Fleet World March 2013 by Fleet World Group

The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

March 2013

DIARY DATE

FLEETW RLD

24/4/2013 Visit thefleetshow.co.uk for more information and to register for the event

THII S TIME? Lexus readies another fleet assault

inside Mokka SWOT New Vauxhall SUV takes on rivals

A Smart Market How technology is changing remarketing

Driven New E-Class / Fiat 500L MINI Clubvan

fleetworld.co.uk

The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

March 2013

DIARY DATE

FLEETW RLD

24/4/2013 Visit thefleetshow.co.uk for more information and to register for the event

THII S TIME?

fleetworld.co.uk

Lexus readies another fleet assault

k thefleetshow.co.u

24th April 2013

inside Mokka SWOT

A Smart Market

New Vauxhall SUV takes on rivals

How technology is changing remarketing

Driven New E-Class / Fiat 500L MINI Clubvan

fleetworld.co.uk

Publisher Ross Durkin ross@eetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@eetworldgroup.co.uk Motoring Editor Alex Grant alex@eetworldgroup.co.uk Editorial Assistant Katie Beck katie@eetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor John Kendall john@eetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@eetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executives Darren Brett darren@eetworldgroup.co.uk Luke Durkin lukedurkin@eetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@eetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@eetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Tina Ries tina@eetworldgroup.co.uk Samantha Hargreaves sam@eetworldgroup.co.uk

Published by Stag Publications Ltd, 18 Alban Park, Hateld Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ tel +44 (0)1727 739160 fax +44 (0)1727 739169 email fw@eetworldgroup.co.uk web eetworld.co.uk

STAG Publications

Viewpoint

Contents

In this issue, we feature a letter from transport minister, Norman Baker MP, asking fleets to get involved with the second round of Plugged-in Places funding. He rightly recognises the importance of fleets in getting the electric car market off the ground. But it still needs better joined-up thinking before businesses will trust the Government on this matter. The ludicrous reinstatement of benefit-in-kind on electric vehicles in 2015 shows that one bit of Government is going one way, and then another part in a completely opposite direction. Talking of joined up thinking, why not come along next month and try some low emission cars, learn about the latest fleet technology, and have a razz around Silverstone’s legendary Grand Prix circuit too? The Fleet World Fleet Show 2013 has a vast array of manufacturers and exhibitors, but for something really special, we’ve hired out the entire circuit for you to test cars on. This is genuinely unusual: often only the shortened version is used, even for races. So you can acquaint yourself with all the latest work-related stuff, and then when Lewis Hamilton is charging through Copse at the British Grand Prix, you can say: ‘Tch, I took that corner better than he did.’ In between all of this comes the Budget. Perhaps we’ll see the EV BiK plan dropped, but much of the technical tax information has already been released. Fortunately Professor Colin Tourick has provided a handy round-up in this issue to keep you up to date, and for any announcements on the day, check out our website and Twitter feeds for the latest news. Enjoy the issue.

04 A month in fleet 12 Fleet World Barometer Making sense of the eet surveys this month.

16 Fleet World Fleet Show 2013 Register online now for the eet event of the year at Silverstone in April.

20 Comment 26 Driven New Mercedes-Benz E-Class // MINI Clubvan // Fiat 500L

34 Aiming small How smartphones and tablets are changing the platforms of remarketing in the UK.

40 Spotlight All-new Lexus IS aims to put the brand back on the compact executive eet map.

44 Market Overview Daily Rental.

48 Interview ...with Keith Allen of ARI Fleet UK.

50 Fleet Academy 52 Funding & Taxation 55 SWOT Team Vauxhall Mokka vs rivals.

60 Fleet update 67 VAN Fleet World We preview the forthcoming 2013 Commercial Vehicle Show // Risk Management // Nissan NV400 Dropside.

83 Fleet on fleet Graham Short, eet and property manager at Evander Glazing & Locks, speaks to Liz Hollands.

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.eetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

16 34 48 67

Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2011 19,619

Steve Moody Editor

March 2013

A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of Fleet World. Sign up to our FREE digital newsletter Fleet World Confidential... visit fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

TRANSPORT MINISTER ASKS FLEETS TO ELECTRIFY The Transport Minister has written to Fleet World asking readers to get involved with the second phase of the Energy Saving Trust’s Plugged-in Fleets initiative. In February the Coalition Government announced a £37 million package of measures to support the market in ultra-low emission vehicles, including funding for a national charging infrastructure. Transport minister, Norman Baker MP, said: ‘I had already previously confirmed nearly £300K of Government funding for a second phase of the Plugged-in Fleets initiative. The aim of this programme is to actively encourage fleets to consider if and where plug-in vehicles could contribute positively to their vehicle mix. ‘Fleets are an important and influential sector: you buy more than half the new cars sold in the UK every year. We understand that you need to make the numbers work for you and that is what this initiative is all about. ‘The Government is already providing the Plug-in Car and Van Grants to help bring down the upfront cost of plug-in vehicles. When this is combined with lower running costs and favourable tax treatment, plug-in vehicles can help fleets to save money. And with more plug-in vehicles coming to the market, fleets have an ever growing choice of vehicles at different price points.’ The second phase of the initiative will involve a lighter touch approach Baker said, building on knowledge and experience gained so far. He added: ‘The move to ultra-low emission vehicles has already started and is recognised as a case of ”when” and not ”if” by all the major motor manufacturers. They all have plug-in vehicles in their product pipelines and the Government is committed to making the UK a premier market for these vehicles to secure the growth, air quality and carbon benefits that this transition will deliver. ‘This year, with more and more models being released there will be an ever-increasing range of vehicles available. With our new initiatives announced to support infrastructure costs, now is the perfect time to take this opportunity of free support and guidance to ensure that the full benefits can be realised.’

CONFIDENTIAL

AMPERA AMBULANCE PUT TO TEST Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is to become the first ambulance service to conduct a long-term EV pilot using the Vauxhall Ampera as part of its emergency fleet. The trial will see the Ampera used as a rapid response vehicle in the York area over the next few months.

HYUNDAI AIMS FOR MORE FLEET GROWTH Martin Wilson, Hyundai’s recently appointed fleet director, says the firm will look to consolidate in 2013 after impressive growth in the past few years, before accelerating sales again in 2014. The firm went from 23rd in the fleet sales charts three years ago to ninth last year, and with eight new models launched in 2012, and the fleet team growing to 25 people, Wilson said the time was right to ensure everything was in place before a second big push. “We have had an incredible few years. Retail and fleet sales have hit nearly 75,000 units annually, with fleet accounting for 40% of those sales. But the exciting thing is that we are still only reaching a small number of potential fleets. It’s up to my team to increase that number of active customers this year,’ he said.

ProFleet2 One day, everyone will expect to have this information

fleetworld.co.uk

Ford NEWS Unrivalled support for Transit customers

inbrief

FORD is promising its Transit customers guaranteed and consistent aftersales support and service from its nationwide network of Transit24 dealers. The 90 dealers, part of Ford’s 200-plus commercial vehicle authorised repair network, will provide first class service, maintenance and repair for all commercial vehicles, minimising fleet customer downtime and providing priority treatment for urgent repairs, aiming to complete vehicle off-road repairs on the same working day wherever possible. Each dealership: • is manned by Ford-trained technicians • can look after all service, maintenance and warranty work • offers while-you-wait servicing, including late night appointments available at least once a week • responds to 1link online service booking requests within 20 minutes • can arrange collection and delivery of vehicles • uses only genuine Ford parts • uses an internet-linked vehicle diagnostics system Fleet National Pricing for 25-plus fleets ensures the best prices for routine servicing and fixed-content jobs. Every Ford Transit, Transit Custom and Transit Connect, has a three year/100,000 miles manufacturer’s warranty and Ford Assistance roadside assistance package which includes ‘load continuation’, meaning the load can be delivered before the vehicles is taken to a repairer. Ford also offers a free Fleet Accident Management service to all business customers.

New Focus ECOnetic delivers best-in-class 88g/km and 83.1mpg THE greenest Ford Focus, the 88g/km Focus ECOnetic with 105PS 1.6-litre TDCi engine, delivers 83.1mpg, making it the most fuel-efficient in its class. It offers the added benefits of zero VED, lower employer NI contributions, a 100% writing-down allowance in the first year and exemption from the current London congestion charge. • The 88g/km Focus ECOnetic carries a P11D tax value of 13% until the 2014-15 tax year • monthly benefit-in-kind tax is £40 for a 20% taxpayer and £79 at 40% • The Focus ECOnetic with 1.6-litre TDCi is also available in a 99g/km version.

Ford’s environmental commitment reaps rewards FORD’S long-term commitment to lowering carbon emissions has been recognised by an award from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) commending Ford for outstanding achievement in low carbon transport over the last 10 years. The LowCVP aims to accelerate a sustainable shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and thereby stimulate opportunities for UK businesses, and the annual awards are designed to identify and promote examples of outstanding and innovative practice in this field. Low CVP managing director and judge Andy Eastlake, said: “As the UK market leader in passenger cars, Ford has arguably had the biggest impact on cutting overall emissions of carbon from road transport. The continuous improvement in combustion engines in the volume market is achieved through long term commitment and hard graft. The carbon credentials and success of the latest Ford cars show just what can be achieved.”

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

Ford News Feature // 05

A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of Fleet World. Sign up to our FREE digital newsletter Fleet World Confidential... visit fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

PLUG-IN HYBRID A3 DELIVERS 188MPG Audi says its A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid delivers efficiency figures of 188mpg and CO2 emissions of 35g/km. The drivetrain uses a modified 148bhp 1.4-litre TFSI unit and a 75kw electric motor. This is integrated into a newly designed six-speed ”e-S tronic” transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Combined, the two power units generate 201bhp of system power and 258lb.ft of system torque, giving a 0-62mph sprint of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 138mph. The car can run on petrol power alone or exclusively on electric power for up to 31 miles at speeds of up to 80mph.

CONFIDENTIAL

DACIA LAUNCHES ESTATE Dacia has revealed that the fourth model to join the UK line-up will be the Logan MCV. Although the current Logan estate is a seven-seater, the new Logan MCV will be a five-seater, with the thinking being that it won't steal sales from the Lodgy, a compact people carrier not sold in the UK. ‘It will, in effect, be a Sandero estate,’ according to Adam Wood, Dacia product manager. The model joins the Sandero, Sandero Stepway and Duster in the UK, with the launch of the latter going well, according to Wood. Orders to date are 4,300 - 2,600 for the Duster and 1,700 for the Sandero. There are also 149 Dacia outlets, putting 86% of buyers within a 30-minute drive of a showroom. Although Dacia is selling itself on affordability, buyers are ordering Dusters with an average price of £13,300 (the range starts at £8,995) and 40% want four-wheel drive, well ahead of the 13% forecast and also well up on the 25% of buyers elsewhere in Europe who opt for 4x4 Dusters.

VOLVO LAUNCHES CHAUFFEUR PROGRAMME Volvo has launched a new professional driver programme as the company look to bring more chauffeurs and companies to the brand. The new package incorporates a pre-owned Volvo, providing chauffeurs but with an alternative to buying new with the same level of service. It also includes an in-car black box recording camera for collision evidence. The move follows feedback from industry and chauffeur companies in which Volvo Car UK’s corporate sales team noted widespread dissatisfaction with current professional driver packages and the standard of new and used car offerings which would appeal to a range of customers from owneroperators to companies with larger fleets. The new Volvo Chauffeur Programme 2013 places new and used vehicles on the same programme for clarity, and to ensure chauffeurs receive the same levels of service. Used cars will be chauffeur vehicles already ordered, used, serviced and maintained in this market, including vehicles from the Tristar Worldwide fleet which will be six-months old with 30,000 miles.

fleetworld.co.uk

CAPTUR AND XMOD HEAD FOR FLEETS Renault is updating its entire MPV family, introducing the new Scenic XMOD crossover and improving the styling of the seven-seat Grand Scenic, as well as launching the new crossover, Captur. The Captur is a B-segment crossover based on the Clio platform. R-Link internet-connected touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity and Arkamys hi-fi sound are among the available options. The Scenic XMOD is able to take on light off-roading thanks to raised ground clearance and an advanced new traction control system. With unique alloy wheels, it features chrome and aluminium accents and wears the new Renault family face.

DR IN IV I OR e s N IT lu d M O in c L E Y ST G-

FREE installation, FREE for first 3 months, then ÂŁ22.90/month 12 month direct rental contract, including on-site warranty

Van Fleet World

0870 013 6663

enquiries@quartix.net

www.quartix.net

Real-Time Vehicle Tracking

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...

in association with

RISK MANAGEMENT FLEETS FAILING TO RECOGNISE EXPOSURE TO ROAD RISK • Only 54% of businesses have completed full written assessments of the risks involved in asking employees to drive for business purposes. • 36% said they did not have a procedure in place. • 11% weren’t able to say. Other findings include: • Only 30% of fleets regularly monitor their risk position relating to driver safety. • 64% do not allocate a fixed budget for driver safety. • Only 52% have policy handbooks for employees.

Simon Turner, managing director, Fleet21 said: ‘These findings identify a real absence of understanding by UK businesses of their legal obligations and exposure to risk, which is concerning both for the safety of staff and the financial safety of the business.’ Source: Fleet21

FLEET MANAGEMENT LEASEPLAN RESEARCH SHOWS KEY AREAS FOR COST CUTS A review of more than 133,000 vehicles identified opportunities for its customers to save over £50m – £390 per vehicle. LeasePlan’s research shows that: The greatest savings (39%) come from improving technical support, such as automating vehicle servicing arrangements and specifying a partner garage for repairs. Finding the right funding approach for a fleet can also deliver significant savings (27%). A further 20% of savings is typically achieved by changing company policy on replacement vehicle types, and reducing off-road time through improved accident management. And optimising tax efficiency, eg. through removing free private fuel, accounted for a further 12% of possible savings. Matt Dyer, commercial director at LeasePlan UK, said: ‘Optimising a fleet depends on a wide range of factors: the type of company, the vehicles involved, and the nature of usage. So while construction companies typically benefited from better technical support savings, tax efficiency was the key issue for the retail sector.’ Source: Leaseplan UK

fleetworld.co.uk

WINTER DRIVING • Six in ten motorists have ignored official advice to not travel in wintery conditions, with half claiming work as their reason for risking their safety. • 29% of drivers disregard emergency warnings either frequently or all of the time. • Of those that take the chance, half blame either not getting paid or the prospect of getting fired if they fail to turn up for work as their reason. • A genuine emergency only accounted for the journeys made by one in six people when the advice was not to travel. • 16% of road users have had an accident and one in four have been forced to abandon their cars on winter roads. • 46% of people have had a near miss on ice and snow, prompting 39% to say they feel unsafe driving in the winter months. • One in four people don’t adjust their approach to driving during the winter months and only allow an average of 11 minutes extra for their journey time. Laura Hardy from Continental Tyres, said: ‘It is alarming to think the recession may be prompting people to ignore vital road safety warnings made when we have adverse weather and driving conditions.’

Source: Continental Tyres

JOB FEARS PROMPT MOTORISTS TO IGNORE SAFETY ADVICE

TELEMATICS FLEETS CALLING FOR TELEMETRY SOLUTIONS New research among 20 contract hire and leasing companies investigating if technology is becoming an increasing priority for fleet operators. > Four out of five are facing increased demands from corporate clients to deliver telemetry solutions that help them intelligently control fleet running costs. > 65% also reported a clear issue with uncertainty about how best to adopt and apply this new technology within their customer offering.

Source: In-Car Cleverness

Tim Eaves, commercial director of In-Car Cleverness, said: ‘For some, it is a simple matter of telematics not being seen as a priority today; for others, it is a challenge to determine the most appropriate technology solution currently being offered. But what they all recognise is the everincreasing focus from corporate customers and fleet managers wishing to embrace telemetry to better manage their fleets and thus reduce cost.’

DRIVER PERFORMANCE DATA GREENROAD HIGHLIGHTS DOMINANT DRIVER RISKS

• • • •

A report on when is the riskiest time to drive, from more than 70,000 drivers worldwide. The report shows: January to April is the riskiest period on the roads, with December being the safest month to drive in. Midnight to 4:00am is the safest time of day. Nearly half of risky events relate to harsh braking. Corner handling was the next most risky event at 36%. Mark Hampson, GreenRoad driver performance change management expert, said: ‘It appears drivers may be rushing home at the end of their late shifts. The rise in score could also be due to driving when vehicles are shunted in the depot as the operation closes for the night.’

Source: GreenRoad

• for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit www.fleetworld.co.uk

March 2013

BUSINESS SUITED AND BOOTED.

the new mini paceman.

With remarkable boot space up to 1,080 litres and impressive standard spec that includes Bluetooth, DAB radio and 16" alloys, the stylish, yet practical MINI Paceman is a coupé tailor-made for your fleet. The figures also make it a smart choice for corporate with fuel consumption up to 64.2mpg (combined) and CO₂ emissions from just 115g/km for only 18% BIK. For more information, visit www.mini.co.uk/minipaceman Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Paceman Range: Urban 26.4-60.1mpg (10.7-4.7l/100km). Extra Urban 44.8-67.3mpg (6.3-4.2l/100km). Combined 35.8-64.2mpg (7.9-4.4l/100km). CO₂ Emissions 184-115g/km.

MINI Corporate Sales

S HE PRESTIGIOU T T A , R A D N E L A IN THE FLEET C T N E V RD TO MISS IT ? E O T F S F E A G U O Y N A THE BIG C MOTORSPORT. H IS IT R B F O E HOM k

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FOR the second year running the Fleet World Fleet Show will take place at the impressive new Silverstone Wing and on the track at the race circuit, providing fleet decision-makers with an incredible opportunity to test the latest cars on the famous track, and to meet suppliers and listen to expert seminars.

Wednesday 24th April 2013

THE SILVERSTONE WING

Commenting on the event, organiser Ross Durkin said: ‘Our aim is to provide visitors with a number of compelling reasons for taking a day out to visit the show. The seminar programme and the debating session that followed it were really well attended last year – testament that fleet decision-makers will take time out if the quality of the presentations is high enough. ‘The track driving sessions will allow visitors to experience what is available on the market today. The seminars will give them an idea of what they might be driving tomorrow.’

t +44 (0)1727 739160 e thefleetshow@fleetworldgroup.co.uk w thefleetshow.co.uk

SILVERSTONE A BRIEF HISTORY SILVERSTONE was opened as a World War Two airfield in 1943, near the leafy village of the same name. Once the war had ended, Britain was left with a number of redundant airfields but without a major race track. The Royal Automobile Club leased Silverstone off the Air Ministry in 1948. At this time the centre of Silverstone Circuit was a farm producing cereal crops and also a piggery so the RAC employed farmer James Wilson Brown to create the first Grand Prix circuit at the site and gave him just two months to build it. The winner of the inaugural race at the Silverstone circuit was Luigi Villoresi in a Maserati, who recorded an average speed of 72 mph to claim the first prize of £500. Over the years the circuit has evolved into the first-class facility it is now, home to the British Grand Prix and the British Racing Drivers Club.

RIDE & DRIVE FOLLOWING IN THEIR TYRE TRACKS... THE Ride & Drive at the Fleet World Fleet Show 2013 will offer testdriving of the latest new cars on both public roads and the tracks, with the full Grand Prix circuit, as well as the Stowe circuit available. Driving on the full Grand Prix circuit, you’ll be emulating the greats: Jim Clark (2 British Grand Prix wins), Jackie Stewart (2 wins), Alain Prost (5 wins), and of course, the perennial crowd-pleaser Nigel Mansell, whose never-say-never efforts caught the imagaination of fans at Silverstone like no other. And it perhaps goes without saying that the Grand Prix Circuit will again host the British Grand Prix this year.

MANUFACTURERS OFFERING RIDE & DRIVES... • Audi • Hyundai • Lexus • MINI • Renault • Vauxhall

• BMW • Infiniti • Mazda • MG • SEAT • Volvo

• Citroen • Honda • Jaguar • Land Rover • Mercedes-Benz • Nissan • Peugeot • Skoda • Toyota

CONFERENCE & SEMINAR PROGRAMME LEADING fleet industry speakers will conduct seminars and conference sessions, providing up-to-date information on the latest technology and processes in all areas of the fleet market.

10.30am – 12.30pm We are delighted to welcome Paul Nieuwenhuis from the Centre for Automotive Industry Research, back to speak at this year’s Fleet Show. He will be followed on stage by Rob Anderson from Cenex who will explain some of the latest low-carbon developments the centre is currently testing, and how they will impact on fleets in the years to come. We are also fortunate to have Professor Kevin Kendall from the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research, who will explain how fuel cell hybrids are poised to play a key role in the development of lowemission fleet mobility. Following on, Michael Baker, Chief Engineer, ITS and Connected Services, Ricardo UK Ltd£, will discuss the SARTRE project (European Commission CoFunded FP7 project). The intention of which was to develop and integrate solutions that allowed vehicles to drive in platoons to reduce fuel consumption, increase safety, improve road congestion and increase driver convenience.

12.30pm – 1.30pm Following the seminar programme, Venson Automotive Solutions will for the second year be hosting ”Question Time”style panel discussion session where delegates will be able to put questions to a panel of specially selected guests covering a wide range of fleet topics.

1.00pm – 1.30pm The culmination of the conference programme will be a Fleet & Mobility Workshop, chaired by Nigel Trotman, Head of Strategic Consultancy at Alphabet. presenting ideas on achieving corporate mobility while also ensuring maximum business efficiency.

at thefleetsh

ow.co.uk March 2013

INTERACT

INFORM WANT TO STAY INFORMED & MEET MANY OF THE LEADING FLEET SUPPLIERS IN ONE DAY, UNDER ONE ROOF? AT THE FLEET WORLD FLEET SHOW, YOU CAN!

INTERACTIVE, INFORMATIVE SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS PLUS QUESTION TIME DEBATES MAKE THE SHOW TRULY UNMISSABLE

WHERE ELSE COULD YOU EXPERIENCE ALL THIS, AND MEET SO MANY SUPPLIERS IN ONE DAY?

EXCITE

EXPERIENCE TEST DRIVE OVER 200 OF THE LATEST CARS AND VANS ON THE CHALLENGING SILVERSTONE STOWE AND GRAND PRIX CIRCUITS

fleetworld.co.uk

FLEET DRIVER OF THE YEAR

THE SHOW WILL HOST THE PRESTIGIOUS FINAL OF FLEET DRIVER OF THE YEAR, ORGANISED BY ALD AUTOMOTIVE AND TOYOTA & LEXUS FLEET SERVICES.

COPSE CORNER NATIONAL PITS STRAIGHT

WOODCOTE CORNER

BROOKLANDS CORNER

WELLINGTON STRAIGHT LUFFIELD CORNER

THEY WILL BE THERE...

MAGGOTTS CORNER

SILVERSTONE

AINTREE CORNER

GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT

VILLAGE CORNER

EVENT PARTNERS

BECKETTS CORNER

ABBEY INTERNATIONAL PITS STRAIGHT

Correct at time of going to press, for full list visit thefleetshow.co.uk

THE LOOP FARM CURVE

FLEET SUPPLIERS

CHAPEL CURVE

STOWE CIRCUIT HANGAR STRAIGHT CLUB CORNER

VALE

STOWE CORNER

SAVOUR THE THRILL OF THE FULL SILVERSTONE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL RACING DRIVERS aeromark Optimatics

...CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO BE?

COMMENT

Prepared to sacrifice? Curtis Hutchinson A North East-based dealer group has come up with a novel salary sacrifice package, says Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader.

‘A fundamental flaw of salary sacrifices was how to translate the cash into an affordable car.’ 20

fleetworld.co.uk

Salary sacrifice schemes have become an important element of the HR mix in some organisations in recent years, although the exact numbers of cars run through them is open to debate. While it is increasingly common for companies to offer these schemes the uptake among employees wishing to fund a car through them remains low. Indeed, last year ACFO research suggested that just 5.5% of all fleet cars are operated under such schemes. One of the issues in this fledgling market has been that some dealer groups have been resistant to what they see as substitutional business, and their manufacturer partners have in some cases had to tread lightly to avoid claims that retail sales are being subsumed into fleet. But Benfield Motor Group, the Newcastlebased dealer business, doesn’t see it that way. It has launched a salary sacrifice scheme that it thinks addresses a lot of the issues. Until now, a fundamental flaw of salary sacrifices was how to translate the cash into an affordable car, ideally suited to an employee’s needs, which was administered at a local level by someone who understood the funding, sourcing and maintenanace of cars. But last month the multi-franchise group launched its FlexiCar funding scheme for local businesses and is operating it through 34 showrooms across Yorkshire, Cumbria and South West Scotland. As a long established family-run business, Benfield has listened to local employers and spent last year developing a package it could offer them. It joined forces with UNW, the Newcastle-based chartered accountants and tax advisers, to launch what it sees as a unique car benefit scheme. The headline savings for employers and employees are impressive. UNW has estimated that Flexicar will see employees making

savings equivalent to an 11% pay rise, which in turn saves employers money at a time when salaries are failing to keep pace with inflation. It was successfully piloted among Benfield and UNW employees and a handful of local firms, before being rolled out to SMEs and larger employers, in both the private and public sectors, who previously may not have considered such a scheme. ‘This salary sacrifice service is hassle-free and provides tax efficiency for employees with a number of significant benefits, all conveniently wrapped up in one monthly payment,’ said Lee Muter, UNW’s employment taxes partner. The package includes fully comprehensive insurance, full servicing and breakdown cover, as well as roadside assistance. The scheme naturally favours lower emission cars with employees making further savings through lower VED and fuel costs. This also ties in neatly with environmental or corporate social responsibility policies. ‘At a time when most private sector organisations are finding it particularly difficult to give salary increases, this is a tremendous hook to both attract and retain staff,’ said Muter. ‘This is essentially a turnkey solution for employers. It is a cost efficient salary sacrifice scheme for businesses and staff – a win-win situation which is ideal for those who do not currently get a company car or cash allowance.’ On average, the scheme takes two to three months to implement. UNW and Benfield offer full project management and can assist in disposing of current vehicles if required. ‘The benefits of Flexicar salary sacrifice really stack up. It could mean a saving of between £100-£200 per month for each employee,’ said Carl Moffett Benfield Contract Motoring’s general manager. Although targeted at the North East, dealers elsewhere will be seeing how they can follow Benfield’s lead.

COMMENT

In a hole The Insider A lack of investment in roads means fleets will be battling pothole damage for years, says the Insider.

’It’s estimated that one in three drivers experienced damage due to potholes during the past two years’

fleetworld.co.uk

I’ve just been reading a live traffic report which says: ‘One lane closed due to emergency repairs on the motorway, with traffic queuing over a distance of 15 miles and a delay of 70 minutes. The situation was exacerbated by a lorry bursting a tyre after hitting a pothole, and temporarily blocking one lane, and now the pothole is finally being repaired.’ As that was during the rush hour, an awful lot of people were affected and there was inevitably a cost to many businesses, not just the affected lorry. Thank goodness it was a lorry which hit the hole and not a motorcyclist, as the resulting crash would probably have killed them. Potholes spread like a bad rash after any bout of wet and frosty weather, and the UK has had more than its fair share of that this year. Water freezes into existing cracks in the road surface, expanding them further, and then traffic causes even more wear. Subsequent rain washes out any loosened material and a pothole forms. I forget which website it was, and it probably wasn’t in this country, but I recall seeing video footage of a chap wearing swimming trunks and wading around in a very large water-filled pothole, under the caption ‘Is this the world’s largest pothole?’ It’s fun to laugh about it, unless it’s your budget that is being hit. Broken wheels, damaged tyres and suspension, and chipped and cracked windscreens can seriously add up. Oh, and the additional hire costs while the car is off the road being fixed, and the inconvenience, and the lost working time. It’s estimated that one in three drivers experienced damage due to potholes during the past two years. www.potholes.co.uk – yes, such a website really exists – blames the laying of cheap materials to fix our roads over the past ten to 15 years, and says all that under-investment is finally coming home to roost.

It has become simpler to report the location of potholes over the past few years with many councils having easily accessible details and a much better customer attitude. This may be due to adopting a code of practice called Well Maintained Highways, produced by Atkins in 2005. No doubt the transport managers among you will know it. It is a very clear and detailed document of around 380 pages which includes recommendations on the frequency of defect inspections on different classes of road, and subsequent scoring of those defects on a risk matrix which will be familiar to anyone who has done health and safety training. And it also sets out how a council should deal with any claims emanating from those defects. I haven’t tried to claim for damage caused by a road defect in years (I was successful when I did) but the website mentioned above was a mine of information on how to do so effectively and is definitely worth a look. So with such a detailed code of practice to adhere to, the recent report that half of the local authorities in the UK are cutting their road maintenance budgets as a result of Government spending cuts is very bad news. The biggest hit is Kent, gateway to the UK, whose cut is around 20%. Look around as you drive and you can already see where maintenance has been curtailed – long grass at the roadside obscuring the view at busy junctions; signage partially hidden by overgrown trees, and gritting kept to a minimum or busy roads not treated at all. It doesn’t look as though we can expect any significant surfacing or other improvements any time soon. Driving past a local garage the other day I saw someone had decided to try and profit from the pothole situation. They had put up a sign offering a free wheel check plus wash and vac for £19.99. Now that’s what I call enterprising.

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The Audi A6:

where technology blends with Advanced lightweight materials and technology place the Audi A6 Saloon and Avant among best Equipped with the most modern technology and the latest lightweight materials, the Audi A6 is engineered for precise, nimble handling. Together with Audi’s renowned interior design, and communications and navigation technology adopted from the Audi A8 and A7 Sportback, it helps the A6 to deliver an unrivalled ownership experience.

CO2 from 129g/km; up to 57.6mpg Light weight ensures efficiency, and intelligent use of steel and aluminium in the A6’s construction helps achieve low CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. Highly efficient TDI engines enable combined fuel consumption of up to 57.6mpg, while CO2 emissions as low as 129g/km (A6 Saloon 2.0 TDI manual) mean BIK tax starts from just £102 a month1 in 2013/14.

Luxury specification as standard The A6’s luxurious specification includes 17” alloy wheels (18” on S line, 20” on Black Edition), a 10-speaker 180 Watt sound system, SD card satellite navigation with 6.5” retractable MMI display, leather

upholstery, Bluetooth®, dual-zone climate control, Audi drive select and Audi parking system plus. The interior exudes Audi’s renowned quality, luxury and prestige, while the A6 Avant’s load-carrying capacity offers up to 1,680 litres rear seats folded.

Reduced S line premium for 2.0 TDI models Adding even greater value to the S line package, the premium to upgrade from SE to S line specification on A6 Saloon and Avant 2.0 TDI models is now just £1,850 RRP, a saving of £500 RRP over the usual cost.

Above: The A6 showcases the very latest in Audi’s renowned interior design. With leather trim, SD card-based satellite navigation with a 6.5” retractable screen and a 10-speaker sound system as standard, equipment levels are truly luxurious.

Below: The commodious and stylish A6 Avant

The Audi A6 Saloon 2.0 TDI S line: comparisons Audi A6 2.0 TDI S line

BMW 520d M Sport

Mercedes-Benz E220 CDI AMG Sport

£32,605

£35,240

£34,840

129

130

177PS

184hp

170hp

57.6

58.9

£108/£217

£123/£246

£121/£243

P11D price CO 2 emissions (g/km) Max power Combined mpg BIK tax (20%/40%)

Cost per mile (p/mile) Upholstery

48.31

49.03

Embossed leather

Leather

18”

SD card-based

Business Media Pack

COMAND

Alloy wheels Satellite navigation

Details correct at March 2013. Source: manufacturer information. 1 BIK tax quoted per month in 2013/14. 2 Over 3yrs/60,000 miles. Source: CAP Monitor, March 2013. Model shown below is Black Edition

luxury in class for economy and emissions New Black Edition models top the range The sleek Black Edition trim level (pictured above right) brings a distinctive sporting edge to the A6 range and is now available with all engines (except hybrid and S6) for a price premium of £2,350 over S line. Equipment highlights, in addition to S line, include 20” alloy wheels in eyecatching titanium look finish, black styling package, privacy glass, a BOSE® sound system and DAB digital radio.

3.0 BiTDI quattro offers effortless performance Audi’s mighty bi-turbo 3.0 BiTDI 313PS engine enables the A6 Saloon to reach 62mph in 5.1secs (Avant 5.3secs) and a top speed of 155mph (where permitted). Yet both Saloon and Avant return combined fuel consumption of 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 169g/km.

Zero emission capability: the A6 Saloon hybrid A choice of virtually emission-free electric power for short distances or conventional driving with an electric motor to enhance performance is a feature of the Audi A6 hybrid. Equipped with a 2.0 TFSI 245PS petrol engine linked to an electric hybrid drivetrain offering an extra 40kW, it’s no

‘The A6 2.0 TDI S line will save a 40% tax payer over £340 a year in BIK tax compared with the BMW 520d M Spor t.’

surprise the A6 hybrid can cover 0-62mph in just 7.5secs, while returning combined fuel consumption of 45.6mpg and CO2 emissions of just 145g/km. Enhanced standard specification, based on SE, also marks out the hybrid, cossetting occupants in an even more luxurious ambience.

Lease rates from £339 a month1 The Audi A6 Saloon 2.0 TDI 177PS SE manual is now available on contract hire with Audi Finance from just £339 a month1 1 Plus VAT and initial rental. Business users only. Over three years/10,000 miles pa. Further charges may be payable when vehicle is returned. Indemnities may be required. Subject to status. Available to over 18s from participating Centres only for vehicles ordered before 31 March 2013 and delivered by 30 June 2013 (subject to availability). Oﬀer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Specification correct at time of publication. Prices quoted and examples shown are correct at time of publication (March 2013) and do not take into account any variation to government taxes or charges arising after the date of publication. Terms and conditions apply. Audi Finance, Freepost Audi Finance.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT IO N O N T H E A U D I A 6 R A N G E V I S I T A U D I . C O . U K /A 6

DRIVEN

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Steve Moody finds Mercedes-Benz’s new executive offering much improved. SECTOR Executive PRICE £32,400 – £75,510 FUEL 68.9 – 28.8mpg CO2 109 – 234g/km When Mercedes-Benz launched the E-Class on which this updated version was based, they made quite a play of its conservative styling, which harked back to an age when its cars were the epitome of over-engineered, reliable, quality motoring. The sentiment was spot on, in trying to re-establish the brand as the cornerstone of the premium sector. But, although it has been a relatively successful car for Mercedes-Benz (and which E-Class isn’t?) it has rather paled in comparison to sexier, more stylish efforts from BMW and Audi. So this facelift, which is the biggest retooling the firm has ever done on a car above and below the metal, is designed to bring the E-Class up from steady performer to desirable business express. On the outside, the front has been completely revised with new single headlamps and some organic-looking daytime running lights, which replace the previous twin headlight design. Big lower air vents add some sportier appeal too. At the rear, the lights and bumper have been revised, the latter featuring a distinctive lip and a black insert with chrome trim. In between, the conventional square proportions of the cabin have been retained and whether the design works as a whole will be in the eye of the beholder.

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In the cabin, some improvements have been made, with better materials, more integrated trim and a redesigned centre console, and the whole effect is more luxurious than the fairly workmanlike cabin of the previous car. Of more importance for fleets though are the changes that have gone on elsewhere, where the E-Class gets safety systems from the Starship Enterprise and significant improvements in emissions. All cars are now fitted with Collision Prevention Assist, which uses cameras and radar linked to the steering and braking systems, which using the brakes will actively steer the car away from oncoming traffic if impact is likely, while it can also slam the brakes on and bring the car to a halt in front of pedestrians. In terms of engines, the E 220 CDI is now the only engine with manual transmission in the new E-Class range, and the new fourcylinder petrol engines, as well as the E 350 BlueTEC engine, are all Euro6 compliant. There are also significant CO2 improvements across the range, with reductions of up to 20g/km in emissions. The E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid’s CO2 figure remains at 109g/km, but is now achieved with 17” wheels (previously 16”). Optionally available is the all-new 360° camera (£715), which is close-range and equipped with four surround view cameras that provide assistance during parking,

manoeuvring and exiting parking spaces. Other key optional equipment includes the LED Intelligent Light System with Active Light System, cornering light function and Adaptive High Beam Assist (£1,280), nappa leather (£1,935) and AirMATIC semi-active air suspension with self-levelling and Adaptive Damping System (£1,455). The range has now been brought into line with models such as the A-Class, with the AMG Sport model offering the same engines as the SE, with the addition of the 350 BlueTEC but is priced at £2,495 above the SE, starting from £34,895 OTR. With more than £4,000 of additional standard equipment in the new SE model for a £2,280 increase over the previous SE, and almost £3,000 of added standard features in the new AMG Sport for £575 over the previous Sport, Mercedes-Benz reckons it has a car that competes very strongly in the sector.

verdict

Better to look at with more equipment and lower emissions: the heartland business car for Mercedes-Benz is now a more complete package than ever, and better value too. It also answers the question of how to compete with its main rivals in the areas of look, feel and styling.

MINI Clubvan Alex Grant finds out if MINI’s emotionally-led appeal can cut it in the competitive van sector. SECTOR Car-derived van PRICE £11,832.50 – £14,161.67 (ex-VAT) FUEL 43.5 – 72.4mpg CO2 103 – 152g/km MINI will tell you its new Clubvan is a commercial vehicle for companies moving up in the world. So while it’s not going to be the all-conquering replacement for a full-size van, it’s also not difficult to see why MINI has seized the opportunity to dip into the light commercial sector with a slightly different proposition on its hands. But for now, it’s a bit of an unknown. This is basically a converted Clubman, and with limited bespoke parts it’s easy for MINI to vary production based on demand. The anticipation is that it’ll be a car mainly targeting small fleets, but it’s already finding favour with larger ones too. Separating this from the Clubman is a flat, plastic-lined load floor which stretches from the twin rear doors to a cage-type bulkhead with an aluminium reinforcing bar behind the front seats. MINI has also fitted two power sockets at the back and an extra light for the load area, but as yet doesn’t offer approved racking conversions. The latter is unlikely to remain a gap in the market for long, though. Where the original Morris Mini Van was a compact and affordable urban workhorse, the Clubvan is a much more styleled purchase. Like the rest of the range, it’s easy to push the price up to large car territory with a few option boxes ticked. MINI doesn’t have any illusions that this will

become a high volume model for bricklayers and the like, instead seeing it primarily finding favour with delivery companies, electricians and possibly florists. So UK orders are proving to be top heavy. Some 70% are in the top Cooper D spec, followed by the petrol One at 28% and the USfocused petrol Cooper at 2% – a high petrol share for a car-derived van. Outstanding trim levels from the Clubman range won’t be offered, unless there’s high enough demand to make them worthwhile. MINI doesn’t expect that there will be. Stranger still, the Clubvan is the only MINI which isn’t available with steel wheels. The One D features bespoke alloy wheels instead, while Coopers get sporty 17-inch versions. Good for style, but prone to kerbing for those mounting kerbs for deliveries. MINI had only the Cooper D available to test at the launch. It uses broadly the same 1.6-litre diesel found in Ford and PSA’s small vans, and that’s a good thing. This is a tough, reliable unit with effortless efficiency and lively low-rev performance, which works well with the MINI’s excellent on-road dynamics. It’s a bit gruff under load, and the large wheels hurt the ride quality a little, but the Clubvan is good fun to drive. Its Clubman roots present a few issues though. The Clubdoor, which was always

on the wrong side for right hand drive markets anyway, is completely redundant on the Clubvan. There’s just enough of a gap to fit a briefcase between this and the bulkhead, and it’s the cause of a frustrating high-speed whistle which blunts otherwise impressive high-speed refinement. Rear visibility is also problematic. MINI hasn’t fitted larger mirrors to the Clubvan, which results in a large blind spot on the passenger side and some slightly unnerving advances from acutely angled junctions. Our test van didn’t even have a convex mirror on the passenger side, which would have been a cheap fix. But it’s unlikely most potential buyers will care. There’s enough rational appeal in the Clubvan to make it a realistic addition to an LCV fleet, and those who love the styling will overlook its flaws for the retro kudos it also brings.

verdict

The Clubvan could easily have been a dismissible style-over-substance purchase, but high efficiency, strong residual values and a usable if not enormous load area mean it has the rational appeal to sway fleets who have fallen for its looks. Not a volume seller, but those with an eye for style will love it.

March 2013

HANDLE EVERY TWIST IN THE ROAD AND TURN IN THE WEATHER. The BMW 120d 5-Door is now available with xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Available in manual transmission only the system reacts to changes in driving conditions by distributing power between all four wheels within a tenth of a second. You’ll also be able to handle the running costs with fuel consumption of a staggering 60.1mpg combined and CO₂ emissions from 123g/km meaning BIK from just 19%. To find out more, visit www.bmw.co.uk/xdrive

INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE FROM BMW.

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW 1 Series and 3 Series xDrive range: Urban 32.1 – 48.7 mpg (8.8 – 5.8 ltr/100 km). Extra Urban 50.4 – 70.6 mpg (5.6 – 4.0 ltr/100 km). Combined 41.5 – 60.1 mpg (6.8 – 4.7 ltr/100 km). CO₂ emissions 159 – 123 g/km.

BMW Corporate Sales

bmwcorporate.co.uk Tel: 0800 777 113

The Ultimate Driving Machine

DRIVEN

Fiat 500L Alex Grant finds out how well 500 chic translates into a more practical MPV form. SECTOR Compact MPV PRICE £14,990 – £18,890 FUEL 45.6 – 67.3mpg CO2 110 – 145g/km The new 500 has been a real turning point in Fiat’s recent history. In six years, the carmaker has sold over a million globally, including markets such as North America which were never originally scheduled to have it at all. It was only going to be a matter of time before Fiat followed MINI’s lead and grew the hatch into a range, and the 500L is the first step. While the 500L – the suffix relating to its Large exterior dimensions – bears a few visual similarities to the tiny hatch, the two cars are completely unrelated mechanically. Based on a new platform, the retro styling is now stretched over a car which is as long as a Punto and as wide as a Bravo. Although it’s a compact MPV, Fiat has broader plans for its newcomer. The 500L is being positioned between the practicality-led compact MPV and style-led Bcrossover segments, targeting a larger retail share than its most natural competitors. In fleet, it’ll be aiming for a larger share of public sector, user-chooser and salary sacrifice drivers than the Motability-dominated sector norms. That’s an unusual route, because there are SUV-influenced versions on the way which may have been easier to distance from the 500 than this. A 500L Trekking, with raised ground clearance and advanced

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traction control system for loose terrain, has just broken cover at the Geneva Motor Show and a 500X with four-wheel drive is due to follow shortly. Both may have been an easier way to tap into the B-crossover pack, particularly key rival the MINI Countryman, than an MPV. But it’s not putting buyers off. Fiat’s viral internet campaign about the woes of a young mother sacrificing style and hobbies for parenthood has helped rack up 2,000 orders to date, even before customers have had a chance to drive the car. Styling this cute is unusual in the compact MPV class, too. Inside, the 500L is surprisingly spacious for what is still a small car. The boot space is split with a removable shelf, the front passenger seat folds and the middle row of seats easily fold and tumble forward to give a 2.4-metre loading area to the bottom of a low tailgate opening. Drivers and front seat passengers have ample headroom and moving the A-pillars back a few inches gives good visibility, but tall adults sitting in the back could find the top of the window line slightly too low. The range comprises three versions, topped out with a luxurious Lounge trim at £1,400 more than the vibrant Pop Star or comfort-biased Easy versions, both of which are identical in price. Two petrol engines,

including a 103bhp TwinAir, and 1.3 and 1.6litre diesels are available in each. With the TwinAir and 1.3 MultiJet priced identically, Fiat expects retail and fleet sales to be diesel weighted, with fleets opting up to the more powerful but lower-CO2 1.6-litre version. Equipped with the 103bhp 1.6 MultiJet, the 500L is a solid and stable car in town and at higher speeds. Just as the 500 is a softer drive than the MINI hatch, so the 500L can’t match the agility of the Countryman, and it tends to feel quite high-sided when cornering sharply. Most customers are unlikely to throw it around anyway, though. With its 300 body colour options and equipment including a portable Lavazza coffee machine, Beats by Dr Dre audio system and the ability to read text messages aloud, the 500L does an effective job of rubbing off a little of the 500’s identity in a more practical format.

verdict

Fiat may have lost a little of the 500’s cute charm sizing it up to an MPV, but this is a chic car in a practicality focused sector. Efficient engines, an infinitely usable interior space and plenty of customisation options should help hang onto customers whose needs have outgrown the new 500.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDm-2 Sportiva Alex Grant finds out if a drop of Cloverleaf magic can up the Giulietta’s appeal. SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £25,310 FUEL 60.1mpg CO2 124g/km

DRIVEN IN BRIEF

Alfa Romeo has just unveiled the 4C to crowds at the Geneva Motor Show. While it’s a small-volume sports car, it could be exactly what the carmaker needs to drip-feed its performance heritage into a range which, at the moment, comprises of a pair of hatchbacks.

Just as Audi has rubbed a little R8 magic into the rest of its range, so the close family resemblance between the 4C, MiTo and Giulietta should help drive a little extra interest in the company’s breadand-butter models. For now, though, the Giulietta is flying

alone. It’s been a backbone to Alfa’s corporate presence in its three-year lifespan, and now buyers will get the extra choice of this new range-topping Sportiva version in line with the motorsportderived badges which have worked well for its closest rivals. Available with all except the most powerful petrol engine, Sportiva is ideal for user-choosers. It adds £3,000 worth of optional extras, including soft leather upholstery, 18-inch turbine-like alloy wheels and aluminium accents for £1,860, as well as subtle Cloverleaf badging. This offers a lot of performance for the money, too. The 170bhp diesel, tested here, is a smooth if slightly noisy unit with a competitive 120g/km CO2 output. But it’s got the added appeal of a split personality – prod the toggle switch up to Dynamic and it becomes an entirely different machine. Throttle reactions are immediate, and even the slightly nose-heavy diesel is a brisk, responsive and sporty hatch to drive. But Alfa has another trick up its sleeve. There’s an equally powerful, equally lowcarbon 1.4 turbo petrol available with the same trim, it’s lighter at the front end and £2,300 cheaper, which adds up to an even more tempting package. It’s actually the one most worth having.

Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDI CR Elegance

Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet

BMW 116d ED

Despite the name, sportiness isn’t woven deep into the Skoda Rapid. However, Rapid should be the adverb for the way these will sell, because it’s a thoroughly talented small car which will make you question sizing up to a C-segment model. The Rapid uses an extended Polo platform, and a hatchback which offers easy access to a large boot. Rear head and legroom feels closer to a C-segment car, with only the comparatively narrow cabin giving away. It’s got plenty of power and even with only five gears it’s very quiet on the motorway. Easily matching its claimed economy and with a more economical GreenTech version soon, more fleet success is due. AG

The Mk7 Golf is already in the UK, so launching a GTI Cabriolet based on the outgoing model may seem a little late in the day. But it’s indication that this new version maybe around for a few years yet. The roof drops quickly behind the rear bench and a net wind-breaker keeps the cabin warm. This also has the desirable side-effect of letting the engine’s mechanical growl and popping exhaust noise into the cabin, adding to the experience. Like the hatchback, the Cabriolet doesn’t push the boundaries in terms of design, taking most of its sibling’s good points, and opens the roof to let you enjoy the experience al fresco. AG

You might think with all its talk of emissions and economy that BMW long since gave up on the idea of the Ultimate Driving Machine. But barreling along in this 116d ED, the steering gently chirruping away, the nose eager to turn in, a cosseting ride and the 116bhp diesel engine giving some decent grunt once in the middle of the rev range, there’s still life to even its most hair-shirted cars. Add in that this model offers 99g/km and I managed late-50s mpg without even trying, and you can only conclude that BMW continues to build the very best machines available. SM

SECTOR Supermini PRICE £17,850 FUEL 64.2mpg CO2 114g/km

SECTOR Convertible PRICE £29,310 FUEL 37.2mpg CO2 177g/km

SECTOR Hatchback PRICE £21,095 FUEL 74.3mpg CO2 99g/km

March 2013

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An impressive force Kia’s cee’d SW provided the perfect solution for CSS’s fleet of security engineers and sales team, and the company is now looking to update with the all-new cee’d Sportswagon

“ t was Kia’s 7 year warranty and reputation that attracted us,” explains CSS’s commercial manager, Iain Walker who added Kia to the Glasgow-based intelligent security and alarm company’s fleet three years ago. “We wanted to try something new and so we looked around. We were quite impressed by Kia, and we continue to be impressed by them,” he says. So impressed that, ten cee’d SW fleet cars later, he is already considering the latest cee’d Sportswagon model as he looks to replace 14 vehicles that are at the three-year renewal period. “Three years ago, we compared the cee’d SW with the Ford Focus which we were driving at the time,” he continues, “and we were pleasantly surprised by the Kia. Our fleet drivers were relaxed about the decision to go with Kia, and once they’d driven it they fell in love with it. “Many of our drivers are young guys and so having Bluetooth and iPod connectivity as standard are exactly the kind of features that they enjoy. They can listen to their music as they go from one

job to another, or if they need to make or take a call while on the road. Kia has plenty of gadgets that some of our other fleet models lack. “The other noticeable thing about the cee’d SW is the drive experience – it has so much more power! The cee’d SW lacks for nothing on the road and the running costs are extremely good. “Along with that we’ve been impressed with Kia’s reliability. I’ve never had a Kia breakdown but the Fords are in and out of the garage all the time. We’re looking to replace a number of vehicles now or in the near future, and a good majority will be Kia.” With most of CSS’s fleet vehicles liveried, the Kia range helps it to maintain a smart appearance on the road and when visiting customers’ premises for sales or maintenance calls. On occasion, people will ask how CSS’s fleet drivers find the cee’d SW. “We’re happy to share our positive experience, adds Walker. In fact our insurance broker has just taken on a Sorento as he’s seen how good Kia are through our recommendation.” n

IMPRESSED? Why not take a test drive of the all-new cee’d Sportswagon?

> Call 01932 283943 or email enquiries@kiabusinesscentre.co.uk today

FEATURE Remarketing

AIMING SMALL Making sophisticated online sales and viewing platforms for auctions work on smartphones and tablets is the next challenge for the remarketing industry. Julian Kirk reports.

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he remarketing industry has been at the vanguard of adopting new technology to sell used vehicles, with thousands of cars and vans now being sold through the internet from remote bidders. With around a fifth of used cars sold at auction via online bidding, it’s a sector of the market which will only continue to grow as more technology is developed. And with the rising level of processing power now contained within smartphones and other small devices, it means that before too long trade buyers could be bidding for a car at auction while walking the dog or eating a sandwich in the canteen. The big two – BCA and Manheim – have both launched mobile bidding platforms to compete against the burgeoning band of specialist online vehicle remarketers who are fighting for a share of this increasingly competitive sector. Convenience is the key factor. BCA’s website has been redeveloped to recognise what device a visitor to the site is using, whether it is a laptop, desktop PC, smartphone or tablet. It then reconfigures the layout and automatically presents all the pages in the most suitable format. D’Vidis Jacobs, BCA’s commercial director, says that mobile solutions offer the flexibility that customers require nowadays. He said: ‘Responsive design and browsing does not care what device you are using, it will simply present the website in a format best suited to you, whether you are at the auction centre with an iPad or smartphone, in the office using a desktop, or at home in the evening on a laptop. ‘It is a much more flexible and useful solution for customers than developing an app, as there is nothing to download and install and from the users’ viewpoint it never needs updating or changing. ‘We are making the site more specific to customers when they are online, making their time on the BCA website more personalised, effective and relevant. We will continue to develop this functionality so that it best meets our customers’ needs.’ While mobile users can already access BCA’s Bid Now and Buy Now sales, developments currently in the pipeline include a

streamlined version of the Live Online facility for mobile users. This will allow a nearinstantaneous data transmission, allowing mobile users to bid against online bidders and those in the auction hall. It’s a similar story at Manheim, which has modified its Simulcast online bidding platform to work better with mobile devices. Head of marketing, Andy Cullwick, said: ‘A reflection of the online success seen in the industry is in the launch of Manheim’s Simulcast 2.0 solution, a mobile compatible version of the original virtual bidding platform. ‘This application will allow users to open multiple sales from diﬀerent centres in one single platform, providing them with the ability to use their desktop, smart phone or mobile tablet to both view and bid virtually at auctions across the UK.’ SMA has taken the stock viewing aspect even further with its Live View service. This oﬀers buyers an advance video preview of stock with a 360 degree video of their chosen vehicles. The videos are voiced over by SMA technicians and registered buyers can book a slot to talk with the technicians in order to fully investigate the car, even though they may be miles away. According to SMA managing director, Bob Anderson, technology is ‘redefining the remarketing experience’. He added: ‘SMA Live View provides the confidence to bridge the gap that can occur when a buyer is unable to see what could be an ideal purchase. ‘Not only can they see, but they can hear too, in real time by working with our technicians to discover details about the vehicle on offer.’ Eastbourne Car Auctions is also embracing technology, with the launch of a standalone mobile phone-accessible website and the use of QR (Quick Response) codes to let buyers and sellers get to the vehicles they want quickly and easily. Managing director, Jon Mitchell, said: ‘Technology and methods of communication are changing rapidly and the initiatives we have introduced enable buyers to keep track of auction entries 24/7 and while they are on the move.’

Technology provides the confidence to bridge the gap that can occur when a buyer is unable to see what could be an ideal purchase

March 2013

FEATURE Remarketing

CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE IS KEY The only barrier to further online integration in remarketing is from sceptical or technophonic buyers. But with the current dearth of good quality three to four-year old cars in the trade (sparked by the recession which bit in 2008 and saw new car sales in Britain fall from a peak of 2.4 million in 2007 to a low of 1.94 million in 2011), buyers know they have to adopt every trick in the book to secure the right stock at the right price. As a result, dealers and buyers are being forced to adopt the technology more quickly to enable them to compete for what little quality stock there is. Jon Mitchell, UK sales director at Autorola, points to more efficient data integration which allows an easier flow of information between different systems. As a result, buyer confidence grows as the systems work together far better. He said: ‘As the confidence of buyers grows, so sellers will use the online medium more extensively and the two will stimulate each other. Consequently, growth will rapidly gather pace and online remarketing will flourish.’ Autorola estimates that up to 30% of all used vehicles in the UK will be sold online by 2018 and also points to a growth in cross-border trading on the continent, where buyers from the former Eastern bloc countries are using online auctions to buy stock from European markets which are struggling financially. Tusker’s head of data and pricing, Scott Lloyd, agrees: ‘The stock shortage has increased the acceptance of buying online by some buyers more quickly than would have been the case. The type of car being sold will become less important over time as people become more comfortable with this way of trading.’

IN NUMBERS

20 percentage increase in the volume of vehicles sold online over the past 12 months at Manheim.

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15,000 number of vehicles for sale at any one time on BCA’s website.

30 percentage of vehicles remarketed which will be sold online within ﬁve years, according to Autorola.

FEATURE Remarketing

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Autorola’s Unsold selling cascade takes vehicles that haven’t sold on their ﬁrst journey through the auction hall and immediately loads photographs and a detailed description on to its online selling platform for sales to its 2,000 active buyers.

Aston Barclay’s fixed-price Buy+ portal allows buyers to view unsold stock outside of the auction. The service joins its Dashboard offering which gives dealers and fleet vendors online vehicle sales information and the Live online trade sales site.

SMA Live View provides buyers with a video preview of stock on request with a voiceover by a technician. Registered buyers can also book a time to talk through a car with a technician.

Eastbourne Car Auctions has launched a bespoke website (www.eca-mobile.co.uk) which has been designed to work speciﬁcally with iPhone and Android smartphones. The site contains vehicle stocklists along with inspection reports and photographs. Elsewhere, it is employing QR codes at both its physical sales and on its website to give buyers and sellers quick access to particular vehicle description sheets.

Epyx’s new Auction+ app works with the ﬁrm’s 1link Disposal Network e-commerce platform to allow ﬂeets to manage disposal of the vehicles from an iPad. Users can view existing images and upload new ones via the iPad camera, while vehicle inspection details can be accessed and reserves, bids and provisional sales managed. BCA has added a “quick search” facility on its website which allows trade buyers to get to the vehicles they want more quickly, while the “recommended vehicles” option presents stock of potential interest based on the user’s previous browsing history. Hudson Kapel has launched HK Remarketing which will specialise in online auctions and stock location.

Recently launched carcom.co.uk is an online platform for dealers to buy and sell vehicles. It also gives manufacturers, fleets and leasing companies the opportunity to dispose of vehicles direct to the trade. Scratch & Dent, which remarkets damaged vehicles for leasing and rental companies, is preparing to launch its new website which has been modiﬁed to work with smartphones and tablets. The site uses new layouts and resized content.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT ONLINE BIDDING Technology is also making a difference in getting vehicles ready for auction. Vendors are using web-based services to appraise and value their vehicles prior to selling them. BCA’s D’Vidis Jacobs said: ‘Off-site selling means the vehicles do not need to move until they are sold and then we handle the transportation with everything conducted seamlessly online. ‘The remarketing business has long since moved on from just “selling” vehicles in an auction hall to providing a broad range of services – logistics, inspection, data provision, document handling and storage – as well as more recent initiatives such as upstream selling and offering an increasing range of online sales channels. ‘Technology is the key driver of change allowing us to connect to our customers in different ways and with different services.’ Manheim has also launched an enhanced vehicle grading system using new hand-held appraisal technology. The system conforms to guidelines set down by the National Association of Motor Auctions (NAMA). Manheim’s operations director, Chris Cush, said: ‘The new grading system will bring commonality across all auction houses and give customers more confidence to buy from a distance.’ Louise Wallis, the head of NAMA, added: ‘This change has been driven by the increase in online bidding and the number of people looking to buy cars remotely.’

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MOKKA TECH LINE

FROM

CO2 120g/km FROM

P11 DREAM

P11D £15,770 FROM

BiK 18%* COMBINED

MPG 62.8mpg UP TO

With so much high spec equipment as standard including satellite navigation, Bluetooth®, dual-zone Electronic Climate Control and DMB radio, coupled with a low P11D – more really is less.

Book your FREE** 3 Day Test Drive at www.3daytestdrive.co.uk or call 0870 240 4848

VAUXHALL FLEET Call 0870 010 0651 | visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/fleet Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Mokka Tech Line: Urban – 33.6 (8.4)-52.3 (5.4). Extra-urban – 51.4 (5.5)-70.6 (4.0). Combined – 43.5 (6.5)62.8 (4.5). CO2 emissions 153-120g/km. * = 2012-13 tax year. General Motors UK Limited 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 (February 2013). Model shown features metallic paint, optional at extra cost.

SPOTLIGHT New Lexus IS

ANOTHER WAY Lexusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dramatic new IS could finally make large hybrids fleet-friendly. By Alex Grant.

CABIN AND EQUIPMENT New IS takes its interior styling cues from the latest GS, including the central billet aluminium clock and large display screen on top of the dashboard. Using a longer platform has freed up 50mm extra legroom in the back, while the hybrid battery is under the boot floor allowing the IS 300h to feature a useful 60/40 split folding rear bench (unlike the GS 450h). Sportiness has been woven into the entire cabin, too. Driver and passenger sit 20mm lower than in the outgoing car, while the steering wheel has been angled down to offer an improved driving position. The F-sport versions are sportier still, with an LFA-inspired instrument cluster featuring concentric, colour-changing dials and aluminium accents throughout. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evidence that Lexus has closely benchmarked the Germans.

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ENGINES LEXUS has appointed independent divisions working to make sure its products are suitable for the diverse tastes of the markets where they are sold. So while the IS launches into a diesel-dominated sector with a choice of a 2.5litre petrol or hybrid drivetrain, a focus on low BiK costs means the latter is a viable alternative to a diesel model. At 221bhp and with CO2 emissions of 99g/km the IS 300h beats segment benchmark the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics on both counts, while undercutting the automatic version on price. Lexus has also worked to make this a better driver’s car than previous hybrids, introducing six stepped ratios for the CVT gearbox selected through the steering paddles or when engine braking, and a speaker which plays engine noises into the cabin while driving on electricity.

LEXUS has realised that its cars sold mainly for their rational appeal and technological prowess in Europe, rather than emotive styling or an engaging driving experience. Instead of mimicking German rivals, though, Lexus is putting a focus on creating a dramatic and unmistakeable family style, kept exclusive by the smaller volumes it sells. So the new IS is very close in design to the LF-CC coupe concept debuted at the Paris Motor Show last year. The crease running from the sills through the rear wheel arches and into the rear lights is still present, as are the sculpted headlamps with individual bulges for each lens, and separate L-shaped daytime running lights cut into the bumper. F-Sport versions are even more aggressive, with unique bumpers and 18-inch wheels in an LFA-inspired dark grey.

STYLING

EDITOR’S VIEW Lexus has traditionally been a retail-focused brand, but a powerful, low-carbon IS hybrid will give it a much broader appeal in the corporate-dominated compact executive class. Striking styling and a more engaging driving experience will help it find fans, too. Sales projections are a modest 2,700 units in its first, incomplete, year on sale, rising to around 4,000 annually from 2014 onwards. It’s not going to topple the Germans from their sales lead, but it quadruples the volumes sold of the outgoing model, which will have a dramatic effect on the brand’s visibility in Europe.

March 2013

MARKET OVERVIEW Daily Rental

Alliance Asset Management

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental

Alliance Corporate Rental provides costeffective vehicle rental solutions to companies of any size, offering daily rental and flexilease from one day to 12 months and contract hire/leasing for longer term requirements. Alliance can provide vehicles of any type including cars, prestige and performance vehicles, minibuses, light commercials, 4x4, specialist and adapted vehicles through to refrigerated vans and 7.5t and above. With both a national supply network of over 1,500 locations and our own specialist fleet, Alliance operates on a UK-wide basis, ensuring access to the UK’s most extensive vehicle fleet, quality service, consultative approach and simple invoicing. All these services can be accessed through our easy-to-use online rental management system.

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is one of the UK’s largest, independently owned rental companies with over 40 years experience in the provision of long and short term tailor-made economical fleet solutions for corporate and retail clients. With access to a nationwide, multi-franchise fleet of over 55,000 vehicles in branches throughout the UK and close links with vehicle manufacturers, Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental offers extremely competitive rental rates on a range of the most up to date cars and vans. An on-line booking facility for both retail and corporate clientele is available and business users can also benefit from a dedicated on-line management reporting facility.

Contact: Riane Cooke rcooke@fleetcentre.com www.fleetcentre.com

Tel: 0844 4142998

Tel: 0845 702 3946

Europcar Group UK

Enterprise Rent-A-Car In the UK, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the sole specialist in providing replacement vehicles and courtesy cars, which are relied upon in the event of an accident. Enterprise also offers daily and weekend rental for private or business use. Founded in 1957, Enterprise is headquartered in St. Louis and has more than 7,700 offices in the UK, Germany, Ireland, the United States and Canada. Enterprise, which started in the UK in 1994, has rapidly expanded and currently has over 380 locations across the UK & Ireland, with more than 3,400 staff. Over 90% of the UK population are within ten miles of an Enterprise location. For more information about Enterprise, visit www.enterprise.co.uk.

Contact: Tony Francis tony.francis@erac.com www.enterprise.co.uk

Contact: Business Centre central.reservations@arnoldclark.co.uk www.arnoldclarkrental.com

Tel: 01784 221 300

Europcar Group UK provides access to the UK’s leading fleet of over 45,000 cars and vans, through its network of over 200 locations across the UK and a presence in 140 countries worldwide. We have a proven track record of innovation, great service delivery and a quality fleet. Europcar offers flexible short term and long term products to suit all business requirements – including delivery and collection, diesel only models, corporate loyalty programmes and a range of payment options. These services are supported by innovative online solutions to help businesses monitor and manage vehicle use and to support cost efficiencies, duty of care responsibilities and address environmental concerns.

Contact: Martin Fisher businesssolutions@europcar.com www.europcar.co.uk

Tel: 0871 384 0201

Leasedrive Group Ford Rental Ford Rental is the UK’s largest Dealer Rental operator trading for over 40 years by keeping our customers on the road. With one of the youngest fleets of 14,000 vehicles, including the full range of latest Ford car and commercial vehicles, our flexible approach to Daily Rental means we are ideally placed to manage organisations short and long term rental requirements. We offer innovative approaches to daily rental, understanding that fleet is a high cost to any business and continuously deliver high levels of Customer satisfaction. Furthermore our experience and product range enables us to respond to demands for low CO2 emission policies.

Contact: Heidi Sayer info@fordrental.co.uk

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Tel: 0844 826 1353 www.fordrental.co.uk

Leasedrive Rental Management has access to over 228,000 vehicles from 1,200 locations in the UK, including airports. The company offers a simple and transparent pricing policy with no hidden surcharges. Rates are constant throughout the country and customers benefit from special all-inclusive pricing including free delivery and collection. Deliveries can be arranged with as little as two hours’ notice by calling 0844 579 8855. Alternatively, bookings can be made online using Rental:Manager, the award-winning, interactive online reservation system. For rentals of 28 days or more, there is the Stopgap solution and for rentals of 90 days or more there is Stopgap Plus, all on 0844 579 8846.

Contact: Joe Howick info@leasedrive.com www.leasedrive.com

Tel: 0871 271 8877

How many vehicles does your company operate?

How many rental locations does your company have?

Do you offer a one-way rental facility?

Does a driver get given a proof of condition receipt on handing back their hire car?

Do you have a rapid check-in system?

Do you offer a chauffeur drive service?

Do you offer an on-line billing facility?

Do you offer an on-line management reporting facility?

Can a driver guarantee a specific make & model of car when booking?

Do you offer cars fitted with satellite navigation systems?

Do you charge a fee for non-cancelled bookings?

Do you charge excess mileage rates on pre-agreed contracts?

Do you offer hybrid & Electric Cars?

Do you offer an hourly rate for hire?

FLEETW RLD

Alliance Asset Management

260k

1.5k+

Yes

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental

6.6k

Yes

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

55k

380

Yes

Europcar UK Group

45k

200

Yes

Ford Rental

14k

150+

Yes

Leasedrive Group

228k

1.2k

Yes

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd.

400k

1.7k

Yes

Northgate Vehicle Hire

51k

Yes

17.5k

Yes

Key to services

Service provided

Service unavailable

Thrifty Car and Van Rental

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd.

Northgate Vehicle Hire

Nexus is the UK's leading provider of vehicle rental supply, management and software to end users and intermediaries across the fleet, corporate and public sector. We provide a fully managed rental service covering over 1,700 locations with access to approx. 4,000,000 vehicles. Nexus, through our unique IRIS software platform, provides customers with a revolutionary rental management solution, ensuring seamless delivery, advanced reporting, swift billing and exceptional customer service at competitive terms, each and every time. We are adept at sourcing precise specifications and bulk orders on standard, specialist and adapted vehicles.

Northgate Vehicle Hire has shaped and defined the van hire market for over 30 years, operating over 52,000 modern, fuel efficient vehicles through 60 UK locations. With 56 wholly owned workshops and 356 highly trained mechanics, Northgate can offer the added reassurance of national back up 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Northgate has developed a diverse customer base, ranging from blue-chip corporations and Local Authorities, right down to small and medium sized enterprises, owner operators and the general public. Offering both daily rental and a range of innovative, long and short-term fleet solutions, including the pioneering flexible rental solution – Norflex, Northgate are perfectly equipped to serve businesses of all sizes in today’s economic environment.

Contact: Steve Beedle Tel: 07850 901519 steve.beedle@nexusrental.co.uk www.nexusrental.co.uk

Contact: Colin Wilson, Head of National Sales Tel: 0844 8266 555 info@northgatevehiclehire.co.uk northgatevehiclehire.co.uk

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Thrifty Car and Van Rental Thrifty Car and Van Rental has 90 UK locations, offering a full range of cars, commercials, 4x4s and luxury vehicles. Thrifty has a dedicated Central Reservation Team, providing an immediate response to enquiries and offering highly competitive rates, with access to a quality fleet of vehicles nationwide and an efficient delivery and collection service. Fast, accurate billing and detailed management information is available along with a dedicated account manager. For longer-term car hire, Thrifty’s Flexi Fleet programme enables customers to rent vehicles on a short to medium term basis without being tied into a long term commitment.

Contact: Caroline Gallagher Tel: 01494 751568 sales@thrifty.co.uk www.thrifty.co.uk

We’ve thought of everything...

Desirability Better by design, perfectly balancing your business needs and drivers’ requirements.

Sustainability Be cleaner and more fuel-efficient with the World’s No. 1 Green Brand (Interbrand 2011 & 2012).

Serviceability Award winning service and more peace of mind with our Service Charter.

Reliability Committed to quality keeping your drivers on the move.

Rangeability A range of 26 models giving you choice without compromise.

Affordability Class-leading whole life costs, company and driver savings.

...so you don’t have to

We’ve put our minds to creating a range of solutions to meet your needs. So fleet managers and companies can enjoy cost-effectiveness, drivers can enjoy style and performance, and you’ll all benefit from the fuel efficiency, tax savings, less time off the road and peace-of-mind services – thanks to our dedicated Business Centre Network. To fi nd out more about our brilliant for business abilities, call 0844 701 6186 or visit us online.

brilliant for business

toyotalexusfleet.co.uk

INTERVIEW Keith Allen ARI Fleet UK

Powered by technology Keith Allen, recently appointed managing director of ARI Fleet UK, explains the opportunities and challenges facing the company as it seeks to build a strong position as a provider of management information to eets. Ross Durkin asks the questions. It was Albert Einstein who famously said that “we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”. Applied to modern day fleet management, this axiom would probably translate into something like, “the people who build your vehicles aren’t necessarily the best placed to tell you what to fix, or how to fix it.” Chippenham-based Fleet Support Group became ARI Fleet UK at the beginning of 2013 following the company’s acquisition by American fleet management giant, ARI. Claimed to be the largest independently held fleet management services provider in the world, ARI was founded by the Holman Automotive Group in 1948 and now employs more than 2,400 people and manages nearly one million vehicles. Keith Allen took up the position of managing director at ARI Fleet UK in January 2013 and promptly set about focusing the organisation on its strength in offering information-based products that serve complex fleet needs at the top end of the UK fleet market. Formerly managing director of ALD Automotive, Allen says that non-funded fleet management services will spearhead the company’s growth over here, despite rumour and gossip of a possible move into contract hire. ‘We are, if anything, an antidote to contract hire,’ explained Allen. ‘Our target market is the larger fleets where the management information we can provide would permit the un-bundling of contract hire should a fleet choose to do so. ‘We have particularly strong expertise in the commercial vehicle sector – both vans and trucks. The more complex the supply chain and vehicle operational requirements, the more value our information systems deliver to our customers.’ ARI's only business has been fleet leasing and management and as a privately-held company, it has continuously invested in fleet-specific technology. The result is a technology engine room that includes a team of 220 developers at ARI’s Philadelphia headquarters as well as an exclusive partnership with SAP that brings a whole new level of fleet reporting capability. However, and at the risk of over-quoting Einstein, Allen knows that “information is not knowledge” and hence is mindful of the need for an account manage-

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ment team with the same passion for customer satisfaction as their US counterparts. ‘I knew about both ARI and Fleet Support Group before I joined the company. What particularly impressed me about ARI was the “family” nature of the business. When I went to the states to visit them, I was really struck by the commitment to customer service, and the genuine desire to exceed customers’ expectations,’ said Allen. Existing ARI Fleet UK customers will start to see the benefits of the new systems from March 2013 onwards, providing a more sophisticated level of management information. In particular, ARI believes that size really does matter and makes no secret of its ambition to tackle “big” data problems with its ARI analytics tool. The technology allows fleets to bring together data from a wide range of sources including telematics systems and fuel cards, as well as online video monitoring of repairs. As a result, says Allen, fleet managers will be able to get more insight into costs – both actual and forecast. That will provide far greater budgetary control and more opportunities to identify cost savings. Once existing customers in the UK have been introduced to the new systems, ARI will start to look for new business opportunities, with fleets running 500 or more vehicles the prime targets. ‘It’s hard to say exactly how large the market is,’ said Allen. ‘We are interested in fleets with 100 vehicles or more, though it’s the 500-plus sector where fleets are purchased outright or finance leased where we have most to offer. At this level of operation we can demonstrate clear value from the management information our systems produce and we believe there’s still plenty of room for us to grow in this market.’ Despite a successful track record in the contract hire and leasing sector, Allen is dismissive of industry rumours that a move into risk-based funding is on the cards. ‘ARI is an ambitious company and senior management in the US are aware of the potential for expansion into Europe that a base in the UK affords. But we have no plans to enter the contract hire market. We are a provider of fleet management services and that’s the way we will stay.’

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our target market is the larger fleets where the management information we can provide would permit the un-bundling of contract hire should a fleet choose to do so.â&#x20AC;?

March 2013

MANAGEMENT Fleet Academy

Join the Winter tyres – a duty of care requirement? Steve Moody, Editor, Fleet World

Fleet World magazine’s Fleet Academy is designed to provide a forum whereby those industry consultants and professionals in possession of valuable fleet information can impart it to a select audience of fleet decision-makers. At the heart of the Fleet Academy is a network of independent fleet industry experts whose work brings them into regular contact with end-user fleet managers and other organisations playing a key role in the industry. These fleet experts provide a regular feed of information that is posted on the website forum in the form of a discussion topic. 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 Fleet Academy and request membership, please visit:

www.fleetacademy.co.uk 50

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Did you have a tough couple of weeks in January, full of staff tucked up at home and cars tucked up against trees, and walls, and other cars? If your fleet isn’t equipped with winter tyres, then there’s a fair chance that the heavy snow experienced by most of the UK was a chaotic, and potentially expensive, time for your company. There are plenty of financial and logistical reasons for not fitting winter tyres, such as the initial outlay, the hassle of fitting them and the space to store them. But not to do so is folly. I drove about happily in a BMW 3 Series. You know, the cars that are famously, laughably bad when it snows. Utter rubbish. They’re just on the wrong tyres. My 3 Series was fitted with winter tyres, that give it a fiercer bite than four-wheel drive SUVs on normal rubber. I could drive anywhere I wanted, irrespective of the level of snow on the road, and the car behaved perfectly normally, breaking and turning as usual. And the excuse that it only snows a few days so it’s not worth fitting them doesn’t hold water either. The tread ensures that there is more grip and traction in wet weather when it’s cold, and when it’s icy, they will find grip rather than slide. A driver might never even know when winter tyres counted, as they cruised over black ice. I know this

Little and large Ross Durkin, Managing Editor, Fleet World Having been in the ﬂeet industry since 1984 I’ve watched with great interest as the size of engine required to power a respectable ﬂeet car has steadily fallen. Personally I’ve always had a tendency towards larger engines… until now. I don’t like the idea of putting too much stress on a motor, so the thought of driving a Ford Focus with a turbocharged, 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine had my eyebrows raised, to say the least. This engine has received more plaudits recently than anything I can remember, but it’s not until you try it yourself

in association with

debate... Servicing your grey fleet because for the last few winters I’ve done lots of testing of winter tyres against normal ones in all conditions. There’s been so much talk about duty of care in the last decade. In my opinion, the non-ﬁtment of winter tyres by companies when the risks and beneﬁts are crystal clear is one of the biggest failing of that duty of care.

Alex Grant, Motoring Editor, Fleet World replied… I agree. And it’s not only snow driving where winter tyres are worth having, of course, it’s any temperature under 7°C. And when it gets down around freezing they start to become a must-have. The sobering thought for me is this. Tyres are the only point of contact between you and the road. The right tyres may only stop you a foot sooner than the wrong ones, but that foot could be the difference between hitting something and coming to a halt with sweaty palms and no damage. At least when the roads are snowy people slow down. It's the sub-zero evenings with not a flake on the tarmac, and drivers still bellowing past at full speed, which scare me. A necessity, I think, at least for those who have no alternative but to drive.

that you realise why. To the best of my knowledge, the days when ﬂeet choice lists were based on engine size are well and truly gone, but it is unlikely that anyone who shares my prejudices would deign to try something so small. If that strikes a chord with you, then please take my advice and ask Ford for a demonstrator. If there are any fleets that have this model on their choice list I would be fascinated to hear what sort of reaction you have had from drivers.

Nigel Trotman, Head of Strategic Consultancy, Alphabet GB Research carried out by the SMMT has revealed that many younger drivers are failing to have their car serviced and maintained correctly. The poll of 2,000 motorists highlights the danger to which some road-users are exposing themselves, with tyres and brakes among the many safety-critical items left unchecked. Most drivers are aware of the benefits of regular servicing, but a significant number of drivers are putting themselves at greater risk of an accident, breakdown or costly repair by not taking their cars to a dealership for regular servicing. A properly maintained car is not only more fuel-efficient, but will be safer and more reliable. The results from the survey provide further evidence of the need for fleet managers to understand the potential risks posed by their grey fleet drivers – and to consider alternatives. As well as the safety aspects, poorly-maintained vehicles may well let the driver down at critical times – meaning missed appointments and lost business opportunities. Options such as daily rental and spare company vehicles (where possible) should therefore be available, with employees’ own vehicles being used for business travel only as a last resort. Not all businesses have the resources to check whether staff are servicing their own vehicles, so company cars offer a better solution in most cases.

Alex Grant, Motoring Editor, Fleet World replied… It’s not only regular servicing, but correct servicing, which is an issue here. Case in point, a few weeks ago while filling up at a local supermarket I saw a woman putting 50PSI into the front tyres of her 2001 Volkswagen Golf. My suspicion is that she'd been told that she needed to pump up the tyres every once in a while, and understood that as meaning fully pumped up. It’s scary imagining a car trying to corner and stop on a tiny (probably bald) contact patch. I’ve heard similar stories with people topping up their oil. A mechanic friend told me he'd had a car in his workshop last summer which was over-filled, the owner had a low oil warning light come up so he’d bought a litre bottle of oil and emptied it into the engine. Both are mistakes made with the best intentions, but are basic maintenance tasks that all drivers should know about. I'm sure both drivers believed they were looking after their cars.

March 2013

FEATURE Taxation & Funding

PREPARING FOR BUDGET 2013 Professor Colin Tourick sums up what we already know will be in this month’s Budget. AS a fleet manager you can’t afford to ignore taxation. Unfortunately there are an awful lot of taxes involved in fleet management, including car Benefit-inKind tax, van benefit charge, car fuel benefit, van fuel benefit, corporation tax, income tax (for employees and unincorporated businesses), VAT (on lease rentals and on the purchase and sale of vehicles), employee mileage allowance payments and national insurance contributions. The Budget is on 20 March. Some changes have already been announced so in this article we will concentrate on those. The levels of car benefit tax are due to increase, as they do most years. This tax is calculated by multiplying a car’s list price (including VAT, delivery costs and extras fitted before delivery) by an ”appropriate percentage” based on the car’s CO2 emissions. There are special rules for classic cars, capital contributions, car being unavailable and payments for private use but we’ll ignore those here. The table on page 53 shows how the appropriate percentage will change from 6 April. The change is modest for most cars but not at the lower-emission end of the scale. If you currently drive a car emitting say 95g/km, your tax liability will double when the appropriate percentage increases from 5% to 10%. Most of the cars you acquire this year will still be on your fleet in two to three years’ time so you need to be mindful of two changes from 2015–16. The appropriate percentage for zero-emis-

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Be aware of the effect future changes in BiK taxation will have on your fleet and drivers

sion cars will increase from 0% to 13% (diesel 16%), creating a personal tax liability for the first time. And the 5% rate (diesel 8%) for vehicles not exceeding 75g/km will be abolished. A 3% supplement should be added to the appropriate percentage for diesel vehicles, though this will be withdrawn from April 2016; a much-welcomed tax reduction for diesel drivers. Car fuel tax is payable by an employee whose employer pays for fuel for private mileage. This is set to rise by 2% in 2013-14. Do you still provide free private fuel for your employees? In many cases this makes no economic sense. Van benefit tax is payable by drivers who use company vans for private

purposes. Currently £3,000 is added to the employee’s salary and taxed at their marginal rate. Zero emission vans are exempt from van benefit tax but this exemption will end from April 2015. Van drivers who receive free private fuel have to pay tax at their marginal rate on £550 – the van fuel benefit. This is set to increase by RPI this April. When you buy a car for business use, you can deduct part of the cost from your corporation tax liability (or income tax if your business is unincorporated) – capital allowances. There are two types of capital allowance: first year allowance and writing down allowance. Most cars are specifically excluded from first year allowances but the government currently uses FYAs to encourage businesses to buy very low emission or electric cars. You can currently get a 100% FYA if you buy a car with CO2 emissions below 95g/km but this will end on 31 March 2015. This allowance is a massive incentive to any tax-paying business so if you are thinking about trialling a couple of very low emission cars on your fleet in the next year with a view to buying many more thereafter, do keep that date in mind because thereafter you will no longer get 100% tax relief in the year of purchase. Currently, cars emitting less than 160g/km of CO2 attract an 18% writing down allowance. Above this the WDA is a meagre 8%. From 1 April 2013 the 160g/km threshold will be reduced to 130g/km. So if you buy cars emitting 130-160g/km you will get less tax relief

in association with

For further ways to reduce your fleet tax bill, visit business.peugeot.co.uk or call the Peugeot Fleet centre on 024 7688 4644.

2012-2013

2013-2014

CO2 emissions

Appropriate percentage

CO2 emissions

Appropriate percentage

0g/km

75g/km

99g/km

10%

94g/km

10%

100g/km

11%

95g/km

11%

105g/km

12%

100g/km

12%

110g/km

13%

105g/km

13%

115g/km

14%

110g/km

14%

120g/km

15%

115g/km

15%

125g/km

16%

120g/km

16%

130g/km

17%

125g/km

17%

135g/km

18%

130g/km

18%

140g/km

19%

135g/km

19%

145g/km

20%

140g/km

20%

150g/km

21%

145g/km

21%

155g/km

22%

150g/km

22%

160g/km

23%

155g/km

23%

165g/km

24%

160g/km

24%

170g/km

25%

165g/km

25%

175g/km

26%

170g/km

26%

180g/km

27%

175g/km

27%

185g/km

28%

180g/km

28%

190g/km

29%

185g/km

29%

195g/km

30%

190g/km

30%

200g/km

31%

195g/km

31%

205g/km

32%

200g/km

32%

210g/km

33%

205g/km

33%

215g/km

34%

210g/km

34%

220g/km and above

35%

215g/km and above

35%

Engine size

Petrol

LPG

1400cc or less

15p

10p

1401cc to 2000cc

18p

12p

Over 2000c

26p

18p

Engine size

Diesel

1600cc or less

13p

1601cc to 2000cc

15p

Over 2000c

18p

from April. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little you can do about this other than reduce the level of CO2 on your fleet below 130g/km, which is exactly what the government wants you to do (when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wearing its environmental hat rather than its tax-raising hat). Leasing companies claim 100% FYAs on low-emissions cars and use the tax benefit to subsidise their lease rentals. This allowance will end after 31 March 2013, which is a shame because it will increase costs and remove an incentive to run greener vehicles. If you were planning to lease a low-emission car in the next few months, consider taking delivery before 1 April: the rental is likely to be lower. If you lease a car with CO2 emissions exceeding 160g/km you will only get tax relief on 85% of the lease rental because of the 15% lease rental disallowance. For loweremission cars the rental is fully tax-deductible. From April 2013 this 160g/km threshold will fall to 130g/km. If you pay for the business mileage driven by your employees in company cars, no income tax or Class 1 or 1A national insurance contribution arises so long as the payments do not exceed these advisory fuel rates. These rates apply for journeys on or after 1 March 2013. They change quarterly and in the following month you can use either the old or new rate.

The change is modest for most cars but not at the lower-emission end of the scale.

Colin Tourick is the author of Company Car and Van Tax (Eyelevel Books)

March 2013

DR OW IV IN IN CL G UD ST ES YL E

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SWOT TEAM

VAUXHALL MOKKA v RIVALS

THE RIVALS NISSAN JUKE

SKODA YETI

MINI COUNTRYMAN

THE TEAM

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

Andy Cutler (AC) UK Car Editor Forecast Values Glassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

March 2013

SWOT TEAM This month the SWOT Team analyses the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new VAUXHALL MOKKA against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

AC All are a little funkier than the standard

AC This group does have a reputation as being

B-segment offerings and have a slightly higher seating position as well which seems to be a big plus with many drivers these days. The MINI stands out when you look at interior fit and finish and the materials used by all four seem sturdy enough.

MJ All four have reasonable levels of equipment and a commanding driving position. Vauxhall has big hopes for Mokka, with this ”Compact Crossover” expected to be their second biggest seller in retail, where Vauxhall sell far more cars than you may think! Good, sturdy looks should serve it well. MINI Countryman has steadily grown volume, up 1,500 units to almost 14,500 cars in 2012, proving the demand is there for a model with the extra space and versatility needed by many former MINI hatch owners. The badge is no handicap! Juke proves that quirky and distinctive can be just as appealing as simply ”cute”. A diesel-powered entry price point of £15,000 gives it some immediate advantages. Yeti has been a runaway success for Skoda in both two and four-wheel drive and offers the most flexible accommodation and is good for three rear-seat passengers in comfort.

MJ Ride quality is not a key strength for the Mokka, and the 1.7 CDTi is not Vauxhall’s most refined power unit, although 62.8mpg & 120g/km places it second only to the less powerful Countryman. You could select a non-Pepper Countryman Cooper D for little extra cost and no loss in economy. Yeti is well liked by buyers, although on the edge of this group due to high CO2 emissions. Actual interior space and versatility varies across this group so buyers must check that their choice is fit for purpose.

AS Mokka is spacious in this company, its styling is

AS Mokka’s drivetrain is old technology, the ride

modern and the price is competitive. Juke has proved popular with private and fleet buyers, it’s well specified and there are good deals to be had. Yeti is very practical and spacious too, with a strong dealer network and reliable residuals. MINI has the advantage of being a premium brand, with very low CO2 output, good residuals and a solid reputation in its favour.

MW Mokka is just what Vauxhall needs to compete with some other good cars. The Juke has proved to be a bigger success than expected, despite it being a ”Marmite” car. The Yeti is a great all-rounder and remains popular, while the MINI Countryman offers the best CO2 figure and desirable badging.

”Marmite” cars - people love them and hate them in equal measures. None of these cars will be chosen by people that enjoy an engaging drive, either. The MINI is probably the best in this case, but although they have done a really good job with the handling it doesn’t match the standard hatch in any way. Early test drives of the Vauxhall didn’t do it any favours but these vehicles are aimed at the small family that still want something a little funky and interesting rather than the single person that wants a car to zoom around the country lanes in.

fleetworld.co.uk

is choppy and the diesel engine is showing its age. Juke is a ”Marmite” car, and the list price for this and the Yeti are high. The Skoda also suffers a workaday image, and its CO2 emissions are no longer competitive, especially with plenty of rivals on the way. Standard specification on the Countryman is mean, and the styling is controversial too.

MW The Yeti does have high CO2 figures, too high in fact. Vauxhall doesn’t seem to have caught the public’s imagination with the Mokka yet, Juke’s design is not to everyone's taste and the Countryman has a massively complicated range.

VAUXHALL MOKKA

NISSAN JUKE

SKODA YETI

MINI COUNTRYMAN

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

AC The small crossover segment is relatively new,

AC The established three from MINI, Nissan and Skoda all have good residual values; there are a number of reasons for this and they are not the same for each car. I am not yet convinced that Vauxhall will be able to gain the same level of appeal as the others and therefore return such high residuals. The Mokka is far safer than the other three when it comes to styling, and early test drives really didn’t do the car any favours although Vauxhall has addressed this issue by tweaking the suspension set up for UK roads. All of these vehicles face threats from other manufacturers, as soon as they see the opportunity to increase sales. Competition will become more and more intense, and as volumes grow then so demand for used product will weaken as with anything. However, there is still healthy demand for affordable, practical small family cars as people look at these vehicles when deciding whether to downsize.

and there are opportunities for any new entrant at the moment. Although this segment is going to get a lot more crowded in the future as other manufacturers bring more competition to the market there will still be plenty of opportunity if the product is built and managed well. As we have seen from the mid-size crossovers the segment is still growing and even though there are now many manufacturers with offerings they all seem to do well when compared with their standard C-segment offerings as long as they are competitively priced.

MJ Two and a half years ago, it was unclear if Countryman would find enough buyers, whether Juke was just a fashion offering or if Yeti would overcome badge snobbery. However, both Retail & Corporate buyers have been keen to have versatile transport solutions and all these cars offer more than traditional hatchbacks without the expense of a 4X4 SUV. Although the sector is quite new it does appear to be capable of supporting greater volume.

AS Vauxhall is a fleet favourite, and there are lots of deal opportunities to be had, which will benefit the Mokka. Although it’s a style-led model, Juke has also proved itself to be a convincing fleet package, and it has a strong reputation for reliability too. The fleet following for the Yeti is continuing to grow and become stronger, helped by very competitive deals. While the Countryman’s styling doesn’t work for everyone, it’s a MINI, and benefits from a wider brand image with the sort of strength which is very hard for any car manufacturer to build. Solid residual values and reliable used demand are the result. MW This sector is gaining strength at the expense of the traditional C-segment hatches. Although this will definitely help any manufacturer who enters this market, they will lose in other sectors – swings and roundabouts unfortunately.

MJ In any group the newest product should have advantages, but the existing players all have real strengths, so no easy time for Mokka! Changing trends mean that there are no guarantees, but this sector currently looks very secure and has certainly taken business from both traditional hatchbacks and also smaller MPVs. Crossover newcomers in 2013 will include Renault’s Captur rival for Juke, the Fiat 500L and Peugeot’s 2008.

AS Mokka faces threats from Renault, Citroën, Peugeot and many others – the list goes on. Juke could do with a front end re-style now, while Yeti really needs a cleaner engine to be competitive. MINI Countryman’s standard spec needs to improve.

MW The price of all these cars looks a bit on the expensive side, and if not careful they will price themselves out of the market. As more ”Budget Brands” come along, such as Dacia, this sector could be under serious threat.

March 2013

SWOT TEAM

VAUXHALL MOKKA v RIVALS

VAUXHALL MOKKA

Vauxhall Mokka 1.7 CDTi Tech Line OTR: £17,445 P11D: £17,390 Fuel: 62.8mpg CO2: 120g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £6,925 (40%) BiK: 18% SMR: £2,388 Fuel costs: £6,154 Insurance: £2,205 Finance: £2,348 NI: £1,368 VED: £60 Cost per month: £696

NISSAN JUKE

Nissan Juke 1.5 dCi Tekna OTR: £18,195 P11D: £18,140 Fuel: 58.9mpg CO2: 124g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £7,150 (39%) BiK: 18% SMR: £2,119 Fuel costs: £6,561 Insurance: £2,325 Finance: £2,449 NI: £1,427 VED: £200 Cost per month: £726

SKODA YETI

Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI CR SE 110PS OTR: £18,635 P11D: £18,460 Fuel: 52.3mpg CO2: 140g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £7,075 (38%) BiK: 22% SMR: £2,195 Fuel costs: £7,389 Insurance: £2,205 Finance: £2,492 NI: £1,758 VED: £360 Cost per month: £773

MINI COUNTRYMAN

Mini Countryman 1.6 One D with Pepper Pack OTR: £18,945 P11D: £18,890 Fuel: 64.2mpg CO2: 115g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £7,700 (41%) BiK: 17% SMR: £1,956 Fuel costs: £6,020 Insurance: £2,325 Finance: £2,550 NI: £1,408 VED: £60 Cost per month: £710

THE VERDICT

Standard equipment: • DMB radio/CD with Bluetooth and USB connectivity • Front and rear parking sensors • Dual-zone climate control • Satellite navigation • Cruise control • Front and rear electric windows Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £525 • Heated front seats and steering wheel £270 • Flex-fix bike carrier £500 • Reversing camera £200

Standard equipment: • Radio/CD with Bluetooth, USB and aux inputs • Front and rear electric windows • Satellite navigation • Half-leather upholstery • Heated front seats • Reversing camera • Climate control • Cruise control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £495 • Rear parking sensors £365

Standard equipment: • Radio and 6CD with aux input • Cruise control • Dual zone climate control • Rear parking sensors • Front and rear electric windows Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £495 • Satellite navigation and DAB radio £535 • Heated seats £230 • Leather upholstery £1,845 • Multi-Device Input (USB) £175

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD with USB connectivity • Front and rear electric windows • Rear parking sensors • Single-zone climate control • Automatic headlamps and wipers Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £450 • Leather upholstery £1,250 • Satellite navigation £1,345 • Cruise control £210 • Xenon headlamps £522

ALTHOUGH Mokka is a predominantly retail-focused car, Vauxhall’s established fleet presence and the car’s high power, low CO2 and muscular styling will help it appeal to image-conscious drivers in the corporate sector too. It’s launching into one of the fastest-growing sectors in the industry, though. Ford, Renault and Peugeot rivals and a mechanically similar Chevrolet are on the way, as well as numerous other small crossovers ideal for the user-chooser market.

fleetworld.co.uk

Fleet World Fleet Show 2013 Hall 3, Stand H3

Take charge with npower! npower’s stand at this year’s Fleet Show certainly has a lot to offer! Having recently announced sponsorship of the ‘Flux Capacitor’ – motoring journalist and television presenter, Jonny Smith’s mission to produce Europe’s fastest street legal EV – npower’s stand will not only play host to Jonny, but also to the Enfield 8000 itself! As one of the UK’s leading energy companies, npower is a market leader in the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Totally committed to the electric vehicle market, npower strives to work with the business community to ensure electric fleet adoption makes tangible commercial and environmental sense. A standardised approach to ‘smart charging’ has been accepted by all American and European vehicle manufacturers and with it, for the first time, ‘smart charging’ has been defined and characterised for technology development. RWE, npower’s parent company, was instrumental in setting the benchmark for this technology and now leads the way to fully automated and standardised communication between the vehicle and charging infrastructure. It enables all aspects of the charging process to be captured, managed and controlled for the benefit of organisations and car users. npower has recently introduced electric vehicles into its own metering fleet and has developed an effective fleet management systems to monitor and reimburse employees for charging their vehicles at home and track charging activity at depots or office

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ON CHARGE... TV presenter Jonny Smith will be on npower’s stand at the Fleet World Fleet Show 2013.

locations. This means its experts at the show can give plenty of advice and examples of the benefits offered by EVs. Experts from npower will be on hand throughout the day at the Fleet Show to provide information and advice around fully integrated solutions for vehicle chargers, installation and charge point management systems. Jonathan Woodthorpe, head of e-mobility for npower, comments: “The Fleet Show provides an ideal opportunity for us to speak with fleet managers to discuss their current needs and challenges and show how electric vehicles can offer a cost-effective and eco-friendly option. “Fleets of all sizes should be looking to embrace current electric car charging infrastructure solutions to meet changing employee behaviour and drive a more sustainable long-term transport future. “Whether you are looking for expert advice, examples of the latest charging technology or just fancy chatting to Jonny about his ambitious mission, we are sure our stand will have something for you!”

To learn more about npower’s involvement with EVs please visit www.npower.com/ev or come along to stand H3.

FLEET UPDATE

This month Three newcomers join the fleet while economy and space impress elsewhere.

BMW 320d Touring Modern manual

Mazda6 2.2D 175hp Sport Nav + Safety Pack

For the past few weeks I’ve been driving a new 320d Touring and I’ve decided it’s best to not beat about the bush. It is a fantastic thing. In the snow we had in February, on winter tyres it cruised about with no trouble at all. The rear window that lifts without you opening the boot means you can fill it easily and with lots of stuff. It drives well and I’ve been getting 50mpg without even trying very hard. Then there’s the ConnectedDrive system, which is brilliant. Already the active traffic information, which measures the collective speed of mobile phone signals and works out what the traffic is up to, has allowed me to scoot around trouble as it was building up. On top of that, it reads out your emails and text, even allowing you to dictate and send replies on the move, consigning the temptations of that winking red eye of the Blackberry to history. Accurate and easy to use, it may sound like a novelty but it’s a box worth ticking if your inbox is rarely quiet. I could go on, and in future months I no doubt will, but as somebody said to me the other day: ‘Is a 320d Touring the best car you could buy?’ Well, it might well be, but in fairness this car is pretty expensive, laden down with all the extras it has: it’s tipping the scales at £40,000 which is a lot of money for a 3 Series. The thing is, such are the multitude of talents at its disposal, you really don’t feel that you are in a car that has been priced out of its own sector. It really is the complete corporate car.

Steve Moody

Having sent the Peugeot 508 Hybrid4 on its way, it’s interesting to make a back-to-back comparison with the Mazda6 diesel, featuring the SKYACTIV technology designed to give hybrid-type fuel consumption from an optimised conventional car. Arguably, you would not choose the 173bhp version if emissions was your top priority, but so far, the fuel consumption appears to be hovering around the 47mpg mark. The engine could well set new standards of refinement for a diesel car of this size. It is impressively quiet, smooth and refined under most conditions, making it a relaxing drive. There is very little evidence of ”turbo lag”, it responds crisply, yet can be trickled along at low revs quite happily. I would rate the ”Kodo, soul of motion” design as the most successful and certainly most eye-catching of all Mazda6s. It's a good car to be seen in. Likes so far are many. The crisp throttle response and slick six-speed gear change make it a pleasure to drive. Then add in the compliant ride and fine handling. The TomTom satnav works well and the audio system features 11 Bose speakers. Like the 508, the Mazda is a saloon, but batteries are not taking up boot space, which can be extended by folding the rear seats forward. Other kit includes climate control dual zone air conditioning, heated front seats, auto-dipping, steered bi-xenon headlamps and a reversing camera. One minor hitch is that the light sensing ”auto” setting for the touch screen illumination does not work and it’s necessary to switch between ”night” and ”day” manually. Overall first impressions are very favourable because the Mazda6 incorporates all the things I would want in a car – good performance, an engaging chassis with good ride and handling and eye-catching design. I think we’re going to get along well.

John Kendall OTR PRICE £30,380 (£40,135 tested) POWER 184bhp @ 4,000rpm

OTR PRICE £25,495 POWER 173bhp @ 4,500rpm

TORQUE 280lb.ft @ 1,750rpm 0-62MPH 7.7 seconds

TORQUE 309lb.ft @ 2,000rpm 0-62MPH 7.9 seconds

TOP SPEED 143mph COMBINED MPG 58.9mpg

TOP SPEED 139mph COMBINED MPG 62.8mpg

CO2 125g/km (20% BiK)

CO2 119g/km (17% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk

SEAT Ibiza FR ST 1.2 TSI My wife wasn’t entirely convinced by the idea of a small estate car when our long-term Ibiza ST arrived last September. ‘It looks nice,’ she said, ‘But isn’t an estate this small a bit pointless?’ The ST shares its wheelbase with the five-door Ibiza, but it’s 180mm longer than its sibling. It’s still very much a small car – shorter and narrower than the Leon – and the curved tailgate doesn’t imply much room. But a few weeks spent moving house has left us repeatedly surprised at what it’ll swallow up. Its most frequent haul has been paint cans. Unless your home is large enough to have its own postal code, you can get enough gallons of emulsion in the boot of an Ibiza ST to perform a wall-to-wall makeover of the entire house. The perky 1.2 TSI engine is quite happy to lug it around, too. Rolls of carpet are no more challenging. The bench splits 60/40 and there’s just over 1.5m between the tailgate and passenger seat, which means we’ve been able to pile a few dubiously patterned floor coverings on the passenger side to stop them rolling around on the way to the dump, while leaving space for rubble sacks full of underlay and gripper rods in the boot. But its most impressive talent is white goods. Unclip the parcel shelf and a washing machine, tumble drier or dishwasher will tuck into the boot without folding the rear bench. It’s tightly wedged against the rear hatch, but that stops it moving around. Fold the rear bench flat, and while there’s a small lip between the bench and the boot there’s room for a pair of machines in the back. Still as agile as the hatch, but with a wide and long boot space, it’s a convincing best-of-both-worlds car.

Alex Grant

Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI Executive SE saloon

Mercedes-Benz continues to see its sales rocket in the UK, driven by healthy fleet demand for core products such as the C-Class. And while the various AMG-themed versions sell well at the higher end of the range, the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure it caters for company car drivers whose budget won’t quite stretch to a full-house AMG Sport Plus model. Our C220 CDI is that car – badged as Executive SE and a stand-alone UK special model, it brings a smattering of the sportiness that the AMG models offer but with a lower price. At £28,305 it’s hardly affordable, but it offers decent value for money when you consider that it costs just £35 more than the SE model it replaces yet comes with a host of additional equipment including a sport grille, alloy wheels, artico manmade ”leather” and LED daytime running lights. The result is a car that doesn’t have the visual clout of an AMG Sport Plus, yet doesn’t look like a bottom of the range model either. ”Our” car has a few optional extras fitted as standard though: heated front seats are a welcome addition at £330, although we could live without the full electric adjustment of the two front seats for £1,095. The £80 storage package is worth the money, consisting of a storage box under the front seats, a sunglasses compartment, parcel nets in the rear foot well and a double cup holder. Metallic paint is necessary in this sector for resale values, so that £645 option box is a requirement to tick, as is the £335 DAB digital radio. Bluetooth is standard on the Executive SE so we’d forget about the telephone pre-wiring kit at £290 and, as clear and intuitive as the COMAND online multimedia and navigation system is, it’s a £1,995 extravagance. The one option which will split opinion is the Lane-Tracking Package. At £735 it combines a blind spot warning system with lane keep assist. The systems works very well, especially the warning triangles for the blind spot in the door mirrors, but I wonder how many companies would be prepared to pay the extra for it. And, just as importantly, how many drivers would be prepared to add to their monthly BiK bill for it?

Julian Kirk OTR PRICE £14,845 POWER 103bhp @ 5,000rpm

OTR PRICE £28,660 POWER 170bhp @ 3,000 – 4,200rpm

TORQUE 129lb.ft @ 1,550rpm 0-62MPH 10.2 seconds

TORQUE 295lb.ft @ 1,400 – 2,800rpm 0-62MPH 8.4 seconds

TOP SPEED 118mph COMBINED MPG 55.4mpg

TOP SPEED 144mph COMBINED MPG 68.9mpg

CO2 119g/km (14% BiK)

CO2 109g/km (15% BiK)

March 2013

FLEET UPDATE

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi n-tec+ The Qashqai has had its legs stretched a bit more in the last few weeks with longer trips than usual, including a visit to a family wedding on the other side of the country. There was some head-scratching involved in the route that the sat-nav choose though, sending us from the south coast to the Essex/Suffolk border via the M11 and the country roads around Sudbury. Following last month, I’ve made sure it’s programmed on the ”fastest” route setting rather than ”eco” or ”shortest”, but it still didn’t seem to send us the optimum way. However, another family member’s sat-nav sent them the same way that night and, let’s face it, on a Friday evening, anything goes, which is why I’d listened to it. However, the preceding week, I was also left confused as to why the sat-nav tried to send me off the M25 at Leatherhead and onto A-roads on a trip to a village near Gatwick. Again it was a Friday night and there had been some road incidents but I stuck to the M25/M27 route I know and ended up getting there some time earlier than predicted. And that actually reinforces something that I’ve been reading in road risk management literature lately about drivers making sure that they’re not totally reliant on the sat-nav for directions but do have an idea of where they’re going. Apart from the issue of not needing to concentrate on instructions so much, it does mean that you can make more educated decisions on when to ignore it. But, I still remain convinced of the benefits of having the Nissan Connect package as part of the n-tec+ trim, which offers all the driver-orientated features that fleets could need. With our six-month trial coming to an end, it’s one of the many things I’ll miss about the popular and highly likeable Qashqai.

Natalie Wallis

Lexus RX 450h F Sport

There’s nothing quite like a 300-mile journey late in the day for encouraging a bit of lateral thinking. Boredom might be a better word for it. On a recent journey my mind wandered to the vexing question of speed vs economy. Is it better to slow down a bit for the sake of using less fuel and accept the fact that the journey will take a little longer, or should you put your foot down and get there in the shortest possible time? The RX450h offers an embarrassment of riches where information on fuel consumption is concerned. There’s an energy flow diagram for the hybrid system, a graphic display of minute-by-minute performance, historical analysis… what more could you ask for? The combined figure for the car is 44.8mpg and if this means that you get a low CO2 rating and hence lower tax, then ”chin chin!” Driven hard, it’s more like ”ker-ching” at the fuel pumps as two tonnes of car make a big hole in the air at speeds over 70mph. On a near-deserted M5 at 8.00pm I don’t consider 80mph to be an unsafe speed in a car like this, but fuel consumption does rise sharply over 60mph. At 60mph on a flat road it’s not hard to coax nearer 50mpg, but then you find yourself being totally emasculated as a procession of little old ladies in Nissan Micras pass you by… bless them. At an average of 60mph my journey would take five hours and cost around £53 in petrol. Driving at 70mph would save me 40 minutes but cost £15 more. My hourly rate is in excess of £22.50 so in theory it’s worth going faster, but even this equation is governed by the law of diminishing returns, as the higher speeds render me brain-dead for at least half an hour after my journey. So basically I’m playing with all the gadgets in the Lexus at the moment to see if I can work out my happiest medium. And I have to admit that my mildly obsessive personality finds the whole challenge rather addictive, certainly more interesting than The Archers or playing I Spy with myself.

Ross Durkin OTR PRICE £23,145 POWER 128bhp @ 4,000rpm

OTR PRICE £51,995 POWER 245bhp @ 6,000rpm

TORQUE 236lb.ft @ 1,750rpm 0-62MPH 10.3 seconds

TORQUE 234lb.ft @ 4,800rpm 0-62MPH 9.0 seconds

TOP SPEED 118mph COMBINED MPG 62.8mpg

TOP SPEED 124mph COMBINED MPG 44.8mpg

CO2 119g/km (17% BiK)

CO2 145g/km (20% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk

LIFE.

BALANCED.

ADD LIFE TO YOUR CORPORATE FLEET The flowing beauty of the new XF Sportbrake is just part of the story. With 1,675 litres of flexible load space it’s also beautifully versatile. The new XF Sportbrake features Intelligent Stop/Start technology which reduces CO2 emissions to just 135 g/km, meaning it incurs a BIK rate of just 21% and is capable of up to 55.4 mpg (combined). Coupled with improved whole-life costs* and a class leading specification adjusted price, the XF Sportbrake makes perfect business sense. The new XF Sportbrake is available from £31,940 OTR. Contact us today to book a test drive.

WWW.JAGUAR.CO.UK/CORPORATESALES 0845 366 0342 Model shown is an XF Sportbrake 3.0 litre V6 Diesel S Luxury 275PS, priced at £44,355. Official fuel economy figures for the XF Sportbrake range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 37.7–46.3 (7.5–6.1). Extra Urban 54.3–62.8 (5.2–4.5). Combined 46.3–55.4 (6.1–5.1). CO2 Emissions 163–135 g/km On the road price is the manufacturers Recommended Retail Price plus Car Tax, First Registration Fee and Delivery Pack.

FLEET MANAGEMENT

A foolproof solution to the business mileage capture conundrum Mel Dawson Mel Dawson, managing director of ALD Automotive, looks at how telematics can provide a business mileage capture solution that’ll save you money AND keep the tax man happy!

“ Last year, HMRC announced that it is clamping down on business mileage claims.”

t 0870 0011181 e ukinfo@aldautomotive.com w www.aldautomotive.co.uk

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Whether or not the Office of Fair Trading was right in recent weeks to dismiss claims that fuel prices are being manipulated, one point still remains: higher fuel prices are more than likely here to stay. And with no fleet these days impervious to the need for cost-cutting, many firms are increasingly recognising the case for stringent fuel management, through the use of more economic car choices and simple measures such as encouraging staff to refuel at supermarket forecourts and avoid motorway services like the plague. However many fleets are increasingly realising how important business ‘mileage capture’ is to the whole issue of fuel expense to ensure they are not needlessly overpaying staff. Whilst it’s impossible to tell how much companies are possibly overpaying staff in mileage reclaims, new research from travel and expense management solutions provider, Concur has found that more than one in ten (11%) UK workers claiming expenses in the last year had exaggerated them and almost a third (32%) blamed their decision to exaggerate a claim on the fact that ‘money is tight’. Having an effective business mileage capture process, however, is not just about avoiding staff fuel fraud – it can also avoid an unwelcome knock on the door from the taxman. Last year, HMRC announced that it is clamping down on business mileage claims, in particular from SMEs, and is planning to check the records of some 60,000 SMEs between 2012 and 2015. In a nutshell any fleet that isn’t keeping accurate mileage records is risking being hit by a sizeable tax bill – potentially up to £18k per driver – plus fines and interest penalties, providing a sharp wake-up call. Fortunately there is now a cost effective and far simpler solution to the problem of mileage capture than the previous paper-based processes that have been around for decades. Whilst it may have evolved over time on to spreadsheets emailed to a line manager, or communicated via SMS or online, the whole procedure remains, at best, time-consuming and open to error and, at worst, wide open to extensive abuse. Whilst a few fleets have turned to using more automated systems based on GPS technology – either via smartphone apps or via USB-powered devices plugged into the power socket – such sys-

tems are not foolproof and rely on drivers uploading the journey records online every week or month. Drivers also need to have a compatible smartphone that’s fully charged and need to remember to use the app every time – making it a method prone to driver error. There is another option, however, that offers both drivers and fleet managers a far simpler method of mileage capture whilst offering many other benefits too; telematics. Telematics systems such as ALD Automotive’s ProFleet2 solution have evolved into a sophisticated yet practical tool that can integrated as part of an all-encompassing fleet management solution, helping to cut operating costs, enhance CSR credentials, assist with legislative compliance, improve efficiency – and monitor business mileage. The technology works seamlessly ‘behind the scene’, recording every journey detail accurately, with automated uploads and inherent control processes minimising the risk of error and requiring minimal driver effort. Today, telematics is now a very cost-effective option for fleets both large and small and, besides basic mileage capture, it also offers drivers and fleet managers numerous other benefits too. Whereas some fleets may have held back using telematics in the past due to employees’ privacy concerns, this is no longer an issue with systems such as ProFleet2, which is fully equipped with driver consent controls to support any company policy on data protection. Such controls ensure the driver can choose whether to release all the data to authorised contacts or only business journeys. The fundamental use of telematics to capture mileage is just the tip of the iceberg. Telematics can also, if required, offer a far wider range of practical services that make it a ‘must-have’ rather than a ‘nice-to-have’ for a growing number of fleets, both large and small. For those businesses that have invested in telematics, they are now reaping the rewards of that investment. The economic climate is demanding that companies know more about their fleet operation and telematics can give them this vital information. To find out how telematics can provide your fleet with a business mileage capture solution as well as many other benefits, contact us on 0870 0011181 or visit www.aldautomotive.co.uk

FLEETW RLD

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

AUCTIONS & REMARKETING

ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT

DAILY RENTAL

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

RISK MANAGEMENT

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 www.british-car-auctions.co.uk

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

Leasedrive Rental Management Tel: 0844 579 8877 www.leasedrive.com

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

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

FAST-FITS & TYRES

DRIVER LICENCE CHECKING

Europcar Tel: 01923 811250 www.europcar.co.uk

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732

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

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

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe DriveTech

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

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

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

RAC Risk Management Tel: 0870 606 2606

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731

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

www.racfleetriskmanagement.co.uk

CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Total Fleet Services Ltd Tel: 01543 431080 www.lease-hire.co.uk

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

Leasedrive Tel: 01344 466 466 www.leasedrive.com

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946

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

Zenith Tel: 0844 848 8091 www.zenith.co.uk

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

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

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

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

www.arnoldclarkrental.com

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

Peak Performance Tel: 01246 244200 www.peakperformance.net

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

Sofico Tel: 07815 601622 www.soficoservices.com

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

White Clarke Group Tel: 01908 576 605 www.whiteclarkegroup.com

www.cardinusfleet.com

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

RENTAL SYSTEMS & PROGRAMMES Days Contract Hire Tel: 0845 296 4423 www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

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

White Clarke Automotive Solutions Tel: 0870 787 2211 www.whiteclarkeauto.com

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

Lex Autolease Tel: 0800 085 4128 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

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

TELEMATICS & TRACKING

DriveSense Tel: 01628 581930 www.drivesense.co.uk

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

FUEL MANAGEMENT The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

December 2012

FLEETW RLD

LINKED IN

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

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

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.net

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

BP PLUS Fuel Cards Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

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

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

Telogis Tel: 01344 747638 www.telogis.co.uk

How growing connectivity will shape the way fleets operate

March 2013

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

With half the homes in Britain relying on British Gas, they need to be able to depend on their vehicles. That’s why their fleet manager, Colin Marriott, chooses Volkswagen to service and maintain his fleet. Our dedicated Van Centre Network is committed to understanding the British Gas business and always goes the extra mile to give them a tailored, personal service. In fact, we’ve even been travelling down to the British Gas training centre in Dartford to service some of the national fleet there.* Let us show you how we can make a difference to your business, call our dedicated Business Centre Team on 0800 808 9998 or visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/fleet/aftersales Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Your partner in business.

*Servicing onsite is subject to availability – please discuss your requirements first.

VAN

fleetworld.co.uk

FLEETW RLD March 2013

PREVIEW

March 2013

A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of VAN Fleet World. Edited by John Kendall. Sign up to our FREE digital newsletter Fleet World Confidential... visit fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

CONFIDENTIAL

VW GLIMPSES THE FUTURE

NISSAN LAUNCHES VAN REPORT

Volkswagen has shown a concept Transporter vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show. The e-CoMotion is just 4.55m long yet offers a load capacity of 4.6m3 and a payload of 800kg. This has been achieved through the use of an under floor drive unit, battery and gearbox with an upper structure dedicated to load carrying. ‘Electric mobility, especially in light commercial vehicles, could play a crucial role in meeting the growing transport needs of the world’s megacities,’ said Eckhard Scholz, a member of the firm’s board of management. ‘Freight trains and conventional or hybrid high capacity lorries would deliver goods to the city limits. Then, at transfer stations, smaller electric delivery vans would take over. Their predictable travel routes and fixed depots would simplify battery charging and equipment maintenance.’

Only 75% of fleet managers are regularly taking measures to control or reduce fuel use, according to the first Nissan Van Report. The company surveyed 252 fleet managers and 250 professional van drivers to ensure that it is offering the services and products that fleets require. Half of the respondents said that driver training was the most popular way to reduce fuel consumption, with 37% opting for speed limiters and 35% using telematics to improve efficiency. However a surprising 25% of fleet managers admitted that they were doing little to battle the rising cost of fuel consumption. This could be partly due to the fact that 40% of managers, and 48% of drivers, said that their vans cover less than 100 miles per day. This news has reinforced Nissan’s intention to launch the eNV200, an electric version of the popular compact van that would provide at least a 100 mile range. ‘Nissan is becoming a serious LCV manufacturer and we’re excited to be in the final phases of testing the eNV200,’ said corporate sales director, Jon Pollock (pictured). ‘Our van driver research supports our decision to build an electric van, as almost half the van drivers questioned could use the eNV200 as they drive less than 100 miles a day.’ Closer to production reality, Nissan is to launch a crew cab version of the regular NV200, with a folding bench seat and moving bulkhead supplied by Gruau. Gruau already builds an NV200 fridge van on the Nissan production line in Spain, providing customers with a single point of contact for service and warranty work.

ISUZU TRUCK UK BOUGHT BY ISUZU ROAD CHARGE FOR FOREIGN TRUCKS FROM 2014 The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the introduction of the HGV Road User Levy Act, which became law recently. The levy, a time-based charge of up to £1,000 a year or £10 a day, will be applied to all trucks over 12 tonnes using UK roads from April 2014. This is similar to the costs levied on UK hauliers travelling in Europe currently and will see overseas trucks paying to use UK roads for the first time. The majority of UK hauliers will not incur additional costs however, as they will be compensated through reduced vehicle excise duty. ‘FTA has supported the idea of a charge on foreign vehicles for many years as a way of partly addressing the competitive differences between British registered operators and foreign registered vehicles’, said James Hookham, the FTA’s managing director of policy and communication. ‘The next key event is the Chancellor’s Budget Statement on March 20, when the new reduced Vehicle Excise Duty rates will be announced.’

fleetworld.co.uk

Isuzu Truck (UK), the UK distributor for Japanese truck manufacturer Isuzu Motors, has been sold to the manufacturer for an undisclosed sum. Formed in 1996, Isuzu Truck (UK) has a network of 60 dealers and has already been subject to a management buy-out from the RAC in 2004. At that time Isuzu Motors retained a 15% share in the business, which has continued to grow. ‘This is the ideal time for us to sell the company shareholding to Isuzu,’ said managing director, Nikki King, who will remain as MD until August this year.

DEFENDER CONCEPTS AT GENEVA Land Rover has unveiled seven electric Defender 4x4 research vehicles at the Geneva Show. The diesel engine and gearbox are replaced by a 70kW electric motor producing 350Nm of torque. This is twinned with a 300V lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 27kWh. This combination is said to offer a range of up to 50 miles, though Land Rover says in typical off-road use the battery could last for up to eight hours. Recharging can be carried out using a fast-charger in four hours or a portable charger taking 10 hours. The electric Defenders retain the vehicle’s four-wheel drive system and differential lock. A modified version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response System is also incorporated. The battery weighs 400kg and is mounted in the standard engine bay. This raises the kerb weight by just 100kg over the standard Defender van, station wagon and pick-up models.

BUTCHER? BAKER? CANDLESTICK MAKER?

it’s official. THE NEW MINI CLUBVAN is the best thing since sliced bread. We’re pleased to announced that the MINI Clubvan has driven off with the WhatVan? Editor’s Choice Award. Recognised for combining stylish good looks and practicality, the MINI Clubvan was praised for bringing something unique to the small van market. So, whatever your business, make it your business to discover the award-winning MINI Clubvan for yourself.

Find out more at www.mini.co.uk/clubvan

Official fuel economy figures for the new MINI Clubvan Range: Urban 32.1-64.2mpg (8.8-4.4l/100km). Extra Urban 54.3-78.5mpg (5.2-3.6l/100km). Combined 43.5-72.4mpg (6.5-3.9l/100km). CO2 emissions 152-103g/km.

MINIMALISM

PREVIEW Commercial Vehicle Show 2013

CV SHOW PREVIEW The 2013 CV Show which runs at the NEC, Birmingham from 9-11 April gains international status this year, which means that there are a number of international launches at the Show. Read on to see what you can expect to find and don’t forget to drop by and see us in Hall 4 on stand E109.

Mercedes-Benz Atego breaks cover

Mercedes-Benz will use the CV Show to give the new Atego light truck its global launch. Spanning 6.5 tonnes GVW to 16.0 tonnes GVW, the latest Atego will come with new four and six-cylinder engines that will meet the new Euro6 emissions limits. The 5.1-litre four-cylinder engines will be available with power outputs between 156hp and 231hp. Alternatively there are three 7.7-litre six-cylinder options with power ratings between 238hp and 299hp. Mercedes claims fuel consumption reductions of up to 5% with the new engines, while some will also gain extended service intervals. Standard transmission will be six and eight-speed automated Powershift3 gearboxes, with the option of six or nine-speed manual transmissions, featuring optional power assisted gear shifting. Stability Control Assist – an electronic stability control (ESC) system – will also be standard equipment. A two-stage high-performance engine brake and all-round disc brakes also feature. A wear-free permanent magnet retarder can also be specified. Mercedes’ new Citan van will also receive its UK show debut at the NEC, just as the van starts to arrive in UK showrooms. Based on the latest Renault Kangoo, the Citan is available in three lengths: Compact, Long and Extra Long, Body styles include panel van, five-seat Dualiner crew van, based on the Extra Long and Traveliner crew van, based on the long variant. Tailgate, rear doors and roof rails are among the body options. Safety equipment includes ESP adaptive electronic stability control as standard equipment and a choice of up to six airbags. A full height bulkhead between cab and load area will also be standard. Power comes from Renault’s 1.5-litre common rail diesel engines with power outputs of 75hp (108CDI), 90hp (109CDI) and 110hp (111CDI), with the 109CDI expected to be the most popular engine. Prices start from £13,095 (exVAT) for the Compact range, £13,960 (ex-VAT) for the Long and £15,280 for the Extra Long. Mercedes is also offering a range of finance packages.

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

All round vision from Brigade Brigade Electronics will be back at the CV Show to launch Smarteye, which the company describes as its most intelligent camera monitor system yet. In essence, Smarteye consists of four cameras with wide-angle 187-degree lenses fitted to the front, rear and sides of a vehicle. The clever part comes in the image processing. Digital technology flattens out the ”fisheye” images and then ”stitches” them together to form a continuous 360-degree image on the in-cab monitor, eliminating the blind spots around the vehicle. The ”stitch” lines can be positioned to suit the vehicle. According to Emily Randall, Brigade’s marketing communications manager, the process, ‘Takes camera monitor systems to the next level in the advancement of vehicle safety, providing ultimate visibility and reducing driver overload by presenting the driver’s landscape on one monitor. Operators can even choose vehicle type and livery so they see the actual vehicle footprint on the monitor, making the image recognisable to the driver.’ The system is said to prevent calibration on uneven ground, helping to avoid accidental blind spots. The system will monitor itself and switch off a camera if a malfunction is detected.

Lightweight newcomer Maxi-Low is a new light CV bodybuilder with a lightweight low floor Luton van design based on the Vauxhall Movano platform cab. The company was expecting to have been granted Whole Vehicle Type Approval by the end of February. This will put it on the approved suppliers list for Vauxhall and should then open doors for Renault and Nissan versions too. They’re also in discussions with other manufacturers. The body is manufactured from lightweight composite materials to give a very light yet strong body. The body offers a payload of around 1,500kg. The company believes that this can be increased to 1,600kg by further development. It will be offered in three versions with a Walk-Thru body for parcel delivery with up to 26m3 of load volume. A reversing camera is included in the standard equipment. Walk-thru versions are fitted with a sliding bulkhead, giving access to the vehicle body, with an electromagnetic locking system and lightweight aluminium shelving available as options.

Discover specialist solutions delivered by experts.

At Alphabet, we appreciate your business may need a variety of commercial vehicles and understand the importance of flexibility when offering you solutions for your fleet mix. From the complexity of ply lining, cranes, racking and tail lifts, to corporate livery, we can offer a flexible solution, whether it’s a car-derived van or a specialist modified vehicle. Our dedicated expert commercial vehicle team can assist in delivering the right solution for you today and for the future. Find out more: Tel: 0870 50 50 100 Email: alphabet@alphabet.co.uk www.alphabet.co.uk

PREVIEW Commercial Vehicle Show 2013

More Transits...

MINI joins the club

With one new light CV now in all Ford van showrooms, Ford will be gearing up for another wave of new products which will follow later in the year. The Transit Custom is now available with the Tourneo passenger model available from March. A presence for both is guaranteed on Ford’s CV Show stand, particularly as the Transit Custom SportVan will make its debut at the NEC, taking centre stage. Expect to see a high roof long wheelbase model too – which will be available from the end of the year. All eyes will also be on the heavier two-tonne Transit model, which will be making its UK debut at the CV Show. Power will come from the Transit 2.2-litre diesel engine, similar to that in the Transit Custom but with both front and rear-wheel drive options. More detail is yet to come, but we know that it will offer load volumes up to 15.1m3 and will be available with two wheelbase options and three roof heights and there will be a 4x4 model. The Transit Connect will also be making its UK debut at the CV Show. It will not be built on a dedicated van platform, but will share the same underpinnings as the Focus, Kuga, and C-Max cars. Production will shift from Turkey to Spain. The model will offer a single roof height and two lengths, with a variety of power options. The diesel choice will be the Ford/PSA 1.6-litre common rail diesel with power ratings of 75hp, 95hp and 115hp. There will be petrol options too including the 1.0-litre three-cylinder 100hp EcoBoost and 150hp 1.6-litre EcoBoost, although it’s not clear if both options will be available in the UK. Diesels will include an ECOnetic version of the 1.6-litre 95hp diesel. Ford unveiled the Tourneo Courier at the Geneva Show in March and hopes to have a Transit Courier, Ford’s new small van to rival the Citroën Nemo, Fiat Fiorino, Mercedes-Benz Citan Compact and Peugeot Bipper, at the show. It’s not destined to reach the UK until 2014 and seems likely to share the range of Fiesta power options, both petrol and diesel, while payload and load volume will have to be comparable with the competitors.

MINI will launch the Clubvan at the CV Show, offering customers a range of options for the van, based on the MINI Clubman passenger car. Mimicking the MINI van of the ‘60s and ‘70s, it comes with twin rear doors and offers a load volume of 0.86m3 and payload capacity of 500kg. A split solid lower/mesh upper bulkhead is fitted as standard. Power options are either 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre diesel. Petrol models come with either a 92hp or 122hp engine, or 82hp diesel. Both are available with either sixspeed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The entry-level model is the MINI One Clubvan, starting from £11,175 (ex-VAT) with 1.6-litre 92hp petrol engine. Air conditioning and central locking are standard equipment.

New kit from Road Pixel Windscreen-mounted camera recording systems manufacturer, Road Pixel, will be launching its Defender Pro series of windscreen mounted recorders and multi-camera recorders at the CV Show. The manufacturer claims that the systems can cut fuel costs and insurance claims, monitor driver distractions, improve driver behaviour and stop bogus whiplash claims. The range includes forward facing cameras and cab recording cameras for monitoring driver behaviour or training. Systems can record in HD video and can include video and GPS data. The DVR-R2 can record up to 20 hours on an SD card. It can be connected to a 3G data transmitter if real-time monitoring is required. The DVR-R3 uses a solid-state hard drive that can hold around a week’s worth of data. The company will also be running ”Ask the Expert” sessions at the show with an accident investigator.

EcoPlan Telematics meets routeing and scheduling Telematics provider, CMS SupaTrak and vehicle routeing software provider, Route Monkey will launch EcoPlan, a joint venture that will provide telematics integrated with vehicle routing and scheduling. Mutual customers brought the two companies together to provide an integrated system. This enables routeing and scheduling to be optimised by Route Monkey using ”real life” business rules. This includes average road speeds, site access times, road restrictions and driving/working hours, for example. If the data is then imported into the CMS SupaTrak system and integrated with real-time telematics data, it’s possible to plan routes against actual journeys and then feed the data back to drivers on the road to improve journey planning with the potential to reduce fuel consumption.

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

PRIMASTAR CLASS LEADING SECURITY

CABSTAR CLASS LEADING PAYLOAD CAPACITY

NV200 CLASS LEADING LOADSPACE

SPACE BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

SOLID, FLEXIBLE. NISSAN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. PRACTICALLY GENIUS. Pack more on board. Get there quicker. Pull heavier loads. Visit the merchants less. Clear your site faster. Get in and out of tighter spaces. Carry more stuff. And that’s just for starters. Commercial vehicles from Nissan. They’re more than practical, they’re practically genius. Nissan. Innovation that excites.

NV400 SE

£250

FROM + VAT per month contract hire*

NV400 STRONG ON STYLE, BIG ON SPACE

Come and see us at the CV Show. We’re there from 9th-11th April.

nissan.co.uk/lcv

*BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Contract Hire is available subject to status and conditions on eligible vehicles registered between 02/01/2013 and 28/03/2013. Guarantees and Indemnities may be required. Example based on 12+35 proﬁle, 10,000 miles per annum on a non-maintained contract. Further charges may be made subject to mileage and condition. Excess mileage will be charged at 6.4 pence per mile (excluding VAT). RAC cover, vehicle excise duty and 3 year/60,000 mile warranty included. Contract Hire Finance provided by Nissan Business Finance, a trading style of Arval UK Limited, Windmill Hill, Swindon SN5 6PE. Model shown is NV400 SE from £20,965 exc. VAT and optional metallic paint at £350. Models subject to availability. Prices correct at the time of going to print. Nissan Motor (GB) Limited, The Rivers Ofﬁce Park, Denham Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 9YS.

PREVIEW Commercial Vehicle Show 2013

Berlingo Electrique

New tyres from Continental

The Citroën Berlingo Electrique will be the highlight of the Citroën stand at the CV Show. The new model is powered by an electric motor packaged under the bonnet in place of the conventional engine, with a lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the load floor, ensuring that the load volume is not affected. The 636kg payload is similar to that of a diesel powered Berlingo. The electric van has a range of up to 106 miles. A complete re-charge will take around eight hours from a domestic 13-amp socket. The van can also be quick charged to 80% of capacity in 35 minutes from a dedicated quick charge point. Power comes from a 49kW motor. Drive is delivered to the front wheels through a speed reducer and a single ratio gearbox. Full UK specification will be announced in the run-up to the show. Features will include eco-driving information, including an energy consumption/regeneration indicator, an instantaneous energy consumption gauge and auxiliaries consumption gauge. Other features include a deceleration and brake energy recovery system and electric heating system with eco-mode to limit energy consumption. All Berlingo Electrique models will feature hill start assist and ESP electronic stability control. Also making their debuts at the CV Show will be the Dispatch HDi L1H1 1200 six-speed manual crew van and new Relay Stop & Start models. The Dispatch HDi 125 L1H1 Crew Van offers a payload of 1,084kg and seating for six including driver in a separate passenger compartment. Two Stop & Start models will expand the Relay range in May, and can be seen for the first time at the CV Show. The two models are a Relay 30 L1H1 HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual and a Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual. Using the system, fuel consumption can be cut by up to 2.2%, reckons Citroën.

Continental will be unveiling a range of new tyres at the CV Show, including the company’s first ever dedicated bus and coach tyres, the latest ContiVanContact van tyres and a new Tyre Pressure Monitoring System – ContiPressureCheck. Two new van tyres are set for launch during 2013. First is the new ContiVanContact 100 tyre, which replaces the Vanco 2. The new tyre has been designed to offer even greater mileage, thanks to a flat contour and part silica compound. New aqua grooves in the shoulder and sipes in the centre of the tread pattern bring superior handling and braking characteristics for the ContiVanContact 200 tyre for car-derived vans. Continental claims big improvements in stopping distances especially in the wet.

Wide angle recorders from Smart Witness Preventing fraudulent insurance claims is one of the key aims of SmartWitness black box recording systems. It is effectively a CCTV system for vehicles, recording events in front of the windscreen. The system provides a 170-degree camera lens, covering the entire width of the windscreen and a 32GB memory as standard, providing up to 500 hours recording time. The company’s biggest customer is the Japanese government. The system continuously records braking and acceleration speed and collision G-forces. It can also be linked to Google Earth and Google Maps to show accurate position and road data. Included software allows users to upload data directly to insurance companies and brokers. The camera system can be fitted into a lockable tamperproof case, which carries E9 European approval, certified for installation in a commercial vehicle. Smart Witness claims between 30% and 55% reduction in insurance claims, while van fleets have seen fuel consumption reductions of up to 20%. The company is launching a scheme for couriers with an insurer, providing a free camera as part of the deal.

Hot and cold air from Eberspacher Eberspacher will have new vehicle heating and air conditioning systems on display at the CV Show, designed for minibus and CV use. Making their CV Show debut will be the EV and HV ranges of modular, compact systems, available in cooling only or cooling and heating versions with outputs of between 7.0kW and 16kW. The range will be expanded further throughout the year.

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

LPG conversions from Autogas LPG supplier Autogas (a joint venture between Shell and Calor) will be attending the CV Show for the first time and will be exhibiting a Citroën Berlingo converted to operate on LPG. According to Autogas, there are around 160,000 vehicles converted to run on LPG in the UK and the fuel is available on some 1,400 forecourts.

THE UK'S BIGGEST COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW The number one road transport and logistics event in Britain, catering for every operatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business needs, the CV Show has become the leading meeting place for suppliers and operators alike - a true one stop shop for the industry. Located at the NEC, at the heart of the motorway network, the Show is open from 8.30 to 5.30 April 9-11.

www.cvshow.com

GET YOUR FREE TICKET REGISTER TODAY WWW.CVSHOW.COM Exhibitor enquiries call +44 (0) 1634 261 262

DRIVEN

Nissan NV400 Dropside

Words Dan Gilkes

specification MODEL Nissan NV400 Dropside L2 SE BASIC PRICE £23,795 ENGINE FUEL INJECTION

4-cyl/2,298cc Common-rail

POWER 125hp @ 3,500rpm TORQUE 310Nm @ 1,250-2,500rpm Weights (kg) GVW 3,500 KERB WEIGHT 2,038 PAYLOAD 1,462 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,500 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 3,230 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 2,100 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 400 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) n/a LOAD VOLUME 6.52m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 105 litres COMBINED MPG 34.45mpg CO2 emissions 218g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

fleetworld.co.uk

With revised EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval regulations fast approaching, van manufacturers are increasingly looking at ways in which they can offer ready-bodied vehicles, providing the essential one-stop-shop that their customers want. Nissan has offered a wide range of conversions under its Good To Go banner for some time, adding a number of NV400 bodies at last year’s CV Show and more this year. One of those conversions is the Dropside, popular with builders and contractors as well as with some delivery companies. Buyers are not restricted to a single Dropside model with the NV400. You can have the vehicle in both this L2 chassis length, or an L3 length with front-wheel drive. Alternatively you can order a rear drive Dropside on both the L3 and L4 chassis. The L3 and L4 models can be had with a choice of single or double cabs from the factory, while all but the L2 model can be ordered with either the 125hp or 150hp versions of the 2.3-litre four cylinder diesel engine. This L2 model can only be had with the 125hp motor, though that is more than adequate to pull the 3,500kg truck along at a fair pace. As the NV400s basic E trim level is only available with the 100hp engine, this means that all Dropside models come in the higher SE spec. That means auto door locking, ESP, Bluetooth connectivity, power mirrors and windows, cruise control, a basic trip computer and a driver’s armrest. The excellent NV400 cab already comes with numerous storage pockets, cubbies and boxes, but the SE trim adds further to this with additional door bins. Though the shortest model in the line-up, this Dropside is still a fairly large vehicle, with a high-riding driving position that gives a good view of the road ahead. As mentioned, 125hp will be plenty for the majority of customers, as the Nissan pulls well and can keep pace with traffic on all types of road.

Cruise control is a welcome addition for longer journeys, making the Dropside a comfortable companion when you have a few miles to cover. That said, the majority of small trucks like this will be used on local trips, carrying people, materials and tools to and from site. The Dropside does this well too. The Scattolini body can be opened on three sides, providing an easily accessed base for fork lift loading and unloading. The totally flat floor has 6.5m2 of loadspace, which will be plenty for most. With almost 1,500kg of payload available and the ability to tow up to 2,500kg, building firms should find the Dropside a handy addition to the fleet. The big Nissan shouldn’t break the bank either, easily bettering 30mpg in combined use and only having to see the dealer once every 25,000 miles or two years. Of course you can have the same truck with a variety of badges on the front, as both alliance partner Renault and Vauxhall have access to the same model as a Master or a Movano. Which one you opt for will almost certainly come down to dealer choice, as prices should be similar. The ace up Nissan’s sleeve however is that it can also offer customers a second choice of Dropside, with the cab-over-engine Cabstar. The recently announced news that the firm is to concentrate further on its specialist Business Centre sales outlets, to improve service to fleets and business users, could also sway the undecided. Whatever the reasons, the Nissan NV400 Dropside puts up a strong sales argument.

verdict Nissan is determined to increase its share of the light commercial market and the Good To Go scheme offers potential customers a wide choice of vehicles, even more so in the light of WVTA.

Driving your business further.

We deliver. Lex Autolease is the UK’s leading provider of specialist Commercial Vehicles. By investing more in industry expertise, innovative service and a comprehensive range of vehicles we can add real value to your business in 2013. We will consider all of your requirements from design and specification, compliance, funding and maintenance to create a bespoke Commercial Vehicle solution.

Come and find us at The Commercial Vehicle Show 2013 9 – 11 April, Birmingham NEC. Stand: 5J40. To find out how we’re committed to your commercial success, visit

www.lexautolease.co.uk/ commercial-vehicles

MARKET OVERVIEW Risk Management

AA DriveTech

ALD Automotive

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

The ALD Automotive group is the second largest vehicle leasing operation in Europe and manages 955,000 vehicles across 37 countries worldwide. Within the UK ALD is widely recognised as one of the industry’s leading service providers, with a proven portfolio of award winning products for major plc’s, small businesses and individual drivers alike. An integral part of ALD’s product range is its award winning DriveSafe programme offering a straightforward, practical and cost effective solution to help establish a lasting road risk reduction programme for all employees who drive on business. Utilising the expertise of specialist partners DriveSafe provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated solution, all managed under ‘one roof’ and uniquely delivered via ALD’s threesixty online portal.

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

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

DriveTech

Tel: 0845 299 6131

Tel: 0870 00 111 81

Cardinus Roadmarque Roadmarque® is the industry’s most comprehensive road risk assessment system, developed by Imagitech – the UK leaders in driver assessment and driver education software. Roadmarque® is one of the most competitively priced, flexible, reliable and effective systems currently available. Roadmarque® profiles your drivers, completes a full DVLA licence check, fully risk assesses each driver, takes into account vehicle choice (using CAP data), estimates CO2 output, provides grey fleet management, engages the driver and reports back with a solution to ensure your company is protected – within budget. We are working with organisations of all sizes delivering simple, practical and effective solutions. As an independent provider, we are not going to sell you something you don’t need. Contact us now to find out more. Contact: Dr Gerhard Manogg Tel: 0845 053 0331 enquiries@roadmarque.com www.roadmarque.com

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Cardinus Risk Management has built up an enviable reputation of being able to provide our services and solutions to fleets of all shapes and sizes ranging from below 10 to the tens of thousands. Many blue chip, insurance and vehicle leasing companies use our wide array of fleet solutions which include consultancy, risk assessment, e-learning, practical training, licence, MOT and business insurance validation on a day to day basis. We can also offer non-fleet solutions to cater for your wider health & safety requirements. Our wider portfolio of solutions includes risk assessment,e-learning and practical solutions that cover fleet, property, environmental, DSE (display screen equipment), ergonomics, homeworking, fire, asbestos and risk engineering.

Contact: Christian McKay christian.mckay@cardinus.com

Tel: 01733 426 015 www.cardinusfleet.com

IAM Drive & Survive IAM Drive & Survive provides Driver Risk Management Solutions to the fleet and business community. With a national network of 100+ highly qualified trainers who can be deployed throughout the UK and over 25 years fleet experience, IAM Drive & Survive can help you: • Improve health and safety compliance • Reduce fleet operational costs • Improve corporate social and environmental responsibility • Safeguard the welfare of employees who drive as part of their work activity. • Ensure the all-important Driver CPC compliance. If you would like more information for van, LGV, PCV and car drivers, contact IAM Drive & Survive today. Contact: Neil Hawley enquiries@iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Do you offer on-line LCV driver appraisal? Do you offer psychometric driver profiling? Do you offer risk assessment for LCV’s as part of your programme? Do you offer an on-the-road LCV driver training programme? Do you offer a classroom-based LCV driver training programme? Do your instructors provide a demonstration drive? Do you offer operator licence training? Do you offer CPC Training? Do you offer Driver CPC Periodic Training? Do your instructors carry out a driver eyesight test? Do you offer a licence checking facility? Are your training programmes Insurance Company approved? Do you offer Post Accident Investigations training? Do you offer e-training as part of your programme?

VAN FLEETW RLD

Key to services

AA DriveTech

ALD Automotive

Cardinus

IAM Drive & Survive

Roadmarque

Service provided

Service unavailable

THE online resource for fleet decision-makers...

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March 2013

VAN

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

FLEETW RLD AUCTIONS & REMARKETING

CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE

RACKING SYSTEMS

TAIL LIFTS

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 www.british-car-auctions.co.uk

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

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

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

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

Full listings online at

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

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

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

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

Total Fleet Services Ltd Tel: 01543 431080 www.lease-hire.co.uk

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Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

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

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

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk TELEMATICS & TRACKING

FUEL MANAGEMENT

VEHICLE VENTILATION

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.net

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

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

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

Full listings online at

Lex Autolease

VEHICLE DATA

Tel: 0800 085 4128 www.lexautolease.co.uk

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

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

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

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

Full listings online at

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

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

BP PLUS Fuel Cards Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

ATS Euromaster Tel: 0121 325 8842 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

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

VAN

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FLEETW RLD January 2010

‘Doblo has always shown promise, now it looks as though it can deliver’ p46

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

January 2010

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

fleetworld.co.uk RISK MANAGEMENT

TomTom Business Solutions Tel: 020 7255 9774 www.tomtom.com/business

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

FAST-FITS & TYRES

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

fleetworld.co.uk

DriveSense Tel: 01628 581930 www.drivesense.co.uk

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

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

Incorporated into every issue of VAN Fleet World and interactive online at www.fleetworld.co.uk £400 flat rate for the year. Cost includes a rotating monthly listing in SUPPLIER DIRECTORY in VAN Fleet World. PLUS... • Full listing on fleetworldgroup.co.uk • Email link to sales contact • Website link to homepage • Full-colour company logo

FLEET ON FLEET

Unlocking the key Graham Short, fleet and property manager at Evander Glazing & Locks, talks to Liz Hollands about the challenges faced and why every day is different... LH Please tell me a little bit about your company and the composition of its fleet, including who you lease through GS We are a service provider for glazing and locks, and support most insurance companies in the event of property break-in, broken glass and locks. We also partner many well-known High Street stores and supply domestic glazing and conservatories. Our fleet is made up of 270 vans and 45 cars, funded and maintenance-managed by ALD Automotive. It’s important to find a reliable partner if this is the chosen route. Most suppliers have access to the same technology but the people make a difference. LH I know you have other functions to manage as well as fleet. How do you keep control of all of them? GS As well as fleet, I also manage the property for Evander – 25 depots across the UK and our Norwich head office. It’s important to be well supported in order to provide the right levels of service to the business and I have two terrific (and understanding!) assistants who know the business and have the right work ethic. The team is far more important than any individual. LH What’s the worst fleet-related issue you’ve had to deal with? And the funniest? GS In our job every day is different and you never quite know what you will be dealing with next – you really have to expect the unexpected so policy and process is important to ensure that we comply and that there are no grey areas when

emotions take over. Sadly we have to deal with some traumatic situations which is difficult. Thankfully this is rare and there is usually something to make you laugh – like the lady who removed her head restraint as it messed up her hair, or the guy who couldn’t fit anything into his boot as it was filled with sub-woofers. Just when you think you’ve seen it all... LH What are the two main fleet issues for you presently? GS The main fleet issues I currently face are rising costs and managing our insurance premium. Fuel is our largest spend and we can’t control the cost of a barrel of oil so we have to make the best use of the fuel we buy – vehicle choice, route planning and driver education are key. Our business is considered high risk. Transporting glass in a response situation must be carefully managed and provides us with a number of challenges. LH How do you manage fuel claims – fuel card, pay and reclaim, mileage capture, AFRs or actual cost? GS Any area which involves money is emotive and fuel claims are no exception. It can be very difficult for a high mileage, low paid employee to keep their car fuelled due to the high cost. Fuel cards are therefore helpful, so long as they are not fully expensed. And this also helps as a vital management tool with cost control. A good fuel card provider in conjunction with telematics gives total control and no room for discrepancies.

LH So how did you persuade drivers that tracking was a Good Thing? GS The majority of us employ people to do a job other than driving – driving is a necessary evil and it is our job to make sure our employees can drive to the right standard. There are two things that men in particular don’t like to be told – and one of them is that they need help with their driving. Vehicle tracking is a key part of managing a fleet nowadays and selling telematics to any driver is difficult. Telematics can help improve driving style and reduce onerous manual mileage claims. I prefer the carrot rather than the stick and incentives for good mpg, high driver scores and zero crash rates are the way I prefer to work. LH If you weren’t a fleet manager, what would you do? GS Sadly the fleet manager is a dying breed so I consider myself very lucky to be in this role but if I wasn’t one I would probably be part of the blue light brigade. I was a first responder at London 2012 and found it challenging but enjoyable and very rewarding. I wanted to be a dancer but it seemed that I just took one step forward and two back. LH Time for a hobby outside of work? GS Outside of work I like most sports and am a keep-fit fanatic. It helps to have a gym next door to work but I love to swim, cycle, run and generally physically challenge myself and prove to my children that I’m not past it yet!

March 2013

There are easier ways to capture business mileage Whether you run 2,000, 200 or 20 vehicles, reimbursing staff for business mileage or claiming back the cost of private fuel can be an administrative headache and an expensive one too â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for the driver, line manager and payroll. With fuel prices increasing by 50% in the last 5 years; fleet costs under the spotlight; and the risk of a hefty fine from HMRC for incorrect mileage claims, there has never been a more important time to review this process. Our FuelEx mileage capture and fuel reconciliation system has already delivered cost savings of over 25% - could we do the same for you? 0870 00 111 81

ukinfo@aldautomotive.com