GregBarkerMP Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy & Climate Change

Five-door MINI to account for 60% of UK fleet volume MINI is expecting its five-door hatch to account for over half of a larger UK sales figure, but is predicting it may take a couple of years to get there. Launching with the four Cooper trim levels in October, followed by the One and One D in November, it marks the first time MINI has offered fivedoors in its smallest model, and will be a vital addition to the range in a segment where three-door versions typically account for 30% of volume. Corporate development manager James Morrison said the car will target a similar sales mix to the Audi A1 in fleet – another model which is primarily marketed as a three-door version – which would mean around 60% of fleet sales would take the five-door Hatch. Gaining 72mm in wheelbase and 161mm in length, used to increase legroom and boot volume respectively, the five-door Hatch will provide a solution for customers who would otherwise defect to other brands for extra space, as well as targeting conquests from other brands and growing overall sales. There is a £600 price increase for the larger bodystyle.

Wow, #solar share of electricity to the UK grid hit a whopping 8% at the weekend. Fantastic #Growth in last 4 years. Now let's double it!

@GoUltraLow Official Twitter account for Go Ultra Low, the ultra low emission cars advisory organisation

Don't forget that from 23 June, you'll be saving even more if you drive in Central London in a #GoUltraLow car! Now saving £11.50 a day.

@JesseCrosse Jesse Crosse, freelance motoring writer

#Toyota launches first hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in 2015 for around £41k. This is the way forward, not batteries.

@bobbyllew Robert Llewellyn, Actor and electric vehicle enthusiast

Quick note on “silent” electric cars. Didn't Rolls Royce spend 100 years and millions making their cars silent? No one worried about it.

@Jon_Quirk Jon Quirk, editor-in-chief, Auto Trader UK

For me, the Model S reveals both how languid the last 100 years of automotive development have been & the brilliance burning underneath.

08 / fleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

Ford unveils new Edge F

ord has revealed its new Edge SUV, which goes on sale in Europe next year providing a rival to models such as the BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5. The third SUV in the carmaker’s line-up, the Edge joins the Kuga and EcoSport as the flagship model, bringing technological advancements such as Adaptive Steering technology, the debut of Ford's Adaptive Noise Cancellation system in Europe and Front Split View Camera technology.

In Europe, the engine line-up will comprise two versions of Ford's 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, including a 178bhp version delivering 295lb.ft of torque and a projected 149g/km CO 2, with sixspeed manual transmission plus a 207bhp version delivering 332lb.ft of torque and projected 159g/km CO2, with six-speed PowerShift automatic and paddleshift controls. Both will come with four-wheel drive as standard.

Government announces ban on CCTV parking fines

Danger at the wheel whilst eating and drinking

Councils are to be banned from relying on CCTV “spy cars” alone to stop ‘over-zealous parking enforcement practices,’ the Government has said. Announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, the ban was first mooted last September and will now become law through the Deregulation Bill, following a three-month consultation. Tickets will have to be fixed to the windscreen by parking wardens, making it illegal for councils to issue penalty charge notices to drivers using just the CCTV spy cars that currently patrol roads for on-street parking enforcement.

Eating or drinking while driving is nearly as dangerous as using a mobile device – whether handheld or hands-free – according to data released by Lytx Europe. The firm’s research finds that drivers who eat and drink while driving are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a collision than those who do not. In comparison, drivers using a hands-free device are 4.6 times more likely to be involved in a collision and those using a smartphone or tablet are 4.7 times more likely to be involved in a collision.

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Less fuel in. More miles out. Go further with the new Honda engine.

CR-V 1.6 Diesel

Civic 1.6 Diesel

Civic Tourer 1.6 Diesel

• Low fuel costs 62.8 mpg

• Low fuel costs 78.5 mpg

• Low fuel costs 74.3 mpg

• 119 g/km CO2

• 94 g/km CO2

• 9 9 g/km CO2

• Band C VED

• Zero VED

• BIK rate from 19%

• BIK rate from 14%

• BIK rate from 15%

• Two wheel drive

• Insurance group from 15E

honda.co.uk/corporate Fuel consumption figures for the Honda range in mpg (l/100km): Urban Cycle 23.2 – 70.6 (12.2 – 4.0), Extra Urban 40.4 – 85.6 (7.0 – 3.3), Combined 32.5 – 78.5 (8.7 – 3.6). CO2 emissions 201 – 94g/km. Fuel consumption figures sourced from official EU-regulated laboratory test results, are provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real-life driving experience. Models shown for illustrative purposes: Civic 1.6 i-DTEC S in optional White Orchid Pearl, CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC S in optional Passion Red Pearl and Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC SE Plus in optional Twilight Blue Metallic.

inbusiness

What SMEs want With business demand for new cars continuing to grow, what acquisition services are dealers offering SMEs? Motor Trader editor Curtis Hutchinson, reports.

he new car market in the UK continues to defy all expectations with May heralding the longest period of sustained growth since the 1980s as businesses and private motorists continue to trade-in old for new at a rate no-one was predicting at the beginning of this year. With May witnessing the 27th consecutive month of growth, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders expects demand to level off with the year finishing at around 2.4 million units; the highest level since 2007. A look at the SMMT data reveals just how strong fleet demand is. While the new car market is currently powered by retail demand, which climbed 13.4% in the year to date, fuelled by some amazingly low finance deals, the fleet sector is also enjoying a resurgence. Consequently sales to businesses running over 25 cars have risen 9% year on year, reflecting the practical need for medium to large companies to replace cars sourced during the downturn which have been run for longer than their traditional three year cycles. However, growth to smaller businesses, running less than 25 cars, is nothing short of unprecedented with a year on year increase of 20.4%. This rise has been facilitated by the growing number of car manufacturers addressing these businesses and gearing up their dealer networks to proactively serve their needs. However, some of the bigger dealer groups are also getting in on the action and offering SMEs more highly targeted services than ever before. The latest dealer to launch a dedicated offering for small fleets is the Leicester-based Sytner Group, which operates 130 showrooms. The brands it represents are at the more selective end of the userchooser spectrum ranging from SEAT, MINI, Volkswagen and Honda, to Audi, BMW and Mercedes and up to Porsche, Bentley, Rolls Royce and McLaren. No wonder it modestly describes itself as the “UK’s leading retailer of prestige cars.” Last month the group launched an all-new company car contract hire service, called Sytner Supply, aimed specifically at SMEs running up to 75 vehicles, which it claimed could save businesses £50 per vehicle every month. The group is in an ideal position to operate such a service as SMEs already form an important part of its customer base and the geographical spread of its dealerships offers wide coverage across the UK. At the heart of Sytner Supply is a contract compar-

14 / fleetworld.co.uk

ison and ordering service which uses the dealer group’s panel of finance lenders to locate the best deal for each car from the different manufacturer franchises it represents. The service is designed to remove the hassle from acquiring new cars for small businesses and covers everything from the initial enquiry to vehicle delivery. ‘We already have an extensive SME customer base and are aware of the significant amount of time that companies of this kind have to spend in finding the best funding for their new vehicle,’ said programme manager Nigel King. ‘Having no captive contract hire operation ourselves, we realised that we were perfectly placed to create a service that compares a wide number of funders and takes the legwork out of vehicle acquisition.’ Sytner has extensively piloted this service and claimed it has so far achieved average savings of around £50 per month per vehicle for clients compared to the quotes they had obtained themselves. ‘The SME market provides a significant opportunity for the Sytner Group and we believe that, through Sytner Supply, we can offer smaller businesses a similar level of advantage to those that we are able to offer to our very largest fleet customers.’’ Meanwhile, Bradford-based multi-franchise dealer group JCT600 has also boosted its fleet operations with the recent appointment of Frank Turner as national broker and corporate accounts manager for its growing fleet operation. Turner has worked extensively in the contract hire and leasing sector and his appointment is a further development of the group's ongoing plan to increase its presence in the company car sector (as reported by Fleet World in April) by supplying vehicles to local businesses and national fleets. ‘We have seen significant demand for our fleet services with customers responding well to our transparent approach,’ said Neill Richards, JCT600’s fleet sales director. ‘As part of a major group incorporating a wide range of brands, we are able to provide balanced car cost comparisons and give customers expert advice about what is best for them in terms of cost per mile and taxation.’ Some dealer groups are getting the message that SMEs expect to be able to source and finance fleet vehicles from a local business they know and trust.

The new face of business

ÂŁ169

For just per month over 4 years from Ford Lease at your local Ford D e aler Advance of 6 monthly rentals ALL-NEW FORD TRANSIT COURIER

Business users only

Base 200 SWB 1.5 TDCi 75PS Visit ford.co.uk/All-New -Transit- Courier

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for Ford Transit Courier Van Base 200 SWB 1.5TDCi 75PS: urban 60.1 (4.7), extra urban 76.3 (3.7), combined 68.9 (4.1). Official C02 emissions 108g/km. Example shown is a Ford Contract Hire rental. Finance subject to status. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. Example excludes VAT and is based on a 47 month non-maintained agreement. Profile 6+47, payment in advance of 6 monthly rentals, followed by 47 monthly rentals, with a mileage of 10,000 miles per annum. Vehicles must be returned in good condition and within agreed mileage, otherwise further charges will be incurred. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability for vehicles with finance accepted and vehicle contracted between 1st July and 30th September 2014. Ford Contract Hire is provided by ALD Automotive Ltd trading as Ford Lease, BS16 3JA. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

inbusiness

Getting the (Ad)Blues This month, The Insider is wondering how the advent of replenishing AdBlue in Euro 6 engines will affect his fleet.

have come to the conclusion that working in the product development department of the AA or RAC must be a brilliant job – looking at trends and predicting what is going to cause the next batch of breakdowns. A while back I was reading about the launch of the RAC’s trial of a mobile electric fast-charging unit which will enable a stranded electric vehicle to drive a further fifteen miles, by providing a charge the equivalent of a gallon of fuel in just half an hour. This is hot on the heels of the fourth emergency service starting to carry universal wheels to mobilise those vehicles not carrying a spare – which will be most of them these days. It’s been a couple of years since they devised a solution to drain the tanks of those who misfuelled their diesel cars, and a few years more since they started to carry replacement batteries. They all do a grand job of getting us back on the road again, these days with a high roadside fix rate, and generally I’m very grateful for that service, which keeps productivity up and certainly makes my life easier. True, it was only yesterday that one of our drivers was stranded for three hours on the side of the motorway while our nominated provider struggled to find a subcontractor to rescue him. Apparently the provider deems it too dangerous to allow their patrols to work on the motorway, so subcontracts the service. I get their drift, but I’m not entirely sure that doing so absolves them from a health and safety liability on their subcontractor. The greater the sophistication of the service on offer it seems, the more unintended consequences arise. I figure all the major breakdown companies are already working on a solution (sorry no pun intended) for sorting out AdBlue problems. My drivers have already been asking about adding AdBlue

16 / fleetworld.co.uk

when they take delivery of their new Euro 6 engine cars. I had thought the AdBlue tanks would be big enough to carry sufficient fluid to last between services but it appears that is impractical, or perhaps unwanted since the extra litres will add weight to the vehicle – something manufacturers have been doing their best to trim down over past years. So the driver will have to add fluid to the tank from time to time, no doubt bringing cries of ‘can I claim it on my expenses?’ and ‘can you supply us with protective gloves in case we get it on our hands?’ The car will display messages before the tank needs replenishing and if the driver continues to ignore them, once the tank is nearly empty the car will go into “limp” mode and as a last resort when the tank is empty, refuse to start altogether. Digressing for a minute, we used to allow drivers to buy oil on their fuel cards but then it turned out that some of the blighters were buying five litres and using it to top up their other family cars, and their mates’ cars, on a regular basis. The same thing happened with washer fluid. So we had to put a stop to that and make them claim on expenses, which then meant the meaner ones wouldn’t buy oil at all. I ask you which is cheaper though – putting up with paying for an inflated supply of oil or suffering the odd blown engine. Some you win, some you lose. No doubt we will encounter the same fun and games with AdBlue. Have you noticed that the Adblue tank filler is frequently sited next to the fuel tank filler? Even though it should be blindingly obvious what goes where, you can bet there will be mishaps. Apparently the two are a really bad mix so whichever way around those mishaps occur, they are likely to be expensive. I wonder what the breakdown services are hatching to counter that one?

BiK 15%† FROM

COMBINED

MPG 76.3mpg* UP TO

An incredibly efficient 76.3mpg – and just 98g/km emissions.

CO2 98g/km* FROM

BEAUTIFUL EFFICIENCY

P11D £16,299 FROM

NEW INSIGNIA

A natural winner, New Insignia has just been awarded ‘Best Upper Medium Car’ by Fleet World. With class-leading CO2 emissions of just 98g/km*, its sensational economy also comes with superb standard features such as alloy wheels, Bluetooth®, cruise control, CD/MP3 CD player and USB connectivity.

Transform your business at: www.vauxhallfleet.co.uk/beautifultechnology Book your FREE** 3 Day Test Drive at www.vauxhall3DTD.co.uk or call 0870 240 4848

VAUXHALL FLEET Visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/fleet

Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). New Insignia range: Urban 24.8 (11.4)-62.8 (4.5), Extra-urban 46.3 (6.1)-88.3 (3.2), Combined 34.9 (8.1)-76.3 (3.7). CO2 emissions 189-98g/km.

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. † = 2014-15 tax year. 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. ** = Excludes fuel and lubricants; congestion charges; parking and speeding fines and the £250 insurance excess (if applicable). 3 Day Test Drive vehicles are subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Please refer to www.vauxhall3DTD.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Drivers must be 25 years or older and is available for Mainland UK only. All figures quoted correct at time of publication (July 2014).

inbusiness

What I’ve learnt Robert Pieczka, marketing & business development director at Arval, on the changing role of the fleet manager and the switch to new technologies.. The growing influence of technology The effective management of a business fleet is a moveable feast. The world around us has always changed but the rate of change, particularly in the adoption and use of new technologies, is getting faster and faster. There is no better example than the intelligent application of technology, which is why we just launched the Arval Smart Experience. Adoption and use of tablets in the UK has increased from a penetration of 5% a few years ago to over 40% now. Customers and drivers expectations are equally changing and the fleet sector needs to rapidly adapt. Fleet manager roles are changing It’s no longer a given that a fleet is managed by a specialist fleet manager. We see that business vehicles now also sit within the remit of departments like finance, HR and procurement where the fleet isn’t always the number one priority for those responsible. For this reason they require a different kind of support, which often means detail replaced with key metrics, top-level information available in a way that is quickly and easily accessible, and ongoing access to advice to support them.

The car is becoming a mobile office The car is becoming a mobile office and business drivers need the right information at their fingertips. The manufacturers are increasing connectivity within their vehicles but technology which isn’t built into the vehicle is just as important. If a driver has pulled into a layby, they expect to be able to use their smartphone or tablet, to access a full range of information, often tailored to their current location. Businesses and drivers expect to be able to communicate with their fleet provider in a range of ways. From Twitter and Facebook to mobile tools which take them straight through to the relevant contact, they want relevant information at the touch of a screen. A multi-channel digital approach is the future All of these things mean that the most effective leasing companies will be able to provide the right information, in the right format, via the right channels whenever it is needed. A multi-channel digital approach is now a prerequisite to support traditional personal, telephone, or email communications. The use of apps, social media and tablet optimised content is only going to grow. However, with an abundance of choice, it will only be the best and most useful tools and content that prove popular and really add value.

Wraps come off new SEAT Leon X-PERIENCE crossover SEAT has released details of its new Leon X-PERIENCE, which goes on sale in the UK in September providing an insight into the carmaker’s forthcoming first SUV. The new model joins the existing Leon line-up as the fifth model and features permanent four-wheel

18 / fleetworld.co.uk

drive along with all-road suspension and kit, and a range of TDI and TSI engines. SEAT also promises its ‘typical features of exceptional quality and outstanding value for money’. The Leon X-PERIENCE is available to order from September and will reach UK showrooms later in 2014.

inbusiness

The Elon Game Tesla CEO and co-founder Elon Musk discusses forthcoming plans for Europe with Alex Grant, and why the UK will be its most important market. How large do you predict the European market will be for the Model S? Our hope for Europe is that we sell a comparable number of cars to America, and we expect to increase our activities in Europe quite a bit. One of the things we’re in the process of doing is expanding our final assembly operations in the Netherlands, and we also expect to most likely establish an R&D centre in the UK next year or the year after. It really depends on the volume of cars we’re able to sell. Beyond final assembly once we get our production above half a million cars per year it makes sense to anticipate that, to have a factory in Europe and one in China.. How important is the UK market to Tesla? I think the UK is likely to be one of our most significant markets, probably top five. So far our advanced orders are very strong in the UK and if you ordered a car now you’d only receive it in four months.

So something we need to work on is ramping up our production to supply UK customers in a timely manner, and we’re also putting a lot of effort into Supercharger infrastructure. We want to have southern England covered by the end of this year and all of the British Isles by next year, along with Service Centres to go with that. I think the UK will be our top market in Europe. When can we expect further models? The Model X (SUV, based on the Model S platform) will hopefully start deliveries in California in the second quarter of next year, then in right hand drive at the end of next year. Our third generation car will be about £25,000, but its true cost is less than that because you don’t have to pay for petrol, which is expensive, and there will be some Government support, so it might be comparable to a £1520,000 car. We want to democratise electric cars and make them viable, but at the moment they’re more expensive than we would like.

fleetworld.co.uk / 19

inbusiness

fleetonfleet Paula Maxwell, fleet manager, Longhurst Group Fleet size 158 cars, 12 vans, 337 grey fleet In what sector does Longhurst operate? Longhurst Group is the parent company for three subsidiaries located throughout the East Midlands. We rent out 18,000 houses. Spire Homes are in Rushden, Friendship Care & Housing in Birmingham and Walsall, and L&H in Boston, Nottingham, Lincoln, Skegness and Grimsby. The HQ is in Boston. So as you can imagine the fleet is spread around. We have a few perk vehicles but most are job need. How big is the fleet? We lease 158 cars and 12 vans and have a 337-vehicle grey fleet. The lease cars are operated through Lex Autolease. We’ve been a customer since 2007. I have a very good working relationship with them. A diverse fleet has its own challenges, what are yours? I think it’s getting company car drivers to read the driver handbook. It took ages to produce but when used properly, greatly reduces the number of times drivers need to phone me up with queries. Of course, they still find it easier to pick up the phone and ask! Regarding the vans, which we own outright, achieving a decent sale price is always a challenge, unless they are in really good condition. With grey fleet it is getting the drivers to understand I must hold copy documents before they drive on company business, and that they need business insurance, particularly if they expect us to reimburse their business travel expenses. Sustainability and the environment feature highly on the Longhurst agenda. How does that translate to fleet? In April 2014 we reduced the overall CO2 to 125, which when I talk to other fleet managers, is quite low. We do run hybrids and I have looked into electric vehicles but the range needs to improve before we could consider them. We are using teleconferencing more and more and hoping to get video conferencing in the near future. We also ask drivers to car share and for the grey fleet drivers to use public transport and pool cars when possible.

22 / fleetworld.co.uk

Are you a carrot or stick person – penalise “offenders” or reward good behaviour? We recharge a driver if they have two fault incidents and we also charge them the excess. We will also recharge if a car needs repairing due to the driver’s negligence. But we don’t reward good behaviour as I think it would demotivate drivers. And anyway we are a charity so couldn’t give away financial rewards. Tell me a bit about your driver training programme – I believe you are a trained assessor? We roll out online driver training every three years using the Driver Risk Index that was written by DriverMetrics at Cranfield University. This is for all car drivers and any grey fleet drivers doing more than 50 business miles a month. From the results we can see if they are low, medium or high risk. Being high risk doesn’t necessarily mean they are a bad driver, but they may do high mileage. We also ask everyone to attend a driver workshop and together with our training team I go out to each office to deliver these workshops personally. We get great feedback on them, which is nice. I qualified as a driving assessor through RoSPA and take all the high-risk drivers out on the road, just to give advice on safer driving, driving fuel efficiently and to think about what they are doing a little more. Feedback suggests the drivers generally learn from the experience. What would be your one best piece of advice to someone just starting their first fleet manager job? Undertake the ICFM Certificate & Diploma, and attend fleet conferences to network as much as possible. Also join ACFO – you always come away from a meeting having learnt something. Time for a hobby outside of work? I own a Honda CBF1000 and love to get out on it as much as possible. I have ridden around New Zealand, Peru, Chile, the Canadian Rockies and America on a bike and I love it. It’s such a great way to travel. If you weren’t a Fleet Manager, what would you do? I’d be a Personal Assistant or an Events Organiser as I love organising things.

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ALL-NEW JEEP CHEROKEE ®

With superior road handling and fuel economy, best-in-class 4x4 capabilities and class-exclusive technology, the new Jeep® Cherokee has a lot more to offer fleets than you might have previously thought. eep® may not have historically been a brand foremost in fleet managersÊ minds but the launch of the all-new Jeep® Cherokee this year is set to change that. Following in the footsteps of its recently launched bigger brother – the Grand Cherokee SUV – the Cherokee midsize SUV forms the second key model in a multiple product assault and will be followed by the new Renegade compact SUV in spring 2015. Whilst all the new models stay true to the long-standing and iconic Jeep® heritage – and the ÂGo Anywhere, Do AnythingÊ® slogan thatÊs recognised the world over – they also importantly bring major developments in quality, efficiency and technology that mean fleets can benefit from leading-edge off-road capabilities, state-of-the-art features and impressively low company car taxation.

LEGENDARY CAPABILITY With a sleek and athletic exterior the new Jeep® Cherokee maintains the DNA but its cutting-edge, revolutionary design also represents a major evolution of the model. In fact, all-new Jeep® CherokeeÊs advanced quality production has been recognised in reviews by leading motoring magazines across the globe, including Auto Express.

All-new Cherokee also puts in an exemplary performance when it comes to crash safety. In Europe, its safety credentials have been recognised by Euro NCAP, which awarded it top spot in the Small Off-Road 4x4 category in its 92% score for adult occupation protection. As youÊd expect from a Jeep®, the Cherokee is engineered to excel on any and all terrains. Available in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations, the new-generation model is engineered to ensure benchmark on-road and off-road capabilities under all driving conditions. This vehicle is also the first mid-size SUV to feature rear axle disconnect, which seamlessly switches between two-and fourwheel drive, ensuring improved fuel efficiency. NO NEED TO COMPROMISE Whilst the Jeep® Cherokee brings prodigious off-road abilities, these do not come at the expense of efficiency. In fact the new SUV brings impressively low CO2 emissions that lead to low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation costs for company car drivers – reinforcing the modelÊs benefits for company car drivers that may not have looked at the Jeep® brand before due to taxation concerns.

To find out more about ALL-NEW JEEP® CHEROKEE contact our Business Centre on 01753 519442, email fleet@jeep-comms.co.uk or visit www.jeep.co.uk/cherokee

The engine line-up comprises the new 2.0litre Multijet II turbo diesel and the 3.2-litre V-6 Pentastar petrol engine. The efficient turbo diesel is available in two versions, offering customers a choice of 168 or 138bhp outputs, both generating 350Nm of torque. Helped by ÂStop/StartÊ technology, the 138bhp two-wheel drive version with six-speed manual gearbox delivers emissions of just 139g/km. Meanwhile the 168bhp version, which comes with Active Drive I four-wheel drive, is coupled with either a six-speed manual or the all-new nine-speed automatic gearbox. CO2 emissions for this model are a mere 147g/km for the manual, rising to just 154g/km for the auto version. Such figures – which equal the BMW X3 – make all-new Jeep® Cherokee ideal for fleets focused on sustainability but still needing a capable 4x4. High levels of technology add to the CherokeeÊs fleet proposition, with state-ofthe-art features including the new Wireless Charging Pad and 7-inch full-colour reconfigurable instrument cluster display. In all, with its high-tech features and quality and the attraction of low CO2, allnew Cherokee offers a comprehensive package for company car drivers, backing up its mighty capabilities with true fleet appeal.

inbusiness

trading places

Quartix supports growth plans Quartix has appointed Paul Boughton and Jim Warwick (pictured) as non-executive directors to support its expansion in the US and elsewhere. Both Boughton and Warwick have strong track records in international business development, and the firm says their experience and guidance will be invaluable.

For the latest news, visit:

www.fleetworld.co.uk

out

Alex Smith leaves Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles role Alex Smith has departed from his role as brand director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK as he takes on a new role of director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. He has been succeeded in his previous role by Carl zu Donna.

JCT600 appoints broker account manager JCT600 has appointed Frank Turner as national broker and corporate accounts manager for its growing fleet operation. The independently owned Bradford-based motor group has announced the move a year after it grouped together its volume fleet functions, offering a range of brands for national fleet and local businesses from a single resource.

FIN fleet in numbers

£10,000

Possible fine for drivers who speed on motorways under new maximum fines that could be made available to magistrates. SOURCE: Justice Minister, Jeremy Wright

PARKSAFE AUTOMOTIVE

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Number of times that Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has won the International Engine of the Year consecutively. SOURCE: International Engine of the Year Awards

Eden House

High Holborn Rd Codnor Gate Industrial Estate Ripley Derbyshire DE5 3NW

24 / fleetworld.co.uk

THE NEW MINI. THE NEW ORIGINAL.

The all new MINI Hatch builds upon the success of its heritage, with the MINI Cooper D providing class-leading performance and efficiency, as well as the lowest CO2 emissions of any equivalent model above 100hp at 92 g/km. All-new three and four-cylinder engines and automatic gearboxes with Auto Start-Stop also mean that two models within the range exceed 80mpg on the combined cycle, while still delivering MINIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hallmark go-kart handling. Standard specification includes Bluetooth and DAB digital radio, heated mirrors and washer jets, USB audio interface and keyless go.

To find out how to give your business an advantage, visit www.minicorporate.co.uk or call 0800 777 113. Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Hatch Range: Urban 36.7-72.4 mpg (7.7-3.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 58.9-91.1 mpg (4.8-3.1 l/100km). Combined 48.7-83.1 mpg (5.8-3.4 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 136-89 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

MINI Corporate Sales

BAROMETER Making sense of the surveys

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

20mph zones The majority of British motorists are against the idea of a blanket 20mph speed limit on urban roads, a new Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) sponsored survey has revealed. 55% of respondents said they strongly opposed a blanket ban, with the figure being higher amongst younger drivers. However, 94% of drivers were supportive of lower speed limits outside schools. 20mph zones in areas with high numbers of pedestrians, such as parks, were also popular, with 34% of drivers in favour.

Explaining the importance of 20mph zones outside schools, IAM chief executive Simon Best said: ‘The total number of under-16s involved in accidents between school rush hours is 6,106. Good design and widespread consultation is the key to the successful use of 20mph zones as a road safety tool.’

68% of drivers said they would like to see a specially tailored re-education course for motorists caught doing up to 30mph in a 20mph zone.

Source: IAM

But just 20% of respondents said enforcing 20mph limits should be a police priority.

dashboard cameras

Source: TrackCompare.co.uk & RHA

According to a snap poll carried out by comparison site TrackCompare.co.uk, a clear majority of operators are in favour of witness cameras being installed in fleet vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles. 93% of respondents answered “yes” to a poll displayed on the TrackCompare.co.uk website that asked: ‘Should all CVs be fitted with witness cameras?’. The findings support the results of a survey carried out by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) in April, which showed 54% of its members had already fitted cameras to their vehicles. A further 35% said they were seriously considering installing the in-cab devices. Commenting on the rising popularity of the devices, Jack Semple, RHA director of policy, said: ‘The recordings can show what happened in an accident and can put an end, quickly and simply, to potentially crippling insurance claims. ‘In addition, many firms with cameras say they are useful tools for managing employees’ driving style.’

28 / fleetworld.co.uk

rat runs According to the results of TomTom’s annual Traffic Index survey, drivers taking shortcuts to escape traffic jams may actually be using “longcuts” that make their journey slower. The report suggests that rural roads have twice as much lost traveltime (32%) as main roads (15%), meaning drivers pushed for time may be better off sticking to major routes rather than chancing local rat runs. The latest Traffic Index also shows overall average journeys in 2013 took 27% longer than they would in free-flowing traffic – up from a 26% delay in 2012. Belfast remains the most congested city in the UK, with journey times taking 78% longer in the morning rush hour, and 75% longer in the evening.

Source: TomTom Traffic Index

10 out of Britain’s 17 biggest cities recorded a significant rise in congestion over the previous year, with only two local councils recording a slight reduction in traffic jams – Leeds–Bradford and Bristol. The report suggests British commuters now spend 10 working days a year stuck in traffic, up from nine days a year ago.

licence checking technology The results of a recent GE Capital survey suggest that fleets are increasingly migrating to technology to manage important areas of their fleet operations, with licence checking and duty of care topping the “shopping list” for the next 12 months. According to the results of the quarterly Company Car Trends report, 30% of fleets that do not already have a solution in place are planning to adopt a licence checking system in 2014.

Source: GE Capital

24% said they plan to adopt a solution for duty of care, while 17% hope to implement an accident data management system in the next 12 months. In-life costs were also shown to be a priority, with 21% of fleets without an existing solution planning to adopt a technology-driven cost-management approach. Gary Killeen, fleet services commercial leader for GE Capital UK, said: ‘While Company Car Trends shows 75% of fleets already have a duty of care system in place, the fact that risk management issues dominate the list indicates that more and more organisations are starting to refine their thinking in this area. ‘There is a general desire to contain service maintenance repairs spending as much as possible and detailed reporting allows fleets to help identify areas where expenditure can be tackled.’

for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 29

g fleet e k

Swissvoice ePure Mobile Bluetooth Station

LaCie Rugged Hard Drive When you absolutely can’t afford to lose data, LaCie’s toughest-ever hard drive is the tool for the job. Encased in its bright orange armour, it can withstand two-metre drops, shocks, dust and water and is compatible with any USB-equipped machine, offering transfer speeds of up to 387MB per second on the latest computers using its integrated Thunderbolt cable. Price: £105-£225 see lacie.com/uk for stockists

One of the most stylish hands-free devices on the market, the ePure connects via Bluetooth to offer HD-quality voice and music streaming within a 20-metre range. There’s a USB port for charging, and the unit itself has a 300-hour standby time, allowing calls to be made directly from its handset. Swissvoice claims reduced radiation compared to holding the phone itself. Price: £99.99 see epure.swissvoice.net for stockists

Elliott Brown Canford A subtle, stylish new range inspired by the classic pilot’s watch, the Canford is available in a choice of nine styles, with three case finishes and a choice of nylon webbed, steel or oiled leather straps. Each one is subjected to rigorous quality controls to check for accuracy, and resistance to extreme shock and pressure. Price: £325-£500 from elliotbrownwatches.com

Leef Access A compact micro SD card reader designed to work with Android smartphones and tablets, the Access plugs into the device’s USB port and offers fast read-write speeds for quick backups or to watch HD-quality videos direct from the card. Ideal for clearing space, or transferring images from a camera to send via e-mail while on the road. Price: £12.99 see 2leef.com for stockists

apps of the month

Mitime to fly

LoopWallet

FlightRadar24

Never arrive late again. Set an arrival time, destination and your mode of transport, and Mitime will monitor for delays, traffic and cancellations, automatically adjusting its alarm and re-planning routes to make sure you get there on time. There are even settings to input how long it takes to get ready, reducing the usual early-morning panic. Price: Free from iTunes Store

Launched in America but compatible with global POS machines, LoopWallet replaces all of your membership, loyalty, credit and debit cards with a single app. Swipe your cards into the reader, connect the app to a Loop Pay keyfob or the new iPhone case, and it can transmit card data to most magnetic strip readers for payment. Price: Free from iTunes and Google Play

If you’ve ever looked up and wondered where the vapour trail overhead is going, this is a musthave app. It shows a real-time map of all aircraft, with the ability to click in and see comprehensive flight data, or get a pilot’s eye view of the ground underneath. There’s also an augmented reality mode, which overlays plane data over a live camera image. Price: £1.99 from iTunes and Google Play

30 / fleetworld.co.uk

IF YOUR EXISTING FLEET CAN’T TAKE THE STRAIN, PUT US TO THE TEST

AP PASSION ASSION F FOR OR M MAKING AKING IT IT H HAPPEN APPEN With W ith 3 m million il l ion p parcels arce l s a year ye ar to to deliver, de l i ve r, it’s it ’s not not surprising surprisin g that t h at Express E x pre ss Parcel Parce l Services’ S e r v ice s’ main m ain concern conce rn is is payload. p aylo ad. That’s T h at ’s why w hy tthey’re h e y’re sswitching w itchin g to to Peugeot Pe u g e o t B oxe r vans. v an s . The T h e Boxer B oxe r gives gi v e s them t h e m one o n e and an d a half h al f times t im e s the the p aylo ad o h e ir p re v i o u s cchoice, h o i ce, ffor or a lmos t h al f tthe he p r i ce . E ven b e t t e r, iit’s t ’s g ot tthe h e rreliability e l i ab l i t y Boxer payload off ttheir previous almost half price. Even better, got tto o ccope o p e with w i t h 1,500 1, 5 0 0 miles m ile s a week, w e e k , and an d the t h e drivers dr i v e r s ﬁnd ﬁ n d it i t more m o re comfortable co mfo r t ab le too. t o o. So S o why w h y not n ot put p u t Peugeot Pe u g e ot to t o the t h e test. t e s t . Visit V is t b u s in e s s .p e u g e ot .co.uk /p a s s i o n business.peugeot.co.uk/passion o cal l 02476 0247 76 884 8 8 4 644 6 4 4 for for more more information. inform at ion. orr call

EVENTS Fleet Hero Awards

Judging opens for new-look EST Fleet Hero Awards The Energy Saving Trust has opened applications from public and private sector organisations, fleets and suppliers for its new-look Fleet Hero Awards.

ow in their ninth year, the awards recognise private and public organisations that are proactively reducing fuel bills and cutting carbon emissions through innovative transport policies, improved leet ef iciency, or the provision of cost and fuel saving products and services to leets. Taking place on 27th November at the Institute of Directors of London, this year’s awards see the launch of two new categories. The irst is the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Manufacturer award, which recognises the importance of technology in reducing

carbon emissions, while the Individual Achievement award champions individuals that have played a signi icant role in greening their organisation’s leets. EST chief executive Philip Sellwood said: ‘Innovation will be at the heart of our newlook Fleet Hero Awards. We want to hear about organisations that have taken innovative approaches to their leets which not only cut carbon emissions but also helped save money. ‘The two new award categories re lect how the Fleet Hero Awards are evolving and developing alongside the latest industry trends and innovation.’ This year also sees the addition of Alex

Grant, deputy editor of Fleet World, to the judging panel. An award-winning motoring journalist, Alex not only works on Fleet World as deputy editor but also edits the EV Fleet World website. Alex is also a lifelong car enthusiast with a fascination for new technology and future drivetrains and will help to play a key role in the judging.

VISIT BUSINESS.PEUGEOT.CO.UK/PASSION TO FIND OUT WHAT WE’RE DOING FOR EXPRESS PARCEL SERVICES – AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU.

This year’s award categories are: • Best public sector fleet • Best business sector fleet • Plugged-in fleets • Grey fleet management • Eco-driving • Innovation and technology

There will be two rounds of judging for the Fleet Hero Awards this year. Organisations will be asked to submit no more than 250 words through an application form provided or via the Fleet Hero Awards website explaining why the application should be successful in the chosen category or categories (organisations can apply in multiple categories but must submit a separate application for each). The deadline for initial applications is Friday 15th August 2014. Successful applicants will be noti ied by Tuesday 26th August 2014 and will be invited to submit a second more detailed application by Friday 26th September 2014.

• Transport solutions supplier • Ultra low emission vehicle manufacturer • Commercial vehicle management • Individual achievement

For more information about the awards, how to apply and sponsorship opportunities visit www.fleetheroawards.org.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 33

Citroën C4 Cactus Distinctive, clever and affordable, the C4 Cactus is exactly what Citroën needs, says Alex Grant. SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £12,935–£18,135 FUEL 60.1–91.1mpg CO2 82–107g/km

n 1948, Citroën unveiled its vision of a car for postwar France. Cheap to buy and run, durable yet lightweight, compact but capable of carrying four adults in comfort on rutted French roads, the 2CV struck a chord, selling 3.8 million units through a 42-year life cycle. Citroën hasn’t officially made the link between the two, but the C4 Cactus feels every bit the modern interpretation of the same design brief. Functional, affordable and stylish, this stands to breathe new life into the manufacturer’s C-segment offering and shouldn’t have any trouble getting noticed. Best of all, it captures that classic spirit without resorting to retro pastiche. This will target the core of the C-segment, but its rugged and purposeful design should be useful for capturing buyers out of the growing crossover market too. But behind very different styling, it doesn’t take much digging to find shared DNA. Where the 2CV featured rippled metal panels to resist low-speed impacts without adding much weight, the C4 Cactus uses air-filled plastic sections called Airbumps in vulnerable areas to achieve the Euro 6-compliant BlueHDI 100 to be the biggest the same. Soft suspension and a high ride height are also seller, offering range-best fuel economy of 91.1mpg. common features. Aggressive pricing, with low insurance, tax and mainLike its predecessor, there’s been a ruthtenance costs due to its minimal power and less drive to remove unnecessary weight. So weight, are all components of a targeted 10% FLEET FACT the platform is a stretched version of the reduction in whole-life costs compared to the DS3’s, rather than the modular architecture segment benchmark. Don’t expect any of the More efficient and used in the C4 Picasso. Using pop-out rear engines to set pulses racing, even with the windows, a single-piece folding backrest and excellent new PureTech 110 petrol, but with 215kg lighter than an aluminium bonnet means the entry-level the 2007 C-Cactus soft ride quality and light steering it’s an car weighs 965kg, almost 200kg lighter than easy, relaxed drive. eco concept car. the equivalent C3. The cabin feels tuned to this. It’s as stylWith no pretence of sportiness, Citroën has ishly designed as the exterior, making up been able to align engine options with smaller cars. for widespread use of hard plastics with details such There are four three-cylinder petrol engines and two as the slightly pearlescent finish on its all-digital dashfour-cylinder diesels to choose from, and Citroën expects board, leather straps for door handles and the huge glovebox styled to look like a travel case on top models. Details which stop it feeling cheap. Sadly it hasn’t inherited the 2CV’s dashboard-mounted gearstick, so choosing a manual gearbox removes one of its most distinctive features. Cars with the ETG6 clutchless manual gearbox get two individual seats styled to look like a bench, with buttons on the dashboard to select neutral, reverse or drive and a flat paddle for the handbrake. It’s a worthwhile design upgrade over the manual, but the ETG6 gearbox is slow to change gear, and a bit of an acquired taste. Storage space is plentiful, with the pop-out rear windows leaving plentiful space in the rear doors and the airbags moved from the dashboard to the top of the windscreen, but there’s a high load lip under the tailgate and the rear bench doesn’t fold easily, or flat with the boot floor. This was a vitally important car for Citroën to get right, and it’s really hit the mark. With a large dose of French design flair and a clever approach to saving money, it’s as charming and as revolutionary as the 2CV was 66 years ago.

34 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think highlights Protective Airbumps can withstand low-speed impacts, and are available in four colours. Claimed to offer 10% lower whole-life costs than the best in its class. On sale from October in the UK, with Touch, Feel and Flair trim levels matching the new C1.

Make no mistake, this is a car which will polarise opinions, but the C4 Cactus is a clever and distinctive new entrant with the potential to dramatically improve its presence in the C-segment. Arguably, though, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a more logical fit marketed as a compact crossover than a hatchback.

key fleet model Citroen C4 Cactus BlueHDI 100 Feel

fleetworld.co.uk / 35

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Steve Moody finds BMW’s latest niche offering has a lot of fleet appeal. SECTOR Four-door coupe PRICE £29,425–£45,045 FUEL 34.0–61.4mpg CO2 118–193g/km

ometimes BMW’s model range can seem a touch confusing, with all manner of cars of slightly varying specifications. In the middle of its offering there are 3, 4 and 5 Series that all are variously slightly higher, lower, longer and with different types of boots on them. So to add a little more grey to your temples is the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, as you no doubt envisage those days when drivers wander over to your desk and start asking questions about the seating height position differences between 3, 4 and 5 Series Saloons, Gran Turismos, Coupes, Gran Coupes and Tourings. There is one simple answer though: the Gran Coupe is a fabulous car. In fact, it might be the best of the lot. For a start, despite the Gran Coupe's four doors and a hatchback boot, BMW has managed to retain much of the sleekness of the 4 Series Coupe in a more practical package. Up front, both models are identical and share the typical BMW design features such as the double-kidney grille, dual round headlights and the large air intake in the front apron. all this equates to only 60kg, which is hardly major. The Gran Coupe is only 12mm higher, while the The boot volume of 480 litres is 35 litres larger than roofline is 112mm longer to incorporate the extra doors, that of the two-door version, and the same capacity of the but it retains exactly the same dimensions as BMW 3 Series Saloon, while the back of the the two-door coupe: a length of 4,638mm, rear seats can be folded down to increase the FLEET FACT width of 1,825mm and a wheelbase of load capacity to 1,300 litres when completely 2,810mm. That means that inside rear pasfolded flat – a best-in-class figure among The 420d has sengers get more than acceptable head and premium four-door coupes. legroom, but it doesn’t have that slightly As standard, the Gran Coupe comes with an emissions of ungainly quality that the 3 and 5 Series Gran automatic boot lid and can also be ordered 121g/km, the 418d Turismo cars have. with the Smart Opener feature, with opening only 3g/km less Of course, the two extra doors, extra metal and closing effected with a sweep of the foot in the roof and hatchback boot do add weight, under the rear bumper. A sensor detects the and it needed strengthening bars added above the rear movement and proximity of the key to release the boot lid. wheelarches to stiffen the shell where a big hole for the Of interest to most fleet buyers will be the 181bhp BMW boot has been cut out. In all though, the total penalty for 420d, which comes with the latest-generation four-cylinder diesel engine, has impressive torque levels of 280lb.ft accessible from 1,750rpm to 2,750rpm, exceptional smoothness and decent, if not spectacular efficiency: CO2 emissions are as low as 121g/km. There’s a 418d too, although as with most BMWs at the moment, the 18d variant doesn’t offer great CO2 savings over the 20d versions. The car drives in a very similar manner to the Coupe, although spring and damper settings have been marginally revised to take account of the slightly higher centre of gravity. But overall, it rides nicely and has the trademark 4 Series agility too. It will compete in that fleet heartland against the Audi A5 Sportback, which has been so successful in this sector, and feels a genuinely classy, stylish, practical and enjoyable car to live with. In fact, it’s hard to fault, especially as it is the same price as the two-door Coupe and offers more. It seems that BMW, for all its model tinkering, has got the recipe spot on with the Gran Coupe.

36 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think highlights Four doors and hatchback boot Slightly taller with longer cabin than the 4 Series Coupe 60kg heavier than the Coupe Maximum 1,300 litres of bootspace

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is the perfect company car for a userchooser: stylish lines, practical thanks to increased rear accommodation and a big boot, while being great to drive and handily efficient too.

Competitor for Audi A5 Sportback

key fleet model BMW Gran Coupe 420d SE 184 Auto 4dr

fleetworld.co.uk / 37

BMW M3 and M4

The fifth generation of an icon is a showcase for the future of the brand, explains Alex Grant. SECTOR Compact executive PRICE £54,775–£57,880 FUEL 32.1–34.0mpg CO2 194–204g/km

UK cars with the dual-clutch gearbox emit an incredibly petrol-powered high-performance saloon and low 194g/km of CO2 – similar to the old Renaultsport Clio. coupe may sound like unlikely fleet cars, but in Running cost transformations are the thin end of the the UK – the second largest global market for the wedge. While the power increase is minimal, it’s masked BMW’s M cars – corporate sales account for around a fifth by a 38% rise in maximum torque, now available across of the M3’s sales volume. most of the rev range rather than just below its redline. On average, it means one business lease per working Where the old M3’s non-turbo V8 needed a heavy right day of the year, and that’s the tip of the iceberg. The aspifoot to wring out its full potential, the new engine delivration to own one of BMW’s M cars helps drive 50% takeers ferocious straight-line pace wherever you are on the up of the M-Sport trim level in the rest of the 3 Series rev counter, accompanied by the familiar tight metallic range, and 65% of 4 Series customers pick the same verroar of a BMW straight six. sion. These are as much a halo product for the brand’s Flared arches cover wider front and identity as the technology-rich S-Class rear tracks – 20mm and 36mm on the is to Mercedes-Benz. saloon and 9mm and 34mm on the But these aren’t a 335i and 435i with coupe – and adaptive suspension and a power increase and a bodykit. The M3 the clever M Differential are standard and M4 share only doors, windows and equipment in the UK. With suspension, headlights with a 3 or 4 Series, and the drivetrain and steering settings turned intricacy of the transformation gets up to 11, the lighter, wider M3 corners more impressive with each generation. with the stability and precision of a Carbon fibre and aluminium, the same smaller, lower car, pinning occupants to materials used to stretch the electric the bolsters of its excellent front bucket range of an i3, are used to shed weight seats as effectively as it can pin them to from drivetrain and body components the backrests on a straight stretch. and maximise the performance of a But here’s the thing. Dial it back a litnew downsized engine – innovations tle and, save for the faint purr of an which are likely to drip-feed into future The familiar intoxicating underworked straight-six engine, the non-M products too. blend of BMW’s compact M3 and M4 become as compliant and as The engine itself is incredible though. executive prowess and easy to live with as any of the rest of Both cars share a bespoke 3.0-litre, their respective ranges. Ride quality is twin-turbocharged straight-six cylinder motorsport pedigree, but excellent even on 18-inch wheels, the producing 431bhp. Not only is this 100 with a useful cut in runseats are comfortable and equipment grams lighter than the similar-sounding ning costs, the lucky few levels are high. As illogical as it may engine used in 35i, but with a lighter will be very; very pleased. sound, the M3 and M4 offer almost body, Stop/Start system and bespoke everything a business user could need. electronic power steering, the 85% of

what we think

38 / fleetworld.co.uk

Game changer

The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

f you believe the hype, every new car is a game changer. A degree of scepticism about yet another worldbeater is therefore understandable. Don’t ignore the Outlander PHEV, though. This one really is a game changer. A few Outlander PHEV facts: Price: from £28,249 (post-grant) Benefit in Kind tax rate: 5% Vehicle Excise Duty: £0 London Congestion Charging: £0 CO2 emissions: 44g/km Pure EV range: 32 miles Pure EV + Petrol range: 514 miles They look like stats for a tiny city car ten years in the future, but the Outlander PHEV achieves these figures now, in 2014. And it does so as a lavishly-equipped SUV with no restrictions on interior or boot space. For company car userchoosers, the benefits of running an Outlander PHEV are startling. BIK and fuel card tax ratings are just 5% rather than the expected 30%-plus for equivalent diesel SUVs. For any driver, Outlander PHEV fuel consumption is incredible. The official EU figure is 148mpg, but if your daily journey is less than 32 miles it could be considerably more. Longer journeys like motorway trips can still return impressive figures. Unlike the average electric vehicle, there’s no danger of ‘running out of juice’ as long as you’ve got some petrol in the tank, and this is the only SUV with ‘£0’ on the tax disc. Here, at last, is a hybrid car that really does offer ultra-cheap motoring without compromise to comfort, practicality or performance – and without the dreaded EV ‘range anxiety’.

*Subject to survey

How does it do it? The PHEV was designed from the outset to run on electric power. That’s why, unlike just about every other EV, it has uninterrupted cabin and boot space. Its 463-litre cargo volume is almost identical to the diesel Outlander’s. There’s a conventional engine up front, a refined, quiet and lightweight 2.0-litre petrol unit, but after that everything changes. The engine’s main role is not to drive the car, but a generator. This charges an array of underfloor batteries powering two direct-drive electric motors: one on the front wheels, the other on the back. As long as there’s sufficient charge in the batteries, the electric motors will work alone at speeds up to 75mph. If the engine does need to kick in to top up the batteries, it will, but the transition between electric and petrol is all but undetectable. No allowances need to be made to your driving style: the car will always choose the most efficient mode. Generally, that will be EV mode at lower speeds, and electric motors supported by the engine at higher speeds. You can dial up a higher rate of battery regeneration by flipping a steering wheel paddle to recoup more power during deceleration, which brings the bonus of reducing brake wear. In every other respect, driving a PHEV is exactly like driving a normal SUV, albeit a very comfortable, safe (5-star Euro NCAP rated) and powerful one. From 0-60mph it’s quicker than the already rapid 2.2 diesel auto Outlander, with the instant shove of electric power. You can charge the car by plugging it into a high-speed charger (installed for free* at your house by British Gas), or let it look after its own charging through normal driving. If you’re going somewhere where the ability to run on EV power would be useful, you can charge the batteries to 80% capacity in 30 minutes just by letting the engine idle. You can even remotely control the charging process (and pre-heat or pre-cool the vehicle) through a free-to-download iOS or Android app.

Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: infinite, Depleted Battery Charge: 48mpg (5.9), Weighted Average: 148mpg (1.9), CO2 Emissions: 44 g/km.

From a full charge, which takes 3-4 hours from zero (using cheap Economy 7 electricity if you do it overnight), the Outlander PHEV will run for up to 32 miles on electric power alone. So, if your total daily journey is less than 30 miles (which most are) you could find yourself never using the PHEV’s petrol engine. If you are an ‘electric-only’ user, the engine stays in good health by starting itself up every now and then. The best thing about this extraordinary machine is just how ordinary it is in everyday use. Being a Mitsubishi, it’s a proper offroader running a Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) permanent 4WD system with a lock mode for the really gooey stuff. The PHEV handles surprisingly well too, thanks in part to the batteries’ underfloor location lowering its centre of gravity. Towing capacity is an impressive 1500kg. You won’t have to search out specialists to service it, as you do for many other EVs. Any Mitsubishi dealer can deal with it. The price. Electric vehicles and hybrids are expensive, even after you take into account the Government’s £5000 Plug-In Car Grant but the Outlander PHEV is very different. It was designed from day one to be an EV, so there’s no hybrid price premium. Higher-specified GX4h and GX4hs versions are also available, but let’s look at the GX3h version. The cost of a GX3-spec diesel Outlander 2.2 DI-D Auto is £28,249. After the Government grant, the cost of the equivalent GX3h PHEV – with automatic gearbox, remote-controlled keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, electric windows, 18inch alloy wheels, roof rails, rear privacy glass, USB port, iPod compatibility and Bluetooth connection – is also £28,249. Which may very well be the most exciting motoring news of the year, if not the decade.

Pop in and see your local dealer for more information or visit

www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT Audi TT

Sharp attack. The new TT will offer company car drivers stunning looks, a more sporty drive and low emissions, underlining its position as a user-chooser favourite.

DESIGN Flat headlights, sharp horizontal lines and a large grille dominate the new TT, but the influence of the first iconic 1996 design is still recognisable. The new model will come with matrix LED headlights too, providing a piercing beam of light, while aluminium has been used in the body structure and panels to save weight.

FLEET FACT New TDi TT qualifies as one of Audiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultra models with 110g/km. 40 / fleetworld.co.uk

CABIN

ENGINES For company car drivers, the 181bhp 2.0 TDI is likely to be the favourite, with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive seeing it accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 146mph, with 67.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 110g/km when not trying to achieve those performance numbers. As such, its level of efficiency qualifies it as one of Audi’s Ultra range of low emission cars.

The cabin of the new TT is even more minimalist than ever, with pure, clean lines underscoring both the lightness and the uncompromising sporty focus of the car. A slender instrument panel has been made possible by combining the instrument cluster and MMI screen in a central, digital unit – called the Audi virtual cockpit – which means all dials are represented on a screen – and by repositioning the controls for the air conditioning system in the air vents.

CHASSIS Audi is keen to lose the “Golf in a sexier body” tag that has been somewhat unfairly given to the TT, and as a result engineers have been working hard to make this the best driving TT ever, with a bespoke chassis. The front suspension is based on a McPherson system; aluminium components reduce the weight of the unsprung chassis masses. The four-link rear suspension can process the longitudinal and transverse forces separately.

WHAT WE THINK... The new TT is sharper looking and has a wonderful cabin. With its low emissions and the promise of better handling, it should go from strength to strength and cement its position as the most popular coupe for fleets. SM

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SWOTTeam This month the SWOT Team analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new Nissan X-Trail against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

AC Like chalk and cheese compared to the outgoing model. It’s much more efficient, as are all of these cars, BiK costs are within £300 of each other over three years.

AC If you take the seven-seat option and fully load the vehicle it may feel a little underpowered. However as a five-seat with the general dayto-day loading the engine has enough punch to pull the vehicle around quite sufficiently.

AC The X-Trail takes on the mantle of the Qashqai+2 as well as replacing the old X-Trail so there are opportunities where a seven-seat SUV of high quality is a requirement.

AC Is the gap between the Qashqai and the seven-seat X-Trail now too big compared to the Qashqai+2? Also will lovers of the old model’s rugged off-road looks still have the same desire for a much more streamlined looking model?

MJ The 128bhp 1.6 dCi is economical and tax efficient at only 129g/km. 2WD auto is available from the level two Acenta grade. AS It seems Nissan is trying to appeal more to the caravan club by toning down the rugged looks, or could this be a weakness? Popular with the used buyer, which helps the strong residuals. MW How could Nissan improve on the tried-andtested X-Trail? Well they did, and not by a bit either. It looks so much better, drives better, and is just a much better package.

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MJ This car also replaces the seven-seat Qashqai+2, but seven seats are a £700 option rather than standard. Only one engine available and no petrol option. AS The X-Trail has built itself a following with its semi- rugged off-roader appeal, but the new model is in danger of losing this. Why not buy a Qashqai and save money? They now look similar, perhaps too much so. MW Should the new X-Trail have been called the X-Trail, or is it time for a new name?

MJ The Qashqai’s big brother, so should look the part on the school run or on the company car fleet. AS This sector is still very popular and looks set to remain so for the foreseeable future. The lower CO2 and fuel consumption is very welcome and it will appear on many more company car lists as a result. MW Many will have never have considered an X-Trail before as it was seen as too agricultural, but the new one is so different and so modern it will certainly draw a new audience.

MJ There is no shortage of strong competitors for this car, particularly as more of the X-Trail range is now more crossover-biased than before. AS There is a danger of watering down the mild off-roader to a point that many buyers could skip the sector altogether. MW The X-Trail will attract new buyers because of its handsome and modern looks, but at the same time will alienate current owners who will think it is just a step too far.

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Nissan X-Trail

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

Strengths

AC Seven seats, improved interior and much more efficient. MJ Sat nav, flexible interior and tax-efficient diesel. AS Popular used car, keeps RVs strong. MW Much more modern, will attract new buyers.

Strengths

Honda CR-V SR 1.6 i-DTEC

AC Nice engine, roomy, well put together. MJ Taxation saving of over £20 a month against the Kuga. AS Good engine, strong reliability image. MW Leading on CO2, good looking with lots of nice features.

AC Even less dynamic and not as pretty. MJ No seven-seat option available. AS Retirement car. MW Lacks recognition and it's attributes are little known.

OTR: £27,315 P11D: £27,260 Fuel: 60.1mpg CO2: 124g/km RV*: £9,525 (35%) BiK: 20% SMR: £2,160 Fuel costs: £6,182 Insurance: £3,675 Finance: £3,680 NI: £2,370 VED: £220 Cost per month: £1,002

Strengths

Ford Kuga Titanium X 2.0 TDCi 140PS FWD

AC More dynamic to drive. MJ Good to drive and spacious. AS Popular, but still looks fresh. MW The fleet favourite; will appeal to current estate-car drivers.

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD with BT, USB, Aux • Cruise control with speed limiter • Dual zone climate control • Half leather, Alcantara seats • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Bi-Xenon headlights • Front/rear parking sensors, reversing camera • Heated front seats Optional equipment: • Satellite navigation £1,000 • Metallic paint £500

AC Not as roomy. MJ 139g/km CO2 emissions will exclude this from many choice lists. AS Has lost some styling appeal. MW There are still many who don't want a car with a Ford badge on it.

OTR: £26,800 P11D: £26,615 Fuel: 53.3mpg CO2: 139g/km RV*: £11,325 (43%) BiK: 23% SMR: £2,561 Fuel costs: £6,970 Insurance: £3,330 Finance: £3,593 NI: £2,644 VED: £390 Cost per month: £968

Strengths

Toyota RAV-4 2.0 D-4D Invincible

Weaknesses

Toyota RAV4

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD with Bluetooth • Sat nav with 7.0-inch screen • Cruise control with speed limiter • Dual zone climate control • Powered tailgate • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Auto brake, lane dept warning • Front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £525 • Seven seats £700

AC May be underpowered for full loads. MJ Lots more competition as crossover. AS Too similar to the cheaper Qashqai. MW Could alienate current owners.

Weaknesses

Ford Kuga

Nissan X-Trail n-tec dCi 130 2WD Manual OTR: £27,295 P11D: £27,240 Fuel: 57.6mpg CO2: 129g/km RV*: £11,125 (41%) BiK: 21% SMR: £2,605 Fuel costs: £6,450 Insurance: £3,105 Finance: £3,677 NI: £2,481 VED: £220 Cost per month: £964

Weaknesses

Honda CR-V

Andy Cutler (AC) UK Car Editor – Forecast Values Glass’s

AC Reliability and build quality. MJ Reliable, well-built, well-equipped product with a five-year warranty. AS A safe bet, with a classless image. MW Flexible, practical and good value.

Weaknesses

AC Noisy, less settled ride. MJ Possible that awareness has slipped. AS Quite a few on the roads but you never notice them. MW Often overlooked. Those who shout loudest sell the most cars.

OTR: £26,695 P11D: £26,640 Fuel: 57.6mpg CO2: 128g/km RV*: £10,075 (38%) BiK: 21% SMR: £2,250 Fuel costs: £6,450 Insurance: £3,750 Finance: £3,596 NI: £2,426 VED: £220 Cost per month: £981

Standard equipment: • DAB radio/CD with Bluetooth, USB • Cruise control with speed limiter • Dual zone climate control • Powered tailgate • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Leather upholstery • Electric heated front seats Optional equipment: • Satellite navigation £750 • Park assist with f/r sensors £550 • Metallic paint £545

Standard equipment: • DAB radio/CD with BT, USB, Aux • Cruise control • Dual zone climate control • Powered tailgate • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Leather upholstery • Front/rearparking sensors, reversing camera • Heated, electric front seats Optional equipment: • Satellite navigation £795 • Metallic paint £495

* 3yr/60k

fleetworld.co.uk / 43

flashback a look back at the company cars of yesteryear

model Vauxhall Cavalier (Mk1) era 1975-1981 UK sales 247,903* successor Cavalier Mk2

auxhall couldn’t have picked a better moment to launch its first Cavalier. The name which would become synonymous with the fleet sector for nearly 20 years launched at a time when tax rules had pushed company cars to 70% of UK sales volume, and it was the brand’s biggest seller as a result. With the Ford Cortina in its sights, it filled a gap underneath the slightly too large Victor. But, unlike its stablemate, the Cavalier’s roots were firmly under Opel’s control. Most of the bodywork was shared with the Ascona, but with an aerodynamic front end adapted from the sporty Manta Coupe with which it also shared a platform. Production was 100% imported from Belgium for the first two years. The Cortina was a tough benchmark, but the Cavalier had plenty in its favour. Designed to cover high mileage on Britain’s growing motorway network, the front engine, rear-wheel drive chassis featured independent front suspension with anti-roll bars at each axle, powerful servo-assisted brakes and a gearstick angled backwards towards the driver. It remains a surprisingly modern-feeling car to drive, even almost 40 years after launch. Launch engines comprised 69bhp 1.6-litre and 89bhp 1.9-litre petrols, available in a choice of two and four-door saloons and a three-box coupe. A 1.3-litre petrol, producing 58bhp and only available in the entry-level L trim, arrived with the start of production in Luton in 1977, and the 1.9 was upgraded to a 100bhp 2.0-litre in 1978.

44 / fleetworld.co.uk

That same year, Vauxhall added the three-door Sports Hatch to the range, based on the equivalent Manta. Shorter than the saloon, it had a flexible luggage area with folding rear seats and was the only body style which was available with the top GLS trim level and the fleet-favourite 1.6-litre petrol engine. The 1980 model year also introduced a 1600 GL, aimed at capturing potential low-spec Capri buyers. The fleet market remained core to the Cavalier’s success and, with a smaller model range overall, trim levels had to cater for a wide selection of customers. A 2000 GLS brought high performance and equipment levels to the upper echelons management in 1980, complete with a vinyl roof, bridging the gap with the larger Carlton. Value-focused 1600 and 2000 LS models were added the same year, featuring useful creature comforts such as a radio, trip computer and velour seats above the basic L. Vauxhall claimed £300 savings for operators per car over a 60,000-mile life cycle thanks to its low purchase price and maintenance costs, plus high residuals and fuel economy. Production ended in 1981. It was the last uppermedium Vauxhall to feature rear-wheel drive, and the last to be sold alongside Opel in Continental markets. It departed the range having established Vauxhall as a key player in the fleet sector, and set out the stall for subsequent Vectra and Insignia models to continue to do so.

*sales figures from the SMMT

Teaming safer cars with safer drivers Bringing together Volvo’s expertise in safer cars and Fleet21’s know-how with safer drivers, a new initiative could help local businesses improve the safety of their business drivers and reduce the cost of crashes. olvo has always had a pre-eminent reputation for building the safest cars on the road. Now, in a new partnership with Fleet21 – one of the UK’s leading driver risk management consultancies – Volvo customers can benefit from safer drivers too. Whilst the latest Volvos, including the new V40, offer a raft of vehicle safety and driver assistance innovations, Volvo recognises that driver education is also essential in reducing crashes – which is where Fleet21 comes in. Under the new initiative, local businesses buying or leasing their first new Volvo for the business will receive the Co-PilotTM Employer’s ‘Business Driver Compliance Toolkit’ from Fleet21. Worth £495, this toolkit will help lower your fleet costs and reduce collisions as well as helping to ensure your compliance with corporate manslaughter legislation. The Co-PilotTM pack includes a comprehensive driver policy written by fleet-specialist legal experts – an essential tool for setting out the standards of behaviour required of drivers. And with employers having a duty of care for any employee driving on company time for business purposes, the pack also includes the firm’s first driving licence check for each driver, which is made directly against the DVLA database. Also included is an online driver risk profile tool that shows any areas where they are at risk and essential facts and figures on important issues such as speed and braking to help educate your drivers on some of the more common issues of high-risk driving. Addressing the need for accurate record keeping, the toolkit also includes template forms for your drivers to sign their acceptance of the new policy and handbook, and a written employer risk assessment as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Employer’s perspective From the employer’s point of view, using the Compliance Toolkit will help take care of your essential legal obligations in this vital area of occupational safety and help your drivers be more alert to the risks of driving on business. Benefits include: • Lower fleet management costs including accident repair and low speed damage • Lower insurance payments through a reduced risk profile • Lower hidden accident costs such as sick leave, hire cars and damaged goods • Lower fuel consumption and emissions as a result of smoother driving • Lower stress levels among your drivers and reduced incidence of high risk And all this comes in addition to the knowledge that your drivers are behind the wheel of Volvo cars fitted with the latest safety systems, which have reduced crashes for some fleet customers by over 30% and reduced associated accident costs by a staggering 65%. To get your Employer’s ‘Business Driver Compliance Toolkit’ all you have to do is buy or lease the first new Volvo car for your fleet. For more information call the Volvo Car Business Centre on 08444 905209, email them at vcbc@volvocars.com or visit www.volvocars.co.uk/business

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MPG MARATHON 2014

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave MPG marathon 2014

MPG Marathon promoting smarter driving for better business

8 – 9 October 2014. Four Pillars Waterpark, nr Cirencester.

We want YOU!!

FUEL prices have seldom been far from the top of every fleet’s agenda. It’s a cost nobody can ignore, but the combination of fuel-efficient cars, advanced fuels, route planning technology and ecodriving skills means that fuel is a cost that can be managed. The MPG Marathon is a live demonstration of how both vehicle and driver can make a massive difference to fuel costs and emissions. Now in its fourteenth year, the MPG Marathon pits teams of contestants together over a two-day event to push for the best fuel economy.

This year's event will be based at the Four Pillars Waterpark Hotel, South Cerney, near Cirencester, on Wednesday 8th October – Thursday 9th October 2014. Previous competitors have included everyone from celebrities, academics and motoring journalists to senior figures in the automotive industry, with coverage across regional and national press.

Visit thempgmarathon.co.uk for more info...

46 / fleetworld.co.uk

MPG marathon 2014

NOW Visit the website thempgmarathon.co.uk and register to drive in the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier economy driving event, for FREE! in association with

fleetworld.co.uk / 47

DIARY DATE

SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

21ST MAY 2015

To find out more about Fleet Show 2015, call +44 (0) 1727 739160, email info@thefleetshow.co.uk or visit www.thefleetshow.co.uk

ROAD TRIP Insignia ecoFLEX

Now this is range anxiety Nobody can drive 1,000 miles to Germany and back on one tank of fuel, can they? We sent Alex Grant across Europe in a Vauxhall Insignia, armed with only travel sweets and a light right foot.

ยก fleetworld.co.uk / 51

ROAD TRIP Insignia ecoFLEX

‘

A thousand miles, on one tank?,’ the man at the petrol station counter smirked, handing me a folded VAT receipt. ‘Hope you’ve got breakdown cover ready - you’ve got no chance.’ I had a little more faith in the task ahead than he did, but not much. If fuel economy claims sound too good to be true, there’s frequently a reason for it, and on paper at least Vauxhall’s refreshed Insignia is nothing if not ambitious. Its subtle design update last year tackled a number of D-sector criticisms head on. List prices came down, discounts were removed, new equipment made an appearance and, most importantly, the two most popular engines for leets dipped under 100g/km for the irst time. At 76.3mpg, the pair of 2.0-litre diesel engines are frugal enough to give the Insignia the longest range in its class without resorting to downsizing, hybrid technology, wacky wind tunnel design, or stripping equipment. You even get a full-size spare wheel in the boot. In theory, that means you can ill the

52 / fleetworld.co.uk

Insignia’s 70-litre tank and travel 1,175 miles before grinding to a fuel-starved halt. Enough for us to travel from Vauxhall’s head of ice in Luton, to sister brand Opel’s headquarters in Rüsselsheim, just outside Frankfurt, and arrive back at the start point with range to spare. Big news for a car which will do most of its work on the motorway. In theory. In practice, though, it has to be able to do this without needing to hypermile. Time is a precious commodity for business drivers and a 56mph motorway trip is a good way to add unnecessary hours to the working day. So in the spirit of real world driving, we’d set the car the additional challenge of covering the return journey without modi ications, without coasting downhill, slipstreaming or driving at abnormally low speeds. Our car had come straight from Vauxhall’s business demonstrator leet, and had spent the last 2,500 miles being run in at the hands of potential corporate customers up and down the UK. However, concern number one: the indicated range when brimmed was 690 miles, which if true

Getting the most out of an Insignia Small wheels – the new 16-inch alloy wheels introduced last year not only improve real-world economy, but they’re good for ride quality too. Tyre pressures – Vauxhall has two recommendations for tyre pressures. We used the Eco setting, adding 0.5 bar to the front and 0.6 bar to the rear compared to Comfort. Speed limiter – most core leet cars include a speed limiter as part of the cruise control system. We set ours to 70mph, the UK motorway limit, and maintained it. Air conditioning – with the ventilation system on, we were able to keep the air conditioning switched off and stay comfortable.

‘With the display reading 74mpg, “surely this is going to be easy” we laughed. We were to be proved wrong.’

would mean rolling gently and incongruously to a halt on an Autobahn verge somewhere on the way back. My only hope was that the computer was used to test drives being carried out at more pace than we were planning. We illed the tank thoroughly in Luton and my lack of con idence was short-lived. Recent improvements to the Insignia’s aerodynamics were showing up in near nonexistent wind noise, and the new 16-inch alloy wheels were smoothing the rougher bits of the British motorway network. With the Insignia refusing to break the 70mph limit I’d set, we’d reached the Channel Tunnel showing an indicated 72mpg. Coquelles brought the day’s second coffee, and ive minutes to set the navigation for Rüsselsheim. The irst section of the route through Belgium was to be vital. Contrasting the undulating motorways of southern England, the Belgian A10 highway casts a roughly surfaced but lat, straight route towards Brussels and the needle continued to climb, reaching 75mpg around Brugge and barely dipping as we

crept through roadwork-induced traf ic. Sixth gear was the perfect tool for the job, and at 70mph just outside the peak torque, but with the still large capacity engine allowing it to waft along with barely any input from the turbocharger and no need to downshift. We reached a rest point at Dutch-German border with the display reading 74mpg, feeling relaxed but in need of caffeine and fresh air. Surely this was going to be easy, we laughed. We were to be proved wrong. The Autobahns showed up just how slow our UK speed limit is compared to Europe. Crossing the border into the steep inclines of the Eifel mountains, our limited 70mph meant thorough checks of the rear-view mirror to avoid being wiped out by the high speed convoy of German executive saloons in the outside lane, while the sun set behind us. But it’s a safe and relaxing way to travel. Highlightyed by our third traf ic jam of the day, caused by a BMW 3 Series spinning off the carriageway under heavy braking in the wet, barrelling onto its roof at the start of a section of roadworks.

fleetworld.co.uk / 53

ROAD TRIP Insignia ecoFLEX

Heading for home... The Insignia rolled into Rüsselsheim at 10:30pm, with ache-free occupants keen for a rest after the hours of concentration. The Insignia tinked gently in the underground car park, showing just over a third of a tank was missing and an average of 73mpg over the irst 484 miles. Enough to make the return journey look simple, even with a detour into Opel headquarters the following day. A car park lined with Insignias awaited us at Adam Opel Haus the following morning. The company’s glass-and-metal clad headquarters form a small part of a site over half the area of Monaco, where its founder began building sewing machines in 1862, and almost 110,000 Insignias leave the factory here each year. A small hint of the importance Opel places on its lagship car. I had a brief three hours to take in the facility and meet Opel leet boss Ian Hucker, before beginning a time-conscious trip back to our scheduled Eurotunnel crossing that evening. Driving steadily on the way over had made the journey a relaxed one, with no concerns about straying over unfamiliar speed limits or collecting ines.

54 / fleetworld.co.uk

When your goals are individual, the solution must be too

Consulting

business.cap.co.uk/consulting 0113 223 2111

@CAPAutomotive

• Bespoke technology solutions • Residual value optimisation • Brand and portfolio management • Market analysis • Risk avoidance strategy

ROAD TRIP Insignia ecoFLEX

for home... ¡ Heading The return journey had a deadline, but with a little restraint we left feeling con ident that we could get back to our start point. Belgium had other ideas. With the clock ticking down to our train crossing, the Brussels ring road had choked on a combination of pre-rush hour traf ic and an accident, and the Insignia’s navigation diverted us into the city centre. This was a gamble, and it didn’t pay off. We rolled into 90 minutes of gridlocked traf ic, roadworks and every-driver-forthemselves aggressiveness that we couldn’t contend with while maintaining a steady right foot. Frustrating, but we were powerless. No amount of aerodynamic upgrades, clever gearing or engine tuning can mask the damage done getting the Insignia’s bulk moving in bumper-tobumper stop-start traf ic. Short of pushing the car we were short of options other than simply watching hours of hard work ebb away. By the time we reached a service station just outside the city, the all-

important average economy igure had dropped below 70mpg for the irst time and the weather was starting to turn. That valuable economy-boosting section through West Belgium and Northern France did us no favours either, the trees craning backwards in a strong headwind and the wipers roaring up and down the windscreen with the additional drag. Unsurprisingly, our economy continued to slump all the way back to Coquelles. By the time we parked on the train, the gauge was showing 67mpg – a disappointing place to be after such a promising start, but Luton was still within reach. On the positive side, Brussels had pushed our repatriation back beyond the rush hour and the motorways were clear, even through the dreaded Dartford crossing. Without the headwind, our economy igure was beginning to climb again, and as we passed the M11 junction of the M25, the dashboard inally told us that we should be looking for a fuel station soon. We’d covered 933 miles. I could sympathise. With eight hours

of travel under my belt, refuelling was on my agenda too. The tiredness had started to materialise in clammy oxygen-starved palms, uncontrollable slow yawns and dry eyes that no amount of mineral water could cure. But, with over 100 miles of range left, the detour around the two closed M1 junctions into Luton didn’t become much of a concern. A different, but similarly perplexed, fuel station attendant greeted us in Luton, where the Insignia took just over 64 litres of fuel on board, equating to around 69mpg. I paid up, we checked again and with a gurgle the tank belched out one last gasp of air. Another 1.7 litres disappeared down the iller neck, bringing it back to an unshakable brim. It had breezed it. With two adults, 30kg of photography gear, a headwind and Brussels traf ic against us, the Insignia had not only got us back to Luton with range to spare, but it had made it look easy. We’d averaged 67.8mpg over 986.2 miles, enough to cover an incredible 1,050 miles on one tank of diesel, and all without relying on a breakdown truck.

Building the Insignia Opel has built cars in Rüsselsheim since 1899, and the plant now has 3,300 employees on two lines building 800 cars per day, of which 300 are Insignias and the remainder are Astras. The plant handles 70,000 parts per hour, of which 70% are sourced from Europe, and each Insignia takes 20 hours to build.

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Insignia significance

James Taylor, fleet sales director at Vauxhall, explains the importance of the Insignia in a diversifying market, and how the new 98g/km engine will make a significant difference.

verall Insignia’s about 10% of our sales, and of increasing importance, it’s 18% of our fleet sales, and 35% of our true fleet sales. It’s our most important car within the userchooser segment. The upper medium segment has dropped, but Insignia shares have either stayed the same or increased. We predict the segment will plateau out because of new model introductions and, with Insignia at 98g/km, there’s less need to downsize, so that should stabilise the segment as well. It had a very good reputation for durability, reliability and real-world fuel economy. The feedback we took on board was a radical change in the P11d pricing, so from a tax point of view coupled with the 98g/km engine that made a significant difference. Critically you’ve now got a mainstream model with lower CO2 than some of the premium cars. Our true fleet order take is up about 50% old to new car, so undoubtedly I think we’ve got it right.

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ROAD TRIP Insignia ecoFLEX

‘It had breezed it. With two adults, 30kg of photography gear, a headwind and Brussels traffic against us, the Insignia had not only got us back to Luton with range to spare, but it had made it look easy.’ Our trip in numbers 5 countries 4 traffic jams 8 roadside coffees 4 stale Belgian sandwiches 124 M&Ms 2 days 1 tank of fuel 67.8 mpg average 986.2 miles covered

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Itâ&#x20AC;Ś is about being local and global. Now operating throughout Europe and the UK, ARI is known and trusted by fleet management decision-makers worldwide to streamline operations and control cost. We know that every company has unique fleet challenges. We meet complexity with tailored solutions. We dig deeper and go farther to unlock your fleet performance with sustainable business solutions. Across the globe, across the country, across your town our fleet management expertise is around the corner. Learn more about ARI professional fleet management services: 0844 8000 700 www.arifleet.co.uk

FEATURE Fleet Mobility

Managing a mobile workforce How can you keep control of a disparate fleet? Trimble has produced a report looking at how to manage a mobile workforce with fleet software. FW looks at the highlights.

anaging a ield service operation in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marketplace is not an easy feat and businesses managing a large mobile workforce face an increasing number of challenges around its people, the work management, assets, tools and vehicles. There are many elements that need to come together, barriers that need to be overcome and steps that need to be taken in order to execute a perfect workday. Jobs may run into overtime if they are more complicated than irst thought, emergency work may come in which changes the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule, or traf ic congestion and vehicle breakdown can cause delays or failure to meet an appointment. Additionally, with workers potentially calling in sick, starting late or getting delayed; all these factors can impact adversely on the productivity of the workforce. With much ield-based work becoming increasingly complex and critical in

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terms of timing, skills and consequence more importantly than ever companies need to ensure that their ield service is not derailed by unpredictable dynamics of the working day. It is therefore perhaps no surprise that in a recent survey by The Service Council, the biggest area of concern for those in ield service is workforce management. Nearly half of organisations also highlighted their interest in investments in ield service in the next 12-24 months, and companies with a strong grasp of the fundamentals of workers, technology, data, and execution, stand to outpace the competition and boost pro its. According to Aberdeen Group, companies that adopt these elements are also more likely to achieve the goals that top the list of priorities for ield organisations. Of the ield organisations polled by Aberdeen for its Field Service 2013 Workforce Management Guide, 56% cited increasing revenue as a

strategic goal, while 52% and 45% cited improving customer satisfaction and increasing productivity respectively as strategic goals. Developments in workforce management technologies have come to the fore with solutions able to transform the way in which work is performed, through intelligent scheduling tools and advanced performance analytics. This capability provides the stepping stones needed to help organisations measure, manage and improve their operations through optimising resources, offering real-time visibility and monitoring and giving warning of tasks at risk or showing the impact of work allocation decisions. In a recent survey carried out by Trimble with managers working in ield service roles, being able to make real-time decisions based on the information received was the priority for those managing ield based operations with regard to using information from the ield.

in association with With over 50 years of fuel card expertise, the euroShell card can give you greater control, convenience and security to overall save fleet managers money! The euroShell card is accepted at an extensive (and growing) 3,500 stations across the UK which includes Shell, Esso, Texaco and Total sites. The euroShell card information management system enables fleet managers to have: • Control amongst their whole fleet • Access to secure online invoicing • Simple card management (with options to select card PINs) • Generate bespoke smart alerts ...and more!

‘Drivers are provided with real-time feedback about their driving behaviour so they can make immediate changes to their driving style.’ John Gavin, project and standards lead for operations support, Shred-it

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MANAGING THE FLEET For any business running a mobile workforce with a leet operation, the challenges can be multiple and complex. One key element in addressing these issues and achieving an ef icient, effective workforce is having complete visibility of your operation so you can start to see the problems, trends, gaps and opportunities. No business can manage what it’s not measuring and having visibility is a fundamental step in determining this. Vehicle Utilisation Improved vehicle utilisation means increased ef iciencies and reduced operating costs and technology which provides visibility into the location and use of vehicles means more informed decisions can be made in the planning and allocation of work across a leet. Aberdeen Group reported improvements of 32% on vehicle utilisation through the use of leet management technology, for example. Audits can be run daily on vehicles to compare their use and the leet manager is then able to pick up on any vehicles that are being under-used and which vehicles aren’t being used at all.

Driver Safety Businesses have a responsibility to ensure they are providing drivers with the means to operate safely. In addition, careless driving has signi icant costs. Many businesses look to online and practical driver training to help teach best practice and regular benchmarking and rewarding of the best drivers has also delivered great results. Driver safety solutions have risen to the challenge by providing analysis of driver behaviour to identify those drivers in need of training. By targeting those with the worst driving record, it is easy to take corrective action, resulting in fewer accidents and reduced liability therefore helping to manage the risks and costs associated with work-related driving. Changing Driving Style CASE STUDY ‘We were particularly impressed by the driver safety in-vehicle hardware that alerts drivers to behaviours outside set guidelines,’ says John Gavin, project and standards lead for operations support at Shred-it, the world’s largest mobile secure document and paper shredding company. ‘They are provided with real-time feedback about their driving behaviour so they can make immediate changes to their driving style. This has proven beneficial to accurately measure and mitigate fleet safety risks and we have seen a difference. Our drivers have slowed down in regards to speeding and we have seen an increase in driver score.’

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FEATURE Fleet Mobility in association with

Vehicle Maintenance Regular servicing and ef icient management of vehicles help to extend the asset’s life and vehicle diagnostic solutions take routine maintenance checks a step further by providing information about the engine health before they become a major problem. Information can also identify how a vehicle is being driven and provide realtime data on fuel consumption, so exact fuel use can be monitored helping identify where fuel is being wasted on poorly performing vehicles.

Fuel Saving CASE STUDY

Fuel Management With the continuing volatility of crude oil prices across the globe and the related unpredictable fuel pricing, fuel continues to be a major concern in meeting ield service priorities. Field service companies can’t stop using their vehicles, so looking at steps to reduce fuel use is essential for any business to remain competitive. By monitoring driver activities it is possible to determine where fuel consumption can be reduced to cut overall fuel spend. Aberdeen Group reported that leet management technology can reduce fuel consumption by up to 22% as businesses are able to optimise schedules and route planning, helping to reduce unnecessary mileage and improve fuel ef iciency and driver pro iciency.

Animal welfare charity, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) recently deployed leet management solutions across its leet and the charity calculated that it could save 80,000 litres (21,134 gallons) in fuel annually. CO2 emissions have also been reduced with the RSPCA estimating a saving of 60,500kg (133,380lb) after using the information from trip reports that detail fuel use based on travel and idling times. Tom Gorman, president of OPXL, llc and a ield service expert, comments: ‘At our company one of our goals was cutting fuel costs and we coached supervisors on how to reduce idling. Typically when a technician inished a job, they got in their vehicle and turned on the engine for 15 minutes while illing out reports. At lunch, they might eat in the vehicle while the motor is running. These were habits that needed to change. ‘It was just a matter of raising awareness and once technicians became aware of the costs of idling, the idling went from two hours to 30 minutes a day. That was $1million saved across the leet of 1,100 vehicles.’

THE KEY IS INFORMATION, NOT DATA Essentially, technology is an enabler of change and through the information collected and analysis provided, stakeholders can use it in their day-to-day work. High-level trends and benchmarking can be used in performance management while real-time data means managers can make instant decisions based on robust and reliable intelligence.

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‘The RSPCA calculated it could save 80,000 litres of fuel annually, deplying fleet management solutions.’

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FEATURE Fleet Mobility in association with

Data roaming From autonomous driving to multi-modal planning, connected vehicles could make the mobile workforce of the future safer, more economical and more time-efficient too, as Alex Grant explains.

n April, the European Parliament voted in favour of legislation set to accelerate the roll-out of high-speed broadband both on land lines and to mobile devices. It means telecom operators will have to build fewer masts and dig fewer holes, but have access to existing infrastructure for a fair price, and is set to reduce costs by almost a third while enabling quicker installation. While this is useful for boosting the usability of the smartphone, it’s also vital for the future of connected cars, adding functions which go beyond internet radio, social media access, downloading destinations to navigation or checking the doors are locked via an app, which we are already familiar with. Safety is one of them. The eCall system, which automatically transmits location data via a cellular connection following a crash (and allows third parties to do so manually), will become mandatory from October 2015. Already itted to many new cars, all EU Member States will be required to put the supporting infrastructure in place in the meantime. Faster connectivity means cars can

Future promise... Projects such as Volvo’s SARTRE autonomous driving could signal the future for fleet mobility.

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have ready access to an unprecedented amount of data. BMW’s i3 electric car, for example, uses its on-board connection to offer multimodal navigation. It can then calculate routes utilising public transport, based on a database of departure times, if the traf ic ahead is too heavy. This can also allow cars to communicate with each other and their surroundings, removing the unpredictability of GPS, radar and laser-based systems in poor weather. The European Commission recently invested $25m (£20.3m) to help make this happen, beginning a 42-month project led by Volkswagen to develop vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-tovehicle communication. Known as AdaptiVE (Automated Driving Applications and Technologies for Intelligent Vehicles), the project includes a consortium of 29 vehicle manufacturers, component manufacturers and academic institutions. Its end goal is a fleet of seven cars and a truck which can take control of most functions on motorways, urban roads and in close-distance manoeuvres using a combination of data connections and on-board sensors.

On a smaller scale, the Volvo-backed SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project has already demonstrated how small groups of vehicles could form a “platoon” behind a professional driver, mimicking the leader’s actions which would be transmitted wirelessly. With as little as six metres between the vehicles, SARTRE is claiming up to 20% improvements in fuel economy as a result of reduced drag. There are synergies to be found with mobile data companies too. Renault and Orange unveiled the ZOE-based NEXT TWO prototype in February, which features a number of systems based on a 4G-LTE highspeed connection. It offers automated valet parking via a smartphone app, video calling and internet access through the dashboard while driving autonomously through urban traf ic, and can carry out multimodal route planning with the option to book train or bus tickets and parking. Although still at an early stage, connected cars have the potential to improve safety, aid traf ic low and fuel economy through automated driving and provide ef iciencies of time by helping to plan better. Promising signs for the future.

ACHIEVE MORE TOGETHER. Fleet management for better team and business performance WEBFLEET® is the easiest way to be informed about your vehicles. With WEBFLEET your drivers and office staff work closer together and everyone makes smarter decisions. That’s the key to happy customers, great governance and the ability to keep moving towards your business goals. Call 020 7255 9774 or E-mail business.uk@tomtom.com to request a free demonstration from Europe’s leading fleet management and vehicle tracking provider.

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FEATURE Residual Values

Heading for a fall? Two years of buoyant new car sales are likely to address the current problem of a dearth of quality used cars. As a result, residuals of fleet stock are likely to take a hit, as Julian Kirk reports.

leet cars going through the auctions are currently enjoying healthy prices thanks to a lack of decent quality stock for dealers to buy, but the good times in the remarketing area for corporates look set to become less rosy in the months ahead. Ex- leet stock (lease and contract hire vehicles) values at Manheim are currently around 4.1% up on the same period last year, despite a slight blip recently. The story is similar at rival BCA where ex- leet and lease car values are up 12% year-on-year. But good things always come to an end and opinion among the remarketing irms and price guides is that the market will begin to soften over the summer before dropping either late this year or early next year (the latter more probable due to the timing of the beginning of interest rate rises by the Bank of England – see right). April may have been a precursor to this, being a much tougher month than has been witnessed so far this year. BCA’s UK operations director, Simon Henstock, said: ‘With Easter typically representing a watershed in terms of demand, the market is now moving into a period over the summer months when we expect values to remain relatively lat. ‘Families are now thinking about paying for their summer holidays, and we still have the distractions of the football World Cup to come. History tells us these massive sporting events have notable if short-term effects on the retail sector and therefore impact on demand in the wholesale car market.’ Jon Mitchell, Autorola UK’s sales director, also expects the market to undergo a seasonal softening across the summer months. He added: ‘We still don’t feel that the volumes of good used cars coming into the market will be suf icient to experience a big fall in prices through autumn and winter. ‘2015 may see the turning point for the used market as it starts to cope with two strong years of new car sales that will be starting to reach the used market.’ And some of the vehicles returning to the market will cause particular problems because of their speci ication – leet-speci ic “business” models designed to lower tax liability for company car drivers but which may not appeal to private buyers wanting sporty or high-spec cars. Glass’s director of valuations and analysis, Richard Parkin, added: ‘In the medium term, increased latent demand for cars stimulated by economic growth will be insufficient to mop up what will be significant

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‘Growth in supply will principally come from fleets, as volumes created by part-exchanges are already present in the market.’

increases in supply, exceeding 10% in volume terms versus last year. ‘Growth in supply will principally come from leets, as volumes created by part-exchanges are already present in the market, and the new car sales generating part-exchanges are growing more slowly. However, increasing leet volumes are likely to produce a greater number of business speci ication vehicles. ‘The consequence of this is that values for such speci ications will fall but, once at a certain level, these will drag values for higher trim levels down a little as well as prospective used buyers see value. Volume marques may be even worse affected as more badge-conscious buyers ind that they can afford a basic speci ication car with a prestige marque, and so increasingly shy away from D-segment volume cars. ‘As a result, I would expect a changing landscape for used cars – whilst we don’t expect the overall average value of used cars to decline much, the changing mix may mask the real story.’ This point is echoed by CAP, which points to vehicles in several sectors coming under pressure due to increased volumes coming back from daily rental and manufacturer-forced registrations. It also points to an increase in PCP part-exchanges in the market (a form of inance which has soared in popularity thanks to huge support for deals by manufacturers). CAP’s Gold Book iQ senior editor, Dylan Setter ield, said: ‘It’s important to emphasise that the increase in PCP is not synonymous with new car sales growth. A lot of the growth in PCP is cannibalised from other sales channels, whether that be other credit options or outright purchase. Also, there is a fear that these vehicles will all come back in three years' time and some observers have been peddling scare stories to this effect. ‘The reality is that manufacturers are putting offers together on a wide range of durations and the vehicles will come back at different intervals. Most of them, if renewed with the same manufacturer, will come back at around 6-12 months before the scheduled contract end date and will form a staggered chain of used car supply. ‘We will see some increase in volumes coming back into the used market as a result of PCPs, but some of these would have been coming back into the used market anyway and we expect demand to be strong enough to cope with the additional increase in supply going forward.’

The wider economy he Bank of England has T signalled that it intends to keep interest rates at their record low of 0.5% until the irst quarter of 2015. While remaining conscious of the need to not derail the economic recovery and consumer con idence, most economists believe that small, gradual rate rises will commence around this time as the bank aims to meet the target of CPI in lation at 2% in two years’ time. Technically rates should already have begun to rise – new governor Mark Carney stated that once unemployment fell below 7% that would be the trigger for rises. Currently, unemployment stands at 6.9%, but that bank has reaf irmed that rates will not change until spring 2015. Falling unemployment is a further signal of improving economic conditions, allied to a booming housing market. The latter, however, is a cause for concern and is something the bank is looking at reining in. UK house prices grew by 10% in the year to March 2014 – returning to average levels last reached in precrash times of 2006. Importantly, growth has not just been limited to the London bubble – house prices rose by more than 5% in 10 of the UK’s 12 regions across that period. But while prices are rising, there has been a lull in market activity over the past few months – mortgage approvals were 10,000 a month down during the irst quarter on what the bank expected and this trend may continue with the advent of the more stringent lending criteria implemented in the Mortgage Market Review. There are also signs of a slowdown in the global economy – GDP in the US was lat over the irst quarter while in China it was slower than expected. Eurozone GDP only showed a slight increase and GDP in the UK at 0.8% in the irst quarter was lower than expected. All of which may impact on the used car buying decisions of the public in the months to come.

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SPECIAL FEATURE Fuel Management

in association with

Pump up the volume With fuel being the second biggest cost to many fleets, the issue of fuel costs is a perennial fleet concern. But recent developments in the fuel cards market have once again raised awareness of the fact that with the right controls in place, fuel costs can be contained and even reduced. In this special feature, we look at why fleets should use fuel cards and the many potential benefits to be gained.

ecent years have seen the price of petrol and diesel rocket and although short-term price wars bring some temporary relief, the price is set to stay high. Indeed events over the last month have reinforced how volatile fuel prices are as continued political instability with both Russia and Iran causes experts to predict knock-on effects. Meanwhile as the cost of fuel soars, so does the temptation for drivers to take advantage of employer fuel policies through fraudulent practices. For fleets, keeping these spiralling costs under control can be a real headache. But whilst fleets can’t control the fuel prices themselves, they can help minimise the impact of fuel price increases through a comprehensive fuel management programme. This includes key actions such as implementing greener cars as well as instructing drivers on using the cheapest local forecourts and steering clear of high-cost motorway fuel stations. However, one of the most effective solutions for managing both fuel costs and driver fuel fraud is the implementation of a fuel card scheme, which can not only help assess how vehicles are driven but also brings benefits including increased security and reduced administration.

WHY USE FUEL CARDS? FleetCor, which says it’s the UK’s leading fuel card company, explains the benefits of a fuel card programme. The fuel cards it offers are Allstar, the UK’s most popular and widely accepted fuel card, and Keyfuels which offers discounted diesel. FleetCor also owns The Fuelcard

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Company, the major card reseller offering a wide range of cost saving fuel cards for fleets of all sizes. As the UK’s largest provider, FleetCor is helping thousands of customers in business and public sector organisations to cut their fuel costs and improve efficiency. By applying the following advice, companies can use less fuel, reduce misuse, save money and be more efficient: Saving money by reducing administration costs Administration is cut dramatically by using fuel cards. For example, without fuel cards – with pay and reclaim – there is the cost of administration time to process each claim, repay the employee, get senior management sign-off and file the records for tax purposes. A fuel card does away with all this and means a single data report and one invoice for all drivers and their journeys – all prepared to be HMRC-compliant for easy VAT reclaim. For many of Allstar’s customers, saving costly administration time is just as important as low-cost fuel. Kavi Shergill, who runs Shergill Couriers Ltd in Wolverhampton, has seen an

administration transformation through moving to a single-card solution: ‘In the past, we spent a lot of time following up drivers’ paperwork and chasing receipts. Once we switched to one card, Allstar, we quickly realised it would increase efficiency, saving time and money for both drivers and employees in the back office.’ At Allied Pharmacies, which has 45 pharmacies across England and Wales, Ammar Nazir shared a similar experience: ‘Previously we had three or four fuel cards with countless individual receipts to process. Allstar provides one weekly invoice for multiple card users and consolidated reports and this has made our company more efficient. For us this is crucial as we prefer to concentrate on running our core business, managing our fleet using as little time as possible.’ Play your cards right to pay less for fuel Using the right fuel card can help fleet managers pay less for fuel at the pump per litre. For example, Allstar offers a programme called Allstar Premier Programme (APP) which provides drivers with two cards, one for the regular Allstar network and one which they can use in 1,700 network outlets across the country that offer lower-cost diesel. This scheme realises significant cost savings – up to four pence per litre. For an average fleet of 100 vehicles this can mean savings of up to £6,000 per year. It also has the advantage that although drivers have two cards, fleet managers receive just one invoice and one report, giving a consolidated view of that driver’s fuel spend. Allstar also offers its Supermarket Card, which can be used at all the UK’s four major supermarket chains – but not

10 VAT INVOICE

Things your fuel card should give you. Fuel cards help save you time and money & offer a variety of benefits, but are you getting everything you should be? Here are the top 10 things a fuel card should give you. How many are you getting? Allstar’s Tony Hobbs investigates.

100% VAT Compliance

Accurate reporting

Fuel cards make it easier to claim VAT back. You should get an itemised, HMRC approved, VAT invoice without the need to keep receipts or log transactions manually. The invoices should show exactly what has been purchased, when and where it was purchased including the type of fuel and the cost of each transaction with the VAT breakdown.

This should be quick and easy, you should be able to access your transaction data any time you want and schedule reports to save you time. You shouldn’t be spending your time checking that your staff have handed in all their receipts and that they match what you have in your spreadsheet. You should have confidence in the data your fuel card provider gives you and you should be able to use this data to save your business money and avoid you falling out with HMRC.

Control of your fuel purchases

You should be able to lock down your fuel cards to certain purchase options. This could be diesel only, fuel only or fuel and specific vehicle related goods like oil. These purchase restrictions give you greater control over what your drivers buy and help keep your costs down. It also gives you the peace of mind that you staff aren’t hiding things like their lunch or chocolate bars in their fuel expense claims.

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Staff benefits

Fuel cards are designed to make life easier for everyone involved, and that includes your staff. Make sure their fuel card is easy to use and if they claim for business mileage, make sure they don’t have to spend hours filing their expenses each month. Let your fuel card do the work for them, it should collate all their transactions and link into your expenses system automatically.

A tailored solution

One size doesn’t fit all. Your fuel card supplier should be able to offer you a range of fuel card products. Some businesses are more suited to a locked down network of low price, local fuel stations, other fleets need the flexibility of a nationwide network – and a lot of businesses need both.

Free extras

Access to the right fuel stations

Some additional services might cost you money, but there are some you should expect as part of the package. These include reporting on fuel usage, mileage reporting & tracking, online account management and access to 24/7, helpful customer service.

Savings

Fuel cards should save you money – it’s one of the main reasons people choose to use them. Whether it’s savings made by making your fleet more efficient (limiting deviation off route by offering a large & convenient fuelling network) or a saving per litre (offering access to lower cost fuel stations or fixing the fuel price), or a reduced administrative burden, your fuel card should reduce your business costs.

If there’s anything else you think you don’t know about what Allstar could do for you, please call us on 0845 266 5101 or visit www.allstarcard.co.uk

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The network of fuel stations you use should work for you and for your drivers. It should offer the right balance of easy access for your staff and the right fuel cost for your business. Make sure you are using a fuel card network not a credit card network. That way you will get all the information you need to be certain that your drivers are only purchasing what they should be and that you can claim back all your VAT.

More than just a card

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Your fuel card supplier should be able to offer you extra products to make your business more efficient. Look for systems that link into your fuel card, such as vehicle rental & expenses systems.

An easier life for you

Your fuel card should make your day a little easier. You should be able to easily and accurately report on your business fuel usage, you shouldn’t have to worry about your staff filling up your vehicles, or their private vehicles and you shouldn’t spend hours poring over receipts to make sure you claim all of your VAT back. You should be using a fuel card that simplifies your admin tasks and saves your business money.

SPECIAL FEATURE Fuel Management

in association with

Pump up the volume... ¡

at other fuel outlets. Allstar’s Supermarket Card is accepted at a combined network of over 1,000 sites nationwide including Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Tesco. The card ensures that drivers only fill up at lowcost supermarket sites where prices can be between 10 and 15p per litre lower than motorway and oil-branded forecourts. Using fuel cards to reduce the risk of fraud, influence driver behaviour and cut waste Fuel cards make it easier to reduce fraud and employee misuse. For example, one notoriously difficult area to control is the split between business and personal mileage claims. The Allstar card comes with Business Mileage Monitoring (BMM) software that automatically calculates personal and business mileage to provide HMRCcompliant data for precise reimbursement, reporting and payment of taxes to HMRC. Then there is the cost of wasted fuel caused by people driving overly long distances to fill up. Evidence from many parts of the fleet business shows that fleet managers and drivers routinely underestimate the cost of drivers travelling even short distances out of their way to refuel at specified outlets. Allstar card users have an app showing the nearest, cheapest locations to refuel, which enables them to be efficient about detours for filling up. Also, there is the cost of allowing drivers to select which fuel stations to use. For example, a driver using high-cost service station outlets could be spending far more per transaction than they would using a fuel card such as Allstar’s Supermarket Card that limits where spending could take place. Single reporting of all fuel purchases allocated to specific vehicle registration plates also makes it easier to spot fraudulent spending patterns and behaviour. These are examples of how fuel cards and the data they provide equip fleet managers with valuable insights. Using this information allows managers to direct driver behaviour in ways that save fuel costs without sacrificing convenience for employees on the road.

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A FUEL CARD... The FuelCard People debunks the common myths about fuel cards and reviews what fleets should look for in a provider.

leet management means financial challenges, with unavoidable costs and few options for savings. Fuel, a frequent purchase and a major expenditure item, is an area where tight cost control is essential. Some fleet managers might question how fuel cost control is possible. In believing that paying forecourt prices is inevitable, they could hardly be more wrong. The only bigger mistake than refuelling at forecourt prices is to pay pump price, plus a refuelling fee. This is why fuel cards were invented, which every fleet should use as a matter of routine. The convenience of paperless, administration-free refuelling across nationwide networks is well understood. Where some fleet managers go wrong is in assuming that fuel cards are all the same. There are real differences between them and every brand of fuel card offers its own particular benefits. The key thing to remember is that the whole point is to save money. You should never use a fuel card that does not offer discounts, for reasons that should be obvious. Consider any major brand and ask yourself how rare its filling stations are. Seriously, are Shell forecourts, or Esso or any other brand, a rarity? This red herring, peddled by nondiscount fuel card suppliers, can be dismissed as nonsense. With the right fuel card, expect typical savings of up to 4p per litre on average pump prices, wherever the refuelling takes place. With such savings available, just paying pump prices would be ridiculous. Even worse, some suppliers then add transaction charges. If a supplier does not offer significant per-litre discounting, or expects you to pay £2 extra per transaction regardless of the quantity pumped, move on. They will not save you money. To find the right fuel card, simply talk to a supplier that covers every major fuel brand, with coverage of independents, motorway services and even supermarkets. They should be offering discounts as routine, with a guarantee of no additional transaction charges. In an ideal world, your supplier should also offer emissions monitoring, mileage recording and automated fleet management services. Having reduced the cost per litre to a minimum, your next aim is to reduce the quantity of fuel needed. With services to aid management of driver behaviour, reduce journey lengths and optimise vehicle fuel efficiency, there is no reason to accept your current consumption as inevitable. Controlling your fuel costs can be simple. You just need to talk to the right people.

GOLF DIARY DATE! Thursday 23rd October 2014 To enter a team in the Fleet World Cup of Golf, call 01727 739160 or email ross@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

VENUE The Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Park Epsom

fleetworld.co.uk / 71

FEATURE Taxation & Funding

Part 4

Pivot tables Professor Colin Tourick continues to unlock the magic of Excel pivot tables. TABLE 1 3 4

Sum of Cost £ Row labels

AAG

FIN

KLL

KRE

LOP

PES

PPO

Total

Pivot Table Field List

Column Labels Bodywork

Engine

Exhaust

Interior damage

Missing key

Missing part

456

Tyres

Wheel

654 120

325

555

2047

136

642

198 1391

1170

1110 135

555

1286

227

490 365

1631

TABLE 2 Pivot Table Field List

Choose fields to add to report: Date Reg No Driver Name

Department Ref Model

Damage Cost £ Drag fields between area below: Report Filter

Column Filter Department Ref

Row Labels Damage

72 / fleetworld.co.uk

Values Count of Cost £

2933

555

1286

1523

511 4272

245

2402

2627

Choose fields to add to report: Date Reg No

1888 313

198

Grand Total

448

Driver Name

Department Ref

245

Model

490

Damage

11143

n this series we have been assuming you are a fleet manager looking at a spreadsheet listing the endof-contract damage charges your contract hire company has invoiced over recent years. Last month we saw how you could use a pivot table to calculate the average recharge cost that each department had incurred and a summary of recharges by type of cost. If you have been following this series from the start and have not already done so, try experimenting with the Pivot Table Field List and seeing what happens. Just see what happens when you choose different fields to add to the report. Drag these between the Column Labels, Row Labels or Values fields. Click the dropdown button in Values and change the instruction from Sum to Count or Average or one of the other options. In some cases the results you produce will be gibberish but in other cases you will gain valuable new insights from your data.

Cost £ Drag fields between area below: Report Filter

Column Filter Department Ref

Row Labels Damage

Values Sum of Cost £

Whilst it’s great to be able to use pivot tables to produce new tables of information, sometimes your results would be better presented as a chart – perhaps a bar chart or a pie chart – rather than a spreadsheet. A picture speaks a thousand words. Fortunately, Excel produces all manner of charts directly from pivot table results. For example, let’s say you used a pivot table to show the total cost of different types of recharge, by department. You’d have produced this pivot table (Table 1) by including Damage (in column labels), Department Ref (in row labels) and Sum of Cost (in Values).

TABLE 4

TABLE 3 Sum of Cost £

Count of Cost £

4500

Wheel

4000

Tyres Missing part

3500

Missing key Interior damag

3000

Exhaust Engine

2500

Bodywork

Tyres

Missing part Missing key

Interior damage 7

Exhaust Engine

Bodywork

5 2000

4 1500

1000

500

1 0

0 AAG

FIN

KLL

KRE

LOP

Department Ref

Now just click Insert > Column > Stacked Column In 3D and you’ll get this rather elegant result as seen in Table 3. Your eye is instantly drawn to some significant information. Four areas of cost account for a significant proportion of all recharge costs: department FIN has been charged for lots of interior damage and department FIN incurred a lot of cost because of missing parts, and damage to exhausts and bodywork. By just showing this chart to the heads of those departments they’ll instantly see that there is an issue. You can gain further insight by changing the Values field from Sum of Cost to Count of Cost, which gives the result in Table 4.

PES

PPO

AAG

FIN

KLL

KRE

LOP

PES

PPO

Department Ref

Excel offers many different charts for you to choose from. So, rather than use the 3D column chart above you might prefer to present the cost results in 3D columns. Insert > Column > 3D Column delivers a different result. We have been using a very short list of recharged costs to produce these pivot tables and charts but it’s worthwhile remembering that Excel would deliver instant results if we were analysing a list containing thousands or even hundreds of thousands of items. Pivot tables and pivot charts are very powerful tools.

INDUSTRY VIEWPOINT Whilst it’s great to be able to use pivot tables to produce new tables of information, sometimes your results would be better presented as a chart.

fleetworld.co.uk / 73

MANAGEMENT UK Fleet Forum

UK connecting the UK’s fleet community

Join the

~ Formerly Fleet Academy

Are increases in magistrates’ court fine limits draconian? Natalie Middleton, Business Editor, Fleet World

Fleet World magazine’s UK Fleet Forum – formerly Fleet Academy – provides a forum where fleet industry experts can exchange views on a wide range of topics, from taxation to speeding fines. At the heart of the UK Fleet Forum is a team of fleet professionals who play a key role in the industry, either as fleet managers, consultants or fleet suppliers. These fleet experts provide a regular feed of information that is posted on the website forum in the form of discussion topics. Typical areas of interest include, but are not limited to: taxation, finance and accounting, legislation, environmental issues, fleet safety, insurance, fleet management, supply issues and security. Fleet suppliers are permitted to respond to queries if it is felt that their response represents honest and impartial advice. This aspect of the service is strictly moderated in order to ensure that the quality of information provided remains of the highest standard. We have already attracted a strong network of fleet professionals, and our expert contributors have submitted a number of thought provoking discussion topics, a few of which are previewed to the right. We hope you will consider joining us in this exciting new venture into the world of fleet. To find out more about the UK Fleet Forum and request membership, please visit:

theukfleetforum.co.uk

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The recent announcement of new maximum fines available to magistrates has caused concern for motoring and fleet groups, but I can’t help wondering if they’ve missed the point. Announced by Justice Minister Jeremy Wright, the proposed new fines form part of wide-ranging reforms to the penalties that can be imposed by magistrates. The four-fold increase in maximum fines available to magistrates means that the maximum fine for speeding on motorways could rise to £10k whilst maximum fines for breaking the limit on dual carriageways and other roads would rise from £1,000 to £4,000, along with the maximum fine for using a mobile telephone at the wheel. Yet the measures have been branded draconian by the boss of fleet management firm OVL Group, who says the Government needs to look again at the balance between endorsement and enforcement when it comes to cutting road deaths. Martin Wedge, MD of the Oxfordshire-based group, said: ‘The Government is thinking of higher penalties – up to £10,000 for speeding and unlimited fines for drink driving, but this is putting the cart before the horse. Road deaths, according to the IAM, cost the UK economy £16bn per year. But solving the problem through longer training and education is a more sustainable way of reducing that cost than any quick – fix large fines – those that cannot readily be paid and will cost the courts thousands of pounds to enforce. ‘Let us instead look more at a model that better balances endorsement of good driving and enforcement of existing laws against bad behaviour behind the wheel.’ Meanwhile Edmund King, president of the Automobile Association, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘We would not condone excessive speeding in any way but fines have to be proportionate to the offence and one has to question whether increasing the fines four-fold is proportionate, and it probably is not. ‘If we had more cops in cars on the motorway that would be a much more effective deterrent.’ He has a point to be honest, we can talk all day about effective deterrents – but the fact is that, just like with last year’s introduction of on-the-spot fines for careless driving, we’ll need more cops in cars just to catch the perpetrators in the first place. Otherwise it’s just another harmless threat.

debate...

in association with

Meet the experts... Les Owen, Senior Compliance Associate, Compliance Bureau, replied... Natalie, you bring another good discussion to the forum. I fear the Government is not joined up in its approach to driving on UK roads. Your contributors rightly point out one delay such as young drivers not being allowed to take to the road. There have been more contradictions in approach over the years, from every colour of government. Another good point raised is that without roads policing officers, any offences are less likely to be brought to court. Too many police forces in the UK have reduced police numbers in roads policing and yet officers do so much more than their title suggests – I wager that they do more crime arrests than we give them credit for. Let us not forget though that fines are attributed by magistrates and are usually more proportional than just the maximum levels quoted in this article. Vey few will ever get to those levels of fines. To support Edmund King, we need proportionality. But this key argument comes from the principles of enforcement that ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) employs. There must be proportionality, targeting, consistency and transparency in dealing with offenders. Roads policing police officers spend a significant part of their day advising and educating to reduce incidents and they have done a magnificent job over the past 15 years (look at the KSI statistics). Let us have more roads policing, more joined-up thinking and less government interference for their political point scoring or just to oppose the other party. As Martin Wedge points out, if we reduce road deaths we save the country money, which can be better employed on road safety. If we start the other way around and spend some more on road safety, we will save money on road deaths. Having spent many years policing, and now assisting companies and organisations to reduce road incidents I know that more can be done with education, engineering and then some enforcement – but all of these are part of a package. We regularly advise others how to manage staff who drive at work and avoid incidents, and thus save companies money.

Lyndon Wood, CEO, constructaquote.com Lyndon started his insurance company at the age of 19, and the odds were not in his favour. He gave up his job selling insurance and decided to go it alone with no qualifications but with an acute business head and a lightbulb moment. 25 years on and he remains CEO of constructaquote.com, Moorhouse and SunZu. Lyndon remains quirky and unconventional and is recognised as a pioneer who tackles business hurdles and takes pride in passing on his business knowledge to any aspiring entrepreneurs.

Dan Gilkes, Editor, VAN Fleet World Dan trained and worked as a construction and transport engineer and a transport coordinator, before moving into B2B journalism in 1988. With more than 25 years’ experience across many titles in the transport, LCV and construction markets, he has car, motorcycle and Class 1 HGV licences and has driven every van, and many of the heavy trucks, launched in the last three decades.

Paul Gogolinski, CEO, Total Fleet Solutions Paul has over 30 years’ automotive finance experience. In 1996, he helped start Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in South Africa, and was later appointed sales director and member of the board. In Poland since 2004 (after five years as MD Daimler Fleet Management and two years MD Business Lease), Paul founded the PZWLP (Polish equivalent of the BVRLA) and has received several awards for initiatives in the area of fleet safety. Paul launched Total Fleet Solutions, the first fleet management consultancy in Poland for end users, in 2013, and has advised several leasing companies considering the Polish market.

fleetworld.co.uk / 75

MARKET OVERVIEW Fleet Management Software

Bynx Bynx is a market-leading developer of software solutions for vehicle management. bynxFLEET enables leasing, fleet management and rental operators to manage vehicles, contracts, transactions and drivers and control lifecycle costs. Customers are able to retain asset value, engage with stakeholders online. bynxFLEET provides a platform, plus the tools and applications required to run every aspect of a vehicle business – whether the fleet is owned or managed on someone else’s behalf. The product utilises functionality to automate and streamline processing 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. Contact: Gary Jefferies sales @bynx.com

Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Chevin Fleet Solutions Established in 1990, Chevin is the leading global provider of dedicated fleet management solutions. With offices in UK, Europe, USA & Australia, Chevin’s award winning software is used in over 80 countries, delivering solutions to the public, utility and corporate sectors as well as government and NGO operations. First to offer web based solutions to the market, Chevin offer highly sophisticated systems that intelligently manages fleet data, through advanced control of processes and clever automation. Extremely flexible configurations are designed to meet the demands of any business looking for solutions to significantly improve their operational efficiency, reduce administrative resource and highlight ongoing cost savings. Contact: David Gladding sales@chevinfleet.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1773 821992 www.chevinfleet.com

Jaama

Civica UK Ltd Tranman fleet software has a proven track record for enabling fleet managers to achieve cost and utilisation benefits through improved management information and analysis. With over 500 customers built up over 30 years, Tranman is a leader in a number of markets. Customers include large commercial fleet operators, 90% of police forces, 40% of fire brigades and over 100 local authorities. Contact: Jonathan Roberts jonathan.roberts@civica.co.uk www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Tel: 07773 814277

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

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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: Jon Davis enquiries@jaama.co.uk

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

UK connecting the UK’s fleet community ~ Formerly Fleet Academy

Join the debate... theukfleetforum.co.uk

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

Bynx

Chevin Fleet Solutions

Civica UK Ltd

Drive Software Solutions Limited

Jaama

KeeResources Limited

Sofico

Teletrac

Key to services

Service provided

Service unavailable

Sofico Sofico is an international fleet software provider with over 25 years of experience in the industry. We have a solid reputation in the market due to our extensive know-how. Sofico stands for innovation and technological leadership. Through continuous strategic investment our software solution, Miles, always evolves with the market both in terms of technology and functionality. Sofico employs 135 people across its offices in Belgium, Sydney and Tokyo and has customers in 16 countries. Our systems help manage over 1 million vehicles worldwide. Contact: Jan Bouckaert cm@sofico.be

Tel: +32 9 210 80 40 www.sofico.be

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company Teletrac’s Fleet Director® is the most advanced and interactive fleet automation software on the market, equipped with easy-to-use navigation and safety capabilities. With innovative features that include on-board navigation, lane guidance and two-way messaging, it is the premier software for fleet tracking intelligence. Tracking more than 250,000 vehicles globally, Teletrac saves fleet owners time and money while reducing their carbon footprint. Teletrac customers report up to 30% lower fuel usage, an average of 15% less driver overtime, 12% higher productivity and less unauthorised vehicle use. Contact: Mark O’Neill fleetsales@teletrac.co.uk

Tel: 0845 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

fleetworld.co.uk / 77

our fleet Volkswagen Golf GTD

I seem to have drawn a very long straw, as initial stewardship of Fleet World’s long-term Volkswagen Golf GTD has fallen to me. But for a few red trim strips,

the GTD looks much like its petrol-powered GTi cousin, yet packs a 2.0-litre diesel beneath the bonnet. There is no reason to feel hard done by however, as the diesel delivers a healthy 182bhp and a stomping 280lb.ft of torque. This makes for a very rapid car, indeed it required a bit of mental recalibration, and right foot restraint, to remain within the bounds of legality. Despite the performance, Volkswagen says that 67.3mpg is possible, with just 109g/km of CO2, or 62.8mpg if you opt for the DSG gearbox. While this might be

achievable with a bit of hypermiling, we’re getting around 51mpg in mixed use so far, which is still very respectable. The Golf is beautifully put together and our ex-press fleet car has a sprinkling of useful options, including Navigation Pro (£1,765), a rear view camera (165), the winter pack (£375) and a 400W Dynaudio stereo (£530). Volkswagen says that around 60% of GTDs will end up with fleet drivers. It’s not difficult to see why it would be high on a user-chooser list. Dan Gilkes

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GH4hS 148mpg? Mitsubishi is rightly cautious about using the official combined fuel consumption figure for the Outlander PHEV (Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). That said, it is possible to exceed that figure. Mitsubishi reckons on a maximum range of 32.5 miles under battery power, so the car is capable of covering average commuting distances on batteries alone. In that case, it would be possible to commute without using the 119hp 2.0-litre petrol engine at all, so mpg could be better still. On the other hand, long-distance travel without recharging along the way could see fuel consumption below 40mpg. It all depends on how you use the car… The Outlander PHEV is the most advanced hybrid car you can get your hands on today. In terms of driver friendliness it trumps the Vauxhall Ampera, simply because Mitsubishi has set up the controls you need most to be easily acces-

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sible. It makes the Toyota Prius look out-dated. And to get the best out of the car means you have to fiddle constantly – with the regenerative braking settings and charge “Save” mode in particular. The regen braking can be adjusted using the steering wheel paddles and there’s a large switch on the centre console to prod if you want to save your batteries for city driving. You can rapid charge the Outlander. You can’t do that with the Ampera. You can re-charge the Outlander in five hours from a 13-amp socket too, so if you don’t move all day, it could be recharged in time to go home. And it’s a “normal” car – all you lose is the optional third-row seats, which still leaves seats for five and a big boot that isn’t half filled with batteries. It’s clever, very clever and at the same time, a great and relaxing car to drive. I can’t wait to tell you more next month. John Kendall

the figures OTR PRICE £34,999 (inc £5,000 grant) POWER 200bhp @ 4,500rpm (combined) TORQUE 144lb.ft @ 4,500rpm (combined) 0-62mph 11 seconds TOP SPEED 106mph COMBINED MPG 148mpg CO2 48g/km (5% BiK)

Citroën C4 Picasso Exclusive+ e-HDI 115 Airdream I think I’ve reached family car heaven with our new Citroën C4 Picasso, which is bringing both style and practicality in bucket loads to our long-term test line-up. Launched last year and swiftly followed by its seven-seat brother, the C4 Picasso has gained many plaudits including Best MPV in this year’s Fleet World Honours – and duly so. Although the model heralds the latest use of the “Picasso” moniker, it marks a big step forwards for the carmaker’s MPV line-up thanks to PSA’s new EMP2 platform, which brings major improvements in packaging, aerodynamics and weight reduction – the new model boasts reductions of up 140kg in kerb weight and actually weighs the same as its C3 Picasso smaller sibling. It also offers a reduced footprint yet thanks to the longer wheelbase, both interior and boot space are up, with the latter’s figure of 537 litres said to be class-leading. There’s three diesel engines available, comprising the 89bhp and 113bhp 1.6-litre HDIs, and an allnew Euro 6 compliant 2.0-litre BlueHDI with

the figures

148bhp. With a headline-grabbing 98g/km and 74.3mpg, the entry-level engine has a lot to offer but we’ve actually got the mid-spec unit. With strong acceleration and 105g/km and 70.6mpg it’s not hard to see why this is the most popular engine, although a full range of BlueHDI Euro 6 compliant diesel engines is due at the end of this year. Our long-termer also comes in the top-level Exclusive+ trim, with everything from a 7-inch touch screen to automatic tail gate. We’ve also got a few optional extras such as the Park Assist front and rear parking sensors, cruise control with collision alert, blind spot monitoring system, panoramic sunroof and even the fold-down picnic tables. I’d like to say I’m keeping an open mind to the three-month test of this model but I’m already pretty smitten at this stage. There’s a lot to take in with the touch screen functions but other than that it’s proving highly accomplished, extremely versatile for families and relaxing to drive – in fact perfect for the summer. Natalie Middleton

OTR PRICE £24,210 POWER 113bhp @ 3,600rpm TORQUE 199lb.ft @ 1,750rpm 0-62mph 11.8 seconds TOP SPEED 117mph COMBINED MPG 70.6mpg CO2 105g/km (17% BiK)

Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ-T ALLGRIP HAVING assumed tenure of our S-Cross from my colleague, it’s pretty clear why VFW editor Dan Gilkes found the compact Suzuki so easy to live with. Being located just outside London, it’s fair to say the Allgrip’s 4x4 capabilities haven’t really been put to the test, aside from a couple of muddy fields. But the high (and comfortable) seating position and general ease of getting in and out – an important consideration if you occasionally need to transport ageing passengers – have been a real bonus.

In fact, the S-Cross makes a great suburban/city car. Sure, the standard diesel S-Cross lowers CO2 emissions by around 4g/km so is arguably better still, but the Allgrip’s compact size and brilliant reversing camera mean that virtually no parking space is too small. It also returns 55mpg+, without an eye on economy and often in stop-start conditions, so there really is very little to complain about, even though only 20% of UK buyers will choose the 4WD option. Luke Wikner

fleetworld.co.uk / 79

our fleet Audi A8 SE 3.0 TDI quattro ONE of the joys of sitting in a long traffic jam is that it gives you the opportunity to explore your car’s control systems in a way that would not normally be possible. Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) is a voyage of discovery in its own right and also opens the door to a veritable treasure trove of customising opportunities. You can go down several levels before finally having to surface and creep forward a couple of yards. In the meantime it’s possible to personalise the steering, gearbox, suspension, seating, even the interior lighting. You can read the handbook, set the air conditioning, and include or exclude any number of driver aids such as lane departure warning or “break alert” – time for a Costa. “Vorsprung durch Technik” still features strongly in Audi advertising and the company certainly gives value for money in that respect. In my youth the Audi Quattro was the most

SUPPLIER

DIRECTORY electric vehicle charging Ensto UK Ltd Tel: +44 7432 701524 ensto.com/chago

technologically sophisticated and desirable car on the road. You only had to say the word “Quattro” in a pub and the place would fall silent. I doubt if muttering “MMI” would have the same effect, but the systems that it controls are sophisticated beyond belief, and it certainly helps pass the time when yet another caravan has turned over on the M5. Ross Durkin

Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid SE Estate IT’S fair to say our E-Class Hybrid is pretty pricey, at nearly £42,000 before you start adding in any options, but such is the efficacy of the hybrid drivetrain its tax bill is surprisingly small. Even a cursory browse through Fleet World’s online tax calculator shows that a 40% taxpayer would have a BiK bill in 2014/15 of less than £2,700 – or £225 a month, which looks remarkable value for money considering what you are getting. Even the cheapest of the new Audi A6 Avant Ultra models cost more, and don’t come with the same amount of space or levels of kit. I’ve been driving various diesel Mercedes recently, and the interesting thing

is how the electric drivetrain seems to help smooth out some of the roughness of that four-cylinder diesel engine, which in almost all other cars (standard E-Class included) is not very refined. It seems the torque of the electric motor takes some of the noisy effort from the diesel engine under heavy loads, such as pulling away or acceleration. The E-Class is also now getting 55mpg in real-life driving too. So combine the benefits of economy and improved refinement with a low tax bill and there are very few downsides for the Hybrid, and I reckon this has to be a first for a car of this type. Steve Moody

auctions & remarketing BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 bca.co.uk

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

fast fits & tyres ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

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

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

SMR Autoserve Limited Tel: 0844 888 3001 www.autoserve.co.uk

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FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0845 603 4590 www.acvm.co.uk

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

daily rental

fleet management software

risk management

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

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732 www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe DriveTech

Vehicle Management

Pendle Vehicle Contracts Tel: 08456 025697 www.pendlelease.co.uk

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

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

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

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Motiva Group Tel: 0800 054 6555 www.motivagroup.co.uk

Zenith Tel: 0113 348 8667 www.zenith.co.uk

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731

RAC Risk Management Tel: 0870 606 2606

www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

www.racfleetriskmanagement.co.uk

Concept Vehicle Leasing Tel: 0800 043 2050 www.conceptvehicleleasing.co.uk

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946

Sofico Tel:0121 288 5935/07815 601622

www.arnoldclarkrental.com

www.soficoservices.com

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

Apex Car Rental Tel: 01323 745444

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

www.apexrental.co.uk

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

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

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

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

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

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

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

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

Lex Autolease

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

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Tel: 0845 815 0019 www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

Tel: 0845 769 7381 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk car valeting

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

telematics & tracking

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

www.cardinus.com

misfuelling

fuel management

AFF Tel: 0844 879 4770 www.autofuelfix.com

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

JCT600 Contracts Limited Tel: 0113 250 0060 www.jct600contracts.co.uk

Val-Tech Solutions Ltd Tel: 0333 011 6540 www.val-techsolutions.co.uk

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

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

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

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

Navman Wireless UK Ltd Tel: 0845 521 1188 www.navmanwireless.co.uk

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.co.uk

Motrak Tel: 0800 054 6555 www.motivagroup.co.uk

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

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

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster company Tel: 0870 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

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

fleetworld.co.uk / 81

ontheroad This month Anthony Ffrench-Constant is driven to distraction.

tself reeking gently of self-promotion on the part of the car leasing company responsible (which shall remain nameless... Ha!), an email landed recently suggesting that promotional messages on the sides of commercial vehicles should be banned. “With roadside clutter and unnecessary road signs grabbing the attention of overworked drivers already acknowledged as a road safety factor, an increasing number of road users tell us that their heads have been turned by these mobile adverts when they were supposed to be concentrating on the road,” the release thunders. Surely, roadside clutter is called “life”; if you can’t drive with that going on outside the window, catch a bus. And the only truly unnecessary road sign I recall was when I had occasion to drive through Lambeth a few decades ago, declaring the borough to be a “Nuclear Free Zone”. Try telling that to the multiple warheads of an incoming ICBM I thought at the time... Anyway, of the 1,500 drivers polled, some 23% owned up to trying to key a website address advertised on the back of a van or lorry into their phones whilst driving, 10% said they had tried to take a photo of a promotional offer with their phone, and 1% – that’s 15 whole numpties – admitted to having tried to scan a QR code off a lorry on the move. Thing is, what good is an advertisement if it doesn’t actually fulfil its sole purpose in distracting you sufficiently to take in the information offered? That said, isn’t harvesting such information on the move rather a peculiar alternative to Google, or the Yellow Pages? I just so happen to be looking for someone to help me with a small but complex dry stone walling job at the moment. In that context, ambling about in a car armed with a mobile phone doesn’t strike me as entirely the most satisfactory search engine available. And if it were, I’d carry a dictaphone into which to mutter phone and web contact details...

1% – that’s 15 whole numpties – admitted to having tried to scan a QR code off a lorry on the move.

82 / fleetworld.co.uk

Honestly, I can recall only one ad that so ruthlessly fulfilled its remit as to actually cause accidents, and that was the “Hello Boys” Wonderbra campaign: this marvellous, 48-sheet billboard display of entirely delicious embonpoint undoubtedly accounting for a veritable raft of unsolicited punts up the luggage. Speaking of which, another, more recent accident statistic-related email is far more interesting in suggesting that the occurrence of rear-end shunts has increased by some 7% over the last three years, and now constitutes a third of all accidents. “There’s no obvious explanation” the release suggests, “because the nation’s roads are full of safer, more advanced vehicles which, in some cases, are supposed to help a driver to avoid collisions.” Oh yes there is. Quite simply, most of the drivers of these safer, more advanced vehicles have got their noses in their laps, texting, because of course, using the phone is against the law. So they are being more sneaky, which means they’re even more distracted than they were before. And the supposition that the era of Bluetooth® connectivity obviates those still holding phones to their ears from excuse is, frankly, somewhat flaky. Never mind the fact that I have spent so much time in so many lay-bys trying to pair my phone with so many cars that I have, to date, been offered honorary membership of at least three different dogging websites. Truth is, the last thing a young, social networkobsessed generation can afford is a car posh enough to boast such a system, texting’s cheaper anyway, and Facebook’s no fun if you can’t read the screen in the first place. But on the scale of distracting activities, I reckon there’s one that makes talking on a phone look like a mere bagatelle: most people on motorways appear to already drive with one hand on the wheel and two eyes on the footwell because they’re busy feeding their faces. I’d hazard that the eyes-down threat of meltdown from an errant Malteser or the scalding-hot filling from a Ginsters Crab and Social Worker pasty constitutes a far greater hazard to road safety than a quick chat with the missus.

VAN

July 2014

FLEETW RLD

p89 New Vivaro looks set to rapidly build upon the success of the previous model.

at a glance driven... Nissan e-NV200, Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro and Iveco Daily

plus... Risk management & LCV Finance

vanfleetworld.co.uk

A Daimler Brand

The Citan delivers. Economy, safety, status. Discover the Citan. www.mbvans.co.uk/fleet

Nissan e-NV200

Nissan joins the electric revolution, as Dan Gilkes tries the e-NV200.

issan has achieved the remarkable feat of creating an electric van that is actually better to drive than the diesel model on which it is based. Indeed, with 254Nm of torque on tap from a standstill, the electric van is actually quicker to 60mph than its 1.5dCi counterpart and more agile around town. Rather than joining forces with Alliance partner Renault and sharing an electric drivetrain with Kangoo Z.E., Nissan has instead opted to use the driveline from its successful LEAF electric car in e-NV200, along with much of the car’s front suspension. The 48 lithium ion battery modules are mounted below the load loor, retaining the NV200’s 4.2m3 load volume and helping to reduce the van’s centre of gravity. The batteries weigh in at 267.5kg, yet Nissan has managed to stay close to the diesel van’s capacity, offering a competitive 703kg payload. The official range is around 106 miles, though realistically that’s probably more like around 80 miles. Nissan admits the eNV200 won’t suit every operation, but the company is confident that it could work for up to 35% of the market at this weight class, offering serious running cost savings. The batteries take up to eight hours to recharge on a domestic 16A charger. This can be reduced to just four hours with the optional 6.6kW/32A charger that comes as part of the Acenta Rapid Plus and Tekna Rapid Plus trim levels. A dedicated CHAdeMO DC 50W quick charger can also provide up to 80% of charge in just 30 minutes, for example while the van is being loaded or during a lunch break period. In March 2013 there were just 60

86 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think With some cities looking to reduce or ban diesel vans, the popularity of electric LCVs is set to grow. The e-NV200 could also deliver major savings.

specification MODEL Nissan e-NV200 Tekna Rapid Plus BASIC PRICE £19,324 (inc. Grant) ENGINE AC synchronous electric motor FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 80kW TORQUE 254Nm Weights (kg) GVW 2,220 KERB WEIGHT 1,517 PAYLOAD 703 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT na Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,040 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,500 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,358 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 523 LOAD VOLUME 4.2m3 Cost considerations BATTERY CAPACITY 24kWh CO2 EMISSONS 0g/km SERVICE INTERVAL 1 yr/30,000 miles WARRANTY 5 yr/60,000 miles

CHAdeMO rapid chargers in the UK, but this has risen to 223 this year and Nissan claims there will be more than 500 by March 2015. It’s a similar story with regular charging stations, with 752 available in the UK in 2008, rising to more than 5,731 by June 2014. Actual running cost savings will depend on how much you pay for your electricity, but Nissan claims the e-NV200 should be around four times cheaper to fuel than the diesel van at around 2p/mile. The savings don’t stop there however, as repair and maintenance bills could be 40% lower than the dCi model, thanks in part to no requirement to change oils, belts or clutches. For operators running inside the London Congestion Zone, the e-NV200 is also road tax and CC-free. You can opt to buy both van and batteries, or purchase the van and lease the power pack, with prices starting at just £13,395 after the Plug-in Van Grant for a basic model without batteries. Monthly battery rental starts at £61 per month. For the driver the e-NV200 is easy to operate, with a simple automatic transmission lever offering push-and-go driving. There is a B position on the lever for added regenerative braking, to extend the van’s range, and an Eco button on the dash alters the throttle mapping for smoother acceleration and cuts the air-conditioning performance to further conserve power. The electric air-con system can be preset remotely through the CarWings smartphone app, which also allows managers to monitor the battery state of charge. Heated seats, auto lights and wipers, a rear camera, Bluetooth and cruise control are optional.

Renault Trafic

Smaller engines deliver big power and economy gains for Renault, says Dan Gilkes.

enault’s updated Tra ic range aims to build upon the success of its distinctive predecessor, by offering improved fuel consumption, lower emissions, increased carrying capacity and a more re ined cab/of ice environment for drivers. The unusual roof hump might be gone but Trafic retains a distinctive face, with Renault’s large corporate diamond logo taking centre stage. The van has an additional 21cm in body length, in both L1 and L2 models, shared between the load bay and the cab. In the rear that means that you can now carry three Euro pallets in either model, despite the fact that the bulkhead is fixed 3cm further back, to provide improved legroom for taller drivers. Opting for a load-through bulkhead allows you to put longer loads beneath the passenger seat and a second panel that permits entry through to the passenger footwell, and the overall load length rises to 3.75m in the L1 model and 4.15m for the L2 vans. Load volumes are now up to 5.2m3 and 6.0m3 respectively on standard roof models and as much as 8.6m3 for the largest L2H2 model. Standard roof H1 models can also be supplied with an internal roof rack. The roof cross members have been reinforced to support a 163cm long, 65cm wide rack, capable of carrying 2m copper pipes or even a step ladder. While things are certainly bigger in the back, they have been downsized under the bonnet, with the two previous 2.0-litre engines replaced by no less than four 1.6-litre motors. There are two single turbo engines, offering 90hp and 115hp, plus two twin

88 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think No concerns over engine size as Trafic is even better to drive. With added capacity and lower costs, Renault is on track for increased sales.

specification MODEL

Renault Trafic L1H1 SL29 dCi115 Business BASIC PRICE £19,245 ENGINE 1,598cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 115hp @ 3,500 TORQUE 300Nm @ £1,750 Weights (kg) GVW 2,900 KERB WEIGHT 1,665 PAYLOAD 1,235 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,000 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,537 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,662 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,387 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 552 LOAD VOLUME 5.2m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 80 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 43.5mpg/170g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles WARRANTY 4 yr/100,000 miles

turbo models with 120hp and 140hp on offer. Renault UK expects the 115hp to be the fleet favourite, grabbing as much as 60% of sales, but the two twin turbo engines should capture around 19% each. The good news for drivers is that even the single turbo 115hp engine has more than enough power to haul a laden Trafic along easily, while the range-topping 140hp model delivers very relaxed driving. It needn’t add cost at the pumps if you can justify the higher power outputs either, the twin turbo engines actually boast the best fuel consumption figures and the lowest emission levels. The 120hp engine is the range’s sweet spot, with a claimed 47.9mpg and 155g/km of CO2. In the cab the seat cushion is 36mm lower and the seat back more reclined, to make the van more car-like to drive. There is also more adjustment for both the seat and the steering wheel, ensuring that all drivers should be able to get comfortable. Renault has equipped Tra ic’s middle seat back with the rotating laptop table irst seen in Master and the cab has a total of 90 litres of storage in 14 bins, trays and cubbies. There are cradles available for mobile phones and tablets and Renault is offering a number of infotainment and connectivity options including R-Link and a new R & GO system that links portable devices to the van’s radio system. UK customers will be able to choose from Business trim, Business Plus (+£1,100) or Sport (+£1,200). Business is expected to account for 50% of sales with Business Plus on 30% and Sport 20%.

Vauxhall Vivaro

UK-built Vivaro is crucial to Vauxhall’s LCV growth plans, says Dan Gilkes.

f the new Trafic is important to Renault, then the latest Vivaro is a critical van for Vauxhall and parent company GM. It is also a vitally important LCV for the Vauxhall plant in Luton, safeguarding 1,200 jobs and securing a £185m investment in the UK’s only remaining major LCV plant. Vauxhall’s Luton facility, one of only three in the world to achieve GM’s BIQ Level 4 quality standard, has built almost 1 million vans since Vivaro was launched in 2001. As new Vivaro comes on stream, the plant aims to manufacture up to 215 vans per day, or 44,000 a year on a single shift. However, GM has plans to double European van sales by 2022. The new van is also important for suppliers to the plant. On the previous model around 25% of the components were sourced in the UK. With new Vivaro Vauxhall has upped that count to more than 40%, putting more than £140m a year into the UK supply base economy. Of course Vivaro shares much with Trafic, so there is the same choice of two body lengths and two roof heights. There are two single turbo 1.6-litre diesel engines delivering 90hp and 115hp, plus two BiTurbo models with 120hp and 140hp. While all models come with an Eco mode switch that drops power and torque slightly and reduces the air-con performance to save up to 10% in fuel, Vauxhall has decided to only offer its full ecoFlex package, that also includes Start/Stop, on the 90, 120 and 140hp engines. The 120hp model is the most impressive of the four, delivering up to 49.9mpg and just 155g/km of CO2. However, even the base 90hp model offers a 23% fuel economy improvement over the previous 90hp Vivaro, with 20%

what we think With a generous specification, improved fuel consumption, lower emissions and a larger load area, new Vivaro looks set to rapidly build upon the success of the previous model.

specification MODEL

Vauxhall Vivaro L1H1 2700 1.6CDTI 115hp Sportive BASIC PRICE £20,658 ENGINE 1,598cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 115hp @ 3,500 TORQUE 300Nm @ £1,750 Weights (kg) GVW 2,740 KERB WEIGHT 1,661 PAYLOAD 1,079 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,000 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,537 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,662 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,387 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 552 LOAD VOLUME 5.2m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 80 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 43.5mpg/170g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

lower CO2 emissions. Better still, it will be priced at £255 less than the previous van, despite the fact that all Vivaro models have a higher speci ication including standard ESP. Where Vivaro differs from its French cousin is in speci ication and trim levels. The UK van will come in standard, though certainly not basic, spec with a full height steel bulkhead, a sunvisor with wide angle mirror, a driver’s seat with height and lumbar adjust and an armrest, DAB radio, Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors and ESP. Up to 40% of UK customers will opt for the higher Sportive trim though, which brings with it smarter seat trim, a FlexCargo bulkhead with load-through flap beneath the passenger seat, a seatback storage and clipboard facility, higher-specification stereo, cruise control with speed limiter, air conditioning, body-coloured bumpers and side mouldings, LED daytime running lights, front fogs and rear parking sensors. A host of options will be available too, including built-in Intellilink sat navs, climate control, reversing cameras and heated seats. Prices start at £17,995, some £450 less than the previous model, with Sportive models starting at £19,765. Vivaro is available to order now and panel vans, double cabs, nine-seat Combis and platform cabs should start arriving in dealers in September. If Vauxhall’s sales targets are met, the company hopes to start a second shift at the Luton plant next year, providing work for another 300 staff. With Vauxhall’s LCV sales already up 13.6% so far this year, the company’s ambitions look safe in new Vivaro’s hands.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 89

Vauxhall COMBO

BEST IN CLASS. AGAIN. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES The Wheels of Business Call 0845 740 0777 or visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/vans

LIGHT VAN

Iveco Daily

Iveco delivers fuel savings and load volume increases with new Daily, says Dan Gilkes.

veco’s third-generation Daily van promises reduced fuel consumption, increased carrying capacities, improved handling and a cut in the total cost of ownership. More than 2.6 million Daily models have been sold worldwide and the LCV range accounts for 55% of Iveco’s global production. A 5.5% fuel saving is claimed, through improved aerodynamics and engine efficiency. An optional EcoPack, that includes an Eco switch to allow the driver to change the engine mapping for reduced torque when unladen, is said to offer up to a 14% fuel saving. The pack also incorporates a smart alternator, Ecomac air conditioning, low rolling resistance tyres and Start/Stop. Iveco is offering nine engine options, including both Euro 5b+ and Euro 6 versions of its 2.3-litre and 3.0-litre diesels and a CNG gas-powered engine. Power ratings are 106-205hp, with drive taken to the back wheels through six-speed manual and Agile automated transmissions. The new line follows a £400m investment, with separate strategies for panel vans and for Daily chassis cabs. Around 80% of the body is new, though it retains its traditional separate ladder chassis and body. Wheelbases have been extended to reduce rear overhangs and improve stability, allowing larger load volumes, up from a previous maximum of 17m3, to 18m3 and a huge 19.6m3. All Daily vans up to 3.5 tonnes GVW come with a new Quad-leaf front suspension, incorporating transverse leaf springs within double wishbones. This improves handling and reduces weight. Heavier models get a revised version of the existing Quad-tor torsion bar

92 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think A good-looking van that promises to carry more, for less. Iveco has got both panel van and chassis cab customers covered, with one of the biggest ranges of heavy vans on the market.

specification MODEL Iveco Daily 35-150 H2 Euro5b+ BASIC PRICE na ENGINE 2,287cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 146hp @ 3,000–3,900 TORQUE 350Nm @ 1,500–2,750 Weights (kg) GVW 3,500 KERB WEIGHT 2,080 PAYLOAD 1,420 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 3,500 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 3,130 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,800 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,900 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 675 LOAD VOLUME 10.8m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 70 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 36.2mpg/186g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/unlimited miles

suspension, while revised rear suspension on all models contributes to increased payloads and a 55mm lower rear loor. Inside the cab the seat height has been lowered by 15mm and the top of the windscreen extended up by 40mm. For taller drivers that 55mm total makes a huge difference, greatly improving visibility. The steering wheel size has been reduced and the steering column inclination cut too, all contributing to a more MPV-like driving position. Daily will come in three trim levels, the standard spec including ESP 9, a driver’s airbag and seatbelt pretensioners, Bluetooth and MP3 compatibility, unglazed rear doors, a full steel bulkhead, central locking, electric windows and a dual passenger seat. Daily Plus adds cruise control, cornering fog lights, electrically adjustable heated mirrors, a fold-down desk and underseat storage, plus a trim panel on the bulkhead. Daily Top comes with manual air conditioning, a suspended driver’s seat, full wheel covers and a glove compartment. There is also a range of option packs, including the Eco pack, a tipper pack, a towing pack and a winter pack. Customers can choose from a range of infotainment systems, including an Iveconnect platform that allows the driver to control media, Bluetooth, sat-nav and a rear view camera through a touchscreen. Claimed mprovements in fuel consumption and residual values, and a 5% cut in service and maintenance costs should bring TCO down. Perhaps more surprisingly, Iveco says that list prices will be unchanged across Europe for many versions of the van.

THE ALL NEW 100% ELECTRIC NISSAN e-NV200

A NEW WAY TO WORK COMBINING the proven drivetrain from the acclaimed Nissan LEAF electric car, with the versatility of the award winning NV200 compact van, the new e-NV200 is a game-changer for commercial vehicle fleets. But don’t just take our word for it. Global pre-production trials proved large and small fleet operators could benefit from its innovative technology, and one participant, British Gas, recently purchased 100 for its own fleet. It’s the start of a new movement in the commercial vehicle sector, recognised by the Editor’s Choice Award in the prestigious 2014 Van Fleet World Honours. Starting from scratch, rather than converting an existing van, the eNV200 is the combination of the best parts of two award-winning Nissan

models. It takes the electric drivetrain technology from the trailblazing Nissan LEAF, a car which has sold over 100,000 units worldwide, and packages it in a compact, highly flexible commercial vehicle. So making the switch to an electric van needn’t be difficult. The load area can still accommodate two standard Euro Pallets and offers a payload of up to 703kg, while sliding doors on both sides and twin wide-opening rear doors mean it’s easy to get cargo in and out. With a range of 106 miles (NEDC figure) on a single charge, the e-NV200 can meet the needs of many businesses. A variety of charging options are available including the opportunity to recharge to 80% capacity within 30 minutes at a national network of rapid chargers.

The drivetrain makes oil, belt and clutch replacements a thing of the past, reducing servicing outlay by 40%, while delivering a four-fold reduction in fuel expenses, there is the added benefit of zero road tax and exemption from London Congestion Charge. Pricing from £13,393 + VAT and + monthly battery rental or you can buy outright from £16,562 + VAT. Drivers, meanwhile, benefit from vibration and noise-free driving with no gear changes making for a truly relaxed driving experience. To find out how the e-NV200 can benefit your fleet, visit any of the 65 specially trained Nissan Business Centres nationwide or simply go to nissan.co.uk/e-nv200. It could change the way you work forever.

“The e-NV200 gives a clear signal that the industry is taking the EV market increasingly seriously.” Dan Gilkes, editor VAN Fleet World

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*including £8,000 Plug-in Van Grant

FEATURE LCV Finance

AIA changes offer tax savings Nigel Greenaway, general manager at JCB Finance, talks through some unexpected changes in the Budget that could add up to a £500,000 tax saving opportunity for UK businesses.

Timing is critical

he March 2014 Budget announced a temporary increase in Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) from £250,000 to £500,000, though it is scheduled to revert back to £250,000 on 1 January 2016. The enhanced AIA of £500,000 is available for capital expenditure on plant, machinery and commercial vehicles (not cars) purchased from April 2014 until 31 December 2015. This important tax incentive accelerates the tax relief, so that 100% of eligible expenditure can be offset against taxable profits in the first year, instead of taking up to 12 years to reclaim 90% of the original cost using the normal 18% annual writing-down allowance. In effect for every £1 spent, the Government will give you £1 back in the form of relief against your taxable profits. The net benefit will depend on the rate of income tax or corporation tax that your business pays – which could be between 20% and 45%. It is the equivalent of a subsidy to encourage businesses to invest in plant, machinery and commercial vehicles. Capital expenditure via a Hire Purchase (HP) agreement is also eligible for exactly the same AIA, just as if you had paid cash, but you will also gain a terrific cashflow advantage. Potentially your business could gain up to £500,000 in tax relief after only having paid the deposit, and the interest charged is also 100% tax deductible. Almost all businesses can claim the AIA, the only exceptions being Mixed Partnerships or Trusts (ie those in which a company is a member). If you have not already planned how to maximise the benefit, speak to your accountant or finance director now.

Proper advice is needed because different financial years, that straddle either the tax year or calendar year end, may result in complicated calculations that could result in a lesser AIA being granted in that financial year. The chart below illustrates the maximum amounts available by showing four different financial year end companies, demonstrating how vital it is to spend the right amount within the right periods in order to maximise the tax benefits. For financial years ending in 2014 and 2015 the maximum AIA actually available may be lower than the amounts indicated in the chart, depending on the timing of the expenditure. Given the lead times of some vehicles and equipment, from order to delivery, this also needs to be factored in to your buying plans. Get the timing or the amounts wrong and your business could either miss out on available tax relief or, worst still, end up paying far more tax then is required. Other factors being equal, if your business is contemplating purchasing commercial vehicles in the near future, there are some strong tax-based and cash flow arguments to carefully plan purchases before the end of your financial year and certainly before 1 January 2016, so that you can maximise on the available £500,000 tax relief. JCB Finance provides asset finance for UK businesses for plant, commercial vehicles and cars, but it is not a tax or financial advisor. Companies should always seek advice from their own accountant or finance director, as every business’ circumstances are different.

£500,000 Annual Investment Allowance

FINANCE

Amounts and dates for expenditure in order to maximise the potential tax beneﬁt according to a business’ ﬁnancial year end £250,000

£500,000

(Jan-March 2014)

£375,000

(Apr 2014-March 2015)

(Apr-Dec 2015)

£312,500

£500,000

(Jan-June 2014)

£250,000

(July 2014-June 2015)

(July-Dec 2015)

£375,000

£500,000

(Jan-Sept 2014)

£125,000

(Oct 2014-Sept 2015)

(Oct-Dec 2015)

£437,500

£500,000

94 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Dec 2015

Nov 2015

May 2015

April 2015

March 2015

Feb 2015

Jan 2015

Dec 2014

Nov 2014

Oct 2014

Sept 2014

(Jan-Dec 2015) Aug 2014

July 2014

June 2014

May 2014

April 2014

March 2014

Feb 2014

Jan 2014

(Jan-Dec 2014)

Oct 2015

31st December

Sept 2015

30th September

July 2015

30th June

June 2015

31st March

Aug 2015

Financial Year End

What does it take to build a world-class commercial vehicle fleet? We all know that running a fleet of commercial vehicles brings with it a unique set of challenges. And, just like the vehicles themselves, everything is just that little bit....bigger. Bigger costs, bigger risks, bigger problems. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we put together a handy little guide to some of the biggest issues being faced, and of course, how to solve them. To download our ebook on how to build a leaner, more efficient commercial vehicle fleet, visit: www.easiertoleaseplan.co.uk/ebooks/cv

MARKET OVERVIEW Risk Management

AA DriveTech

DriveTech

Employers have a duty of care 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: Francesca Hill tellmemore@AAdrivetech.com www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe

Tel: 0845 299 6131

Applied Driving Techniques (ADT) provides a comprehensive range of compliance and risk management solutions for all sizes and types of vehicle fleets including auditing and assessments, grey fleet management, licence and document monitoring and driver training. ADT’s unique and fresh approach means it is best placed to understand and minimise the risk factors a company faces through effective analysis, managed changed and individually tailored training programmes to achieve legal compliance, reduce costs, minimise environmental impact and ultimately save lives. ADT is a multi-award winning business including the Partnership category at Brake’s 2013 Fleet Safety Awards.

Contact: Andy Phillips info@applieddriving.co.uk www.applieddriving.co.uk

Tel: 01489 883230

IAM Drive & Survive

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: Helen Fisk helen.fisk@aldautomotive.com www.aldautomotive.co.uk

Applied Driving Techniques

Tel: 0870 00 111 81

IAM Drive & Survive is the commercial arm of The Institute of Advanced Motorists, the UK’s leading road safety charity for over 50 years. As an expert in road safety and a leading Driver Risk Management and Driver Training provider, IAM Drive & Survive is THE organisation to talk to for: • Company drivers policies and procedures • Driving licence checking • Driver risk assessments • Driver seminars and workshops • On-road driver training If you would like more information for van, LGV, PCV and car drivers, contact IAM Drive & Survive today.

Contact: Rahma Hussein Tel: 020 8996 9663 rahma.hussein@iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

ROADMARQUE® 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 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

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Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

RVM Fleet Services Limited RVM Fleet Services employ a service-focussed team with skills and systems designed to offer tailored solutions to our customers. Our mission is to reduce the frequency and cost of accidents using evidence-based techniques. We have created a series of alerts within our software to automatically highlight risks that exceed pre-agreed tolerances relating to accidents, training, driver assessments, licence checks or grey ﬂeet data. This eliminates human error and ensures non-standard risks receive appropriate remedial attention. This saves time for our customers, ensures consistency and accuracy as well as reduces accident frequency and cost. Call now to arrange a demonstration by RVM Fleet Services – Driving Safety Home”.

Contact: Angela Sorley Tel: 01132 248898 angelasorley@rvmfleetservices.co.uk www.rvmfleetservices.co.uk

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?

VAN FLEETW RLD

Key to services

AA DriveTech

ALD Automotive

Applied Driving Techniques

IAM Drive & Survive

ROADMARQUE®

RVM Fleet Services Limited

Service provided

Service unavailable

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VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW RLD auctions & remarketing

contract hire, leasing & finance

racking systems

tail lifts

fleet management software

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 bca.co.uk

Lex Autolease

Tel: 0845 769 7381 www.lexautolease.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

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

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

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

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Avis Rent A Car Tel: 0844 544 5000 www.avis.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

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

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

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

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

daily rental

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

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

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

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

Apex Van Rental Tel: 01323 745444

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

www.apexrental.co.uk

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

Zenith Tel: 0113 348 8667 www.zenith.co.uk

Tel: 0845 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk TomTom Business Solutions Tel: 020 7255 9774 www.tomtom.com/business

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster company Tel: 0870 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.co.uk

fast-fits & tyres ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

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

risk management Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

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

fuel management

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

Vehicle Management

EV FLEET WORLD Tel: 01727 739160 www.evfleetworld.co.uk

UKVANLEASING

Tel: 01708 511071 www.ukvanleasing.co.uk

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk 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

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

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