Fleet World June 2014

WORKS OVERTIME WITH A SMILE.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2014.

THE NEW MINI. THE NEW ORIGINAL.

Makes a great first impression (and a lasting one).

BUSINESS CAR SUPERMINI OF THE YEAR 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 AND 2003.

.

CHARMS CUSTOMERs (AND BANK MANAGERS).

BEHIND THE HUGE PERSONALITY LURKS A WHOLE HEAP OF CUTTING-EDGE, MONEY-SAVING AND EFFICIENCY-BOOSTING TECHNOLOGY.

June 2014

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

Driven

Nissan X-Trail Porsche Macan

Dual action How telematics & fleet software can drive efficiencies

spotlight Citroën C4 Cactus

We reveal the best in the world of fleet! in association with

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contents 24

Neal Francis on the changes to lease accounting standards.

June 2014

26

Why hybrids are all about energy recuperation...

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

Driven

Nissan X-Trail Porsche Macan

Dual action How telematics & fleet software can drive efficiencies

spotlight Citroën C4 Cactus

We reveal the best in the world of fleet! in association with

Salary Sacrifice £

BIGGEST

EVER ISSUE!

Consulting

Consulting

fleetworld.co.uk

28

Stunning design-led C4 Cactus in the FW spotlight.

32

The fleet future looks bright for Nissan’s new X-Trail.

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

41

Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executives Darren Brett darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

We honour the best in the world of fleet...

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

87

Salary sacrifice: universal fleet solution or niche product?

£

VAN FLEETW RLD

97

Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Fuso Canter, Saving fuel & British Gas vans.

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fleetworld.co.uk / 03

Ford NEWS

Phil Hollins, Ford’s director of fleet operations accepts the van range awards.

Van Manufacturer of the Year... again!

IN awarding Ford the Van Manufacturer of the Year accolade for the second year running, Van Fleet World has acknowledged Ford’s heavy investment into its allnew commercial vehicle range, resulting in modern aesthetics, innovative design features and the latest in high-tech, low-CO2 powertrains.

The majority of the design and engineering work on the new range has been conducted at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in Essex, the global centre of excellence for the company’s commercial vehicles and powertrain development.

Diesel engines to power the Transit range are built at Dagenham, with larger capacity petrol engines built at Ford’s Bridgend plant in Wales.

Ford has now completed the transformation of its entire CV range, with four new models – Transit Courier, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit – introduced in the space of 24 months.

The treatment given to the Transit Custom, the 2013 International Van of the Year, during its development typifies Ford’s approach to building the best; it was subjected to the company’s most comprehensive-ever vehicle testing process, with durability tests that simulate ten punishing years of ownership in just six months.

More than 150 professional test drivers, plus customer fleet drivers and Ford engineers, covered the equivalent of three million hard-working miles. The treatment ranged from accelerated durability testing at Ford’s Lommel proving ground in Belgium, through extreme climate testing, to punishment on specialised laboratory test rigs.

Over 100 significant product improvements were delivered to the Transit Custom as a direct result of knowledge gained from its testing regime. The same regime has delivered similar benefits to the Transit Connect, 2014 International Van of the Year, Transit and Transit Courier.

Best New Van and Best Small Van...

CROWNED Best New Van and Best Small Van, the Ford Transit Connect offers a choice of advanced engines including the awardwinning 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, which delivers 100PS and 170Nm of torque with a six-speed manual transmission.

The Transit Connect offers van operators class-leading fuel economy, load carrying ability and durability, with the ECOnetic model delivering 70.6 mpg and CO2 emissions of 105g/km – a 34 per cent improvement versus the previous model. The highly fuelefficient 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine also offers class-leading petrol economy.

Available in van, double-cab-in-van and kombi bodystyles, the Transit Connect also offers a spacious and practical load area with total volumes of 2.9m3 and 3.6m3 with a full bulkhead; maximum payloads of up to 1,000kg match the best-in-class figure.

Ranger “a great all-rounder”

DESCRIBING the Ford Ranger as “a great allrounder” in the VAN Fleet World Honours is almost an understatement, because it does everything asked, and then some more.

With best-in-class towing (up to 3500kg on 4x4 models) and water-wading (up to 800mm) capabilities, excellent ground clearance and a payload capacity up to 1350kg, the Ranger is built for work.

It is available with a choice of 2.2-litre 125PS and 150PS and 3.2-litre 200PS Duratorq TDCi Euro Stage V engines in two- or four-wheel drive versions with six-speed manual or automatic transmission, and with a regular, super and double cab.

Ford News Feature // 04

Transit Custom sets the security standard TRANSIT Custom sets new standards in van security – standards recognised by the Van Fleet World Security Award.

It is equipped with a remote control central locking system that is more secure than ever, antitamper shielded door locks and an advanced key fob which makes central locking twice as secure.

A full steel bulkhead helps keep thieves out of the loadspace, and there are two high level alarm options, a perimeter alarm set off if doors or bonnet are opened by force, and a more sophisticated Thatcham category 1 system with a battery back-up siren that sounds even if someone disconnects the vehicle battery.

All-new Transit Courier launches

Transit Custom is red-hot favourite for Vaillant HEATING technology manufacturer Vaillant is replacing its 230-strong fleet of Transit vans with the award-winning new Ford Transit Custom – judged Best Medium Van - with 110 delivered this year for after-sales service engineers to use as a mobile workspace and for component storage.

“Our vans carry a large number of spares to enable them to maintain a very high first-call success rate,” said Vaillant group service director Keith Mathers.

“When we are called out, our goal is to fix any problem immediately, which we do in more than 95 per cent of cases. The Transit is ideal for this role because of its high load capacity, and we know it to be exceptionally reliable in service.”

He said: “Vaillant prides itself on offering a quality service, so it is vital to put our engineers in an environment which reflects our values. Our engineers spend all day in their vehicles, and their safety and comfort is paramount. If their vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, sun protection glass, parking sensors and central locking, then that also helps lower the stress of their daily working lives.”

THE all-new Ford Transit Courier, the latest addition to the Transit range just launched into the market, delivers best-inclass 10 per cent more load volume than direct rivals.

There is 2.3m3 (SAE) behind the bulkhead, as well as a longer load length at floor level, and greater access width through the optional sliding side doors.

Available in van and kombi bodystyles, the Transit Courier also offers best-in-class fuel economy, with its Dagenhambuilt 95PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine achieving 76.3mpg combined, and 97g/km CO2 emissions, when fitted with fuel-saving Auto-Start-Stop and speed limiter. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine achieves 54.3mpg and 119g/km CO2 – 15 per cent better than the closest rival.

All powertrains offer extended one-year/20,000 mile service intervals and the vehicle design has been optimised for ease of serviceability and repair. A multi-piece rear bumper, rugged body-side protection and high-mounted front and rear lights help to reduce the cost of accident damage and lead to lower insurance premiums (2E/3E). Expensive fuelling errors are avoided by the unique, standard-fit, Ford Easy Fuel system.

For further information on any vehicle in the Ford range please contact the Ford Business Centre on 08457 23 23 23, email info@fordfleet.co.uk, or visit www.ford.co.uk/fordfleet

fleetreview This month, editor Steve Moody reflects on the broadest Fleet World Honours yet, and how our Best New Car winner is changing perceptions at Peugeot.

Honours spread far and wide After the Honours judging had been completed, I looked back through the list of winners and was surprised just how widely the trophies were shared.

In some years, a particular manufacturer has clearly got the lead on the others with some piece of technology or other and as a result takes numerous categories, but at the moment it seems that lots are pushing equally as strongly, which can only be a good thing for fleets looking for choice and quality.

So congratulations to all the winners. You can find out who won what from page 41.

Dara Clarke Everyone at Fleet World was incredibly shocked to hear of the death of Dara Clarke, chief executive of White Clarke Group, only days after he had been up on stage at the Fleet World Honours helping us present awards to winners. He was an immensely friendly, jovial chap who always had a good word to say about everyone. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

06 / fleetworld.co.uk

Peugeot on the up I went to see Peugeot’s new fleet boss Martin Gurney recently, and to drive the firm’s new 308 SW estate.

Certainly it’s a company that is changing and he says they will be looking to force fewer units into the market and win more true fleet business. Also, with the offering of the whole range, from small cars to large vans, it’s wellplaced to help firms tool up as they expand post-recession.

The 308 won the Fleet World Honour for best new fleet car and driving the SW it’s clear that it’s not a car that should need to be forced into the market. He thinks 308 is changing people’s “hearts and minds” about Peugeot and I think he’s right. The trick now is to get people into the car for a test drive, and then choosing it as their company car.

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

THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING LATE? THE DRIVE HOME.

THE JAGUAR BUSINESS RANGE. FROM 129 G/KM. Your teams aren’t like the rest. And neither is Jaguar. The Jaguar business range offers something unique. An exceptional drive and high standard specification, yet excellent fuel economy and low monthly costs. A company car like no other, with the support of an award-winning network of specialist fleet & business dealers. Jaguar mean business. Do you?

XF SPORTBRAKE • XF SALOON • XJ WWW.JAGUAR.CO.UK/FLEET 0845 366 0342 HOW ALIVE ARE YOU? Fuel consumption for the 14MY XF range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 16.7-48.7 (16.9-5.8); Extra Urban 32.8-64.2 (8.6-4.4); Combined 24.4-57.7 (11.6-4.9); CO2 Emissions 270-129 g/km. Fuel consumption for the Jaguar XJ range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 16.7-39.8 (16.9-7.1); Extra Urban 32.8-51.4 (8.6-5.5); Combined 24.4-46.3 (11.6-6.1). CO2 Emissions 270-159 g/km.

The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only.

inbusiness

FleetCor Technologies & Summit Partners team up to acquire Masternaut

G

rowth equity investor Summit Partners has formed a joint venture with FleetCor Technologies to acquire European telematics giant Masternaut for an undisclosed amount from Francisco Partners.

Under the deal, Masternaut’s management team led by CEO Martin Hiscox will continue to operate the business and remain shareholders in the company.

‘We are excited to partner with both Summit Partners and FleetCor,’ said Martin Hiscox. ‘Summit Partners brings a wealth of experience in helping fast-growing companies reach their goals. FleetCor is a leading global provider of fuel cards and workforce payments products to the same commercial fleet customers that Masternaut serves. We look forward to exploring significant cross-marketing opportunities that exist between our companies to accelerate the growth of Masternaut. We also would like to thank Francisco Partners for their tremendous support of our company over the last four years.’

car2go car sharing scheme pulls out of UK Daimler and Europcar joint venture car2go has announced it is withdrawing its car sharing scheme from the UK – including the closure of its Birmingham operation opened a year ago.

In a statement, the firm said that it would pulling out of the UK from 30 May 2014.

The scheme was launched in London in December 2012 and expanded to Birmingham in May 2014, marking the 19th city around the world to offer the car2go scheme.

Wendy Ferris, car2go’s marketing and event manager, said: ‘This is a long-term decision and we will continue to use the insights gained from our presence in the UK to develop, adapt and improve the concept of car2go, leaving the possibility of a return to the English market open in the future.’

Nissan reveals new Pulsar hatchback Nissan is to re-enter the C-segment with an all-new Pulsar hatchback this autumn, claiming CO 2 emissions of less than 95g/km for the most efficient model.

Since 2007, the manufacturer's only C-segment offering has been the segmentdefining Qashqai crossover – a popular car but occasionally problematic for choice lists.

The Pulsar, which has been designed in Europe, bears many of the Qashqai and new X-Trail's styling cues, including the new V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped light signatures and swooping body lines.

The all-turbo engine line-up is similar to the Qashqai's, with the 113bhp 1.2litre DIG-T petrol and 118bhp 1.5 dCi diesel likely to be the biggest sellers in the UK. Expect the latter to offer range-lowest CO 2 emissions of less than 95g/km, equivalent to over 78mpg.

Advanced technologies are a key focus and include Nissan's Safety Shield driver assistance systems. These include Forward Emergency Braking, Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Warning.

08 / fleetworld.co.uk

fleetweet a few soundbites from a month in fleet

@JohnMoylanBBC John Moylan, BBC Industry & Employment Correspondent

New car sales in May up 7.7% yoy – marking longest ever period (27 months) of growth for UK new car market says @SMMT.

@Fleet21news Simon Turner, director, Fleet21

60% of all the people killed on our roads were in a rural location – how do we teach them to stay safe?

@au_tom_otive Tom Callow, PR consultant, Automotive PR

Just seen a @MINI Paceman with blues and twos going – an unusual police fleet choice!

@MartinW_CAP Martin Ward, Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Vauxhall confirmed today that within 2 years they will launch: 3 totally new cars +1 new derivative, 3 new engine families and 3 new gearboxes.

@MotorTrader Official Twitter account for Motor Trader Magazine

@SMMT upgrades forecast for van sales in 2014. Market now set to rise 11% to 301,300 units. Good barometer for wider #economy.

@ElecHighway Official account for the Ecotricity Electric Highway EV charging network

We have now started installing chargers (CCS) that support rapid charging for BMW i3, VW e-up! & VW e-golf #EVs #ukcharge.

@NickGibbs Nick Gibbs, automotive journalist

UK’s Linda Jackson off to be CEO of the Citroën brand.

Interviewed her as UK head of Citroën – very sharp, super knowledgeable. Good hire.

The new C-Class.

Beautifully calculated.

Just 104g /km* CO2.

A Daimler Brand

The numbers work.

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new C-Class Saloon range: urban 41.5 (6.8)–58.9 for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. The new C-Class range starts from £26,855.00 on-the-road. *Model featured is a Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your local Retailer for availability. Prices correct at time of print 05/14.

(4.8), extra urban 64.2 (4.4)–83.1 (3.4), combined 53.3 (5.3)–70.6 (4.0). CO2 emissions: 123-103 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided new C 220 BlueTEC Sport Saloon at £32,005.00 on-the-road with metallic paint at £645.00 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel).

BAROMETER Making sense of the surveys

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

The IAM has called for more information and advice on SMART motorways for drivers, after a new survey reveals that the many motorists feel less safe when driving on motorways where the system is being trialled.

According to the latest IAM poll,71% of drivers feel less safe driving on a SMART motorway with no permanent hard shoulder than a motorway with one.

40% of respondents said they did not trust that new monitoring systems, such as electronic signs, could protect them in the event of stopping in a running lane.

67% said lac k of publici ty abou t the trials w as a pr oblem, wi th many seeing little to no official guidance about SMART motorways.

48% of r espondents had saf ety c oncerns abou t the plans t o incr ease distances between hard shoulder refuge points, with many believing that refuges should be no more than 500 yards (0.45km) apart.

On a more positive note, however, of the respondents who had actually driven on a SMAR T motorway, 42% experienced reduced congestion, while 43% reported improved journey times.

Commenting on the findings, IAM chief executive, Simon Best, said: ‘SMART motorways are being rolled out across England but our survey shows that drivers want more reassurance and information on how safe they will be and how to use them. The IAM has been supportive of hard shoulder running but we have always said that the Highways Agency must be quick to learn and implement any real world lessons as more schemes come into use.’

drink-driving According to a new survey carried out by the road safety charity Brake, many fleets do not test employees for drink or drugs and less than half would dismiss an employee for drink-driving.

In a report carried out by Brake's Fleet Safety Forum, the survey revealed that 55% of employers never test employees for alcohol, and 57% never test for drugs.

Only 44% of companies would dismiss an em ployee found driving over the legal limit for alcohol.

62% would take disci plinary action ag ainst em ployees found t o have any amount of alcohol or illegal drugs in their sy stem at work, but only 30% would dismiss employees for this.

Just 47% of organisations said they educate drivers on the risks of drug -driving, and only 50% educate drivers on the risks of drink-driving.

Brake is urging all employers with staff who drive for work - whether they have a fleet of commercial vehicles, company cars or a grey fleet, to implement policies and procedures to ensure their drivers are sober, alert, not stressed or tired, and have good eyesight.

Source:Brake

12 / fleetworld.co.uk

Source: IAM

SMART motorways

fuel saving A new Ford-sponsored survey of 5,700 motorists across Europe has revealed the bad habits that cost drivers up to 33% more fuel than they really need.

Source: Ford Motor Company

According to the survey, 76% of European drivers do no t c heck their tyr es on a r egular basis – a simple change that could save up to 4% off the cost of an annual fuel bill.

38% never remove roof storage boxes, increasing fuel usage by up to 20% due to increased drag.

18% admitted that they never shop around to find the best fuel price, a habit that could add 7% to the annual bill.

German drivers were found to be the most likely to speed (89%) and drive aggressively (57%). French drivers were found to be the least likely to make a monthly tyre pressure check (18%), and Spanish drivers are most likely to always leave the air conditioning system on (19%).

While 17% said they leave heavy items in the c ar for much longer than is necessary, increasing fuel consumption by up to 2%.

The poll also revealed further opportunities to cut fuel consumption – 71% of drivers admit breaking speed limits, 42% never use the most economical r oute, 39% drive aggr essively and 14% leave the air conditioning on all the time.

Ford found that with motorists on average spending almost £2,500 on fuel each year, bills could be cut by up to £820 simply by dropping these inefficient habits.

tailgating

Source: Direct Line & Brake

According to a new survey carried out by Direct Line and Brake, dangerous habits such as tailgating and speeding are worryingly prevalent on British roads.

57% of respondents admitted to tailgating other drivers on the motorway.

60% said that they regularly break the speed limit by 10mph or more.

Of those mo torists w ho speed, men were f ound t o be the w orst offenders, with 69% regularly doing 80mph or more, compared to 53% of women.

95% of drivers said they are at least occasionally concerned about other vehicles driving too close behind them.

44% said they are concerned every, or most, times they drive on a motorway due to tailgating or speeding motorists.

Commenting on the findings, Rob Miles, director of motor trading at Direct Line, said: ‘Drive too closely at speed and motorists risk not only their own life but other road users' lives too. Whilst the UK's motorways have proportionately less crashes than other roads, speed is still the biggest killer of road users. We believe it is better to save lives than to save a few minutes of journey time.’

for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 13

inbusiness

Beefing up local solutions Both Volkswagen and Peugeot have introduced programmes aimed at driving more local business through their dealer networks. Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader, reports.

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ew car sales have powered out of recovery mode into full blown growth, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revising upwards its full year sales projection to 2.4 million. If the trade body is right this would put sales on a par with the pre-recessionary levels of 2007.

However, some believe the SMMT is being a tad conservative. Robert Hazlewood, director of Volkswagen, which itself is currently achieving record levels of sales growth, told me he expects the market to be even bigger.

‘I think everyone is now of the view that it will be somewhere between 2.4 and 2.5 million, which is almost getting back to the peak years we have seen previously. We're going to have a good year; I'm absolutely confident this will be the first year ever in the UK in which we will sell 200,000 cars,’ he said.

So what’s driving sales? For the past couple of years it has been the retail sector with private buyers finally confident about their long term employment prospects and property values, prompting them to consider trading-in their cars.

However, it's not just retail demand driving sales. The fleet sector is booming too with year to date sales to businesses running more than 25 cars up 9.6 %, while those to smaller firms with less than 25 cars has surged by 19.2%. Both figures recognise that a high proportion of fleet cars have been worked longer than their normal use by date and are now being chopped in.

The recovery has led many carmakers to review and revamp the way they manage their fleet operations at a local level, an acknowledgement that user-choosers, especially in smaller fleets, need to be treated the same as prime retail customers and that a well managed charm offensive is needed to attract and keep them with the brand; a vital consideration for dealers hoping to win service, maintenance and repair work.

Two years ago Volkswagen addressed this issue with the launch of a Small Business Leasing package through nominated fleet centres, in a strategic move to win and retain local fleet business.

‘I’m not sure any network has ever really cracked local business. Most will focus on retail, with some sites focused on fleet; it is more challenging in that local business arena,’ admitted Hazelwood.

‘But we have now spent a lot of time looking at

14 / fleetworld.co.uk

putting the right sort of offers into the marketplace for local business users and then showing the less fleet orientated retailers just how they can take full advantage of that local marketplace. It’s a combination of clarity around numbers and training and development in individual dealerships.’

The move has paid off and established some mutually beneficial links between fleets and their local dealers. Importantly for Volkswagen it has also driven a higher proportion of its fleet business through its dealer network, with the brand looking at the big picture in which retention and aftersales play vital roles.

‘The programme has worked extremely well for our 57 fleet centres but in Q1 we’ve seen a genuine takeup of local business user fleet sales by our non fleet centres. That is a positive sign that this side of the business is starting to grow.’

Peugeot has also addressed its local fleet offering with the recent launch of its new Business Centre Network programme focused on providing local fleet services across the brand's car and light commercial product lines.

The initiative is only being rolled out to 88 of its dealers, less than half its total network, all of which have needed to meet strict standards criteria. Each site has a business specialist trained to talk fleets through the best product and finance solutions for their needs.

Nick Crossley, head of Peugeot business sales, is confident the service is addressing an important local fleet need.

‘We pride ourselves in ensuring that customers receive the very highest level of care and service tailored to their business needs.

‘The dealer standards programme ensures the highest quality of service across the dealer network, so that our business customers can be assured of receiving class-leading products and services.’

From an aftersales perspective, the Peugeot Business Centres will also provide specialist business aftersales advisors, a collection and delivery service, courtesy cars and dedicated car and LCV demonstrators.

What Volkswagen and Peugeot are doing is indicative of a wider trend among carmakers to beef up their local business offerings and what better way to do it than through their franchised dealer networks?

renault.co.uk

ALL-NEW RENAULT CAPTUR CROSSOVER

All-New Captur Crossover Dynamique MediaNav ENERGY dCi 90 S&S. Great looks + great fuel efficiency = happy drivers • Touchscreen navigation • Climate control • Removable, washable seat covers

• 76.4 combined mpg • 95g/km of CO2 emissions • P11D price £16,340

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

The official fuel consumption figures for the Renault Captur Dynamique MediaNav ENERGY dCi 90 S&S are: Urban 67.3 (4.2); Extra Urban 83.1 (3.4); Combined 76.4 (3.7). The official CO2 emissions are 95g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environment figures. Fuel consumption and CO 2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.

Car shown has optional metallic paint, available at an additional £495 (or £595 for i.d. paint), plus £300 for painted roof.

inbusiness

Wrecks to riches The Insider ponders whether he could save money from his fleet budget by using reconditioned parts from crashed vehicles.

L

ong gone are my days of frequenting breakers’ yards to pick up parts for whatever old wreck I was driving around in at the time. Mind you, I did accompany a friend to one recently and noted that whilst hi-viz jackets are now mandatory, two chaps were still working underneath a car which was perched precariously on a forklift. I did the decent thing and looked away.

Although old style breakers still exist, elsewhere the idea has morphed into something wildly upmarket. Now, quality, traceable recycled parts are available for fixing fleet vehicles. Notably it was the police who gave the trend a head start. Not so long ago advertising they had achieved a two million pound saving in 18 months.

Parts are removed from damaged and written off fleet vehicles, photographed, tagged and logged in order that they can be traced, and then sold back to the donor companies, which up until now have been largely public sector. As the parts are sourced from vehicles with a known history and generally – up until now – sold back to the same donor fleets, the end user has confidence in what he is buying.

And it’s not just cost savings which the dismantlers are keen to promote; they are keen to point out that there are green benefits in reutilising existing parts, with a knock on reduction in shipping costs. Sometimes it’s quicker to source a part this way too.

Leasing company opinions about such recycling vary, but several say they are already doing it in order to save the customer money. Of course, they will be disclosing to the customer that they are using second-hand parts and saving money, won’t they? It would be naughty of me to suggest otherwise. Actually I thought they might see a reconditioned gearbox as diminution in the value of their asset, but it appears rather to be viewed as a good saving on the maintenance budget; I guess it depends which party suggests doing it.

16 / fleetworld.co.uk

If the idea takes off big time in the private sector, I think we will inevitably see some form of regulation fairly swiftly. As the end user of the parts, we need a transparent view of what we are signing up to. I’m sure those assurances are already on offer between the parties signed up but we Brits do like a bit of regulation just to be sure. Indeed there was a working party set up as long ago as 2009, to discuss just such standards. At the time it wasn’t taken any further, but I’m betting it’ll be back on the agenda shortly.

So, I hear you say, a couple of months back you were singing the praises of PAS 125 and the new kite standard; now you are considering the merits of using second-hand parts. But the recycled parts are not safety related items – things like brakes, suspension, airbags and steering components are excluded. PAS 125 states that recycled parts can be used so long as they are OE, and not safety related.

Bolt on parts would be acceptable, cut parts are not.

I believe there is a middle ground here; although I really can’t see the motor manufacturers or their component suppliers being particularly happy about the potential drop in new parts sales, so one might expect pushback from that direction.

When I first heard about recycling I thought it was a great idea and looked to see where I could sign up. But then I thought about it a bit more. If I were running a large fleet with its own internal workshops, and perhaps a limited model range, I could definitely save the firm money. For my own fleet, on the other hand, sourcing second-hand parts and taking them to the local dealership to fit might raise a few eyebrows, or more probably “you’re having a laugh mate”. So, at least until the leasing companies lend their weight to the idea en masse it appears that for me it’s one of those annoyingly great ideas that unfortunately I can’t adapt for my own fleet’s use. Good luck to those who can, because the cost savings look to be significant.

inbusiness

Q &A Roger Woodward, managing director of CD Auction Group, explains the firm’s new Fleet Crystallisation programme, in which small to medium fleets and leasing companies can agree a price for vehicles upon defleet, leaving them with no further risk.

How does it work?

‘Under the Fleet Crystallisation programme, CD Auction Group will offer to pay the vendor an agreed value for any vehicle within 56 hours of it arriving on site. CD Auction Group will then take full responsibility for remarketing that vehicle and any subsequent auction risk on it.

‘We will protect auction vendors against any fall in future residual values; ensure they get paid in full for a vehicle within 56 hours of it arriving on site and guarantee they are left with no unsold vehicles.

‘The programme means vendors benefit from improved cash flow, can avoid “distress” selling into a poor market and can defleet substantial batches of similar vehicles at one time, without fear of “flooding” the market.

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‘Once the vehicles have been entered into the programme, we will take the responsibility and risk of releasing them for sale at the right time and in the right way. This could include decisions about holding vehicles back until market conditions improve, controlling volumes to market and vehicle refurbishment.’

What are its advantages to the defleeter?

‘This new finance programme, which is unique to CD Auction Group, has the potential to transform the cash flow of companies sending their vehicles to our online auction.

‘We believe it could be instrumental in removing some of the blockages in the fleet supply chain by guaranteeing virtually instant cash, up front, for vehicles coming to market. This could improve trading conditions across the industry.

‘It means vendors can avoid the peaks and troughs of the market, get their money up front and leave the risk with us.

‘Of course, all our customers will have a choice.

It’s up to them whether they stick to our successful “traditional” auction or take up our funding offer and get the cash up front.’

How do yo u v alue the ca rs a nd w hat c harges a re there for you taking the risk?

‘Valuations will be based on a vendor’s fleet profile, previous sale results and typical returns at CD Auction Group sales. The valuations will be made subject to vehicle condition and CD Auction Group will charge a standard handling fee per vehicle.’

‘We will protect auction vendors against any fall in future residual values.’

inbusiness trading places

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New head of fleet for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has appointed Chris Black to the newly created role of head of fleet, with effect from 9 June 2014.

Black joins the brand from Lombard Corporate Asset Finance where he held the role of UK head of corporate coverage. He brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the automotive and financial sectors.

Matt Dyer becomes new MD of LeasePlan LeasePlan UK commercial director Matt Dyer has been appointed as its new managing director, effective immediately.

His appointment follows the departure of David Brennan who joins Nexus as its new CEO. Dyer has been commercial director for over four years and has been with LeasePlan for over 18 years.

Mercedes announces new roles for fleet chiefs Mercedes head of fleet Nick Andrews is to take up a new role as fleet and remarketing director.

The move sees Andrews take a leadership role within fleet with the added responsibility for used cars and remarketing.

Meanwhile Sally Dennis is to lead the fleet team under her new role as head of fleet.

The news comes as the fleet team looks to build on 2013’s record fleet performance.

Volkswagen confirms plug-in hybrid and new diesel engines for 2015 Passat

V

olkswagen has announced details for its 2015 Passat line-up, which goes on sale at the end of the year including a high-output diesel and a plug-in hybrid.

Due to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, the eighth-generation Passat saloon and estate range will feature fuel eďŹƒciency improvements of up to 20% thanks in part to an 85kg reduction in weight and a marginal decrease in size, despite a larger cabin.

The engine line-up will include a high-performance, four-cylinder, 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel delivering

237bhp and 369lb.ft of torque from 1,750 rpm. This engine will be available only with a new seven-speed DSG gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

There will also be a plug-in hybrid that will share its drivetrain with the Golf GTE, pairing a 154bhp 1.4 TSI petrol engine with a 107bhp electric motor. This offers a 31-mile electric range from its lithium-ion battery, and a maximum combined range of around 600 miles, while producing 208bhp and reaching 62mph in under eight seconds.

fleetworld.co.uk / 19

inbusiness

What I’ve learnt Simon Staton, director of client management at Venson, on why Steve Jobs is right and finding the correct work-life balance.

The right values The most important lesson I have learnt in my working career is that you can’t know everything and you can’t control everything. What works is having a team of like-minded people, with a range of expertise and knowledge and who all share the same values in life. And for me it’s the traditional values that matter most. In my top four would be flexibility. The ability to adapt to changing priorities is a must, particularly when you’re working in a customer-facing role. Next would be accountability. Always striving to do the right thing by other people and fulfilling promises that you make. This is closely followed by integrity. Being open and honest and true to yourself, as well as always striving to treat people in the way in which you would like to be treated. And then there’s humour. Even in the most challenging times, when the pressure is on, sometimes you just need to be able to see the lighter side. It often helps to ease the load for the people around you.

Having a strong team ethos is also very important, and is paramount when you’re delivering front-line services. Having people working with you who are enthusiastic, committed and demonstrate a can-do attitude helps to build lasting customer partnerships.

The ability to innovate is also key. It’s great to find winning formulas in business, but they don’t often come easy. Adapting to changing market conditions and continually exceeding customer expectations requires fresh thinking, unbalancing the status quo and being prepared to take calculated risks. Innovating can be challenging, frustrating and not always deliver what you anticipated. But as Steve Jobs said: ‘Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.’

Create a flexible and rewarding workplace Businesses need to value experience and loyalty in their people and where appropriate

22 / fleetworld.co.uk

maintain a flexible attitude to employees who have childcare commitments I’m a great believer in making every effort to develop home-grown talent. Nurturing and promoting existing staff that have the ability and aptitude to succeed is both rewarding and helps to maintain a high staff retention rate. This in turn leads to greater business stability and higher levels of customer satisfaction.

However, to do this well flexibility is often the key and business sometimes has to adapt its approach to utilising staff. Job-sharing and accommodating reduced hours for parents forms an integral part of this, but it’s also important to think outside the box. Can an employee move to a different part of the business where their knowledge can still be useful, but the work is more suited to their change in circumstances?

At Venson, job share and part-time work for noncustomer facing roles is very much part of our employment terms.

Dealing with issues I’m fortunate that I have always been able to get to sleep – it’s the being woken up by two young children that has accelerated the ageing process in recent years!

However, even when I have challenges to face, having a plan of action and being able to make decisions promptly helps with this. Nothing gets in the way of clear thinking like a dozen decisions hanging around you, waiting for action.

I also find making time for exercise, my family and friends definitely helps. It’s about getting a balance in life. No matter where you sit in an organisation having a sensible, practical approach to achieving a work life balance is important, if not challenging in itself on occasion. Even small adjustments to your working day can deliver tangible results. Taking 10 or 15 minutes out of a hectic day to do something that will help recharge your batteries, and get you out from behind a computer screen can help. It could be as simple as walking to talk to a colleague rather than emailing or getting out in the fresh air.

ŠKODA FLEET. IT’S A WIN, WIN SITUATION.

ŠKODA Octavia. Best Estate Car

ŠKODA. Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer 2014

inbusiness

Gear up to accountancy standards transparency Neal Francis of Pendragon Contracts reckons changes to the lease accounting standards will see fleets using more flexible lease products.

T

he ongoing consultation process around the proposed accountancy changes to formulate a common standard for all leased assets including company cars has put forward the proposal that all leases, whether they are finance or operating leases, should be on the company’s balance sheet.

As a result, companies would be required to highlight how much their future liabilities are to their lease provider for these leased assets. The exception to this is short-term leases of less than 12 months, which will be exempt from the restriction.

Currently, if businesses are leasing vehicles on an operating lease they benefit by the liability not being shown on the balance sheet. In the future, the liability and assets must be transparent to lenders, demonstrating the total financial commitments of the organisation.

This new approach is referred to as the “right of use” approach and will mean the company (the lessee) would need to present the right to use the leased item and its corresponding liability (how much they owe the leasing company for leasing the vehicle) in their accounts. This could lead to a change in a company’s policy when it comes to leasing items of property, machinery, vehicles, etc.

For companies with a strong balance sheet the proposed changes should not have a significant impact. However, for organisations with a high level of indebtedness and gearing it may affect their ability to obtain credit with asset funders, banks and other lenders.

It certainly makes logical sense for the financiers and accountancy profession to adopt a

FIN fleet in numbers

The price premium for the first-ever five-door MINI hatch, available this autumn.

consistent approach on how assets (owned or not) are represented on companies’ accounts.

Without this approach, working out what the true level of liabilities and indebtedness of a business is will remain a challenge and therefore many organisations within the corporate sector could potentially be refused funding at a time when the sector is showing some initial signs of re-investing.

If companies are concerned about their gearing with lenders some may choose to rent or lease from suppliers for less than 12 months, relieving them of their obligation to show the assets on the balance sheet. If so, we’re likely to see the introduction of product innovations from the contract hire or flexi-rent sectors designed to attract this type of business. These might be in the form of more short-term leases (12 months or less) with no renewal option so that they retain the existing benefits of operating leases and qualify for off-balance sheet accounting under the proposed new standards.

With the consultation process still not exhausted – it is expected to be completed by the end of the summer 2014 – the timelines will be crystallised and the process will become clearer. The new standards are then likely to be adopted by 2017 with full progressive change achieved by 2018.

In the meantime, companies are advised to consult with their accountant and leasing or fleet management provider to check all the facts and figures and choose the appropriate course of action so they can ensure they are ready when the new standards come into force.

£600 92% UK drivers who admit to potentially dangerous driving habits behind the wheel.

SOURCE: Flexed.co.uk

SOURCE: MINI

24 / fleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

The Intelligent Hybrid The latest Mercedes-Benz hybrids can read the road ahead to take full advantage of energy recuperation. Alex Grant finds out how it works.

What is it?

Debuted on the S-Class Hybrid and now available on the C-Class Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz has developed a system designed to take full advantage of topography for charging and discharging a battery through energy recuperation.

The claims Hybrid vehicles feature an electric motor, used to either provide extra power to the petrol engine to reduce load and fuel consumption or to drive using only battery power. This is also used as a generator while decelerating, using the turning force of the wheels to put power back into the battery.

But this can be inefficient. Arriving at a long downhill section with a fully charged battery wastes an opportunity to recuperate energy through the motor-generator, so Mercedes-Benz has designed a system which allows its hybrids to charge and discharge intelligently.

How does it work?

Using data stored in the COMAND Online navigation system, the car is able to analyse the topography for 4.4 miles of the road ahead, broken into a grid of onemetre squares, and identify how much energy can be recuperated. The system is always active, and can make intelligent assumptions about where the vehicle is headed even if the driver doesn’t have a route set in the navigation.

This data is then combined with information about the vehicle weight and the behaviour of the

26 / fleetworld.co.uk

driver, such as how heavily they are braking and how fast they are travelling, plus the additional load from auxiliary systems in the cabin, and sent to the hybrid system’s Central Powertrain Controller.

Knowing how much energy can be recuperated in the near future means the drivetrain can choose to discharge the battery by using the motor to assist the petrol or diesel engine. This reduces the load on the engine and saves fuel, but also means the battery has enough capacity to fully recharge when it reaches a downhill stretch of road.

Routes where large amounts of energy can be recuperated are highlighted in green.

The results Mercedes-Benz says the system was developed to mirror strategic energy use from the new generation of hybrid Formula 1 cars.

These are reliant on the 160bhp power increase offered by a battery-powered electric motor under heavy acceleration, so have to pre-plan stretches of recuperation to recharge the battery and stay competitive.

The manufacturer’s Formula 1 hybrid drivetrain has taken eight of the nine podium places for the first three races of 2014 and, for road cars, more efficient energy use should help real-world economy without the extra cost of larger batteries.

SPOTLIGHT Citroën C4 Cactus

Desert storm Inspired by classic Citroëns, but using the latest engine technology, the C4 Cactus takes a minimalist approach to the C-segment with some impressive cost reductions as a result, as Alex Grant explains.

As light as a supermini Like i ts namesak e, the C4 Cactus has been engineer ed t o use as f ew resources as possible. It uses a C3-derived platform, sized up to C4 dimensions and f eaturing po p-out rear windows, an al uminium bonnet and single-piece backrest for the rear bench to save weight. This helps reduce wear and tear on consumable items, and even the washer jets, integrated into the wiper arms, are designed to cut screenwash usage in half.

With an l ow kerb weight of 965kg, Ci troën has been abl e to buck the trend for rising power outputs. Petrol options are likely to be three-cylinder engines from the carmaker’s PureTech range, including the C1’s VTi 82 to the turbocharged THP 110 recently introduced in the 308, with CO2 emissions confirmed from 100g /km. BlueHDI and e- HDI micro-hybrid diesels will off er the r ange-best 8 2g/km C O2 emissions and 91.1m pg.

Regardless of engine choice, the combination of its tiny weight and wheels pushed out to the corners should make it an agile, fun car to drive.

28 / fleetworld.co.uk

FLEET FACT The C4 Cactus will target a 20% whole-life cost reduction against the C-segment benchmark.

Classic design, updated Citroën took inspiration from its own heritage inside the C4 Cactus , and the r esult is unlike anything else in i ts class. Driver and passenger seats are joined, to look like a bench, and elements of the dashboard and door pulls are designed to look like leather luggage straps.

The passenger airbag is relocated to the top of the windscreen, creating space for a large glovebox, and c ars f eaturing Ci troën’s ET G automated gearbox get dashboard-mounted gear selection buttons, freeing space in the centre console.

But the d esign is v ery mod ern. The C4 Cactus adopts the same all-digital dashboard as the C4 Pic asso, i ts c entral t ouchscreen taking c are of media, na vigation, air c onditioning and t elephony, w hile a tabl et-like display above the steering wheel shows trip computer readings. The options list includes semi-automated Park Assist, Hill Start Assist, a reversing camera, eTouch to call the emergency servic es and Ci troën M ulticity Connect, adding w eb-enabled a pps t o the touch screen.

What we think...

Citroën has delivered on the simplicity of its 2007 Cactus concept car here, cutting costs bu t wi th a lar ge d ose of Fr ench design f lair. Expect ed t o be pric ed between the C3 and C4 , w hich w ould mean an entry price of around £13,000 in the UK, and pr omising w hole-life c osts 20% below the segment benchmarks and 10% l ower than the bes t in c lass, i ts rational a ppeal is bac ked b y cr ossoveresque s tyling f avoured b y bu yers. This will certainly polarise opinions, but the C4 Cactus should ha ve no pr oblem conquesting buyers in the UK. AG

Simple and robust Looking a little like a compact crossover, the C4 Cactus w ears the same tw o-piece headlamps and smoo th, un complicated, unaggressive body s tyling as the ne w C1 and C4 Picasso, set to become hallmarks of Citroën’s forthcoming C-Line models. Integrated roofbars ar e inc luded acr oss the r ange, and options include a panoramic roof and graphic packs to personalise its distinctive styling.

But the most instantly recognisable feature is the polyurethane Airbump panels used on vulnerable areas of the bod ywork. The air filled sections d eflect im pacts fr om d oors, trolleys and other light car park damage and, because they take minutes to remove, they reduce repair costs, downtime and insurance premiums too. These can be selected in four colours, to complement or contrast one of 10 shades offered on the bodywork.

fleetworld.co.uk / 29

THE NEW BMW 4 SERIES POWER DRESSER.

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé marks the final addition to the 4 Series family, completing the range. Combining the muscular and sporty design of the 4 Series Coupé with frameless doors, lower stretched roofline, and the practicality of a 5-door, the new model is set to be a popular addition to company car fleets. Innovative technology options include iDrive Touch Controller, Head-up Display and Adaptive LED headlights, while performance is enhanced by the Aero Curtain and Air Breather, working to guarantee optimum aerodynamic efficiency.

EfficientDynamics technologies help the 4 Series Gran Coupé achieve up to 61.4mpg (combined), and CO2 emissions as little as 121g/km, so BIK starts at just 20%.

To find out more visit www.bmwcorporate.co.uk or call 0800 777 113.

THE NEW BMW 4 SERIES GRAN COUPÉ. UP TO 61.4MPG (COMBINED). FROM 121G/KM CO2.

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé range: Urban 24.4-52.3mpg (11.4-5.4l/100km).

Extra Urban 44.8-68.9mpg (6.3-4.1l/100km). Combined 34.0-61.4mpg (8.3-4.6l/100km). CO2 emissions 193-121g/km.

Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

BMW Corporate Sales

bmwcorporate.co.uk Tel: 0800 777 113

GRAN COUPÉ.

The Ultimate Driving Machine

Nissan X-Trail A radical change for the new X-Trail will make it a much bigger fleet car, explains Alex Grant.

SECTOR SUV PRICE £22,295 FUEL 53.3–57.6mpg CO2 129–139g/km

W

ith retail-heavy annual sales of less than 2,500 cars, Nissan’s X-Trail has traditionally been a small player in the fleet sector. But this third generation car stands to have a much more important role in the range.

The seven-seat Qashqai +2 was dropped from the new model last year, said to be in line with customer demands.

That’s not to say it was a niche car – it accounted for 20% of the crossover’s UK sales, or around 10,000 units per year – but it was popular for the extra load space offered by its larger cabin, rather than its third row of seats.

So the X-Trail has two roles to fill. On the one hand, it has to cater for buyers of the old car who rated its towing ability and utilitarian qualities. At the other end of the spectrum, it now features two-wheel drive with an aim to attract migrating Qashqai customers, which explains why its trademark slab-sided styling has made way for a much curvier design.

The effects on its fleet presence are significant.

Although the swing towards fleet sales doesn’t sound like drivers are expected to size up for luggage space and much, at 40% compared to its predecessor’s 25%, it’s stick with five seats, but the third row seating adds worth noting that this is a share of 11,000 units and £700 across the range. Excluding the entry-level Visia, represents almost a seven-fold increase in four-wheel drive adds £1,700 and Nissan’s volumes being sold to corporate customers. stepped CVT gearbox costs £1,350, but is FLEET FACT So whole-life costs have come under only available with two-wheel drive. scrutiny here. The old car’s 2.0-litre, 173bhp Similarities with its stablemate go much Expected to engine has gone, and in its place is the same further than the body. Its cabin design and 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine used in the Qashqai materials feel familiar from the Qashqai, and absorb most of since 2012. It’s a very quiet engine which all five-seat versions feature the same luggage the Qashqai +2’s doesn’t feel underpowered in the larger board system as the smaller crossover, allow10,000 UK sales.

X-Trail, despite the drop in power. Most imporing the huge boot to be separated into useful tantly it slashes CO2 emissions to 129g/km smaller spaces using sections of the load floor. and lifts fuel economy to 57.6mpg for the predicted fleetFor cars with seven seats, the third row isn’t significantly favourite two-wheel drive manual version. more spacious than in most MPVs. There’s enough room Nissan has kept the range simple, too. Most fleet for adults on short journeys, if the middle row is pushed forward, but it’s better suited to children. Five and seven seat versions can be equipped with a folding passenger seat, giving a 2.6-metre load length – which is enough to carry a packaged Ikea bookcase, with room to spare.

The biggest differences are felt from behind the wheel.

Although the X-Trail shares its modular platform with the Qashqai, there’s been a marked attempt to make it feel more like a D-Segment estate car than its agile smaller sibling. Motorway manners are excellent, the engine delivering strong performance despite its small size and ride quality is respectable even on large wheels, but the raised ride height for off-roading means there's noticeably more body roll on tighter roads.

Broader appeal is guaranteed, though. Sales of the first Qashqai have shown that customers like rugged but car-like crossovers with low running costs, more than utilitarian off-roaders, and the versatility on offer here makes it a worthy step up in the range.

32 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think highlights Up to 90kg lighter than the old X-Trail Reductions in SMR costs, insurance and fuel consumption Available with two-wheel drive for the first time

Looking more like a crossover than its slab-sided predecessors, the softer styling and improved running costs bode well for the X-Trail as it aims to fill the gap left by the absent Qashqai +2.

The once niche SUV stands up well as a viable alternative to a D-Segment estate car for fleet customers, while continuing to satisfy the towing needs of its loyal retail customer base.

key fleet model Nissan X-Trail 1.6 dCi n-tec 2WD

fleetworld.co.uk / 33

Volkswagen Golf SV Danny Cobbs tries to understand the new SV’s fleet appeal.

SECTOR Mini-MPV PRICE £18,875–£26,815 FUEL 50.4–76.3mpg CO2 95–130g/km

T

he new Golf SV is one of those cars which, on both and a 5.8-inch touchscreen monitor as standard, while paper and in the metal, seems quite an appealing the SE and GT receives adaptive cruise control with front proposition. Yet who it is exactly going to appeal assist and city emergency braking. to, I’m not quite sure.

The longer wheelbase and wider track makes the cabin And those were near enough my exact same thoughts feel more spacious than a standard hatchback and the when I drove the Golf Plus for the first time. Back then, I rear bench slides backward or forwards, to either give scratched my head and wondered who would need, or greater legroom to back seat passengers or increase the desire, and then pay for the privilege of owning what was load area slightly. Fold the back seat flat to the floor – fundamentally a Golf hatchback with an additional 20mm which has the option to be split in 40-20-40 configuraof extra headroom? But then again, what do I know? Since tion – and its cargo capacity expands from 500 litres to it first went into production, nine years ago, Volkswagen 1,520 litres, which is 76 litres more than the outgoing has sold over 900,000 units, globally.

Golf Plus. The front passenger seat also Volkswagen is clearly on a mission to folds fully forward to give 2,484mm of prove me wrong again, and the Golf unobstructed length.

Sportsvan – or SV – is all set to replace Despite the fact it could easily be the car I couldn’t fathom out, with mistaken for a small and mundane another car I still can’t fathom out. people carrier, the Sportsvan driving It shares the same platform and runcharacteristics still mirror those of ning gear as its smaller and larger sibits hatchback brother, which is never lings, but it now has a sense of its own going to be a bad thing, even if it individuality. The Golf design DNA is seems a tad predictable. still prevalent throughout, mildly disWhen it comes to the choice of guised behind a cloak of what seems to engines and transmissions Volkswagen be the architecture of a mini-MPV. The has stuck to the tried and tested, end product, however, does culminate leaving the selection between two into something which appears to be a petrols – a 1.2-litre TSI or 1.4-litre TSI, The Golf SV is a bit of an slightly effeminate, anabolic-steroid or two diesels; either the 1.6-litre TDI anomaly. Mixing MPV, enhanced Golf. It’s so wrong, it’s right. and 2.0-litre TDI. There’s also a 1.6estate and hatchback, Inside, anyone who has recently litre 108bhp six-speed manual Bluedriven a new Golf could be sitting motion which, unsurprisingly, delivers it ticks many boxes, but behind the wheel of the SV and swear it the best economy – 76.3mpg and leaves a sense that it may was the same car. Even the trim levels 95g/km CO2. All these engines are the have done better ticking exact same sources of power found in follow that of the Golf hatchback, with one or two very well. the rest of the Golf range, with virtually the S, SE and GT. All cars are equipped identical performance figures to match. with Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio

what we think

34 / fleetworld.co.uk

THE NEWSEAT S LEON VOTED BEST CAR N IT’S CLASS 2014

AND THE WINNER IS...

ENJOYNEERING FOLLOW US ON:

SEAT.CO.UK

Official fuel consumption for the SEAT Leon range in mpg (litres pe00km): urban 36.7 (7.7) – 72.4 (3.9); extra-urban 57.6 (4.9) – 91.1 (3.1); combined 47.9 (5.9) – 85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions 137 – 87gm. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results.

THE

WE’D OUR SAL MUM Official fuel consumption for the SEAT Leon range in mpg (litres per (3.1); combined 47.9 (5.9) – 85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions 137 – 87g/ reflect real driving results.

SEAT LEON

D JUST LIKE TO THANK R DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS, ESMEN, DRIVERS, MS, DADS...

100km): urban 36.7 (7.7) – 72.4 (3.9); extra-urban 57.6 (4.9) – 91.1 km. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not

ENJOYNEERING FOLLOW US ON:

SEAT.CO.UK

THE NEW SEAT LEON VOTED BEST CAR IN IT’S CLASS 2014

ENJOYNEERING FOLLOW US ON:

SEAT.CO.UK

Official fuel consumption for the SEAT Leon range in mpg (litres per 100km): urban 36.7 (7.7) – 72.4 (3.9); extra-urban 57.6 (4.9) – 91.1 (3.1); combined 47.9 (5.9) – 85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions 137 – 87g/km. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results.

Porsche Macan S Diesel

The Evoque's new challenger will become a sought-after corporate car, Steve Moody thinks.

SECTOR Premium SUV PRICE £43,300 FUEL 44.8mpg CO2 159g/km

Y

pany car drivers who choose a Porsche are hardly in it for ou might not think that you are likely to have many financial brevity, are they?

Porsches on your fleet, but I’d wager that is about What they are in it for is a badge with bomb-proof to change. brand values and performance, and on both counts the That is because the new Porsche Macan is set to rival the Macan scores. Already, the first 12 months’ allocation is Range Rover Evoque as the corporate car many executives sold out and the residual values are likely to be as healthy desire above all. In the next 10 years, industry analysts as any car on sale, which should help chisel a few pounds reckon global market demand for this small SUV sector off monthly lease rates when the time comes. will quadruple from around 400,000 units currently to When it comes to performance, the Macan is in a differnearly 1.8 million because, instead of smart, sleek saloons ent league to any other SUV. With the clever four-wheel and estates, buyers are increasingly wanting something a drive system adapted from the 911 Turbo and air suspenlittle chunkier, a little more distinctive. sion, the higher-end performance modThe Macan most certainly ticks those els handle more like sports cars than boxes. Based loosely on the Audi Q5’s family 4x4s. It’s so utterly mind-bending platform, so smaller than the Cayenne, that you have to recalibrate your expecits steeply raked rear window and tations of what a car like this can do. aquiline nose make it look a lot less The diesel, with some with springs as oafish than its big brother. In fact, it is a standard, is a little less surprising in the very good-looking car and in a sector way it takes corners and more typical of where aesthetics are important, it looks high-sided cars but the trade-off is an well-judged. improved, more supple, ride quality.

The cabin is equally impressive, The range of standard features in the smeared with firm leather and a Macan S Diesel is fairly extensive, but plethora of buttons, which is something then it is hardly cheap with prices startof a Porsche trait as other manufacturing at more than £43,000. And, as with ers increasingly group functions on TV all premium brands, you have to be screens and rotary controllers.

It’s a remarkable thing careful when browsing the options list There are two turbo petrol engines with incredible performor you can inflate the price incredibly. offering as much as 400bhp, but the ance and very high qualThe cleverest option is Torque Vecdiesel will be by far the biggest seller, and toring Plus, which offers variable disit’s not hard to see why. Its 3.0-litre V6 ity. You will pay through tribution of the drive torque to the rear turbodiesel engine impresses with a the nose for it, and the wheels in conjunction with an electronmaximum torque of 428lb.ft, 255hp and wait for one will be long, ically controlled rear differential lock. combined fuel economy of 46.3 mpg. CO2 but it will be worth it. emissions at 159 g/km is hardly someThe result is that this SUV now handles thing to write home about, but then commore like a Cayman.

what we think

fleetworld.co.uk / 35

SWOTTeam This month the SWOT Team analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new Maserati Ghibli Diesel against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

AC This has the brand appeal to take on the German favourites in this segment; many won’t mind having a Maserati on their drive instead of a premium German brand.

AC It lacks a little refinement on some surfaces, but is pretty quiet on smooth tarmac.

Ergonomically it could be better as well; the touch screen system would benefit from a central control button/dial

AC This gives Maserati a chance to capture some of the top end of the segment. The BMW is in excess of £2,000 cheaper in BiK for a 40% taxpayer over three years, but the Ghibli comes in second, with opportunities for those who want something different.

AC The Ghibli can certainly hold its head up high against its peers but it still has a little to do with regards to refinement.

MJ An exclusive badge, great looks, highly equipped with a well-appointed luxury interior and a style in direct contrast to the classy but conservative German premium brands.

This is a legitimate contender.

AS The Maserati brand conjures up an Italian thoroughbred performance car, the iconic racing history – many would jump at the chance of driving one. This looks like it could have a strong point to argue against these rivals.

MW The Ghibli looks splendid, and has the Maserati badges and all the heritage connected with the brand.

38 / fleetworld.co.uk

MJ Maserati’s track record has been large niche products, so it has a very limited track record to support its proposition. Initially offering only one diesel will restrict some opportunity.

AS The downsides of the brand are enough to make any fleet decision maker wince with anguish at its other reputation. Fragile, temperamental, unreliable, expensive bills etc...

MW Maserati is new into the fleet arena, and so consequently does not have any previous form. There are bound to be reliability concerns, though they are unfounded.

MJ Even the luxury Japanese offerings don’t find this sector easy, but a fresh alternative may stand a chance. This has an important role to play in Maserati’s plans to increase global sales five-fold to 50,000 units by the end of 2015.

AS A popular sector, despite many SUVs in this price bracket.

Not the cleanest or cheapest to run, but it is competitive.

MW It will be bought by the heart, and those with a passion for cars, and will sell well initially to the petrol-headed driver with a large budget.

MJ Many larger fleets may exclude this product either as an unknown quantity or because it could be seen as too overtly a performance car for business use. The dealer experience has to match the best available in this sector – a risk and an opportunity.

AS At this end of the market there is so much choice and many drivers will opt for an SUV. MW The Ghibli will go through a fantastic honeymoon period, where owing and driving one, and parking it in the company car park, will certainly raise their standing… and some eyebrows.

But this could be short-lived so Maserati will need to work hard to keep it on choice lists.

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Maserati Ghibli Diesel

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

Strengths AC Brand appeal, competitive costs.

MJ Something different, good looking and high driver appeal.

AS Appealing brand, in a popular sector.

MW Styling and brand heritage.

Strengths

Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI S line

AC Good looking and practical.

MJ Highly flexible and now standard with five seats. Quattro versatility.

AS Unique and surprisingly economical.

MW Good looks, hatchback practicality.

AC Rear visibility suffers.

MJ Hatchback versatility is not a benefit to all.

AS A rare sight, rear end an acquired taste.

MW Too much like an overgrown A5?

Hasn’t found its place in the market.

OTR: £49,980 P11D: £50,570 Fuel: 47.9mpg CO2: 156g/km RV*: £15,750 (31%) BiK: 27% SMR: £3,231 Fuel costs: £7,768 Insurance: £5,445 Finance: £6,827 NI: £5,862 VED: £540 Cost per month: £1,793

Strengths

BMW 535d M Sport

AC The best dynamically by far.

MJ The benchmark. Enthusiastic drivers will not be disappointed.

AS A safe bet, and a popular choice.

MW Good value, low CO2 and fleet dealer backing too.

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD, Bluetooth, 2x SD, USB/Aux in • Cruise control • Sat nav with 6.5-inch display • Leather, electric front seats • Front/rear parking sensors • Dual zone climate control • Auto lights, wipers and dimmer Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £655 • Adaptive headlights £600 • Reversing camera £400

AC Interior could be better.

MJ The 520d is a popular car, which may make this feel less exclusive.

AS A car you wouldn’t look at twice.

MW The 520d is more than adequate.

OTR: £48,515 P11D: £48,320 Fuel: 50.4mpg CO2: 148g/km RV*: £17,975 (37%) BiK: 25% SMR: £4,143 Fuel costs: £7,373 Insurance: £5,895 Finance: £6,523 NI: £5,201 VED: £435 Cost per month: £1,666

Strengths

Jaguar XF 3.0 V6d S Portfolio

Weaknesses

Jaguar XF

Standard equipment: • Radio/CD, Bluetooth, SD/USB and Aux in • Active cruise control • Sat nav with 8.4-inch screen • Leather, electric front seats • Front/Rear parking sensors • Dual zone climate control • Auto lights, wipers and dimmer Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £660 • Adaptive front lighting £660 • Rear camera, keyless entry £792

AC Refinement not up to scratch.

MJ Single diesel engine, and no track record in fleet.

AS Many SUVs at this price bracket.

MW Lack of fleet dealers could put some buyers off.

Weaknesses

BMW 535d

Maserati Ghibli Diesel OTR: £48,830 P11D: £48,600 Fuel: 47.8mpg CO2: 158g/km RV*: £19,625 (40%) BiK: 27% SMR: £5,438 Fuel costs: £7,785 Insurance: £6,450 Finance: £6,561 NI: £5,634 VED: £540 Cost per month: £1,707

Weaknesses

Audi A7 Sportback

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

AC Good all-rounder, classy interior.

MJ Performance, economy and finish, plus competitive running costs.

AS Supreme class and image.

MW Plenty going for it, standard spec is impressive.

Weaknesses AC Beginning to show its age a little.

MJ In the latter stages of this generation.

AS The new model is not that far off.

MW Under threat from the other premium brands.

OTR: £49,510 P11D: £49,280 Fuel: 47.1mpg CO2: 159g/km RV*: £15,850 (32%) BiK: 27% SMR: £3,416 Fuel costs: £7,900 Insurance: £5,775 Finance: £6,653 NI: £5,713 VED: £540 Cost per month: £1,763

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD, Bluetooth, USB and Aux in • Cruise control • Sat nav with 6.5-inch screen • Leather, electric front seats • Front/rear parking sensors • Dual zone climate control • Metallic paint • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer Optional equipment: • Rev camera & auto park £1,615 • Adaptive headlights £540

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD, Bluetooth, USB and Aux-in • Cruise control • Sat nav with 7-inch screen • Heated and cooled leather seats • Rear parking sensors • Dual zone climate control • Auto lights, wipers and dimmer • Electric memory seats Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £650 • Adaptive front lighting £450

* 3yr/60k

fleetworld.co.uk / 39

We reveal the products and services that, in the opinion of our panel of expert judges, represent the best that’s on offer in the fleet industry today.

And the winner is... in association with

Consulting

Consulting

IT is with great sadness that we report the death of Dara Clarke, chief executive of White Clarke Group, very shortly after presenting the Fleet World Honours at the Royal Automobile Club on Tuesday 20th May. Mr Clarke died on Sunday 25th May 2014 after being struck by lightning on Thursday 22nd May whilst hosting a charity golf match in Watford. He was an immensely popular man who will be greatly missed by all in the fleet industry.

fleetworld.co.uk / 41

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Van Awards The Van Awards are presented by Van Fleet World’s John Kendall (far left), Dara Clarke, chief executive officer, White Clarke Group and Pam Halliday, sales director, White Clarke Automotive Solutions.

sponsored by

With a core team whose innovation, expertise and undeniable White Clarke Automotive Solutions is a major full service provider in every aspect of the automotive solutions business.

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For further information visit whiteclarkeauto.com

Best Light Van Fiat Fiorino, Peugeot Bipper & Citroën Nemo payload and low “ High running costs gives these

Francesco Russiello – Fiat, Jeremy Smith – Citroën, and Gareth Foden – Peugeot collect the award

”

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

three enduring appeal.

If you need a light van, the versatile Bipper/Fiorino/Nemo is hard to beat.

Best New Van & Best Small Van Ford Transit Connect new Transit Connect “ The offers payloads up to

” Phil Hollins collects both awards for Ford 42 / fleetworld.co.uk

1,000kg, a choice of fuel-efficient engines and its great to drive.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

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Best Medium Van Ford Transit Custom abilities and “ All-round impressive driving

”

characteristics make the Transit Custom a winner for the second year running.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Dave Petts picks up the award for Ford

Best Large Van Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

“ ”

The Sprinter’s broad range helps it to carry the day yet again.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Simon Neill collects the award for Mercedes-Benz

Best Light Truck Fuso Canter Canter is a solid “ The winner with its range

VAN

of options and impressive hybrid.

2014 HONOURS

”

FLEETW RLD

Simon Wood with the award for Fuso Canter fleetworld.co.uk / 43

VAN FLEETW RLD

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2014 HONOURS Best Pick-Up Ford Ranger Ranger offers a “ The wide range of drive

”

options and body styles and is one of the few pickup trucks that can be fitted with a tachograph.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Phil Hollins picks up the award for Ford

Editor’s Awards

Presented by Van Fleet World editor, Dan Gilkes (left), Dara Clarke, chief executive officer, White Clarke Group and Pam Halliday, sales director, White Clarke Automotive Solutions

Safety Award Mercedes-Benz is still leading “ Mercedes the way with a range of

VAN

electronic driver aids, with more to come.

2014 HONOURS

”

FLEETW RLD

Simon Neill picks up the award for Mercedes-Benz

Environment Award Renault Z.E. is no doubting “ There Renault’s commitment

” Darren Payne collects the award for Renault 44 / fleetworld.co.uk

to EVs – none of its rivals come close and for that Renault is a worthy winner.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

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 £16,244 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.vauxhallfleet.co.uk/testdrive 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.3daytestdrive.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 (June 2014).

VAN FLEETW RLD

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2014 HONOURS

Innovation Award Renault/Vauxhall twin turbo 1.6-litre diesel efficient engines “ More are key and the 1.6-litre

”

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

power unit for the new Trafic and Vivaro shows it can be done without loss of power.

Richard Collier - Vauxhall and Darren Payne - Renault collect the award

Technology Award Quartix consistent record of “ Atechnological innovation

”

has been enhanced with the addition to their fleet offering of a Safe Speed Database providing safety, cost and environmental benefits.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Andy Kirk picks up the award for Quartix

Internet Award TRACKER recent tie-up with “ The Garmin means that the

” Kriss Cocomazzi collects the award for TRACKER 46 / fleetworld.co.uk

TRACKER Vision product is backed up with a fuel-saving guarantee – that’s hard to beat.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS Security Award Ford Transit Custom Custom’s high level “ Transit of security equipment as

”

standard provides fleet managers with the confidence that neither their vans nor their contents are going to fall prey to thieves.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Dave Petts picks up the award for Ford

Editor’s Award Nissan e-NV200/British Gas e-NV200 electric van “ The shows the industry is taking

”

the EV market increasingly seriously. British Gas has played a pivotal role here.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Barry Beeston, Nissan and Steve Winter, British Gas collect the award

Fleet Management Service Award Arval Van Specifier Specifier is a service that “ Van has grown through customer

” Robert Pieczka picks up the award for Arval 48 / fleetworld.co.uk

demand offering benefits to fleets of all sizes, and to individuals of differing expertise levels.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

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Most Improved Manufacturer Volkswagen has been “ Volkswagen quietly revising its Van

”

Centre offering and tweaking its conversions range, helping to keep Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles competitive and a good fleet proposition.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Pietro Panarisi picks up the award for Volkswagen

Van Manufacturer of the Year Ford a difficult choice “ Not for the judges given the

”

comprehensive renewal of Ford’s van range that is still going on. To date they have all been class-leading to drive too, which makes Ford a worthy winner.

VAN FLEETW RLD

2014 HONOURS

Phil Hollins picks up the award for Ford

fleetworld.co.uk / 49

Continuing the global success story The All New X-Trail joins the popular and class-leading Juke and Qashqai to complete Nissan’s globally successful crossover family. Adopting the same boomerang light signatures, large wheels, tapered waistlines and sloping roof as its siblings, it joins a range which has sold over 3.5 million vehicles worldwide and continues to set new sales records.

It also continues to build on the functionality which has made the previous two generations of X-Trail so popular. Its cabin is awash with the same premium-quality materials as All New Qashqai, offering greater luggage space and class-leading rear legroom thanks to an extended wheelbase. Seven seats are optional for the first time and, with theatre-style seating, all occupants are guaranteed a good view of the outside world.

All seats except the driver’s fold flat to accommodate loads of up to 2.6 metres in length, and five-seat models adopt the same luggage board system as the Qashqai, allowing the boot to be split into separate compartments.

More accessible than ever Under the bonnet of All New X-Trail is a highly efficient 1.6-litre dCi 130ps diesel engine providing the best combination of performance and economy and, for the first time, Nissan’s largest crossover is available with two-wheel drive. The result is running costs which have never made more sense for fleet users, offering fuel economy of 57.6mpg and BiK-conscious CO2 emissions of 129g/km, yet no loss of torque compared to the outgoing model.

Thanks to a 90kg weight reduction and improvements to aerodynamics, efficiency gains are felt throughout the range. The versatile new engine can be equipped with a smooth-shifting Xtronic automatic gearbox or ALL MODE 4x4-i electronically controlled four-wheel drive. All New X-Trail is also an accomplished tow car with a braked trailer maximum towing weight of 2000kg for the manual version.

The range also now starts at £22,995, while fleet operators and drivers alike will enjoy the benefits of its lower in-life running costs, class-leading 53% residual value and improved fuel economy. All New X-Trail does not simply replace the much loved previous X-Trail but also the Qashqai +2. It is a natural competitor to compact SUVs such as Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V but also offers an alternative to company car drivers considering MPVs, as well as those thinking of a D-segment estate.

ALL NEW X-TRAIL means business With a powerful efficient diesel engine, lower emissions and a sleek new style, All New Nissan X-Trail has never made more sense for company car drivers.

A technological showcase Nissan customers have come to expect high levels of technology, and the All New X-Trail doesn’t disappoint.

Available equipment includes the Around View Monitor to provide a birds-eye view of parking spaces, the Nissan Safety Shield suite of driverassistance systems and the internetenabled NissanConnect infotainment system with downloadable apps and the ability to receive navigation locations from Google Maps.

Customers are also offered a range of premium-class options, such as BiLED headlamps, a panoramic roof and powered tailgate, as well as comfort-boosting technology which smoothes undulating road surfaces and mitigates understeer. Further features include a Lane Departure Warning system, Blind Spot Warning and traffic sign recognition. Life on the road needn’t be stressful.

For more information visit www.nissan.co.uk/new-x-trail

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IF RELIABILITY IS YOUR BUSINESS, PUT US TO THE TEST

A PASSION FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN Every time they hire out a commercial vehicle, Northgate PLC put their reputation at stake. So it says something that they currently operate a large  eet of our Partner vans. They chose the Partner for its reliability and durability: qualities that both they and their customers insist on, as well as the excellent service they receive from Peugeot. So why not put Peugeot to the test. Visit business.peugeot.co.uk/passion or call 02476 884 644 for more information.

FLEETW RLD 2014 HONOURS Car Awards Presented by FW deputy editor, Alex Grant (left), Michaela Hill, co-ordinator and David Collings, marketing manager of CAP Consulting (far right).

CAP Consulting: we understand “off-the-shelf” solutions are not always best. sponsored by

Providing not just analysis, but the ability to understand how your business environments develop over time.

We make it our business to understand what affects your brand and how you can unlock greater value from customer offerings, products & services.

CAP Consulting provides support optimising residual values, bespoke technology solutions and corporate sales & fleet operations assistance.

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Visit www.business.cap.co.uk/consulting

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

Best New Car Peugeot 308

“

Gareth Foden picks up the award for Peugeot

”

The 308 is the best car Peugeot has launched in years, with super-low emissions, excellent three cylinder petrol engines, lots of space and a cabin that is as good as anything from a premium brand.

2014 HONOURS

fleetworld.co.uk / 53

2014 HONOURS

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Best City Car Volkswagen up! up!'s combination of “ The high practicality and low

”

running costs, backed by frugal engines and impressive residuals, is hard to match.

2014 HONOURS

Lee Rabjohn collects the award for Volkswagen

Best Small Car Renault Clio too expensive, with “ Not cheap to run petrol and

”

diesel engines and enough space in the back and boot, the Clio does it all, and with a dash of style too.

2014 HONOURS

Darren Payne picks up the award for Renault

Best Lower Medium Car SEAT Leon

“ ” Philip Allan collects the award for the SEAT Leon 54 / fleetworld.co.uk

Available with a choice of three bodystyles, and a wide range of variants, it's no wonder this has become the lifeblood of SEAT's recent success in fleet.

2014 HONOURS

fiat.co.uk

2014 HONOURS

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Best Premium Lower Medium Car Audi A3 pricing and “ Competitive high residual values mean

”

it's surprisingly accessible, yet its impeccable quality and design leave no doubt that this is every bit a premium product.

2014 HONOURS

Alison Davis picks up Audi’s award

Best Upper Medium Car Vauxhall Insignia revisions to the “ Major Insignia saw price

”

reductions and increased standard spec, as well as a lowering of CO2 to below 100g/km on some models.

2014 HONOURS

Andy Savage collects the award for Vauxhall

Best Compact Executive BMW 3 Series

“ ” Matt Bristow picks up the award for BMW 56 / fleetworld.co.uk

Desirable, fuel efficient and the benchmark for driver enjoyment, drivers and fleets not only love the car itself, but rate the support on offer from BMW too.

2014 HONOURS

Barclaycard and The Miles Consultancy are proud winners of the Best Fleet Management Service award Barclaycard’s new Fuel+ card offers greater cost control than ever before.

Steve Moody Editor, Fleet World Magazine

barclaycard.co.uk/business/fuel tmcuk.co.uk Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register Number: 122702) and subscribes to the Lending Code which is monitored and enforced by the Lending Standards Board. Registered in England No: 1026167.

Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

2014 HONOURS Best Executive Car Mercedes-Benz E-Class E-Class got a major “ The facelift last year which

”

included adding a huge amount of clever safety kit and improved quality all round. It shows in the success it has had in fleet.

2014 HONOURS

Charles Adkin picks up the award for Mercedes-Benz

Best Luxury Car Mercedes-Benz S-Class clever new active ride “ Its suspension makes a mockery

”

of potholes, while options such as Burmeister sound system and a whole menu of different types of massage make it the ultimate car in which to work and relax.

2014 HONOURS

Lauren Pavli collects the Luxury Car Award

CITROËN BUSINESS CENTRES NEW CITROËN GRAND C4 PICASSO BLACKPOOL

PETERBOROUGH

Lookers Citroën Blackpool

Robinsons

4 Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, FY4 2RP t 01253 923516 e paul.devere@lookers.co.uk w www.lookersblackpool.citroen.co.uk

Storeys Bar Road, Eastern Industry, Peterborough, PE1 5YS t 01733 341628 e mark.turner@robinsonsmotorgroup.co.uk w www.robinsonspeterborough.citroen.co.uk

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Best MPV Citroën C4 Picasso gets MPVs better “ Citroën than any other manufacturer,

”

and the new C4 Picasso is evidence of this. With a strong range of engines, the C4 and the stretched version, the Grand Picasso, are the best choice in this sector.

2014 HONOURS

Gerry McCaffrey picks up the award for Citroën

www.citroen.co.uk

NEW CITROËN GRAND C4 PICASSO

BOTH FROM

£139

NEW CITROËN C4 PICASSO

CONTRACT HIRE MONTHLY RENTAL‡

Business users only

AS LOW AS 98G/KM CO2 BIK FROM 14% (just £47.93 per month at 20% CCT) UP TO 74.3 MPGΔ

The multi award-wining New C4 Picasso is ahead of the competition for CO2 emissions, fuel efficiency and space.

It boasts the biggest boot and the most interior space in its category. So you can save money on your fleet and keep your drivers happy.

LOOKERS BLACKPOOL 01253 923516

4 AMY JOHNSON WAY, BLACKPOOL BUS. PARK, SQUIRES GATE LANE, BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE FY4 2RP www.lookersblackpool.citroen.co.uk CRÉATIVE TECHNOLOGIE

‡Offer applies to qualifying new Citroën commercial vehicles ordered & delivered 01/04 - 30/06/14 for business users only excluding National Fleet customers as defined by Citroën UK. Metallic paint optional at no extra cost. Rental prices shown apply to: New Citroën C4 Picasso HDi 90 manual VTR & New Citroën Grand C4 Picasso e-HDi 90 Airdream ETG6 VTR. An advance rental of £834 will be required followed by 17 monthly rentals on a 18 month agreement of 6,000 miles per annum. Contract Hire rental includes: delivery to dealership, Citroën Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Excise Duty and Government First Registration Fee. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Over 18s only. Excess mileage charges will apply if you exceed the agreed annual mileage. Written quotations available on request from Banque PSA Finance UK Branch trading as Citroën Contract Motoring, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QA. Contract Hire rental rates have been calculated with the appropriate manufacturer’s support applied to the OTR price. All rentals are subject to VAT at 20%. Citroën Contract Motoring reserve the right to amend any of the rentals quoted without notice. ΔCombined cycle. Offers, prices & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO 2 emissions (g/km); Highest: New Citroën Grand C4 Picasso VTi 120 manual 8.5/33.2, 4.9/57.6, 6.3/44.8, 145. Lowest: New Citroën Grand C4 Picasso e-HDi 90 Airdream ETG6 4.2/67.3, 3.5/80.7, 3.8/74.3, 98. Achieved under official EU test conditions. Intended as a guide for comparative purposes only. Figures may not be reflected in actual on-the-road driving conditions.

fleetworld.co.uk / 59

2014 HONOURS

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Best Crossover Nissan Qashqai new Qashqai takes the “ The segment under 100g/km

”

with conventional diesel engine technology, while taking design, quality and flexibility forward to new benchmarks.

2014 HONOURS

Barry Beeston picks up the award for Nissan

Best SUV Range Rover Sport bigger and better built “ Now than its predecessor, it has

”

a range of fabulous diesel engines and a cabin of sumptuous style.

2014 HONOURS

Jeff Smailes collects the Best SUV Award

Best Estate Car Skoda Octavia

“

” Patrick McGillycuddy collects the award for Skoda 60 / fleetworld.co.uk

Estates are all about practicality and nothing achieves that with such panache as the new Octavia.

A great value, genuinely useful car for job need and user-chooser drivers.

2014 HONOURS

Editor’s Awards

Presented by Fleet World editor, Steve Moody (left) and Andrew Fellows, head of CAP Consulting (far right).

Design of the Year Citroën C4 Cactus quirky, original, “ Innovative, stylish and brilliantly

”

practical, the C4 Cactus makes us rethink the approach of cars for urban living with its use of space, simple design and replaceable Airbumps.

2014 HONOURS

Gerry McCaffrey picks up the award for Citroën

Safety Award Volvo year the company sold “ Last its one millionth car with an

”

autonomous braking system, and ongoing work with road trains, stronger car structures and child and adult occupant safety prove there are no plans to slow down.

2014 HONOURS

Kay Saunders collects the award for Volvo

Environment Award Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has laid down a “ Mitsubishi gauntlet to the entire car

”

industry with the Outlander PHEV by pricing it at the same level as the diesel. The result is huge tax savings for company car drivers and realistic running costs for fleets.

2014 HONOURS

Clive Messenger picks up the award for Mitsubishi fleetworld.co.uk / 61

2014 HONOURS Innovation Award BMW i i brand’s futuristic-look“ The ing, lightweight cars are every

”

bit a BMW to drive, featuring cutting edge materials built in environmentally conscious facilities, while the ownership packages help to make the switch to electromobility easy.

2014 HONOURS

Matt Bristow collects the award for BMW

Technology Award Toyota and Lexus hybrid drive now familiar hybrid “ Toyota’s technology continues

”

to challenge the dieseldominated market, available in almost every sector the company competes in, from the Yaris supermini to the Lexus LS 600h luxury car.

2014 HONOURS

Jon Hunt picks up the award for Toyota Lexus

Internet Award Vauxhall Fleet Toolbox

“

Andy Savage collects the award for Vauxhall 62 / fleetworld.co.uk

”

With new models and new engines to shout about, Vauxhall has reinvented its online presence with a comprehensive toolkit for drivers and fleet operators.

Attracting 10,000 hits per week, with a 30% increase in traffic from company car drivers, it’s clearly hit the spot.

2014 HONOURS

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Consulting

Consulting

Road Test Editor’s Award Tesla Model S Model S rewrites the “ Tesla's electric vehicle rulebook. It's

”

as fast and as comfortable as the best high-performance luxury saloons, travels over 300 miles on a charge and regains most of that range within half an hour.

2014 HONOURS

Mark Tapscott picks up the award for Tesla

Fleet Management Service Award Barclaycard Fuel+ costs continue to be a “ Fuel major expense for large fleets,

”

and Barclaycard’s new Fuel+ card offers greater cost control than ever before. Cost savings of up to 25% and streamlined processes for drivers and operators alike should make it a popular product.

2014 HONOURS

Nick Chambers - TMC (middle left) and Jon Inches - Barclaycard collect the award

Fleet Driver Service Award Zenith s industry-first online “ Zenith’ tool allows fleet operators

”

to quickly and accurately compare whole-life costs on a driver-by-driver basis and choose the right solution for each one. Cost savings can then be shared with the employee.

2014 HONOURS

Ian Hughes picks up the award for Zenith fleetworld.co.uk / 63

THREE BIG AWARDS. NO SMALL ACHIEVEMENT. SUCCESS FOR BMW AT THE FLEET WORLD HONOURS 2014.

BMW is proud to have won three big awards at one of the most prestigious events on the awards calendar; the Fleet World Honours 2014. The BMW 3 Series was named Best Compact Executive Car, while the BMW i range picked up the Innovation Award. To round it all off, the title of Fleet Manufacturer of the Year was awarded to BMW, reflecting the efforts in providing vehicles that combine low running costs, performance and innovation into one package.

To find out more, or to arrange a demonstrator*, visit www.bmwcorporate.co.uk or call 0800 777 113.

BMW Corporate Sales

bmwcorporate.co.uk 0800 777 113

Official economy figures for the BMW range: Urban 13.8-62.4 mpg (20.5-4.4 l/100km). Extra urban 26.2-83.1 mpg (10.8-3.4 l/100km). Combined 20.3-470.8 mpg (13.9-3.8 l/100km). CO2 325-0 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. *Demonstrator subject to applicant status and availability.

The Ultimate Driving Machine

2014 HONOURS

sponsored by

Consulting

Consulting

Most Improved Manufacturer Skoda phenomenal growth in “ Its fleet thanks to the increased

”

sales team, business-specific models, a hardening residual value position and the improvement in its business centre network sees Skoda take this award.

2014 HONOURS

Patrick McGillycuddy picks up the award for Skoda

Fleet Manufacturer of the Year BMW won this award last “ Having year, BMW hasn’t rested on its

Matt Bristow with the award for BMW

66 / fleetworld.co.uk

”

laurels. It has picked apart everything it does to see if it can do it better, with enhanced terms for smaller fleets, new website platforms, automated terms for leasing companies and Business model upgrades.

And on top of that, it has broadened its offering with a number of new cars, including the new 2 Series line, 518d and i3.

2014 HONOURS

It‌ 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

FLEETW RLD 2014 HONOURS Fleet Manager Awards sponsored by

As sponsor of the 2014 Fleet Manager Awards, Audi Fleet has built a reputation as one of the most competent organisations in the fleet industry, recognising the wide ranging challenges that fleet managers are tasked with and seeking to provide effective solutions for its diverse client base.

Audi Fleet Sales offers tailored fleet solutions to fleets of all sizes, from the smallest businesses, catered for by the Local Business Development programme, to some of the country’s very largest fleets, supported by Audi’s highly experienced National Fleet Sales team.

This broad infrastructure ensures that Audi Fleet Sales has the strength, flexibility and reach to deliver real-world solutions right across the corporate spectrum.

To find out more, visit www.audi.co.uk/fleet-sales All Fleet Management Awards presented by Alison Davis, key account manager, Audi UK.

Fleet Environmental Award Small Fleets > Z-Tech Control Systems Large Fleets > Cumbria County Council

Luke Stanbridge collects the honours from Ian Featherstone of Energy Saving Trust

68 / fleetworld.co.uk

Suzanne Pender & David Jenkinson collect the honours from Ian Featherstone of Energy Saving Trust

sponsored by

Fleet Safety Award Small Fleets > Michelin Large Fleets > Skanska UK Plc

Alison Moriarty and Julie Madouri collect the honour for Skanska from Adrian Walsh of Roadsafe

Chris Hickson collects the honour for Michelin from Adrian Walsh of Roadsafe

Fleet Management Award Small Fleets > Aspire Defence Services Ltd. Large Fleets > Innserve Ltd.

Angela Sargeant collects the honour for Aspire Defence Services from Peter Eldridge, ICFM

Peter Eldridge collects the honour on behalf of Innserve

fleetworld.co.uk / 69

2014 HONOURS at a glance

CAR AWARDS

Consulting

Consulting

Best New Car

Peugeot 308

Best City Car

Volkswagen up!

Best Small Car

Renault Clio

Best Lower Medium Car Best Upper Medium Car

Audi A3

Vauxhall Insignia

Best Compact Executive Car

BMW 3 Series

Best Executive Car

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Best Luxury Car

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Best Estate Car

Skoda Octavia

Best Crossover

Nissan Qashqai

Best SUV

Range Rover Sport

Best MPV

Citroën C4 Picasso

Design of the Year Safety Award

Consulting

Consulting

Citroën C4 Cactus Volvo

Environment Award Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Innovation Award Technology Award Internet Award Road Test Editor’s Award Fleet Management Service Award

Ford Transit Connect

Best Small Van Best Light Van

Ford Transit Connect Fiat Fiorino Peugeot Bipper Citroën Nemo

Best Medium Van

Ford Transit Custom

Best Large Van

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Best Light Truck

Fuso Canter

Best Pick-Up

Ford Ranger

EDITOR’S AWARDS Safety Award Environment Award Innovation Award

Mercedes-Benz Renault Z.E. Renault/Vauxhall twin turbo 1.6-litre diesel

Technology Award

Quartix

Internet Award

TRACKER

Security Award

Ford Transit Custom

Editor’s Award

Nissan eNV200/British Gas

BMW i

Fleet Management Service Award

Arval Van Specifier

Toyota and Lexus hybrid drive

Most Improved Van Manufacturer

Volkswagen

Vauxhall Fleet Toolbox Tesla Model S Barclaycard Fuel+

Fleet Driver Service Award

Zenith

Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer

Skoda

Fleet Manufacturer of the Year

BMW

70 / fleetworld.co.uk

Best New Van

SEAT Leon

Best Premium Lower Medium Car

EDITOR’S AWARDS

VAN AWARDS

Van Manufacturer of the Year

Ford

FLEET MANAGER AWARDS Fleet Environmental Award Small Fleets Z-Tech Control Systems Large Fleets Cumbria County Council Fleet Safety Award Small Fleets Large Fleets

Michelin Skanska UK Plc

Fleet Management Award Small Fleets Aspire Defence Services Ltd Large Fleets Innserve Ltd

MATERNITY ALLOWANCE

PETROL DUTY

1948

VALUE ADDED TAX

ELECTRIC CALCULATOR

1908

CORPORATION TAX

1961

BENEFIT IN KIND 2002

WE HAVEN’T JUST MADE HISTORY.

WE’VE MADE RUNNING A FLEET £1,000s CHEAPER. With the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, we haven’t merely made a new car – we’ve found a way to seriously impress your employer. The fusion of electric and petrol technology can deliver a staggering 148 mpg1 and creates a fraction of the CO2 emissions of a small car - just 44g/km. As a result business users will only pay 5% Benefit in Kind rather than the 25%+ most business users pay - boosting employees’ pay packets by thousands a year2. The business itself will make savings on its National Insurance Contributions3 and will be able to write down 100% of the cost of a new Outlander PHEV in year one4. Even a business with a small fleet of cars could save thousands in Corporation Tax5.

We’ve made history – you just need to make time for a test drive. We call this Intelligent Motion.

Compare the tax savings of running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as your company car against these market leaders.

COST OF THE CAR - P11D VALUE

THE WORLD’S FIRST 4WD PLUG-IN HYBRID SUV

OUTLANDER PHEV GX4H AUTO £37,8996

GOVERNMENT GRANT REDUCTION

£5,000

ADJUSTED FINAL PRICE

£32,899

CO2 EMISSIONS G/KM BENEFIT IN KIND RATE VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITHOUT FUEL PROVIDED

44

HONDA CR-V EX AUTO

BMW X3 XDRIVE SE AUTO

AUDI Q5 S-LINE PLUS AUTO

£33,995 £34,500 £39,225 £0

£0 138

£36,005

£0

£33,995 £34,500 £39,225 180

MERCEDES E-CLASS SE ESTATE AUTO £0 £36,005

184

140

5%

32%

23%

29%

24%

£758

£4,351

£3,174

£4,550

£3,456

THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)

–

£3,593

£2,416

£3,792

£2,699

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITH FUEL PROVIDED

£1,192

£7,129

£5,170

£7,067

£5,540

THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)

–

£5,937

£3,978

£5,875

£4,348

Make time for a test drive | Search: Outlander PHEV | Visit: mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find your nearest dealer 1. Official EU MPG test figure shown as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. 2. Outlander PHEV GX4h compared with Honda CR-V, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes E-Class - average saving £4,438pa for a 40% taxpayer. The savings for business drivers with a company fuel card are higher. 3. Class 1a NI only payable on 5% of list price compared to 25%+ average. 4. Outlander PHEV qualifies as low CO2 emissions vehicle for the purpose of Capital Allowances. 18% write down allowance used for comparison. Vehicles with CO2 emissions greater than 130g/km will only qualify for 8% from 1st April 2014.

5. Savings achieved due to lower Profits Chargeable to Corporation Tax (PCTCT). 6. Prices shown include VAT (at 20%), exclude VED and First Registration Fee. Metallic paint extra. Model shown is an Outlander PHEV GX4h at £33,399 including metallic paint. Prices correct at time of going to print. For more information about the Government Plug-in Car Grant please visit www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants.

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.

FEATURE Taxation & Funding

Part 3

Pivot tables Professor Colin Tourick keeps on pivoting his tables to find out useful things such as recharge costs.

TABLE 3

I

n parts 1 and 2 we assumed that you are a fleet manager analysing the end-of-contract damage charges your contract hire company has invoiced over recent years. We took an Excel list showing all the recharges that had been incurred and we used pivot tables to get to information we couldn’t see before, e.g. summary of costs by driver, department, etc, the number of times each driver has incurred each type of recharge , etc.

We will now continue using that same spreadsheet to make further discoveries.

You’d like to know the average recharge cost that each department incurred?

Just open the Values Field Setting dialog box and change the Values field to show “Average of Cost” rather than “Sum of Cost £”, and you’ll see that, on average, department AAG incurred the highest cost followed by departments KLL and LOP (table 1).

If you now change the Values Field to show “Count of Cost” rather than “Average”, and change the Row labels to “Damage” you’ll see that there were more recharges for Interior damage than for

A

B

3 Count of Cost £

D

E

F

G

H

I

Pivot Table Field List

x

Choose fields to add to report: 4

Row Labels

AAG FIN KLL KRE LOP PES PPO Total Date

5

Bodywork

1

1

4

6 Reg No

6

Engine

1

7

Exhaust

1

8

Interior damage

4

9

Missing key

10

Missing part

11

Tyres

12

Wheel

13

Grand Total

1 1

2

2 1

4

1

2

8

1

1

Driver Name

Department Ref Model

Damage Cost £

1

1

2

2

1

3

Drag fields between area below: Report Filter

1 2

1

7

4

2

2

10

1

2

28 Row Labels

any other item (table 2). Why was that?

You might wish to enquire further.

You’d like to see this information broken down by department? Just insert “Department Ref ” into Column Labels and all is revealed. Clearly department LOP leads the field when it comes to incurring recharge costs but FIN has incurred the most Interior damage costs (table 3).

Column Filter Department Ref

Damage

Values Count of Cost £

If we had more information we could continue this analysis further, perhaps looking at the number of recharges as a proportion of the total number of returned vehicles.

With pivot tables you get endless fun at the click of a mouse.

TABLE 2

TABLE 1

3

C

Column Labels

A

B

Row Labels

Average of Cost £

4

AAG

555

5

FIN

375

6

KLL

472

7

KRE

256

8

LOP

427

9

PES

245

10

PPO

245

11

Grand Total

398

Pivot Table Field List

Date

4

Reg No

B

Row Labels

Count of Cost £

Bodywork

Pivot Table Field List

6

x

Choose fields to add to report: Date Reg No

5

Engine

2

6

Exhaust

4

Model

7

Interior damage

8

Damage

8

Missing key

1

Damage Cost £

Driver Name

Driver Name

Department Ref

Cost £

Drag fields between area below: Report Filter

Column Filter

Row Labels

Values

Department Ref

72 / fleetworld.co.uk

A

x

Choose fields to add to report:

Average of C...

9

Missing part

2

10

Tyres

3

11

Wheel

2

12

Grand Total

28

Department Ref Model

Drag fields between area below: Report Filter

Row Labels Damage

Column Filter

Values Count of Cost £

CUTTING EDGE Cutting Costs

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Inchcape Fleet Solutions is in the top 15 fleet providers in the UK, with 45 years of experience in delivering a wide portfolio of fleet management services to meet our customers’ needs We are part of Inchcape plc, a global premium automotive group with operations in 26 countries worldwide We deliver an incredible customer experience to our clients and their drivers based on our global best practice and processes

For a no-obligation consultation on whether Inchcape Fleet Autobid is right for your business or for more information

Tel: 0333 222 0923 * Based on one client’s saving through competitive tendering of £346.32 per vehicle over a 3 year term, before any fleet management savings are factored in.

www.inchcape-fleet.co.uk/IFAutobid

FEATURE Telematics & Software

Gaining greater

fleet efficiency Increasingly fleets are marrying software and telematics to create management systems that give them greater insight into their operations.

Katie Beck investigates the latest products to hit the market.

Fleetmatics Fleetmatics Group has released a new software-as-service (SaaS) platform designed speci ically for mobile workforces.

The products that fall under the platform, including Fleetmatics REVEAL, are designed to offer a complete solution for service leet and ield service management to help businesses maximise their return on leet and mobile workforce investments.

New for 2014, the platform delivers solutions, features, insights and applications that optimise how a mobile workforce gets work done, and how a business manages those mobile assets.

Additionally, the SaaS model allows Fleetmatics to collect and analyse data from across its customer base of approximately 22,000, with more than 445,000 actively subscribed vehicles, and then deliver historical and benchmarking information and insights back to its customers.

Fleetmatics REVEAL is a GPS vehicle tracking solution designed to drive savings and improve productivity for a mobile workforce. Fleetmatics REVEAL includes a set of features including native apps for iPhone and Android, which the irm says provides a clearer insight into ield activity as well as driver behaviour and workforce productivity metrics.

Fleetmatics’ customers played a key role in the development of the new platform, and free training is provided to help users get the most from the system.

74 / fleetworld.co.uk

‘Rather than simply giving the speed at which the vehicle was travelling, fleet managers are able to establish how safe that speed was for that particular road segment.’

Reducing road risk Quartix’s Safe Speed Pop-Ups software greatly aids driver risk profiling.

Quartix Quartix launched Safe Speed Pop-Ups, its latest upgrade to the Driving-Style Monitoring platform, last year with the aim of helping leets to build an accurate risk pro ile for each driver.

Originally designed to improve the safety of the young driver in the insurance sector, the system has now been migrated to the Quartix leet product. According to Quartix, organisations from virtually all private and public sectors are using this new development, including government organisations, police forces and emergency services to improve leet safety and ef iciency.

Using data from more than 40,000 commercial vehicles across 15.7 million road segments in the UK, the Safe Speed Pop-Ups are integrated within the Route Maps and show each driver’s speed against the speed of other commercial road users for the same stretch of road. On busy roads this is also matched in terms of time of day and conditions.

Rather than simply giving the speed at which the vehicle was travelling, leet managers are able to establish how safe that speed was for that particular road segment.

It is statistically proven that accident risk increases exponentially as speed increases from the median speed of other road users – so Quartix believes this to be a much more important indicator of risk in the ield than just comparing speed with the speed limit, which can be inaccurate for various reasons.

Trimble Trimble’s next-generation Work Management solution is a cloud-based software designed to enhance the productivity of mobile workforces through intelligent scheduling tools and performance analytics.

The new solution features an integrated suite of field service management solutions that includes Fleet Management and Driver Safety.

With these three technologies fully integrated on one platform, Trimble believes that businesses are provided with an end-to-end solution that delivers all the resources they need to manage their mobile operations.

According to Trimble, the Work Management solution, with its enhanced analytics and dispatch and task management capabilities, can help organisations increase ield productivity and lexibility to ultimately transform the way work is planned, allocated, managed, reported and evaluated.

This could lead to lower operating costs, increased ef iciencies and improved customer service.

Some of the major features of Work Management include Performance Management Analytics uses GPS data, creating key performance igures designed to accurately measure performance.

Executive and Team Consoles show indepth metrics at every level to compare and contrast performance and see trends over time, and the Scheduler optimises resources and routes and gives real-time visibility of the work plan.

In-day Exception Management warns of tasks at risk of being missed and highlights scheduling issues, and Intelligent Advisor recommends the most suitable worker for a task, minimising overtime, travel and missed commitments.

fleetworld.co.uk / 75

¡

A DV ER T I S I N G FE AT U R E

wejo smartphone app makes fleet management simple If your business has drivers on the road, the likelihood is you don’t really know what their driving is like. Of the 1.5 million fleet and five million grey fleet vehicles in the UK, more than eight out of 10 lack any kind of fleet management system. That’s millions of drivers who could be driving too hard, too far or too fast, putting themselves, other road users and their employers at risk.

In most cases, this lack of employer oversight is down to expense, lack of expertise or lack of awareness.

That’s where wejo comes in. wejo is a new approach to managing fleet vehicles. Instead of an expensive telematics black box, it uses a free app running on drivers’ smartphones, linked to a web portal.

It makes taking care of your drivers simple.

How wejo works We’ve made wejo as straightforward as possible.

The service uses a free smartphone app, available from both the AppStore and Google Play, to track your drivers’ behaviour through the GPS and other sensors in their phone which are normally used to run the likes of maps, pedometers or other location- and motion-based apps.

It runs in the background, so your drivers don’t have to remember to turn it on, and it’s designed to be as efficient as possible, so it won’t drain their batteries.

You can even set it so that it only monitors their driving during certain hours of the day – particularly useful if you have a grey fleet.

The app gathers more than 10 different kinds of data, which are sent to your own, customisable online dashboard, where they are put through our own suite of proprietary algorithms. We do all the analysis and we give each driver a score, which allows you to see, at a glance, how well your staff are driving.

It’s been designed to be as intuitive and flexible to use as possible, so you can see the information you want, how you want, when you want, without need for special training – although help and support is always available.

At a glance see which of your drivers are good, average or poor

Get a snapshot of your drivers’ key statistics for a set period

You can see which of your drivers are good, average or poor and highlight them with our simple colour-coding system, making it easy to recognise, encourage and reward safe driving and improvements over time. If you need to, you can drill down into their driving styles in detail. Who’s breaking or accelerating too sharply? Who’s not taking sufficient rest breaks? You can easily add, remove or group drivers – if they have different job roles, for example.

And you can receive alerts if the worst happens and one of your drivers does have an accident.

A DV ER T I S I N G FE AT U R E

Why wejo?

If you know how your fleet is driving you can encourage better, safer driving. It’s an extension of your responsibility to your staff. And it can make a real difference to your bottom line. Better driving means reduced costs from fuel, wear and tear and accidents, plus lower insurance premiums.

Rewarding good driving opens up a range of company incentives and by reducing the cost of a running a company car it extends this as a potential benefit to more employees.

And because we use an app and a web portal, it means no costly black boxes to install and no expensive licenses. So you can monitor your drivers from as little as £1.75 a month – making it around 90% cheaper than traditional options.

But don’t just take our word for it. We already have two of Europe’s largest fleet insurers on board, who are set to offer wejo to their customers, as well as three of the world’s top-20 fleet leasing firms.

Understand the driving trends of your entire fleet

Try wejo You can even try it for yourself.

Download the app for free by going to www.wejo.com, and take a no-obligation, 30-day trial.

FEATURE Telematics & Software

Gaining greater

fleet efficiency ¡

TomTom TomTom Telematics has improved the integration capability of its leet management platform in the last 12 months, with the aim of helping companies to manage mobile operations more ef iciently.

Access to the Bluetooth channel on the in-vehicle LINK device has been extended, allowing devices in and around the vehicle, such as mobile printers from partners, to be connected in the ield and used to print documents enriched with leet data including GPS location and job information, generated by the WEBFLEET platform.

A new, more rugged seven-inch terminal designed to help drivers capture more information in the field has also recently been launched, complete with signature capture technology, vehicle checking systems and barcode scanners.

According to TomTom, the extended WEBFLEET platform makes is easier than ever for leet businesses to streamline their end-to-end processes. The company believes ield staff and vehicles are becoming an integrated part of the overall leet operation, with organisations bene itting from a single, fullyconnected leet and workforce management system.

In the coming year, TomTom has hinted that new integrated business applications can be expected, making use of real-time and historical information from the vehicle and mobile workforce. Also under development are new tools to help improve driver behaviour, with the aim of producing safer, more ef icient leets.

78 / fleetworld.co.uk

Get connected Alex Rothwell, Masternaut’s CTO with the Connect dashboard on screen.

Masternaut Last year Masternaut launched its next generation telematics platform, Masternaut Connect.

Re ined over a development period of 18 months, Masternaut says the solution has a unique modular nature which gives companies the option of focusing in on any particular area and then building on the services over time, with bene its not just for leet but across the entire business.

Fleet managers can use the software to help manage the total cost of ownership, as well as streamline utilisation, productivity and processes. From an HR perspective the software can contribute to training, improving work related road safety policies, compliance and application in reward and compensation programmes tied to employee performance.

Masternaut has also recently launched a Tax & Expense module, which could offer bene its including automation of mileage logging, data storing and improved accuracy to support expense claims and compliance regulations. Other modules designed to provide customers with even further detail are poised for launch later in 2014.

According to Masternaut, the telematics landscape has changed considerably since the company introduced its first generation telematics solutions. The growth of floating car data, advances in driver performance management, vehicle scheduling and data aggregation means there is more intelligence available to acquire – and more opportunity to harness it.

¡

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FEATURE Telematics & Software

Gaining greater

fleet efficiency ¡

Telogis

Telogis has introduced several upgrades and product innovations in the last year, including Telogis Fleet 11, Telogis Coach, Telogis Route Planning Suite and Telogis Appointment.

Telogis Fleet 11 features mobile application enhancements and new maps that are optimised for mobile devices, with the aim of helping supervisors to visualise vehicles, assets and workers in the ield. Fleet 11 also delivers support for richer engine data and more advanced levels of alerting and reporting, derived from existing relationships with vehicle manufacturers.

Telogis Coach is another mobile application, and is designed to give both drivers and operators the same view of a driver behaviour scorecard. Using the system, Telogis says drivers can review their own behaviours and understand their successes and opportunities for improvement.

Telogis Route Planning Suite could help ensure that key customers are visited regularly and operations teams can more effectively manage lastminute orders, resulting in increased ef iciency, revenue and overall customer satisfaction.

Telogis Appointment enables consumers to choose delivery windows that are most convenient for them, while reducing turnaround times by matching delivery slots to customers’ open times to receive goods, and automates ETAs to the receiving parties via text or email – all in real time.

The Telogis platform has certi ied SAP Integration, and has industry speci ic variants for Oil & Gas and Utilities.

80 / fleetworld.co.uk

In-Car Cleverness In-Car Cleverness (ICC) is currently marketing a portable telematics device that is around the size of a large matchbox, but offers a multitude of management possibilities for employees in the ield.

According to ICC, the device is easy to it and, importantly, completely transferable between vehicles. This is particularly crucial to rental companies that need the ability to take the device off one vehicle and it it to another. Traditional telematics devices are, typically, hard-wired into the vehicle, making them dif icult and time-consuming to transfer from vehicle to vehicle.

The device also comes with a user-friendly app and automatically refreshes itself, immediately picking up all of the new vehicle’s data, such as mileage and any

other basic information needed.

The ICC irmware has also undergone some major development. Importantly, ICC says it is now able to offer an entirely scalable and tailored package for customers, depending on their business objectives and needs.

So, for example, the ICC system can plot journeys of different employee types via a simple colour-coding system which appears on the portal. This allows the company to manage the journeys of any employee , helping to pinpoint inef iciencies in personnel time.

Forensic reconstruction software is also a key area of development, and could help insurers better understand what went wrong in the event of an accident.

TRACKER TRACKER’s partnership with Garmin facilitated the launch of two upgrades for the TRACKER Fleet product earlier in the year – TRACKER Vision and TRACKER Vision Sprint.

These new additions partner TRACKER’s technology with the back-of ice expertise of Garmin’s satellite navigation units. TRACKER says that, in effect, this means leet customers using the Garmin range of sat navs will now have the functionality of leet tracking and all the bene its that encompasses - such as job allocation and leet reporting, journey playback, customised alerts and integration with fuel cards, combined with Garmin functionality such as digital traf ic alerts and advanced navigation features.

TRACKER Vision also includes two-way messaging, task management information sent directly to the driver’s screen, job scheduling and statistics to help operators manage employees working remotely in the ield.

‘With this new product, and more exciting developments on the horizon, we are extremely buoyant about the future for TRACKER telematics. So con ident are we of the power of our offering, we recently launched a Fuel Savings Guarantee programme, which ensures businesses feel the same con idence we do about our telematics solution. With this we promise a minimum 10% fuel saving within the irst year of using our leet telematics solution or their money back,’ comments David Wilson, sales, services & marketing director at TRACKER.

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.

www.tomtom.com/telematics

MANAGEMENT UK Fleet Forum

UK connecting the UK’s fleet community

Join the

~ Formerly Fleet Academy

Down with black box Lyndon Wood, CEO, constructaquote.com

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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Telematics insurance policies were predicted to make a mint post “gender neutral” risk rating in December 2012.

Insurers were looking for ways of hoarding the female market after their premiums were to increase an average of 50%. They were also looking at securing business with higher premium clients; young drivers; new drivers; older drivers, emphasising that the premium is based on the monitored driving style of the individual.

The small black box is a tracking device fitted to the vehicle that transmits information to the insurers which is then diagnosed with a premium increase/decrease, depending on your driving style. The benefits go on: accurate gauge of fuel consumption; could reduce CO2 emissions; detailed driver behaviour; over-all vehicle condition… however, the concept is lost amongst British road users.

We asked 400 van policyholders if they would be happy

Lies, damned lies and statistics Ross Durkin, Managing Editor, Fleet World It is popularly believed that Mark Twain coined the phrase: “There are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies and statistics”.

So when I read statistical reports on issues like the use of mobile phones, I sometimes wonder if the message would not be clearer if the statistics were played down a little. Is it really surprising that hands-free calls are rising if hand-held calls are falling?

Many modern cars are fitted with highly sophisticated Bluetooth systems that make it possible to receive a call without the driver ever having to take their eyes off the road. Even making calls is relatively quick and easy.

Where the danger rises, however (and this is just my opinion) is when a driver chooses to make or receive a call in a situation where a moment’s distraction could have dire consequences. Like in a busy town, outside a school, or while doing 90mph on the M25.

Maybe what’s needed is a slightly more direct and hardhitting message. Something like: “Don’t be a prat. If you have to use your phone, do so without endangering others.”

in association with

debate...

Meet the experts... to have the black box fitted with the possibility of reduced premiums; a staggering 78% declined. The fact is the idea of carrying a small black box that monitors your every move whiffs of governmental censorship à la George Orwell.

The majority of the benefits associated with the black box seem more apt for business progression or personal awareness. For example, budgeting for fuel consumption might be an asset for a fleet company along with a general over-view of the vehicles condition.

The fact is, privacy is in short supply in the modern world; no one likes the feeling they are being tested or monitored and for the majority of British road users, the black box concept seems to be so concerned with giving the driver more control over their premium that it forgets the adverse effects on their lifestyles...

Mike Rees, Managing Director, Drive Alive UK replied...

Regarding the subject of “statistics” raised by Ross, I agree with his sentiments but unfortunately the average driver lacks the self discipline to act sensibly when it comes to use of a mobile phone, irrespective of the format. Sad but true.

Maybe the entire subject of distraction of “in-vehicle” electronic communications should be re-visited. With “in-car” technology, combined with all types of electronic devices taken into the vehicle, a driver is now more distracted than ever before. Add to this sat nav equipment and I defy anyone to say that they never look at this whilst driving! Eating, talking to passengers, fiddling with the radio – where does driver distraction end?

When driving, a person is required to make more decisions in one hour than they make in a day at work behind a desk – the difference is of course that make the wrong decision behind the wheel and the results can be catastrophic.

In my opinion, “in-car” electronic communications is beginning to have a detrimental effect on the safety of road users and has to be addressed. How... is another debate!

Dr Will Murray, Research Director, Interactive Driving Systems Interactive Driving Systems helps clients and channel partners with compliance and CSR as well as cutting collisions and costs. 1,000,000+ drivers are registered on its Virtual Risk Manager program for driver risk assessment, monitoring and management across all types of organisations in 70+ countries and 35 languages globally.

As well as working with some of the world’s best known brands and government agencies on several continents, Will is also a Visiting Fellow at Loughborough University and a long time Trustee of the road safety charity, Brake.

John Kendall, Editor, International Fleet World John has edited International Fleet World since 2012.

An award-winning journalist, he has over 30 years’ experience across B2B and consumer titles, including Automotive Engineering International, Automotive Design, Dealer Update, Diesel Car and Motor Industry Magazine.

Les Owen, Senior Compliance Associate, Compliance Bureau As a senior officer in charge of roads policing in London, Les investigated numerous collisions and was responsible for reducing deaths on the Capital’s roads.

Currently working as a consultant for reducing work related road risks, Les’ specialities include crash history analysis, policy review and other risk assessment options.

Zealous about advising others on road safety, Les has spoken at major UK conferences and abroad in the fleet management environment, showing how we can all do something to reduce incidents on the road.

fleetworld.co.uk / 83

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics and Tracking

Ctrack

Fleetmatics

Ctrack provides advanced vehicle tracking and telematics solutions that deliver immediate benefits and financial returns resulting from the ability to better manage a fleet operation. These tools provide added visibility and control that comes from knowing the exact locations and status of vehicles in real-time.

Suitable for fleets of all sizes, Ctrack delivers real advantage by reducing fuel consumption; validating overtime claims; eliminating unauthorised out-of-hours vehicle use; monitoring driver behaviour; achieving more jobs per employee; enhancing service levels; supporting environmental compliance; and increasing protection against vehicle theft.

Ctrack is part of DigiCore Holdings, a global company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with more than 830,000 tracking systems fitted in 56 countries across five continents.

Fleetmatics is a leading global provider of fleet management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). Our solutions enable businesses to meet the challenges associated with managing local fleets, and improve the productivity of their mobile workforces, by extracting actionable business intelligence from real-time and historical vehicle and driver behavioural data.

Fleetmatics’ intuitive, cost-effective web-based solutions provide fleet operators with visibility into vehicle location, fuel usage, speed and mileage, and other insights into their mobile workforce, enabling them to reduce operating and capital costs, as well as increase revenue. Fleetmatics serves more than 22,000 customers, with over 445,000 subscribed vehicles worldwide.

Contact: Steve Thomas steve.thomas@ctrack.co.uk

Tel: 0845 055 8555 www.ctrack.co.uk

Isotrak has established itself as the market’s most innovative and trusted provider of vehicle tracking and telematics solutions. We save our customers time and money through the implementation of fully integrated systems that enable them to cut fuel costs, CO2 emissions, and achieve a raft of related efficiencies.

Isotrak works with leading companies in every sector, from businesses looking for a bespoke solution to large blue-chip companies managing fleets of 2,000+ vehicles. With all clients, the company builds long-term partnerships that deliver value and improve the bottom line. The company supports over 45,000 vehicle connections for customers.

Tel: +44 (0) 1908 540700 www.isotrak.com

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

Join the debate... theukfleetforum.co.uk

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

MiX Telematics Europe Ltd

Isotrak Ltd

Contact: Jason Price info.uk@isotrak.com

Contact: Derek Bryan infoUK@fleetmatics.com

MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to customers in 112 countries. The company’s products and services provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for safety, efficiency and security. MiX Telematics was founded in 1996 and has offices in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil, Australia and the United Arab Emirates as well as a network of more than 130 fleet partners world-wide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT).

Contact: Mergim Butaja mergim.butaja@mixtelematics.com www.mixdatatrak.co.uk

Tel: 07712 855319

Motrak The addition of fuel card technology helps make Motrak, a new next-generation telematics system, stand out from the crowd.

Devised by vehicle solutions business Motiva Group, Motrak has been redeveloped for 2014 and can now integrate fuel card data to give fleet managers precise costs per mile.

Innovative internet-based software also features mileage capture, route overlay, driver league tables, traffic warnings and excess mileage alerts that can each be tailored to individual customers.

Motrak helps reduce costs, mitigate risk and increase efficiency with flexible pricing plans, free installation and exceptional levels of service.

Contact: Paul.Holdcroft Tel: 01782 221100 paul.holdcroft@motivagroup.co.uk www.motrak.co.uk

FLEETW RLD Navman Wireless

Phantom Ltd

Navman Wireless, the UK’s most chosen vehicle tracking and telematics specialist, ignited the industry by making real time fleet monitoring accessible to all and reinvented the industry with the game changing M-Nav, the first combined fleet tracking, messaging and satellite navigation system. Its products are designed to give managers instant access to vehicle location and driver behaviour information and are proven to reduce fleet running costs, increase business productivity, enhance customer service and improve driver safety. Navman Wireless continues to lead the vehicle tracking evolution with its Online AVL technology and has recently reinvented driver performance monitoring with its Smart Telematics solution.

Phantom Fleet tracking is the perfect solution for your fleet management; we provide both standard and bespoke services to suit any type and size of fleet.

After more than a decade of development our software has been optimised to help you reduce costs, risk and emissions while increasing productivity. Not only will you know who, what, where and when, but how.

Once you have taken all the available savings with the 4w’s (including, late starts, early finishes, speeding and unauthorised use) you can take even more by addressing “How”.

Give us a call to discuss “How”.

Contact: Sales Team info@navmanwireless.co.uk www.navmanwireless.co.uk

Tel: 0845 521 1133

Founded in 2001, Quartix has grown to become one of the UK's most respected vehicle tracking companies.

Today, more than 5,000 customers across almost all sectors of the UK economy use the system, including government organisations, housing associations, construction firms, hospital trusts, the emergency services, SMEs and large British brands. Over 43,000 units were installed during 2013.

The system is comprehensive and easy to use and includes an advanced driving-style monitoring suite, which improves the safety of the mobile workforce and reduces fuel costs (by 18% for customer Ginsters Ltd).

With a network of over nearly 200 experienced engineers, the award-winning Quartix system is available throughout the UK.

Tel: 0870 0136663 www.quartix.co.uk

Telogis Telogis® is the premium provider of Location-BasedServices to enterprises across the globe. Telogis’ scalable, Software as a Service (“SaaS”) platform helps enterprises, business owners and fleet managers optimise business operations and manage their global workforce effectively through GPS location technology. Telogis solutions enable companies to maximise the efficiency of their mobile assets through industryleading tracking and scheduling applications, allowing both mobile and office-based staff to streamline operations, maximise productivity and minimise fuel and staffing costs.

Telogis’ products and services are used and distributed in over 60 countries worldwide. To learn more visit www.telogis.com.

Contact: Anthony O’ Halloran Anthony.ohalloran@telogis.com

Tel: 0161 476 4050 www.fleet-track.co.uk

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company

Quartix Limited

Contact: Dale Lewis Dale.Lewis@quartix.net

Contact: Steve Cherry Steve@phantom.uk.net

Tel: 07718 063 512 www.telogis.co.uk

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: 0870 460 5693 www.teletrac.co.uk

TomTom Telematics TomTom Telematics is a Business Unit of TomTom dedicated to fleet management and vehicle telematics. Our WEBFLEET platform is a Software-as-a-Service solution – used by small to large businesses to improve vehicle performance, safe fuel, support drivers and increase overall fleet efficiency.

TomTom Telematics is one of the world’s leading telematics solution providers with over 350,000 subscriptions worldwide recognised as the largest in the European market. We service drivers in more than 60 countries, giving them the industry’s strongest local support network and widest range of sector-specific 3rd party applications and integrations. More than 28,000 customers benefit every day from the highest level of security, quality and availability of our ISO 27001 certified service.

Whereas our name has changed over time (TomTom WORK, TomTom Business Solutions) our commitment to innovation and quality remains.

Contact: Giles Margerison uk.business@tomtom.com www.tomtom.com/telematics

Tel: 0207 2559774

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Is your system internet based?

Is there any software or mapping required on the customers PC?

Does your system allow the geographical “ring fencing” of particular locations?

Does your system have the facility to send alerts by text message in the event of a security alert?

Does the system accept inputs from ancillary equipment such as panic alarms?

Can the system recognise and report on different drivers of the vehicle?

Does your system have a stolen vehicle location facility?

Can the police locate the stolen vehicle using your system?

Is it possible to export data from your system to other back office systems?

Can the device installed in the vehicle be updated ‘over the air’?

Do you provide web services for third party integration?

What is the minimum lease/ contract period for the device installed in the vehicle? (in months)

What is the minimum airtime/communications period? (in months)

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics and Tracking

Ctrack

Flexible

Flexible

eDrive Fleet

Non Non contract contract

Fleetmatics

–

36

36

Isotrak Ltd

–

36

36

MiX Telematics Europe Ltd

–

–

–

–

12

12

Motrak

–

Navman Wireless

12

12

Phantom Ltd

–

1

1

Quartix Limited

–

3

1

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company

–

–

12

Telogis

12

Flexible

TomTom Telematics

6

6

TRACKER Network UK Limited

–

3

3

Trakm8

–

3

Flexible

Key to services

Service provided

-

Service unavailable

TRACKER Network UK Limited

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1

week

Trakm8

TRACKER is the UK’s number one supplier of vehicle tracking services, with over a million systems installed to date. Award winning TRACKER Fleet uses groundbreaking patented technology to allow businesses to operate at maximum efficiency. Cost savings are provided as TRACKER Fleet highlights fuel inefficiencies and reduces overtime claims. In fact, so confident is TRACKER in its offering that it now offers a ‘Fuel Savings Guarantee’ which provides customers with a refund to their subscription if they do not achieve savings of at least 10% in their first year. Customer service levels are improved as fleets are routed effectively, ensuring deliveries and collections are made on time. Additionally, driving styles can be monitored to ensure best practices and compliance with duty of care.

Contact: TRACKER Sales enquiries@TRACKER.co.uk

Non Non contract contract

Tel: 0500 090909 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Trakm8 is a leading technology provider; designer and developer of GPRS based hardware and software to the vehicle tracking and security market. Trakm8 products enable vehicles and drivers to be monitored, allowing organisations to manage deliveries and services, or track stolen vehicles down to three metres.

Trakm8’s established fuel saving solution is designed to reduce a fleets CO2 emissions and save money off their fuel bill. Savings between 10%-20% have been achieved through changing the driver’s behavior via our on board driver feedback display and extensive web based reporting suites. Benefits of improve driver safety has also been recognised therefore reduced accident frequency and severity.

Contact: Jonathan Law info@trakm8.com www.trakm8.com

Tel: 01747 858444

SPECIAL FEATURE Salary Sacrifice

Salary sacrifice: universal fleet solution or niche product?

Salary sacrifice schemes have gained much exposure in recent years as a tax-efficient way to offer employees the benefit of a company car. But are they a universal answer to every company’s HR issues, or a niche product for the lucky few? alary sacrifice has been a buzzword in the fleet industry for the last few years, as leasing and fleet management firms highlight how such schemes can be used as an effective means of providing employees with the benefit of a company car whilst proving cost-effective for the company.

But whilst the term “salary sacrifice” is well known in itself, with a growing number of fleets looking to use such schemes as a way to attract new recruits and reward loyal staff, there still seems to be some confusion in the industry about what type of firms can benefit the most from salary sacrifice and how best to implement it.

The principle behind salary sacrifice is, in itself, quite simple and has already been applied to pensions, childcare vouchers and “bike to work” schemes. It enables an employee to sacrifice part of their gross salary in return for the provision of a non cash-type benefit. The benefit for the

S

employee comes through saving income tax and NIC while the employer also gains from reduced NIC contributions.

However, when salary sacrifice schemes are used as a means of providing a company car, the employee is still required to pay Benefit-in-Kind taxation. As a result of this, for the scheme to operate effectively for them, the employee’s tax and NI savings must exceed the cost of the BiK that they’re paying.

Therefore such schemes work best when combined with vehicles with a

minimal BiK to maximise the savings.

Not only can such schemes benefit drivers through cost savings – both compared to running a conventionally funded company car or even for employees who would normally purchase a vehicle themselves – but, as with conventional company cars, they also take the hassle out of everyday motoring.

Many schemes provide cars that are fully maintained and insured, and also covered for servicing and maintenance, road tax, tyres, windscreens and even breakdown recovery.

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SPECIAL FEATURE Salary Sacrifice

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Employer benefits And it’s not only the employee who benefits; the HR department can gain from the attractiveness of such schemes for both current and prospective staff, as Andrew Kirby, commercial director – employee benefit schemes for Zenith, explains: ‘There are a wide range of benefits including the ability to retain, recruit and motivate employees at no cost to the business. The employee usually chooses to drive the car for a two or three-year period and therefore it can be a good retention tool as well as a fantastic addition to an existing benefits package.’

And the employer can also gain by offering a benefit to staff at no cost to themselves or even – if structured right – with a saving in the form of a reduction in employer’s National Insurance.

Although under salary sacrifice schemes, the employer still needs to pay NI on the car benefit, they don’t need to pay NI on the salary that is sacrificed. If the scheme is structured correctly, this generates a saving if the NI paid on the company car is less than the NI that would have been paid on the salary.

Zenith’s Andrew Kirby continues: ‘Both employer and employee can benefit financially from a salary sacrifice scheme. The employee exchanges their salary for the ability to drive the car and therefore they pay less income tax and National Insurance. They also benefit from enhanced corporate discounts.

This means the costs incurred can be significantly less than retail market alternatives. They also get the advantage of fixed deductions and protection from inflation, such as in insurance and maintenance.

‘The employer can deliver the scheme at no cost to themselves and also save on employer NIC contributions. Schemes can be structured to be cash generative for the employer.’

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And there are operational benefits too. ‘The company gets to provide an exciting new employee benefit with very little ongoing management or admin, as all this should be taken care of by the provider,’ says Kirby.

Meanwhile the employer can also benefit from improved road risk management when salary sacrifice is used as an alternative to “grey fleet” vehicles; by replacing employees’ own, typically older cars with brand-new, better-maintained models and using other measures such as licence checking, fleets can help ensure that they are complying with their duty of care responsibilities. And even the risks from early termination can be covered by the provider.

Zenith’s Andrew Kirby says: ‘As drivers are travelling in new, properly maintained and potentially safer cars the employer benefits from improved duty of care compliance. In terms of risks from early termination, all risks can be covered through contingency funds, early termination insurance or through reallocation of the car.’

And with such schemes favouring low-emission cars – which generate the biggest tax savings for staff – employers can also use such schemes to help reduce their corporate carbon footprint.

A fitting solution?

So who are such schemes suitable for?

Across the spectrum of firms offering salary sacrifice for cars there is a unanimous view that the mechanism is beneficial to many types of fleets, although they need to be carefully implemented.

According to Andrew Kirby of Zenith: ‘Salary sacrifice is suitable for a wide range of companies within both the public and private sector. The schemes are designed to be at no cost to a company.

Although implementations should be handled by your provider through a dedicated team, there will still need to be

some input from key areas within a company such as HR, legal and payroll.’

Meanwhile, LeasePlan, which runs its SalaryPlan scheme, also agrees that such schemes hold interest for many different types of fleets.

The firm says it has been concentrating on the opportunities offered by salary sacrifice schemes since October 2010, but has noticed a significant increase in activity over the past 18 months.

‘There has been an increase of over a third in our customer base in the past 12 months and a sizeable rise in activity with tenders being presented to us,’ says Sharon Richardson, the project manager for the company’s SalaryPlan.

She stresses that LeasePlan’s growing success in the field rests upon their early planning. ‘We’ve been developing our own salary sacrifice solution entirely, rather than simply picking up a “white label” option.

‘In terms of where this activity is happening, we’re seeing increases across all sectors; both private companies and public sector clients. As we’re more than a leasing company, we are able to offer a solution for a whole range of risk management and support issues in addition to providing the vehicle. It’s this ability to tailor which seems to make SalaryPlan appealing across a range of markets.’

However, when it comes to the size of the fleets that can implement such schemes, this depends on the provider, with some salary sacrifice specialists saying that their schemes are aimed at larger fleets, whilst there are others who work with firms with as little as 20 employees.

Zenith’s Andrew Kirby says: ‘We have found that the schemes are able to reach their full potential where there are 1,000 or more employees within the organisation as they can be tailored to the company’s specific needs. Smaller

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THE FLEET MANAGERS’ CHALLENGE Your business wants you to set up a Salary Sacrifice for cars scheme to help recruit and retain valuable employees (whilst helping save on the National Insurance payable on gross salaries and reducing grey fleet risk).

EMPLOYEES LOVE THE IDEA They think it’s fantastic because they’ll get a brand new car at a really great price (and they love the thought of servicing, tyres, breakdown, insurance and road tax all being included in the deal).

Once it’s launched, will it just end up being expensive to run and a headache to manage?

And, no matter how good the scheme is, how are you going to manage communicating it to all those employees?

SalaryPlan

choice more savings

more

But you have some concerns…

less tax

Just visit http://www.myleaseplan.co.uk/salaryplan or call us on 0844 493 5810 and you’ll find out why it really is easier to leaseplan.

It’s easier than you think…

SalaryPlan is a flexible solution that’s simple for you and exciting for your drivers.

We’ve already launched it to thousands of employees, so we know how to make it a success (we even manage all the communications and admin for you).

SPECIAL FEATURE Salary Sacrifice

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companies may choose a more “off-theshelf” product.’

He adds: ‘In terms of salary sacrifice drivers, there is no “typical driver” and they include a wide range of ages and income brackets. We find that those attracted to the scheme tend to either like the significant cost savings that can be achieved, the fixed easy to budget for costs, or are driven by the all-inclusive package, the dedicated service and hassle-free nature of the product.’

Meanwhile, LeasePlan says it’s the tailored approach of its product that attracts fleets.

The firm says that as its complete service offering was created by developing its own approach from the ground up, LeasePlan is confident it will continue to produce a range of enhancements to the core product of supplying a vehicle as well as being able to react quickly to changing market conditions.

Even more importantly, the flexibility in design means the scheme really can be built around the needs and objectives of a specific customer. One example area of this customisation is in the communication of the scheme, both during the promotion stage and in-life.

LeasePlan’s Sharon Richardson points out: ‘Understandably, we find that already busy fleet managers don’t necessarily want to have to deal with a whole new range of responsibilities such as the communication.’

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case study WSP sees salary sacrifice benefits Dubbed WSP Advantage, a salary scheme introduced by Venson Automotive Solutions for Manchester-based WSP Group is meeting the firm’s economic and sustainability objectives.

WSP Group is a global design engineering and management consultancy specialising in property, transport and infrastructure, industry and environment projects.

Established in the UK in the 1970s and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1987, WSP started its business partnership with Venson in March 2006 with the introduction of a dual-supply contract hire arrangement for its then fleet of 650 company cars.

The WSP Advantage scheme was launched in July 2010 and sees WSP employees opt into the scheme after giving up either their current company car or cash in lieu of a car.

Typically, employers introduce a salary sacrifice scheme as one of an increasingly long menu of staff benefits and it is in addition to a traditional company car option.

However, WSP decided the “win wins” delivered to both itself and employees

from the initiative would mean the end of its own traditionally run company car fleet.

Key reasons behind WSP launching its salary sacrifice scheme were to drive down the carbon footprint of both the business and its employees and encourage them to reduce their mileage.

A total of 113 cars have so far either been delivered or ordered to date under the scheme, making it already one of the largest company car salary sacrifice schemes so far implemented.

Car fleet manager Dennis Dugen said: ‘The scheme is helping WSP achieve economic and sustainability objectives as the funding structure encourages employees to choose low emission cars and cut their mileages. Simultaneously we are also encouraging employees to “smart” work, work from home and use video conferencing to reduce their business mileage. As well as delivering financial benefits to the company and employees, WSP Advantage is also benefiting the environment as vehicle emissions are reducing alongside mileage as employees are thinking how necessary both business and private journeys are before making them.’

Get even more drive from your employees with the industry’s brightest sparks Award-winning expert providers of vehicle based benefits that reward both you and your employees Our salary sacrifice and company car schemes can offer the best of both worlds, helping you drive employees’ loyalty, motivation and satisfaction. Many major UK companies are already taking advantage of our flexible schemes and fleet management solutions.

Be a part of our bright future; where we can build the perfect car scheme for you. Helping you reward what matters most; your people.

Your employees deserve the best; find out what we can do for your company today.

Call 0844 848 9311 or go to www.zenith.co.uk

And finally...

Clear communication Given that the success of any Salary Sacrifice scheme rests in employee adoption, LeasePlan says it believes strongly in the dedication of a committed resource for the communication of the scheme to this audience.

LeasePlan’s Richardson continues: ‘Any scheme we can offer is only going to be as successful as it ought to be if our customers’ employees think it’s worthwhile to take it up. Many of those signing up to a scheme haven’t had a company car before so are unfamiliar with that kind of benefit.’

For that reason, LeasePlan offers expert consultancy advice and bespoke planning which enables them to create tailored communication plans designed to underpin the entire scheme.

Ultimately, it is such expert consultancy and tailoring along with strong communication from the employer’s own end that will ensure the success of salary sacrifice schemes – but with a raft of benefits on offer to the right fleets, it could be well worth exploring.

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our fleet Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ-T ALLGRIP CROSSOVER, soft-roader or just a high-riding C-segment family car, there is no getting away from the likes of Sportage, Kuga and of course the Nissan Qashqai. Muscling in to this crowded sector of the market requires a confident manufacturer, with a seriously focused car.

Suzuki has history in the compact 4x4 market of course, though all-wheel drive credentials seem less important to buyers these days than the off-roader stance and enhanced visibility. Indeed if driving all four wheels is going to cost, at the pumps or with the taxman, many fleet buyers will happily take the appearance without the additional driveshafts.

Our long-termer came with the optional ALLGRIP driveline, though 80% of UK cars won’t, but it does little to harm what, throughout six months and over 7,000 miles, has been very respectable fuel consumption. Suzuki claims up to 64.2mpg for the 1.6-litre diesel with Allgrip, versus 67.2mpg for the two-wheel drive model. While not quite hit-

the figures

ting those heady heights, we have occasionally seen 60mpg on the trip and even local daily driving regularly returns an indicated 56-58mpg.

The 4x4 takes CO2 up to just 114g/km, against 110g/km for the standard diesel, again not breaking the bank with the BiK accountant. That economy hasn’t been at the expense of performance either; the compact Suzuki is more than quick enough to keep pace with traffic and can handle a spirited cross-country drive as easily as a long motorway haul.

Indeed the S-Cross has been an incredibly easy car to live with, quietly getting on with whatever task has been thrown at it without complaint.

Is it as good as the competition? In many ways yes. In terms of price for specification, fuel consumption and driver tax, it is more than equal to the task and deserves to carve a growing fleet share for Suzuki in the UK. Dan Gilkes

OTR PRICE £21,549 POWER 118bhp @ 3,750rpm TORQUE 236lb.ft @ 1,750rpm 0-62mph 13 seconds TOP SPEED 108mph COMBINED MPG 64.2mpg CO2 114g/km (17% BiK)

SEAT Toledo 1.6 TDI SE Ecomotive

SEAT has pitched the Toledo as a high value offering and, even at £17,840 on the road for our top-of-the-range SE

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Ecomotive model, it’s a lot of car for the money. Particularly for retail buyers, but also for fleets.

Despite sharing its platform with the Ibiza, its longer wheelbase gives huge rear legroom and the boot is equally capacious, accessed through a long rear hatch.

The SE trim also includes cruise and climate control, satellite navigation and Bluetooth, which are pretty much staple requirements for motorway drivers.

Fuel economy at 70.6mpg is a little off the 85.6mpg achieved by the Leon Ecomotive, but the Fleet World team has

averaged almost 60mpg over a twomonth term with the car and, for what is still a small vehicle, we’ve been impressed with its motorway manners too.

But it’s worth giving the equivalent petrol engine a nod. It’s £1,500 cheaper and, unlike the Ibiza with the same 1.2-litre TSI engine, it has six gears, which should benefit real-world economy.

There’s no debating the Ecomotive’s ability to stretch a tank of fuel further, but its petrol counterpart makes a lot of sense for drivers with a shorter commute.

Alex Grant

Ford Kuga 1.6T EcoBoost Titanium Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid SE Estate OUR Mercedes comes with boot rails and bars that slot into them to stop things rolling about. You certainly need them, as they are amazingly handy for stopping things rolling about in the cavernous boot. Also, the floor lifts up to reveal a well for putting even more stuff in.

Is there any car on sale that has more carrying capacity? I’ve yet to find one and even my family and its vast logistical burden has yet to defeat the E-Class. One thing I would like though, and that’s a split bootlid as BMW have on the 5 Series where only the rear screen lifts. Then I would be really spoilt.

Steve Moody

Audi A8 SE 3.0 TDI quattro THERE’S no worse sound than the crunching of bodywork on concrete. Low-speed bumper-to-bumper shunts often leave little damage, but walls tend to leave a nasty imprint. So the inclusion of parking sensors and a reversing camera in the A8 definitely look like good value for money.

There are times when the strident bleeping can be a little frustrating, but this is a big car that doesn’t fit easily into conventional size parking spaces and a little extra help is not unwelcome. The rear view camera is especially useful, especially early in the morning when the wing mirrors are misted up. Technology you can trust…

Ross Durkin

IT’S somewhat ironic that in the week that our Ford Kuga, complete with kick-activated tailgate, prepares to leave us, I hear of more models being launched with automated tailgates and then my replacement longterm car turns up with one. I’m left wondering if this is the new option du jour.

When it comes to the Kuga, we’ve put both its tailgate and its load-carrying abilities to the test over the last three months. Whilst the 456-litre boot may not be the largest in the class, it’s easy to fold the seats down or just recline them using the one-touch lever – although it would be good if this could also be reached from the rear. The low loading sill is also appreciated.

Over the last few months, I’ve actually got to grips with the kick-activated tailgate, having finally worked out you need to have the keys about your person for it to work. However, I’m still rather wary of the automatic tailgate generally, both in terms of making sure there’s enough room for it to open and also that nothing/nobody gets in the way of it closing, after a relative decided to stick her head in to get something without realising I’d pressed the button.

Like automated tailgates, crossovers are very much in favour, with no signs of demand abating. And if you’re looking for a well-built model with high quality and high practicality for family requirements, along with resolutely competitive pricing, the Ford is temping. I have to say that as competent as the 1.6-litre petrol EcoBoost engine has proved, I’d probably still opt for one of the 138 and 161bhp diesels as the fuel economy hasn’t quite matched my expectations – although I’ve never been blessed with the lightest of right feet – and I’d rather foot the uplift for a diesel, if you pardon the expression.

However, in general the Kuga has proved practical, efficient, likeable and capable – ticking many important boxes for fleets.

Natalie Middleton

the figures OTR PRICE £25,400 POWER 148bhp @ 5,700rpm TORQUE 177lb.ft @ 1,600rpm 0-62mph 9.7 seconds TOP SPEED 121mph COMBINED MPG 42.8mpg CO2 154g/km (23% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk / 93

our fleet Renault Clio 1.5 dCi Dynamique S CLIO picked up the Best Small Car award at the recent Fleet World Honours for the second time and with good reason. Our Clio is something of a fleet dream with its exceptionally low CO2 emissions and TCO friendly fuel consumption as well as 18,000-mile service intervals.

You get a fair bit of car for your money too as the Dynamique MediaNav spec is pretty comprehensive. That helps to make it an equally good town car or long-distance machine.

Items like the standard cruise control and a well-specced interior help to make it feel just as capable as a larger car over long distances.

The tried-and-tested 1.5dCi diesel gives the little car decent performance, although you will need to override the ECO system if you want to get a move on. The bar at the base of the instruments glows green if you’re behaving but will go through the traffic light sequence if you start enjoying yourself too much. Keep it

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

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

green and 65mpg is possible; some way short of 88.3mpg, but not bad just the same. It rides well, handles well and Renault has learned a lot about build quality in recent years. Stylish, fun and a bit sensible too.

John Kendall

Mazda3 SKYACTIV-D 2.2 SE-L Nav I wouldn’t class myself as a fast driver, but there’s something pleasing about the way the Mazda3 covers long distances that you can’t help liking. Mazda has made no secret that it’s incorporated a little of the MX-5’s DNA into its latest cars, and it shows. It feels confident to drive, solid and yet very comfortable on the 16-inch wheels fitted to the SE-L trim.

There’s no downsized petrol option or 1.6-litre diesel, but with my soft right foot the 2.2-litre diesel in our car barely feels like it’s ticking over most of the time I’m driving it. It means despite having 148bhp

auctions & remarketing

on tap when I need to overtake, on a combined cycle split almost evenly between urban and motorway trips, I’m averaging around 55mpg most of the time.

So the Mazda3 has delivered on the promises of the CX-5 crossover. I remember driving that early on, with the same engine used here, and being impressed at how agile and car-like it felt. In a smaller, lighter, lower car, I’m finding Mazda’s latest chassis and engine technology is good enough to make almost anyone enjoy driving. And all without punishing them when they get to the pumps.

Anne Dopson

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

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

rental systems & programmes White Clarke Automotive Solutions Tel: 0870 787 2211

94 / fleetworld.co.uk

www.whiteclarkeauto.com

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance

daily rental

fleet management software

risk management

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

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

Arnold Clark Vehicle 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

Vehicle Management

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

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

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

Apex Car Rental Tel: 01323 745444

Sofico Tel:0121 288 5935/07815 601622

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

www.apexrental.co.uk

www.soficoservices.com

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

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

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

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

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

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

www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe DriveTech

tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

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

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

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

Lex Autolease

telematics & tracking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk car valeting

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

www.cardinus.com

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

SageQuest Tel: 0808 163 9309 www.sage-quest.co.uk

misfuelling

fuel management

AFF Tel: 0844 879 4770 www.autofuelfix.com

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

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

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

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

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

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

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

fleetworld.co.uk / 95

advertisement feature

An expert approach to cost savings With the need for cost control increasingly exerting pressures on fleet management, getting specialist advice on how to run your fleet efficiently could pay dividends, says ARI Fleet UK.

A

s the complexities and pressures involved in modern fleet management grow – particularly with regard to cost control – it is somewhat paradoxical that the role of the fleet manager is increasingly being bundled in with other responsibilities, leading many managers to struggle with the administrative burden of managing a fleet effectively.

Yet with the fleet typically being the third-highest cost for a firm after salaries and rent, adopting a best practice approach to fleet cost control can save companies significant sums in day-to-day operation costs, whilst also helping to cut their carbon footprint and their exposure to risk.

Whether you buy your vehicles outright or lease them, it can therefore pay dividends to seek specialist fleet management advice. This is where ARI Fleet UK can help.

Founded in 1948 by Holman Automotive Group, ARI has grown into the largest privately held vehicle fleet management services company in the world. With offices throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the UK and Europe, ARI manages more than one million vehicles in these countries and, combined with its global associates, more than two million vehicles worldwide.

This includes ARI Fleet UK, which is based in Chippenham and offers a comprehensive fleet product and services portfolio, distinguished by award-winning fleet control and reporting technology.

By partnering with ARI, companies can reduce their total cost of ownership, manage policies and CO2 ratings, and help reduce some of the administrative burden that comes with managing a fleet.

In particular, ARI can help fleets with the implementation of a total cost of ownership (TCO) approach to fleet procurement. By adopting such an approach, fleets can ensure that they are taking into account vital taxation and environmental parameters to get a true picture of their vehicles’ costs.

However building in all the key components that need to be included in TCO can be complex. This covers not just the acquisition price of a vehicle but also depreciation, financing costs, fuel costs, servicing and repair, tyres, accidents, short-term rental costs, and how vehicles are funded. Adjusting just one of these items can change the entire TCO equation.

ARI works with companies to develop strategies to lower their TCO by addressing every one of the factors listed above and more, including: • Reducing expensive downtime by getting vehicles repaired quickly and correctly • Helping clients understand the cost implications of CO2 ratings • Helping companies understand the fine line between the types of vehicles they offer drivers and the impact those choices have on employee satisfaction • Implementing risk management and driver behaviour policies that will help lower costs, accidents rates, and tyre expenses as well as improve the residual value of the vehicle • Exploring t he v arious types of fund ing t hat is a vailable, fr om ou tright purchase to leasing, and from contract hire to finance lease • Offering unbundled services that allow our clients to pick which programs make the most sense for them • Identifying opportunities for savings through exception reports and alerts ARI also helps companies lower TCO through the use of technology. Many of ARI’s clients have complex internal systems that need to be connected, and data integration is one of the firm’s key differentiators. ARI can accept data from third parties, client systems, other suppliers, vendors, and other fleet management companies into its data warehouse, from which it provides reports, key performance indicators (KPIs) and alerts.

As a result, ARI’s clients can view summary information about some or all of the fleet and they can drill down to see detailed information about individual vehicles. Clients also work with ARI’s well-tenured staff to determine additional best practices and process efficiencies that can further lower their TCO. And that’s just one way in which ARI can assist and advise clients on how to run a more efficient and cost effective fleet.

“We look to partner with our clients and understand their business and its demands, so that we can develop a solution that is customised to their needs,” said Jason Chamberlain, director of sales for ARI Fleet UK. “By following this process, we inevitably uncover cost savings and discover efficiencies that help drive down TCO.”

If you a re in terested in finding ou t ho w ARI ca n assist you, please contact us at 0844 8000 700 and speak to the sales team, or visit www.arifleet.co.uk

VAN FLEETW RLD

at a glance driven...

Fuso Canter, Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato

June 2014

p110 The van delivers a relaxed driving environment and significant savings.

plus...

Fleet management software & CV Show round-up

vanfleetworld.co.uk

show highlights

CV Show round-up The 2014 CV Show was a big hit with van buyers, with plenty of new metal on show. Dan Gilkes catches up with some of the latest news.

Renault Master Renault has updated its Master van with the addition of twin-turbocharged engines, offering reduced fuel consumption and emissions, a single rear wheel L4 van with rear-wheel drive and ESP9 as standard on all models.

The vans retain the single turbo 2.3-litre engine, now with 110hp and 125hp, but will also be offered with twin-turbo versions delivering 135hp and 165hp. The 165hp engine delivers 15hp and 10Nm of torque more than the previous 150hp motor, yet provides a 7.3mpg saving, with the L2H2 model boasting up to 40.9mpg and 180g/km of CO2.

The ESP9 stability control system will now be standard on front and rear drive Master vans, incorporating Load Adaptive Control, Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend. Trailer Swing Assist is available with a factory- it towbar.

The single rear wheel L4H2 and L4H3 panel vans have been produced in response to demand from parcel carriers and couriers, who require the maximum internal volume, particularly between the rear-wheel arches.

Citroën Relay Citroën pulled the covers from its revised Relay van, with the promise of a 15% fuel saving, extended service intervals and a strengthened body structure. The van now comes with ESC stability control on all models, while an eHDi version of the 2.2-litre diesel engine offers 130hp with the promise of up to 42.8mpg and 175g/km.

Drivers will welcome an increase in cab specification, with DAB radio and MP3 compatible CD player as standard. An optional 5” touchscreen provides a media interface and a monitor for the optional rear view camera.

‘New Relay will build upon the success of its predecessor,’ says Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s head of commercial vehicles and business sector operations.

‘We expect the wide choice of new Relay variants, all offering class-leading load carrying practicality and low cost of operation, coupled with even higher standards of equipment, will increase its popularity with both national fleets and SME businesses.’

100 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Vauxhall Vivaro Vauxhall celebrated the arrival of the new Vivaro at this year’s CV Show. Built at the recently upgraded Luton plant, the new Vivaro boasts more than 40% UK content, more than double its predecessor. The Luton plant is expected to build around 55,000 Vivaros a year, of which 52% will be exported.

Vauxhall is planning 80% growth in van sales over the coming years and Vivaro will spearhead that attack on the market. The vans are offered with a choice of single and Bi-turbo 1.6-litre engines, offering up to 47.1mpg and 155g/km of CO2 emissions. The Bi-turbo engines come as standard with Stop/Start technology, while all Vivaro vans will have ESP as standard, along with Hill Start Assist and Traction Control with Roll Over Mitigation.

Fiat Fiorino Fiat Professional has added a range-topping Sportivo trim level to its van line-up. Side stripes, alloy wheels, painted bumpers and uprated engines lift the Sportivo models above the already well-specified Tecnico models.

Sportivo models come with air conditioning, Blue&Me connectivity and a TomTom sat-nav dock on the dash. The vans also get front fog lights and rear parking sensors.

Prices start at ÂŁ9,695 for the Fiorino Sportivo with the 1.3-litre 95hp MultiJet II engine, a ÂŁ700 premium over the 75hp Tecnico model.

Bott

Isuzu

Racking specialist Bott has developed a third range, called Modulo, to run alongside its Vario and Uno lines. At present Modulo is only available for smaller vans, though the range is expected to grow with time.

One of the features of Modulo is the availability of false floors, to allow the storage of longer items below the racking system.

Modulo is particularly lightweight, with many plastic components. It also uses thinner gauge steels than other Bott ranges, though it has been extensively crash-tested for occupant safety. Plastic storage boxes that fit in the shelving can be used in all three systems.

Isuzu Truck has updated its light truck range and is now offering both Euro 5B and Euro 6 engines in its 3.5 tonne vehicles. However, there is an advantage in making the move to Euro 6, as the cleaner engine delivers 150hp compared to the 120hp of the Euro 5B model.

All trucks above 3.5 tonnes are now equipped with Euro 6 engines. However the company is offering a choice at 7.5 tonnes, with its 190hp 5.2-litre engine or, for those looking to save weight, a 150hp version of the smaller 3.0-litre engine found in the 3.5-tonne trucks. This lighter model has been dubbed the Isuzu Urban, as it is expected to appeal to those covering local mileage in city operations.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 101

inbusiness

Driver skills matter I

mproving driver skills offers the most effective method of saving fuel, according to road haulage fleet managers.

More than 200 managers, responsible for vans as well as trucks, were approached by fuel company Shell, as part of its Fuel Matters 2014 study, with 67% stating that driver skills offer the most effective route to lower fuel bills.

Half of those questioned said that they were already making savings of 5-10% using a range of technologies, but two thirds admitted that there were further cuts to be made.

That said, 58% of respondents admitted that they currently plan routes without taking fuel consumption into account.

Almost half of the managers felt that effective use of telematics to track vehicle consumption and driver performance was key to making an improvement, though only 32% were currently operating a telematic tracking system. Of those that do use telemetry, 87% said that they struggle to use and action more than 60% of the information provided by the systems, which in many cases remain too complex and time consuming to be used regularly.

Indeed 46% of managers felt that they lacked the resources to effectively install and manage a telematic system to reduce fuel consumption.

Head of Shell’s commercial vehicle fleet UK operation, Phil Williams, says that installing telemetry is not the end of the story either, as companies need to get driver buy-in to make the most of any fuel saving opportunity. Companies should provide drivers with real examples of how their behaviour impacts fuel consumption and the costs inherent in that.

Managers should also coach drivers on a one-to-one basis to make positive changes based on the information supplied by the telematic system. However, they must respect the challenges that drivers face in reducing fuel consumption, while maintaining the same level of performance in daily operation, and reward those improvements. Shell also recommends friendly competition, through league tables of top performing drivers, again with rewards for those drivers achieving improvements.

Of course the company has its own system to recommend, the Shell FuelSave Partner telematic device, that can be installed in a wide range of vehicles, tapping into the on-board diagnostic port to provide real-time fuel consumption data.

‘This is going to be a key area going forwards,’ says Mr Williams.

‘If we can work with our customers to save fuel, hopefully they will stay with us.’

He says that companies should be able to see a 7-10% fuel improvement, using a telematic system such as the Shell FuelSave Partner unit, which should be incentive enough to at least give the system a trial.

102 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Shell’s fuel efficient driving tips • Stop unnecessary idling – drivers should be directed to turn off engines if stopping for more than 10 seconds.

• Drive smoothly – aggressive driving can use up to a third more fuel than smooth driving, avoid sharp acceleration and keep steering inputs smooth.

• Use higher gears when possible – the higher the gear, the lower the engine speed.

• Conserve momentum – slow down early to let traffic lights change, rather than stopping completely.

• Use cruise control (where fitted) – cruise control helps to maintain a constant speed, in many cases improving fuel consumption.

• Avoid high speeds – the faster a vehicle travels the higher the wind resistance and the more fuel used.

inbusiness

British Gas goes electric B

ritish Gas has placed the largest electric van order to date in the UK with Nissan, for 100 e-NV200 electric vans, following a six-month trial in locations around the UK. The vans will be used by home-based British Gas domestic service engineers, each travelling around 45 miles per day, making seven to eight home calls.

The move is part of a British Gas initiative that will see 10% of the firm’s 13,000-strong home service fleet move to electric power by 2017.

The trial and subsequent purchase involves finance and fleet operations management through Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Nissan called upon Gateshead College to develop and implement a driver training programme for the service engineers.

Unlike most electric vehicle users, where the vans return to a specific depot to be charged at night, the British Gas engineers are all home-based, which meant that only engineers with access to a driveway or garage could take part.

‘Clearly electric vehicles will not be 100% of our fleet,’ says Rob Morton, British Gas managing director of procurement and supply chain.

‘We had to find engineers who could have a smart meter and charger installed.’

British Gas has equipped each location with twin-port smart meters in the engineers’ homes. This means that the bill for domestic electricity continues to be sent to the home owner, while all vehicle charging bills will be routed directly to British Gas. This reduces the risk of a Benefit-in-Kind charge, as the engineer is not having to say how much electricity went to the van.

British Gas will run the e-NV200s for five years, covering less than 50,000 miles in that first life period. Nissan warranties the vehicles’ batteries for a five year period, so there

should be no concerns over unexpected ownership costs.

Indeed the company claims that early results clearly demonstrate considerably lower running costs for the Nissan vans, compared to previous diesel vans.

Nissan offers the e-NV200 with a choice of purchase plans, much the same as for its Leaf electric car. The customer can buy both vehicle and batteries, can purchase the van but lease the batteries, or lease both components.

‘I envisage that for these 100 vans we will buy the vehicle and lease the batteries,’ says Mr Morton.

All of the trial vans were fitted with dataloggers that allowed British Gas and Nissan to see how driver behaviour changed throughout the six-month period. Gateshead College provided both classroom sessions and driver training in the vehicles to show the engineers how to get the most from the vans. Nissan also set up a 24/7 support line for the vehicles, though within the trial period there was no need for any regular maintenance.

‘We are very passionate about engaging our engineers,’ says Mr Morton.

‘Now we genuinely can’t get the vehicles back off them. We have a waiting list of engineers saying can I have the next one.’

While British Gas has made the commitment to adopt electric power, it hasn’t rushed into the deal, which has taken two and half years to bring together.

‘We were sceptical about this for some years,’ says Mr Morton.

‘It’s about timing it correctly. We wanted to be at the forefront of this technology.’

‘You have to be comfortable with TCO and this is the first point where that has happened,’ says Jon Lawes, managing director of Hitachi Capital CV Services.

‘We are happy to take that risk now to create the market.’

The first 50 e-NV200 vans will arrive with British Gas in the coming months, with an additional 50 by the end of the year.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 103

Q. Why Citan?

A.‘Trust, value, quality’

A Daimler Brand

The small van with all the answers.

www.mbvans.co.uk/fleet

Fuso Canter

Despite appearances, the Fuso Canter light truck comes from Portugal, not Japan. Ian Norwell reports.

S

etting out your stall to sell vans or light trucks on the other side of the world certainly gets a boost if you build locally. Daimler’s Fuso brand retails mainly through Mercedes commercial dealers in Western Europe, so to establish that local footprint and to save shipping costs, the company uses a factory in Tramagal, Portugal.

Fuso is a big name in Far Eastern markets, with a heavy truck portfolio that we never see. The modest Canter, of which 852 were sold in the UK last year, has a global sales figure of 140,000, outselling all other models in Daimler’s truck portfolio.

The 3.5-7.5 tonne Canter range has taken on EGR (exhaust gas recirculation), an oxidation catalyst and a particulate trap to achieve Euro 6 below 6.0-tonne GVW. Above that, SCR (selective catalytic reduction) and AdBlue are added to clean up emissions.

Test drives of various Euro 6 models gave the impression of being quieter, while longer axle ratios, higher injection pressures, a stop/start system and an electromagnetic fan clutch are among developments that lead to a claimed 9% fuel economy gain over Euro 5 models.

Cab shells remain unchanged, but seat adjustment gives a six foot driver enough headroom and more legroom than required, unusual in this style of vehicle. Fuso claimed a first in commercial vehicles when

106 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think The Canter light truck still has a Japanese flavour, whichever way you slice it, but it continues to improve. The Duonic twin clutch transmission and the 4x4 version should help increase sales.

it introduced the Duonic AMT (automated manual transmission) that uses two clutches to manage shifting. It works well, with manual intervention being easy. Drivers would be best advised to leave it in auto mode for town work and resort to manual on hilly routes.

Canter is not a vehicle we would have expected to perform particularly well as a 4x4. But the performance of the 6.5-tonne 6C18(D) was very impressive. A slippery off-road test route in the Sintra mountains was managed with road tyres and we gave it full marks. A bumpy ride is to be had unless you keep the speed down, but the five-speed manual box, with a reduction gear to give a low range, does a good job. If you’re in forestry, light construction or utilities, you could give one a go.

We also tried out the Eco Hybrid 7C15. A 150hp diesel and a 40kW electric motor are set up as a parallel hybrid with regenerative braking. The truck drives well and Fuso says that 5% of Canter production is now hybrids, although only 25 have hit the road in the UK since launch three years ago.

Pushing the envelope even further, we also glimpsed an all-electric 7.5-tonne E Cell Canter. Despite boasting a raft of batteries and a 110 kW (150hp) electric motor, there was hardly any technical detail on offer. Suffice to say that range and electricity charging costs will no doubt be major concerns.

Peugeot Boxer Peugeot is building on growing LCV sales with a revised Boxer, says Dan Gilkes.

p

eugeot has unveiled a revised Boxer van range, promising lower fuel consumption and emissions, improved speci ications including standard ESP and a more durable body structure with more robust wear components. Boxer represents around 25% of Peugeot’s rapidly growing UK van sales and retains its four load lengths, three roof heights and eight load volumes of 8-17m3.

Peugeot says its Professional trim level, which accounts for 40% of UK sales and adds a £1,000 premium, will offer the highest specification on the market. The Professional kit list includes integrated touchscreen navigation, a DAB radio and Bluetooth, cruise control and a rear parking aid. Even the base specification comes with a full steel bulkhead, ESP, DAB, Bluetooth and electric heated door mirrors.

The familiar 2.2-litre HDI engine retains its choice of 110hp, 130hp and 150hp outputs, plus there is a 3.0-litre motor from van partner Fiat that delivers a range-topping 180hp and 400Nm of torque. Of more interest to leets is a new version of the 130hp engine with Stop/Start, offering up to 39.2mpg and CO2 emissions of just 189g/km.

The fuel injection system has been redesigned and the 2.2-litre engines use a new timing chain for longer component life.

All Boxer vans have extended 30,000 mile/two year service intervals.

There are larger brake components, while a strengthened body structure with new sliding side door runners and rear door hinges promises increased durability and longevity.

Cosmetic changes are limited to a new grille, bonnet and lights, with LED daytime

what we think The Boxer update is very much evolutionary, but it covers most of the bases for fleet customers, offering improved fuel consumption, lower running costs and greater cab comfort.

specification MODEL Peugeot Boxer HDi 130 L3H2 BASIC PRICE £26,155 ENGINE 4-cylinder/2,198cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 130hp @ 3,500rpm TORQUE 320Nm @ 1,750rpm Weights (kg) GVW 3,500 KERB WEIGHT 1,925 PAYLOAD 1,575 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,300 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 3,705 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,870 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,932 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 565 LOAD VOLUME 13.0m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 90 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 38.2mpg/195g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/30,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

running lights and the option of LED headlights. In the cab there is a redesigned steering wheel and new seat cloth, plus the 5” screen in Professional models.

The 130hp engine is the most popular option, with the 110hp a close second. We didn’t get a chance to try the Stop/Start version of the 130hp, but at just £200 more it offers a saving of 1mpg and 6g/km, so could prove popular with urban users.

On the road, both the 110hp and 130hp models had plenty of performance, though the engines were fairly vocal while cold.

Boxer’s front drive chassis still delivers secure handling and the van’s high-riding driving position ensures that you get a good view of the road ahead.

At 5” the integral touchscreen sat-nav isn’t huge, but it was easy to operate with clear instructions and the directions on screen. A standard full steel bulkhead keeps the noise down in the cab and Boxer offers a comfortable working environment for the driver and for passengers.

At the rear the new robust hinges provide up to 270 degrees opening for easy access.

The sliding side door boasts a huge opening that could easily cope with a Euro pallet.

Peugeot recorded a 52.9% rise in LCV sales in the irst quarter of this year and the irm is hoping to capitalise on this performance. It is introducing 88 Business Centre dealers around the UK, around 40% of the UK dealer network, to focus on the SME market, with each dealer having specialists dedicated to small business sales of both vans and cars.

New Boxer provides them with an increasingly strong sales proposition.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 107

NO JOB TOO BIG

MOVANO CORE CONVERSIONS Whatever your trade demands, no job is too big for the Vauxhall Movano. With tipper, dropside and Luton models available, the Movano is big on choice. And because every Movano comes with a full 3 year/100,000 mile warranty, whichever model you choose, it will be fit for purpose.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES The Wheels of Business 3 Years Warranty up to 100,000 miles. The warranty will expire when the vehicle has reached either 3 years or when the mileage limit has been exceeded, whichever occurs first. The warranty The warranty excludes wear and tear and serviceable items, and the vehicle has to be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedule. Terms and conditions apply. Available at

BEST CHASSIS CAB

For more information call 0845 740 0777 or visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/vans includes Vauxhall’s standard Customer Care Commitment of a one-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty and a second and third year manufacturer’s warranty with 100,000 mile limitation. participating Retailers only. Warranty only available on vehicles sourced from General Motors UK Limited. Full details available from your Vauxhall Commercial Retailer.

Fiat Ducato Fiat's striking Ducato delivers reduced costs and, says Dan Gilkes, an improved drive.

I

f the new Ducato from Fiat Professional looks somewhat familiar, there are a couple of good reasons. The irst is that despite a facelift involving new lights, with an LED option and integrated daytime running lights, a revised grille design, four-section front bumpers and new rear light clusters, the big Fiat looks much like its predecessor, albeit one with a bit of nip and tuck.

The second is that Ducato is built alongside Citroën’s Relay and Peugeot’s Boxer, so you will have seen something familiar already in these pages.

Ducato does differ from its PSA siblings, with Fiat power on all models, rather than the Ford/PSA 2.2-litre of the French duo.

The 2.3-litre MultiJet II engine used in the Ducato offers similar 110hp, 130hp and 150hp outputs, with both Fiat and Peugeot using the Italian firm’s 3.0-litre engine in a higher-rated 180hp model.

Unlike the French duo, Fiat will be offering Start/Stop on both 130hp and 150hp models, resulting in a claimed 45.6mpg and 164g/km for both engines in the smallest Ducato body. Overall Fiat is claiming a 10% fuel saving against the previous range and all engines now come with 30,000 mile service intervals to further reduce costs.

The vans drive through a slick six-speed manual gearbox, though Fiat’s accomplished Comfort-Matic automated six-speed transmission is available with all engines bar the base 110hp variant. It is very good, but at £1,300 it will probably remain an option that is limited to the motorcaravan and owner-driver markets.

We have only driven the Fiat in left hand drive and the Peugeot in right hand drive,

110 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think Fiat engines put clear air between Ducato and its French cousins. The van delivers a relaxed driving environment and significant savings.

specification MODEL Fiat Ducato LH2 130 MultiJet II BASIC PRICE £25,845 ENGINE 4-cylinder/2,287cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 130hp @ 3,600rpm TORQUE 320Nm @ 1,800rpm Weights (kg) GVW 3,500 KERB WEIGHT 1,975 PAYLOAD 1,525 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,500 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 3,705 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,870 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,932 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 560 LOAD VOLUME 13.0m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 90 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 40.4mpg/183g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/30,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/120,000 miles

which can have an effect on noise levels due to the positioning of the steering column relative to the engine. That said, the Ducato’s engine installation is undoubtedly the quieter and less intrusive. Both the 130hp and the 150hp engines are smooth and offer plenty of pulling power in a halfladen 3.5 tonne van. Updates to the braking system, with bigger ventilated discs and a new servo, have resulted in 45% less brake force being required from the driver, while revised suspension both front and rear leads to improved handling and ride quality.

Ducato retains its front drive layout but now comes with ESP as standard, incorporating a roll-over mitigation system, load adaptive control, Hill Holder and a drive torque control called MSR, to prevent wheelspin when pulling away.

The Tecnico trim, which will set you back an additional £1,650 over the standard Ducato, also includes air conditioning, front fogs, reverse parking sensors, sat nav with a 5” touchscreen, LED daytime running lights, a rear camera and a high level instrument panel. Tecnico is available on the most popular 3.0t SH1 130 van, the 3.5t MH1 130 and the LH2 130, also at 3.5t.

The standard van is very well equipped. It has a DAB radio, driver’s seat lumbar adjust and armrest, heated electric mirrors and electric windows, Bluetooth, a full height steel bulkhead and a 30W stereo with MP3 and USB/Aux-in ports.

Lower consumption and emissions, an improved specification and a focus on durability should lead to reduced ownership costs for this revised Ducato.

+ Fuel up Our new Fuel+ Card means saving money on your fleet’s fuel bill and expenses.

The Volkswagen Group Leasing Fuel+ Card provides access to the UK’s biggest network of fuelling stations that display the VISA sign. What’s more with its Chip and PIN payment system, it is universally safe and can be used across Europe.

With the ability to monitor and run a vast array of reports you can control your spending and we’re confident it can save you money too. If it doesn’t save you money in the first year, you could receive a refund of up to your first year’s card fees.*

To find out more about our Fuel+ Card call 0870 333 2229 or visit makingleasingsimple.co.uk/fuelcard * Terms and conditions apply. Availability of Fuel+ Card subject to credit approval.

MARKET OVERVIEW Fleet Management Software

Bynx

Civica UK Ltd

Bynx is the leading provider of software solutions for vehicle fleet, leasing and rental management. bynxFLEET enables van leasing, contract hire, fleet management and rental operators to control the lifecycle of their vehicle assets, manage drivers and run day-to-day operations cost-effectively.

Customers are able to retain asset value, engage with stakeholders online and better utilise fleets. bynxFLEET provides all the software modules and applications required to do the job – whether the fleet is owned or managed on someone else’s behalf. It automates and streamlines contract processing and enables customers to do more, faster, with fewer resources. bynxNET offers everything required to improve the customer experience and communication between all stakeholders.

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.

Key Benefits of the Tranman system include: • Reduce fleet operating costs • Better key performance analysis indicators • Improve analysis of accidents and fuel usage • Increase workshop Productivity • Improve vehicle utilisation • Comply with duty of care • Superior accessibility via web portals

Contact: Gary Jefferies sales@bynx.com

DRIVE Software Solutions Limited

Chevin is a leading, global provider of dedicated fleet management software with customers in more than 100 countries worldwide operating more than 850,000 vehicles.

We deliver solutions to the public, utility and corporate sectors as well as governmental and NGO operations of every size. Our core, web-based FleetWave product is a truly scalable solution ideal for larger or more complex fleets that utilises the very latest technologies to provide incredibly flexible fleet management for all sizes of operation, backed by industry leading implementation and support expertise. We also produce RoadBASE, a sophisticated yet wellproven Windows-based solution aimed at medium sized fleets.

Tel: 01773 821992 www.chevinfleet.com

Jaama Ltd Jaama's market leading, multi award winning Key2 Vehicle Management system is a totally integrated vehicle, asset and driver management solution covering all aspects of owning, leasing, hiring, maintaining, repairing, running and disposing of cars, vans, commercial vehicles, plant and asset related equipment. As the first accredited software supplier for the FTA's Van Excellence Scheme, Jaama is committed to raising standards and providing practical solutions to van fleet operators. Specific modules include defect management; ensuring compliance to VOSA recommendations, electronic driver services; a repository for fleet information allowing drivers to submit expense claims on-line, and driver quotes; allowing company car and van drivers data to compile their optimum vehicle solutions within pre-set grades and company specified requirements. Developed in conjunction with leading vehicle operators Jaama have invested heavily to develop a new breed of vehicle management software. Designed for all fleet sizes and budgets, Jaama links users live to data providers, customers, suppliers, vehicle telematics and the DVLA.

Contact: Ellie Whiten sales@jaama.co.uk

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Tel: 07773 814277

Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Chevin Fleet Solutions

Contact: David Gladding sales@chevinfleet.co.uk

Contact: Jonathan Roberts jonathan.roberts@civica.co.uk www.civica.co.uk/tranman

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

We are a privately owned UK business dedicated to the delivery of Fleet, Vehicle Management, Contract Management and Leasing solutions.

Drive Software Solutions Ltd are the creators and owners of the DRIVE Fleet Management and Leasing software product – 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 and is currently installed and operating successfully in 16 countries worldwide. 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.

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

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company Teletrac’s Fleet Director® is the most advanced and interactive fleet automation software on the market, equipped with easyto-use navigation and safety capabilities. With innovative features that include on-board navigation, lane guidance and twoway 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: 0870 460 5693 www.teletrac.co.uk

Does your system provide a workshop management module?

Does your system include a vehicle order tracking function?

Does your system integrate with external parties such as telematics, fuel providers etc?

Does your system provide variable access/security levels?

Can your system handle multiple suppliers (tail lift, Refrigerated Body, etc) for a single vehicle?

Does your system have any special risk management features?

Can your system download or accept data from a digital tachograph?

Does your system allow pay-as-you-go payment terms?

Do you provide full support & Maintenance cover?

Does your system provide a dash board reporting function?

Does your system provide Driver Licence Checking?

Does your system support PDA/Phone devices?

Is your system web based?

VAN FLEETW RLD

Key to services

Bynx

Chevin Fleet Solutions

Civica UK Ltd

-

DRIVE Software Solutions Ltd

Jaama Ltd

KeeResources Limited

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company

Service provided

Service unavailable

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

The Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Park Epsom

VENUE

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

UKVANLEASING

Tel: 01708 511071 www.ukvanleasing.co.uk

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

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

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

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

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

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

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk

Lex Autolease

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

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

Apex Van Rental Tel: 01323 745444

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

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

www.apexrental.co.uk

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

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

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

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

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

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

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

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

fuel management

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

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

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

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

114 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

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

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

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk risk management

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

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

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

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

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

Vehicle Management

Full listings online at

fast-fits & tyres

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

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

YES. IT LOOKS THIS GOOD ON PAPER TOO. Overflowing with charm and dynamism, plus class-leading performance and efficiency. Every new MINI Hatch comes with a whole fleet of accountant-pleasing figures, like combined 80.7 mpg from the MINI Cooper D. All new turbo-charged three and four cylinder engines demand less fuel, deliver more power and produce lower CO2 emissions than ever. Supported by cutting-edge technology like Auto Start/Stop and optional Green Driving Mode, all models are amongst the most tax-efficient vehicles you could choose for your fleet and ensure that BIK repayments are minimised.

NEW 2014 MINI HATCH / PREVIOUS MINI HATCH MODEL

CO2 EMISSIONS

BIK (2014-2015)

MPG (COMBINED)

One One D Cooper Cooper D Cooper S

108g/km 89g/km 105g/km 92g/km 122g/km

14% 14% 14% 14% 17%

61.4 83.1 62.8 80.7 54.3

127g/km 99g/km 127g/km 99g/km 136g/km

18% 15% 18% 15% 20%

ENOUGH ZIP TO ZAP THE COMPETITION. More legendary MINI manoeuvrability than ever, comes courtesy of a stiffer wider body and lighter chassis.

Just the ticket for keeping you one step ahead on city streets.

Or even tight parking spaces (where incredibly, the new MINI can now steer itself if you upgrade to the new Parking Assistant Pack).

52.3 74.3 52.3 74.3 48.7

LOVES LONG DAYS ON THE ROAD. Days don’t feel as long when you’ve got all this fitted as standard: j DAB digital radio j USB audio interface j Keyless-Start j Heated mirrors and washer jets j Bluetooth®

KEEPS YOUR TEAM ON TRACK.

THEY ALL WANT TO WORK FOR YOU.

MINI Connected puts all the functionality of a business smartphone safely into the Central Display to help your team stay connected, on the road and on the go. It’ll display contacts, calendar appointments and share destinations with the Sat Nav, so your best people will always be on the best route to the next job.

Creating a fleet that’s made-to-measure for your business is easy with eight different MINI Models in the range. From the spacious, fuel-efficient MINI Countryman with CO2 emissions from 115g/km and up to 64.2 mpg (combined), to the practical MINI Clubvan. Getting a big personality working for you costs less than you might think.

THE CHARACTER REFERENCE, ON WHEELS. Businesses all over the UK are already reaping the rewards that an injection of MINI personality brings.

Ali Pountney – Water Babies Franchisee

‘We’re quite a funky brand. MINI absolutely suits our character. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s engaging. MINI is premium without being too expensive. It represents good value for money.’

Paul Thompson – Founder of Water Babies.

The world’s largest swimming school.

‘We wanted to attract the right type of candidate and the MINI Cooper D was the obvious choice. Its premium, practical qualities reflect the right company image for us and our clients.’

‘…the MINIs are so adaptable and perform equally well around town and on longer journeys… we usually only keep cars on fleet for two years but we will keep the MINIs for three.’

Mary-Jayne Atkins – Mishon Mackay Estate Agents.

‘MINI has the same cool, quirky, fun image we’re looking for. It complements Red Bull perfectly.’

David Oliver – Red Bull Fleet Manager.

Richard Sexton – e.surv Chartered Surveyors.

The UK’s largest residential valuation provider.

Fancy your own mobile fan-club generator?

GET YOUR HANDS ON OODLES MORE MPG (THAT’S MINI PERSONALITY GUARANTEED).

TO BOOK YOUR FLEET DEMONSTRATOR OR FIND OUT MORE: VISIT employeeoftheyear2014.co.uk OR CALL 0800 777 113.

Our Regional Corporate Sales Manager will be happy to tailor make a package just for your business, to test drive within your fleet*.

Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Range: Urban 26.4-72.4 mpg (10.7-3.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 44.8-91.1 mpg (6.3-3.1 l/100km). Combined 35.8-83.1 mpg (7.9-3.4 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 184-89 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving styles and conditions. *Test drive subject to status and availability.

OPEN MORE DOORS FOR YOUR BUSINESS. introducing our new recruit: the new mini 5-door hatch.

Offering the same styling and go kart handling as the current MINI Hatch, but with the benefit of 5 doors. This time you’ve got no excuse not to take your colleagues out.

For more information on the new MINI 5-door Hatch, visit www.mini.co.uk