Fleet World March 2018

March 2018

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

WINNING WAYS

Profile Cutting CO2 in the Brecon Beacons

2018 Fleet World Honours winners revealed

Driven

Data Rich

Generation X

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross E-Class CoupĂŠ/Cabriolet Audi A3 1.5 TFSI

The growing role for fuel cards in connected, multi-modal travel

The diesel-derived technology making tomorrow’s petrol engines more efficient

Register now at thefleetshow.co.uk

9TH MAY 2018 fleetworld.co.uk

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contents March 2018

Mazda’s Skyactiv-X takes a path away from electrification.

20

16

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

Profile

WINNING WAYS

All Fleet Services MD Dave Scobie on operational changes and going online.

Cutting CO2 in the Brecon Beacons

2018 Fleet World Honours winners revealed

Driven

Data Rich

Generation X

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross E-Class Coupé/Cabriolet Audi A3 1.5 TFSI

The growing role for fuel cards in connected, multi-modal travel

The diesel-derived technology making tomorrow’s petrol engines more efficient

Register now at thefleetshow.co.uk

9TH MAY 2018 fleetworld.co.uk

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28

DRIVEN: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé/Cabriolet

How fuels card are streamlining the company car parc.

Director Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Content Editor Jonathan Musk jonathan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor Dan Gilkes dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Fleet Consultant Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Account Directors Claire Warman claire@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Yvonne Wright yvonne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Kevin Gregory – Van Fleet World kevin@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Account Executive Darren Brett darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Dan Bennett dan.bennett@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Tina Ries tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

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Dan Desta daniel@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

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

Winners revealed in the 2018 Fleet World Honours.

48

How the Brecon Beacons National Park is cutting its CO2.

VAN FLEETW W RLD

59 INTERVIEW: James Douglas of Volkswagen CV. UNVEILED: New Sprinter

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2017 18,001

SPOTLIGHT: Renault Master Z.E.

fleetworld.co.uk / 03

fleetreview This month, editor Alex Grant considers the future of the internal combustion engine...

Kicking the habit As a lifelong car enthusiast, it pains me a little to ask this, but here goes; in terms of public perception, is the combustion engine becoming the new cigarette? It’s not so long ago that I’d have dismissed that sort of thinking – not least of all because, unlike smoking, there’s a practical reason to use a car or van. But I can’t help feeling that the tide of public opinion is starting to turn.

I’ll put the emphasis on “starting” – this won’t be a quick process. But anyone with an interest in the automotive industry knows the last few years have been turbulent. A period of negative press, rising awareness of vehicles’ roles in poor air quality, and (usually unjustifiable) accusations of cheating on emissions tests, while local and national government bodies take aim too.

So the fallout from the Government’s third High Court defeat, in a legal case brought by action group ClientEarth, and the associated ruling that it needs to step up its plans to improve air quality are worth watching. Not just because it’s likely to accelerate the roll-out of clean air zones in cities across the UK, but because those measures ramp up, painting the combustion engine in a similar light to passive smoking; a threat to public health.

It’s not that simple, obviously, but news is consumed in headlines these days, and mainstream outlets are under pressure to be first. The general public knows little about improvements to modern engines – the rapid desertion of diesel is proof – and that drip-drip of bad news certainly doesn’t help. Many fleets still rely on combustion engines, but I wonder if burning fossil fuels in public areas is going to become socially unacceptable over the next decade.

Unlike any other form of environmental taxation, that’s a big shift in consumer attitudes. People generally don’t extend the same non-rational thought process to white goods as they do when picking a car. Maybe – with the rise of sharing, autonomy and connectivity detaching us from owning vehicles or travelling at all – those days are numbered too. We’re in uncharted territory, and it’ll be fascinating to see how it all unfolds.

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

“The general public knows little about improvements to modern engines.”

Register now at thefleetshow.co.uk

9TH MAY 2018

04 / fleetworld.co.uk

i nbusiness

New cars Mercedes-Benz A-Class

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ercedes‐Benz is to extend its small car line‐up to eight model lines, likely to include an A‐Class saloon and an electric vehicle, as it focuses on broadening its appeal.

Building on the strong success of the old model for introducing the brand to new customers, the new A‐Class hatchback gets the latest driver assistance technolo‐

gies from the E‐Class and S‐Class, an all‐digital floating instrument and infotainment display, more intuitive voice controls and connected navigation.

Launch engines include a new 120g/km 161bhp 1.4‐litre petrol engine with cylinder shut‐off and an upgraded 108g/km 115bhp 1.5‐litre diesel now featuring selective catalytic reduction.

Seat Tarraco

Kia Ceed

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eat’s seven‐seater SUV will be named ‘Tarraco’ when it launches later this year, following a voting process covering 146,124 fans in 134 countries.

The new model completes the carmaker’s three‐model SUV line‐up above the Arona and Ateca and could share dimensions with the Škoda Kodiaq – based on similarities between the Seat Ateca and Škoda Karoq compact crossovers – as well as its line‐up of petrol, diesel and diesel engines, and two and four‐wheel drive.

This would not only position the Tarraco against the Kodiaq but also models including the Nissan X‐ Trail, Peugeot 5008 SUV and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.

Audi A6

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udi’s eighth‐generation A6 will cascade technology seen on the A8 when it launches this summer.

Features include the latest MMI touch response infotain‐ ment system, head‐up display and voice control to access onboard stored data and – combined with MMI navigation plus – connected services. These will also provide car‐to‐X services traffic sign and hazard information and there’s a new Android smartphone‐operated ‘smart’ key.

The launch line‐up brings 335bhp TFSI and 282bhp TDI 3.0‐litre V6 units, followed by a 228bhp version of the TDI and a 201bhp four‐cylinder 2.0 TDI.

06 / fleetworld.co.uk

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ia’s third‐generation Ceed introduces new engines and driver assistance technologies to bring the fight to the Focus and Golf.

Lower, wider, and with a longer rear overhang, the new Ceed features a larger 395‐litre boot, as well as increased passenger room and a lower driving position.

Petrol options include an updated 118bhp 1.0‐litre T‐GDi engine, a new 138bhp 1.4‐litre T‐GDi, that replaces the earlier 1.6‐litre GDI, and a 98bhp 1.4‐litre unit. Diesels comprise 113 and 134bhp 1.6‐litre CRDi units, producing an expected sub‐110g/km CO2 on NEDC‐correlated figures.

Hyundai Kona Electric

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yundai will launch the electric version of its Kona compact SUV with two battery options, offering a range of almost 300 miles under WLTP conditions.

Short‐range versions will get a 133bhp electric motor and 39.2kWh battery, offering a 186‐mile range. The long‐range model ups power to 202bhp, reaching 62mph in 7.6 seconds and travelling 292 miles between fills.

Both offer 100kW charging capability – twice the speed of today's rapid chargers – recovering most of that range in around an hour.

VOLVO HYBRID RANGE With a range of four plug-in hybrid models, Volvo has an ultra-efficient and low company car tax solution for all business drivers.

THE XC90 T8 Twin Engine, the XC60 T8 Twin Engine, S90 T8 Twin Engine and the V90 T8 Twin Engine models all utilise a conventional petrol engine allied to an electric motor powered by quickly rechargeable battery packs.

As a result, all four models offer company car drivers and businesses key advantages in the sector – improved fuel economy and lower running costs, plus tax breaks for both drivers and businesses.

One of the main attractions of plug-in hybrids to company car drivers is the money to be saved on benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation.

Thanks to their ultra-low emissions (CO2 emissions range from 46 to 49g/km, putting all models in the 13% BIK banding for 2018/19), plug-in hybrids offer financial savings for switched-on customers. And these savings are not confined to just one year – their low emission performance guarantees some of the lowest BIK tax bands for several years to come, giving added peace of mind to drivers.

From April 2020, new BIK bands will be introduced offering greater incentives for company car drivers choosing the greenest cars. The new bands will still be based on both CO2 emissions and electric driving range, with models emitting between 1-50g/km of CO2 having rates between 2% and 14% – depending on the electric range in miles. Plug-ins with a range of less than 30 miles will be rated at 14%.

But it’s not just on the balance sheet where the Volvo hybrids perform – they are also easy to live with.

Charging the batteries at home via a regular three-pin plug takes between three to four hours, while a home charging point can cut that down to as little as two hours.

Home charging is often seen as the most beneficial because the vehicle is idle for around 10 hours and makes use of cheaper overnight electricity rates.

In terms of refinement and performance, all Volvo’s Twin Engine models are designed to be as rewarding as they are frugal. All T8 Twin Engine models come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and the reassurance of all-wheel drive (AWD) technology as standard.

The gearbox features two ‘overdrive’ gears, allowing for fuel saving when cruising at a constant speed. There is also a Lock-up (LU) system which utilises the latest Noise, Vibration, Harshness damping technology to enable frequent use of LU which allows the engine to run on low revs for the best fuel economy return.

And to add some driving fun to the mix, a unique enginebraking mode is available by selecting B on the gearshift – this allows manual downshifts to be made, either via the shifter or the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

In most driving conditions the Twin Engine models operate in AWD mode but in Pure mode the electric motor only drives the rear wheels through the electric rear axle drive.

CALL THE VOLVO CAR BUSINESS CENTRE ON 0345 600 4027 OR VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/BUSINESS

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*All figures relate to the 2018/19 financial year. Source: Fleet World Workshop

inbusiness

Arval growth plans target non-company car drivers

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rval is repositioning itself as a ‘mobility solutions company’ on the back of a raft of new products and services due to be rolled out over the coming months which will see it significantly increase its UK and global customer base.

Central to the group’s ambitious expansion plans will be new products and services aimed at employees of existing customers who do not qualify for company cars. This is expected to grow its global fleet from 1.1m to 1.3m by the end of 2020.

‘Perfect storm’ for company car helps ECO schemes

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CO schemes are seeing a major revival among fleets as massive changes within the company car sector prompt businesses to re‐evaluate their approach, according to fleet consultancy firm BCF Wessex.

Director David Rawlings said: “We’re faced now with a situation where metaphorically those cars [over 110g/km] are on the ‘naughty step’. They get the worst

possible capital allowances, the permanent disallowance for leasing applies and the Benefit‐in‐Kind is going up and up and up.”

Rawlings is advising clients and fleets to urgently review company cars. And although the best solutions vary, the firm is seeing a lot of instances where ECO schemes are coming back into play and are working well – “bringing quite signif‐ icant savings”, he said.

ASA ex-fleet ruling could disturb Irish used market

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he ASA ruling on the value of ex‐ fleet cars could result in a large influx of stock into Ireland, Irish data site Cartell.ie has warned.

It follows multiple recent cases in the UK where consumers have been awarded compensation after unknow‐ ingly buying ex‐rental or ex‐fleet vehi‐ cles, with the ASA setting a precedent that previous use has a material effect on its value.

Speaking at a recent seminar, organ‐ ised by Geldards Law Firm, Bowkett Auto Consulting Ltd and Gough Square Chambers, Cartell.ie’s director, Jeff Aherne said the ASA ruling was unfounded and would make it financially attractive to move ex‐fleet vehicles into Ireland where the benefits of ex‐fleet vehicles are understood but warned the impact on the Irish car market and particularly used values would be disas‐

in brief 38% Increase in the average price of a new car over the last decade as a result of more luxury-focused specifications as well as a customer migration to SUVs. Source: Cap HPI

New direct fleet services launched by Toyota

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oyota Financial Services has launched a dedicated service to support fleet and business customers via a new call centre.

The aim of the free service is to offer busi‐ ness customers a prompt and simple expe‐ rience that not only manages all aspects of vehicle sales, contract hire and finance, but also provides an introduction to services provided by the customer’s local retailer.

The operations will be extended to provide similar services for Lexus customers.

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New head of fleet for VW Group UK Volkswagen Group UK has appointed Martin BarrowStarkey as head of group fleet services, replacing Patrick McGillycuddy.

Barrow-Starkey joined the Group in 2011, previously serving as head of parts operations and head of sales operations at Škoda and most recently headed the Volkswagen Group Retailer Learning Services team.

Lex appoints head of fleet consultancy Former Lex Autolease principal consultant Ashley Barnett has taken the role of head of fleet consultancy at the firm, replacing Lauren Pamma who moves to a new role within Lloyds Banking Group.

The position will see Barnett leverage data from the Lex fleet to provide consultancy insight for businesses – a key area of focus for the firm over the coming year.

Change of role for Cap's Derren Martin Cap HPI has named current international senior car editor Derren Martin to the expanded role of head of current valuations, overseeing its editorial team.

The move comes as James Dower, currently senior editor of Black Book in the UK, leaves the business to take a senior business development role within remarketing.

fleetworld.co.uk / 09

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Electrifying Wales With Welsh ULEV uptake beginning to fall behind the rest of the UK, speakers at the recent Car Futures Wales event, organised by Cynnal Cymru, set out their plans to turn that around. By Alex Grant.

Low uptake, high priority Despite a sparse population, 11 of the 22 local authorities in Wales (most of the south coast) have at least one Air Quality Management Area in place, according to DEFRA, and all relate to nitrogen dioxide. During a High Court hearing brought by ClientEarth in January, the Welsh Government admitted that its lack of a strategy to tackle this was unlawful, and it now has until the end of July to put a plan in place.

Meanwhile, igures from the Department for Transport show 2,475 plug‐in vehicles were licensed in Wales as of Q3 2017. At 0.13% of all light‐duty vehicles on the roads, that’s signi icantly lower than the 0.31% national average.

Bridging the Charging Gap It’s hard to travel around Wales without a combustion engine.

There are already charging points across most of the country, but it isn’t suited to long journeys. The only 50kW rapid chargers are located along the M4 and A55, but Mid and West Wales are served by slower 7kW units. North‐South or East‐West journeys require detours, or overnight stays.

Investment is incoming; the Welsh Government is setting out the framework for a network of fast and rapid chargers, backed by £2m funding made available over the next two inancial years.

It’s asking local authorities to identify locations where these could bring business to communities as people stop to charge, and it’s hoping to attract private investment from operators too.

“A key priority will be installing near to the trunk road network. This has been the focus in terms of range anxiety and promotion of uptake. We really must crack on with this as soon as possible,” said Ken Skates, the National Assembly’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport.

There are opportunities for local schemes to augment this.

12 / fleetworld.co.uk

Neil Lewis of Robert Owen Community Banking Fund high‐ lighted that there is money available to support communities adding charging points. But, he said, these need to be income generators in their own right, and fully policed with ines for petrol or diesel cars blocking the points.

Cleaner Communities Cardiff is one of the UK’s fastest‐growing cities, and congestion is increasing with it; TomTom’s Traf ic Index ranks it 15th most congested in the UK, and there are seven AQMAs in place. In March, the City Council will release a green paper aimed at addressing air quality, likely to include proposals for its irst Clean Air Zone. It’s also looking to curb ownership by encour‐ aging people share cars. Focus groups with residents and busi‐ nesses will decide the outcome.

Powering the Network Future‐proo ing is dif icult, but necessary for any charging points. Tim Armitage, of Arup, pointed out that it’s gone from installing 3kW units in 2010, to its irst 350kW units this year.

Given that the most costly part of installations is digging and illing trenches, he advised that chargers should be near to a good power supply, and for operators to leave room for rising demand and growing battery capacities.

A lack of off‐street parking is a challenge, too, he warned. And adding charging points to lamp posts isn’t a simple solution even if the light is coming from low‐consumption LEDs: “If you wanted to put three or four [charging points] in the road, there isn’t the power, particularly as the LEDs will take power at night which is when people charge their cars. Nobody knows the condition or capacity of the wiring in cities we've looked at. It’s a great idea, and an elegant solution, but you have to rewire the lamp posts.”

For the latest EV news, visit evfleetworld.co.uk

National Grid identifies shortcut to UK rapid charge network

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ational Grid has devised a solution which could enable easier roll‐out of ultra‐fast rapid charging hubs along major routes, combatting the range anxiety which is said to be a major barrier to electric vehicle adoption in the UK. The utility company said its own data had shown a correlation between the UK’s motorway and electricity transmission network routes, suggesting it could be easy to link the two. It has identi ied 50 sites near motorways which could feature between 30 and 50 charging bays, each offering up to 350kW charging output. This would enable them to suit goods vehicles, as well as the next gener‐ ation of long‐range passenger cars.

“This is not about National Grid charging vehicles, but National Grid enabling the charging to happen,” a spokesperson told Fleet World. “We think the rollout of the charging points should be structured and co‐ordinated. Rather than connecting one customer at a time and having a piecemeal approach, provide the infrastructure in a co‐ordinated way.”

Mazda’s 2019 EV to get rotary range extender engine

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in numbers

azda’s irst electric car will be available with an optional range extender; the irst rotary engine itted to its production models since the RX‐8 coupe was discontinued in 2012.

Speaking at the company’s new Skyactiv‐X engine launch, Jeffery H. Guyton, president and CEO of Mazda Europe, said the newcomer will launch in 2019. It will offer a fully electric drivetrain, with the ability to specify a petrol range‐extender, which works as a generator on longer journeys.

Although the carmaker is working on new‐generation petrol and diesel engines, electric mobility plans are ramping up. A mild hybrid system will launch in 2019, followed by a plug‐in hybrid in 2021, likely to use the new compression‐igni‐ tion high‐ef iciency petrol engines. Mazda is also part of a joint venture with Toyota and Denso, which will share EV and hybrid technology.

16%

in brief Smaller electric vans hit parity with diesels Running costs for smaller electric vans are already level with diesel rivals, enabling an extra 80,000 to take to Europe’s roads, according to a new study by Transport & Environment. The research attributed this largely to a 24% drop in battery prices last year, but added that large and medium vans will not reach parity until at least 2025.

Forecourt firm deploys rapid EV chargers Cornwall Garage Group is to host Insta‐ Volt’s rapid chargers at half of its 18‐ strong forecourt network. InstaVolt is installing, maintaining and updating the units free of charge, and will pay the fore‐ court operator a rental income to host them, but will receive an income from selling electricity to drivers.

£30m funding for V2G projects The UK Government is offering £30m in funding for projects demonstrating vehicle‐to‐grid technology, for homes and businesses. The competition will be run

by Innovate UK, with money made avail‐ able through the Of ice for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and Department for Busi‐ ness, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Paragon adds EV routing to its software Paragon’s routing and scheduling soft‐ ware can now plan routes to meet the maximum range of plug‐in vehicles, aimed at enabling wider roll‐out of electric and hybrid LCVs. The company said its research had shown 20% of commercial leets have a strategy in place for the tech‐ nology, while 26% expect to do so in the next two years.

Source: ACEA

UK’s share of the EU/EFTA’s electrified vehicle market last year (119,827 vehicles).

60%

Plug-in hybrid share (and rising) of Porsche Panamera sales across Europe.

Source: Porsche AG

fleetworld.co.uk / 13

business inb

A clean decision Last month’s High Court ruling on latest Government air quality plans is likely to accelerate the roll-out of clean air zones in cities across the country.

Natalie Middleton and Alex Grant look at what lies in store for fleets.

What’s the background?

On 21 February, environmental law firm ClientEarth took the UK Government back to court for a third time over illegal levels of pollution.

Although a previous court case had resulted in the July 2017 publication of Defra’s latest air quality plans, ClientEarth wrote to the Government again last October, warning of a third round of legal action if ministers didn’t address areas of concern.

These included not requiring 45 local authorities to take action to achieve air quality standards, despite a forecast that they would breach air pollution limits for several years to come.

ClientEarth also said the Government had backtracked on clean air zones in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton – which it believes should be mandatory – and highlighted that the air quality plan does not require any action by Wales to bring down air pollution as quickly as possible.

What’s happened now?

In an initial court hearing in January, the Welsh Government conceded that the lack of a plan to tackle air pollution was unlawful and agreed that it would draw up a timetabled air quality plan for Wales, working with ClientEarth to agree a legally-binding ‘consent order’. However, the UK Government contested ClientEarth’s claims.

In February’s High Court case, the judge, Mr Justice Garnham, concluded that the 2017 air quality plan was unlawful for not outlining measures to reduce pollution levels in the 45 local authority areas and because there was no action for Wales.

What does this mean?

The Government must produce a supplementary plan, by 4pm on 5 October, which includes measures and timelines to fix the air quality problem in 33 towns and cities as soon as possible – the other 12 are projected to be legal by the end of 2018. The measures will all have to be aimed at fixing/improving the air quality problem in the very short term, as they are intended to bring forward compliance/reduce exposure in places which are predicted to comply by 2019, 2020 or 2021.

Meanwhile the Welsh Government must have a draft air quality plan in place by 30 April 2018, and a final plan in place by 31 July 2018.

14 / fleetworld.co.uk

What are the implications for fleets?

The ruling is likely to accelerate the roll-out of clean air zones in cities across the country, and could also have a bearing on future taxation structures, both of which would affect fleets. It also enables ClientEarth to bring the UK Government back into court more quickly, without applying for permission to bring a judicial view, if it deems future air quality plans to be unlawful; a move described as “exceptional” by Mr Justice Garnham.

What’s been the industry reaction?

Both ACFO/ICFM said they would not speculate until the Government had published its supplementary plan. But the ruling adds weight to ACFO’s comments at the start of the year on the challenges facing fleets for 2018: “The two key issues for fleet decision-makers are future-proofing their vehicle operating decisions as the default fuel choice is no longer diesel, while also ensuring vehicle replacement cycles take account of the entry criteria of anticipated clean air zones, including the April 2019 introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London, while simultaneously ensuring operating budgets are insulated against cost rises.”

Meanwhile ICFM reiterated its warnings that the Government’s “ill-informed ‘all diesels are dirty’ obsession will filter down through to local authorities”, possibly bringing “an avalanche of local diesel surcharge parking schemes to boost council coffers” as well as clean air zones.

The organisation added: “It is essential that businesses review – based on whole-life cost data – whether diesel remains the fleet favourite or petrol, hybrid and plug-in options have a home with a more ‘balanced’ approach to powertrain choice likely.”

inbusiness

Q &A With the launch of its digital business last year, All Fleet Services undertook the biggest operational change in its 14-year history. As phase two of this gets underway, managing director, Dave Scobie, says 2018 is looking just as busy.

How was 2017 for All Fleet?

Last year was transformational for us. We launched the first of the products under the All Fleet Online banner, Fleet Fine Online, and we made great strides in terms of getting the infrastructure in, getting existing customers bought in, and getting new customers. We grew the volume [of business] 20% last year, with a further 50% in the first quarter of this year.

We’ve been providing fines management since 2009, but it’s very labour-intensive. The strategy of Fleet Fine Online is to digitise the fines process, to grow the number of fines we’re processing, and to reduce the cost through digitisation. So, as well as growth, last year we increased efficiency by 10%.

We’ve invested heavily. We initially outsourced our development, but we brought that in-house last year. We already had a development team for existing products, but we created a new team for All Fleet Online, which has its own development resource, product managers and its own director, managing the roadmap for the future.

How much does All Fleet Online re-shape the business?

All Fleet Online is our digital approach. It’s focused on delivering products to the customers, either backed by people-led solutions or used in their own right. So if they don’t want to outsource to us, but still want access to the products, we’ll still offer that.

All Fleet Services is the support angle that sits around those products. We’ll still provide outsourced fine management; even if we digitise 50% of the fines, we still need to provide a service for those 50% that aren’t. It’s being able to serve customers effectively and efficiently.

We’re not forgetting our roots, but we’re embracing technology. I’ve no doubt that in five years’ time, people won’t want to pick up a phone to book a car in for a service.

Those calls will translate to online activity, and All Fleet Online is our vessel for doing that.

What was the inspiration behind Connected Car? Every day we’re seeing in-car technology improving, and we were working on services that were reliant on manual data calculations; so that we could predict servicing, and so on. That information is available in the car today, the

16 / fleetworld.co.uk

inspiration was how to deliver a real service to customers from that data.

Where we’re going, is we’re aggregating that data and then using it to make sure the fleet is compliant, the vehicle is roadworthy, and streamlining the ability for the customer to self-serve. We see our strength as sitting in the middle, connecting fleets with manufacturers.

We’re also taking in telematics providers, breakdown providers and the DVLA, taking data sets and using that info to supplement the information we have within Connected Car. It’s trying to create an all-round proposition that really manages the health of the vehicle.

Are manufacturers switched on to that potential?

The approach from manufacturers in the past has been retail-led. The principle that each manufacturer has their own portal that someone logs into, doesn’t work for fleet. It needs to be one point of delivery, that takes all of that information and puts it out in a unified format. Some manufacturers are switched onto it; they see that if they work with fleets they can gain more traction in terms of sales volume.

When will that solution come to market?

We’re planning a full launch for 1 July. From April through to July we’ll be running pilots on that platform before we roll it out to existing customers. We’re taking on 1,500 vehicles over that time, and we’ll take feedback from users and stakeholders, and put those into quick iteration so the final release of the product will hit the mark.

We’re planning to have five manufacturers, a couple of telematics providers, and one of the major breakdown companies switched on from day one.

Where do you want to be by the end of the year?

We’re still planning ambitious growth. If you take Fleet Fine Online, our target is to digitise 50% of those fines by the end of the year, which is the target we’ve set internally. It’s ambitious but achievable.

The launch of the Connected Car product, and migrating existing customers onto that platform, is also a key focus. It’s changing how we do business, so for us there has been a lot of consideration about getting that right. Hence the pilots leading up to the launch.

A CUT ABOVE

FROM ITS CHARISMATIC STYLING TO ITS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINES, DS AUTOMOBILES’ FLAGSHIP NEW DS 7 CROSSBACK SUV PRESENTS AN ASPIRATIONAL CHOICE FOR COMPANY CAR DRIVERS AND A LOGICAL CHOICE FOR FLEET DECISION-MAKERS. THE first of a new generation of models from DS Automobiles, DS 7 CROSSBACK ushers in a new era.

Epitomising the DS Automobiles ideals of avant-garde design, advanced technologies and peace-of-mind at the wheel, the flagship SUV joins the carmaker’s other models, including DS 3 and DS 4, in bringing something very new to the table for fleets.

Charismatic design Designed from the ground upwards as a DS, the new SUV builds on the design accomplishments of its current sister models by introducing a new level of design excellence.

Distinctive even from the first glance, DS 7 CROSSBACK debuts the striking DS WINGS chrome detailing, the new-look DS badge and LED rotating headlights to bring a seamless yet sculpted look that’s instantly recognisable, while the cabin positions it as an ambassador for the world of French luxury.

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A unique driving experience DS 7 CROSSBACK also brings limousine levels of comfort behind the wheel thanks to DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION technology.

This camera-assisted system detects uneven surfaces ahead of the car such as speed humps or potholes and adapts the suspension on each wheel individually, ensuring outstanding comfort.

Leading-edge onboard technologies also heighten the driving experience, such as DS Connect Nav, which provides real-time traffic alerts and can help reduce journey times.

Breakthrough safety innovations Alongside a 5-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, DS 7 CROSSBACK debuts more than 15 cutting-edge safety innovations.

This includes DS CONNECTED PILOT technology – an interim step in the route to autonomous driving – which combines adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist to bring safer and less stressful driving, particularly on motorways.

DS 7 CROSSBACK also introduces the DS NIGHT VISION system – a first for the premium SUV segment – which uses an infrared camera in the grille to aid with

night-time visibility and enable drivers to spot hazards sooner.

Marking a first for the automotive industry as a whole, DS 7 CROSSBACK is also available with the DS ACTIVE LED VISION smart LED headlights. These pivot based on road and weather conditions to enhance safety and comfort, while also complementing the DS 7 CROSSBACK’s avant-garde design.

DS 7 CROSSBACK also brings peace of mind in the event of an accident with the new Connect Box emergency & assistance system, which activates automatically if the car is involved in a collision. The technology also ensures DS 7 CROSSBACK is telematicsready, providing a platform for comprehensive fleet management services.

Dynamic and efficient engines On sale now, DS 7 CROSSBACK is offered with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, which conform to the latest exhaust emissions standards (Euro 6.2) and bring impressive torque. The new 8-speed automatic gearbox delivers smooth responsiveness, and increased efficiency thanks to Stop & Start technology. CO2 emissions start from only 107g/km, bringing a BIK rate of just 23%.

DSautomobiles.co.uk

inbusiness

Suzuki targets SMEs Suzuki is best known as a small but successful retail brand but is poised to expand its fleet programme. Curtis Hutchinson reports.

S

uzuki had a storming year in 2017. It grew its sales by 5.7% to a new record high of 40,343 units in a market which was down for most car manufacturers. A quarter of that went into what is increasingly being dubbed as “true fleet”; effectively any channel other than fast churn daily rental.

The brand is on a roll. While it's not on everyone's shopping list, it's extremely popular with its small but loyal customer base, and the dealers who represent it. The next step is significantly growing its share of the SME market, and it is in an ideal position to do so because its dealers tend to be embedded in their local community like no other franchise.

At the beginning of 2017 Suzuki appointed Graeme Jenkins as its first head of fleet with a brief to establish and grow its fledgling company car sales. His career encompassed over 15 years at Toyota starting in the mid-1990s when the marque began to make inroads as a serious fleet player. More recently he headed up Maserati’s drive into the top-end business market as national corporate sales manager.

Jenkins started with a clean sheet as Suzuki’s focus has always been on retail. Although his programme to build a dedicated fleet department is still underway, Suzuki more than doubled its fleet sales in 2017 to 10,000 units, becoming the fastest growing true fleet seller of the year.

Last year’s fleet sales were boosted by increases in Suzuki’s Motability and contract hire businesses, with SMEs accounting for only a small element of total volumes because, as Jenkins points out, there were no “boots on the ground”. However, that is changing this year as Jenkins is in the throes of recruiting regional business development managers who will work closely with specialist business centres in the brand’s network to grow Suzuki’s SME business.

Dealers can apply for business centre status but will be expected to invest in having a dedicated fleet sales specialist. Jenkins expects to have between 2025 accredited dealers with some of the bigger businesses able to benefit from the experience they have of selling more traditional fleet franchises within their groups.

What singles out Suzuki dealers for the job is their close local connections with many run by families known in the business community.

“Because our 155-strong dealer network is predominantly run by owner-operators and small dealer

18 / fleetworld.co.uk

groups, the local SME market is very important to it. They are very good at retail and do a fantastic job in retaining their customers so there is a natural fit with local SME business,” said Jenkins.

“Our team of regional business development managers will be recruited over the Graeme Jenkins course of the year and they of Suzuki will help develop local SME business by introducing it to the business specialist dealers and helping them to understand the local small business market.”

The fleet specialists within these dealerships will be trained to deliver Suzuki’s new programme and will be totally dedicated to the role.

“Experience has told me that having someone who is not dedicated to fleet just doesn’t work. There’s a multitude of activity expected from a fleet specialist because it’s about spinning many plates. They’ll need to be talking to the local Chamber of Commerce and really engage with their business community. It’s all about networking and raising awareness because businesses will be unaware that Suzuki has such a broad range of products that are suitable for fleets.

“Our dealers are very good at looking after half the market place which is retail. What they’ll be doing is developing the other half of the market and a large part of that will be the SME market.

“They will also need to work closely with our business development managers who can give them support to build their SME business.”

The business centres will also fulfil the delivery and handover of Suzuki’s centrally negotiated fleet contracts with contract hire and leasing companies.

Participating dealers will offer full servicing and repair cover and car collection and delivery services.

“It’s important for us that the service a business customer gets is in line with what they would expect to get anywhere else in the fleet industry. These are a different type of customer to our typical retail customers; they have different expectations and our dealers need to understand this and have the resources in place to be able to deliver a consistent high quality fleet service.”

Suzuki is on the move.

inbusiness

Generation X Mazda hopes to offer the internal combustion engine a new lease of life at a time when others are looking to electrify. Jonathan Musk drives the Japanese company’s latest Skyactiv-X prototype to find out why.

What is Skyactiv-X?

Why not just make a hybrid?

It’s Mazda’s name for a new generation of 2.0-litre petrol engines, said to be based on a breakthrough technology which combines the best attributes of petrol and diesel engines.

The company believes around 80% of road cars will still have a combustion engine in 2035, so it’s looking to improve the baseline technology first. Mazda estimates its Skyactiv-X wellto-wheel emissions to be comparable to an electric vehicle powered by coal and gas power stations.

However, it accepts that electric vehicles powered by renewable sources are more efficient and consequently has partnered with a consortium of manufacturers including Toyota and Denso to work on electric vehicle development and will release their first battery-electric vehicle and hybrid in 2019.

How does it work?

Skyactiv-X uses technology close to a diesel engine in a petrol engine, with a spark for added control.

A lean fuel-air mixture is swirled into the cylinders via injector and clutched supercharger. Compression is set to just before the point whereby fuel will spontaneously burn under pressure. As it does, a spark ignites a small fireball in the centre raising the pressure enough to catalyse the entire mixture in the cylinder to burn.

This spark-controlled compression ignition (SPCCI) is what makes Skyactiv-X special. Conventionally, petrol compression ignition engines don’t use a spark, but this means they only offer a narrow rev-range and poor power control. The readdition of a spark allows the engine to switch between the two modes, ensuring petrol-like flexibility while retaining all the benefits of diesel-like compression ignition. In-cylinder sensors and super-fast processors adapt the fuel-air mix and control the timing, ensuring smooth operation between spark and compression ignition. Mild-hybrid technology is further used to aid economy.

What is it like to drive?

It’s remarkable in being unremarkable. Despite cuttingedge technology, the compression is low enough that there’s no diesel-like clatter and the switch between spark and compression ignition is mostly indiscernible, with only the faintest whiff of being something different when lifting off.

It revs freely like a petrol engine, yet offers ample torque at low revs performing much like a diesel. From the gearing chosen for the test mules, it was clear the Skyactiv-X could easily pull higher gears thanks to its greater torque.

When can I buy one?

The claims: Headline figures are a 20% improvement in fuel economy and a 10% overall increase in torque, with up to 30% at certain revs when compared to Mazda’s current generation Skyactiv-G petrol engines. This equals or exceeds Mazda’s Skyactiv-D diesel engines for power and economy. Mazda is targeting outputs of roughly 190bhp and 180lb.ft torque. However, final production variants may differ.

20 / fleetworld.co.uk

The 2019 Mazda3 is likely to be the first model equipped with Skyactiv-X. Following this, Mazda’s engineers confirmed other Skyactiv-X capacities will follow, and ultimately, it is conceivable that it will power all future Mazda petrol vehicles.

However, they cost more to manufacture, thanks in part to mild-hybrid components, and so are likely to be offered alongside Skyactiv-G as an option, falling into the range a bit like a hybrid might for other brands.

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Pre-book your Grandland X 3 Day Test Drive today.

Visit threedaytestdrive.co.uk Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Grandland X range fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km): Urban: 44.1 (6.4)-60.1 (4.7), Extra-urban: 57.6 (4.9)-80.7 (3.5), Combined: 51.4 (5.5)-70.6 (4.0). CO2 emissions: 128-104g/km.

Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. 2017/18 tax year.

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Audi A3 1.5 TFSI Sportback Is Audi’s new 1.5-litre engine the ideal compromise, asks Jonathan Musk.

SECTOR Premium Lower Medium PRICE £23,130-£29,335 FUEL 54.3-58.9mpg (combined) CO2 110-118g/km

T

he latest 1.5‐litre turbo‐charged four‐cylinder petrol engine fitted into the A3 offers a modest increase in capacity over the outgoing 1.4‐litre it replaces, but it’s designed to fare better under WLTP testing. Whereas the pre‐ decessor might occasionally have been accused of running a little rough, the 1.5 is silky smooth and comes with cylinder‐ on‐demand technology. This ensures fuel saving thanks to being able to drop to two cylinders when it detects power isn’t needed. The engine fits in‐between the 1.0 TFSI and 1.6‐litre TDI, aiming to offer a happy compromise of fuel economy with performance. Mid‐50s combined MPG figures and a 0‐62mph acceleration time of 8.2 seconds exhibit athletic prowess with‐ out planet death. When pushed, its near 100bhp/litre offers swift response and the cylinder de‐activation never appears to delay or hinder progress. Off the boil, it’s an attractive motor‐ way companion with all‐but silent cruising.

The new seven‐speed DSG has short lower gears for acceleration and a long seventh gear for economy. The result is there’s very little to entice you into a manual, as the DSG is more economical and still offers manual control with steering wheel paddle shifters.

Inside, it’s the typical Audi understated interior that has been beautifully appointed and logically laid‐out with pre‐ mium switchgear.

Standard kit includes xenon headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors and Audi’s SD card‐based MMI Navi‐ gation. Of the four trim levels, the entry level SE Technik offers the best fleet bang for buck, starting from £24,680 with S tronic transmission – only relatively incremental Audi Sport additions are provided by Sport, S‐Line and Black Edition models.

With keener pricing than the 1.6‐diesel and almost as low emissions, the 1.5 should have no trouble appealing to fleets.

Overall, it is no huge leap compared to the ousted 1.4, but it continues to offer an enticing balance that’s hard to argue with.

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé & Cabriolet The E-Class gets a frisson of sportiness, with tin-topped or convertible versions. By Craig Thomas.

SECTOR Coupé/convertible PRICE £40,180 – £51,415 (Coupé), £44,675 – 55,910 (Cabriolet) FUEL 33.6-61.4mpg (Coupé), 32.8-57.7mpg (Cabriolet) CO2 119-189g/km (Coupé), 126-194g/km (Cabriolet)

T

he latest E‐Class has restored a fair portion of the Cabriolet’s roof is down. It’s not an engine to thrash (although German brand’s mojo, a mojo that has been an incon‐ 0‐62mph comes up in 7.4 seconds in the Coupé and 7.7 sistent presence in the last decade or so. seconds in the Cabriolet), but one to enjoy while cruising, Yes, the all‐conquering S‐Class is a perennial winner, where its smooth and relaxing character, aided and abetted while the C‐Class continues to prove popular with buyers. by the nine‐speed automatic transmission, come to the fore.

But the likes of the B‐Class and some of the latest crop of The 220 d is also available with 4Matic all‐wheel drive, a SUVs (we’re looking at you, GLE Coupé) leave many poten‐ system that is standard with the V6 3.0‐litre 350 d, which tial customers scratching their heads, wondering exactly offers a less economical, but more potent, drive. Both cars who they’re aimed at. are also available with petrol variants – a 2.0‐litre E 300 and The latest E‐Class, though, one of the brand’s flagships, is 3.0‐litre E 400 – but their sub‐40mpg economy and high CO2 a perfect example of how Mercedes‐Benz is looking at a emissions add up to limited fleet appeal. brighter future, emerging from the shad‐ The Coupé and Cabriolet are both ows of its German premium rivals. rewarding to drive, with predictable and Saloon and estate variants have demon‐ accurate steering, a degree of agility that strated that Mercedes has brought its A‐ might come as a surprise (considering game for the current generation, which their size and weight), plenty of body is why the Coupé and Cabriolet are control in the bends and a very compli‐ intriguing prospects. ant ride – especially with the optional air OK, so they’re not exactly going to be suspension, which helps the cars soak up major fleet vehicles, but the inclusion of many of the problematic elements of 220 d and 350 d diesels (especially the Britain’s road surfaces. former) in the line‐up do make them One of the primary reasons for going contenders for user choosers, in particu‐ the extra BiK mile to grab an E‐Class is lar, who might have a little more leeway that, as a Merc, it’s going to feel pretty in the selection of their next vehicle. special to travel in. The interiors of both Indeed, the argument for a 220 d variant the Coupé and Cabriolet are very The E-Class Coupé and of the Coupé or Cabriolet is a strong one. comfortable, swathed in leather as they Cabriolet are well suited When powering the former, it returns an are, and all screwed together to a very to business drivers official fuel consumption figure of 61.4mpg high standard. Both cars also come full and emits just 119g/km of CO2; in the of the latest technology – we particu‐ offering comfortable, drop‐top, the corresponding numbers are larly recommend upgrading to the 12.3‐ well-equipped and – still 57.7mpg and 126g/km. The four‐cylin‐ inch widescreen display for the Comand in diesel form – der 2.0‐litre unit is a strong one, with infotainment system, which virtually economical options. plenty of torquey urge on tap and very fills the dashboard and makes it more creditable refinement, even when the practical and usable.

what we think

fleetworld.co.uk / 23

Mazda CX-3 The CX-3’s updates are easily missed in a car park, but obvious on the road, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Compact SUV PRICE ÂŁ18,695-ÂŁ25,195 FUEL 44.1-70.1mpg CO2 105-137g/km

I

n�life upgrades say a lot about a car; an opportunity to address howling oversights, or to bring in new drive� trains and re�challenge the newcomers. Yet, despite Mazda getting in ahead of an accelerating avalanche of com� pact SUVs, it’s hard to separate the new and old CX�3 even with a press pack in hand.

Fine�tuning is a familiar approach from Mazda, but it adds up. The thick�rimmed steering wheel is shared with the MX�

5, linked to recalibrated power steering and working with re�tuned suspension dampers. It also now gets G�Vectoring Control, which reduces engine torque to shift load onto the front tyres at the start of a corner for more grip, then re� applies it intelligently to keep it balanced through the turn.

Plenty of manufacturers claims to put the ‘Sport’ into ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’, but the CXâ€?3 delivers. It’s reassuringly mechanical, agile and linear in the way it responds to driver inputs. All without crashing over rough surfaces for the other 95% of the journey. Mazda also reâ€?tuned the engine mounts and added extra soundâ€?absorbing material, all adding up to biggerâ€?car reďŹ nement.

As before, there’s a three�trim line�up with limited optional equipment, and three engines. Instead of down� sizing and turbocharging, Mazda used a 2.0�litre unit from its larger cars, offered with 118bhp or 148bhp, the latter

with four�wheel drive. It’s quiet, keen to rev and suits the sporty chassis setup perfectly, helped by precise, short� throw gear changes, and previous experience suggests it should come close to the claimed 47.9mpg on the road.

The 1.5�litre diesel takes only 20% of UK volume, and reduced fuel and tax costs mean it’s still the better eet option, despite the £1,200 price disadvantage. It wasn’t available to drive at the launch, but the update includes new technology to sharpen throttle responses and cut noise under load. Small changes, but good enough to put it in with the class best.

Enjoy the ride with our powerful, dependable and fun range of cars.

Competitively priced, reliable and with an extensive Dealer support network, the Suzuki range has to be driven to be believed. Plus each Suzuki comes with a dedicated business team who will make sure your car and your business stay on track.

CO

The all-new Suzuki Swift

2 114-97 g\km

The Suzuki Vitara

2 131-106 g\km

CO

MPG

(combined) 65.7-56.5

MPG

(combined) 70.6-49.5

BIK

18%-21%

BIK

23%-25%

P11D

ÂŁ11,824-ÂŁ16,634

P11D

ÂŁ15,784-ÂŁ25,684

9LWDUD UDQJH RIILFLDO IXHO FRQVXPSWLRQ ILJXUHV LQ PSJ / NP 8UEDQ IURP WR ([WUD 8UEDQ IURP WR &RPELQHG IURP WR 2IILFLDO &2Ë„ emissions from 131g/km to 106g/km. Swift range official fuel consumption figures in mpg (L/100km): Urban from 44.1 (6.4) to 58.8 (4.8), Extra Urban from 65.7 (4.3) to 76.3 (3.7), Combined from

Suzuki Vitara S The Vitara feels well placed to capitalise on recent market trends, reckons Alex Grant.

SECTOR Compact SUV PRICE £23,749-£25,099 FUEL 51.3-52.3mpg CO2 127-128g/km

W

ith the team and strategy in place to support it, traditionally retail‐focused Suzuki’s record year in 2017 was underpinned by quadrupling its fleet sales to around a quarter of the 40,000 units regis‐ tered in the UK. Which, for a brand with a 97% petrol share, is no small feat.

The Vitara, now positioned in the popular compact SUV sector, is a core part of that. It’s Suzuki’s best‐seller in the UK, with demand weighted towards the top trim levels. And

the Vitara S feels familiar from rival vehicles; sports styling with accents of silver and red, and plenty of standard equip‐ ment including adaptive cruise control, navigation, keyless entry and start, and full Android and Apple app streaming.

But Suzuki has taken a different route with the engine line‐up, because this user‐chooser friendly option is only offered with the quite powerful (in this class) 138bhp 1.4‐ litre Boosterjet petrol turbo engine and four‐wheel drive.

The only differentiator is the automatic gearbox, a £1,350 option, though this makes little difference to the brochure fuel economy figure or CO2 emissions. Both come in under 130g/km – which is enough to undercut some rival diesels.

Small, turbocharged petrol engines can be a mixed bag in cars like this, but the Boosterjet feels well suited to the featherweight Vitara. There’s barely any turbo lag, so on‐ road performance is peppy, and it spends most of the time running in two‐wheel drive to keep fuel consumption low.

The six‐speed automatic is fairly quick to respond, too, and geared to offer a mix of off‐road performance at low speeds, and economical cruising in its top ratios.

Fleet attitudes to diesel are changing – especially among the SMEs Suzuki is targeting. With the products and infras‐ tructure in place, and petrol back on the radar, it’s a brand to watch.

For even more reasons to choose Suzuki, contact us today. cars.suzuki.co.uk/business

01908 336130

businesscars@suzuki.co.uk

WR 2IILFLDO &2˄ HPLVVLRQV IURP J NP WR J NP Fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results. Available from participating dealers. Information correct at the time of going to print. Terms and conditions apply, see: cars.suzuki.co.uk/business

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Bored with the usual crossovers? Martyn Collins reckons Mitsubishi’s new one is worth a look.

SECTOR Medium SUV PRICE £21,275-£29,750 FUEL 40.4-42.8mpg CO2 151-159g/km

C

rossovers are a complicated part of the market; and big bumps, but it does get better at speed, where refinement making your mark against key contenders such as the is pretty good. Other Mitsubishi handling plus points, Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai and the Kia Sportage is include high grip levels and, despite its tall stance, body roll difficult. But Mitsubishi’s newcomer, the Eclipse Cross, hopes is kept under control. to shake things up with a mix of sharp design, promised keen From launch, there’s just one engine available ‐ a new driving dynamics and advanced technology.

160bhp 1.5‐litre direct‐injection turbocharged petrol. It’s It’s not one you’ll forget; with wedged, coupe‐like profile impressive on paper, but that’s not the case on the road, with its carved flanks and distinctive split rear glass, it’s where it feels peaky and lacking in torque. Revving it hard certainly different. Especially with the five‐layer Premium doesn’t unlock much more performance either, just Red metallic paint option. But is it ‘good’ different? making the engine drone, and at 151g/km and 42.8mpg in Still important in what is a design‐led segment, the inte‐ the two‐wheel drive version we drove, it’s not a main‐ rior is impressively spacious front and stream fleet choice. back, and the boot can be extended by Mitsubishi offers two and four‐wheel sliding the 60:40 rear bench back drive versions with this engine, the latter forward by up to 200mm. The dashboard fitted with the more impressive continu‐ design is attractive, and it gets all the ously‐variable automatic transmission. usual equipment, such as the new info‐ The CVT is clever, because it’s stepped to tainment system with Android and Apple feel like a conventional eight‐speeder connectivity, quality feels a match for and the engine felt more at home with it, class leaders, and the standard glass roof though it does bring slightly higher fuel makes it feel light and airy. consumption (40.4mpg) and CO2 emis‐ But there are compromises. That split sions (159g/km). rear window affects visibility, and the Increased fleet appeal could come in the sloping roofline sacrifices both headroom form of the 2.2‐litre diesel engine, as used in the back, and boot capacity. The Eclipse in the Outlander and ASX. This is poten‐ Cross also gets a confusing trackpad tially due at the end of the year, though The Eclipse Cross is setup for the infotainment, and, despite Mitsubishi said this is unconfirmed worth a look if you’re the technology on board, there’s no sat because of current market conditions. The after something different nav option, so you’ll be reliant on a data XR‐PHEV concept, which previewed some connection and apps such as Google or of this car’s styling, suggests a plug‐in to the usual crossovers.

Apple Maps instead. hybrid may also be in the works.

But lower CO2 emissions The drive disappoints a bit too. Its So the Eclipse Cross certainly stands would help broaden its steering is oddly weighted, almost feeling out against the usual suspects. But some fleet appeal. too quick for the rest of the car, and the conventional engine options would be ride on the 18‐inch alloys is unsettled by useful if it’s to find its feet in this segment.

what we think

26 / fleetworld.co.uk

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FEATURE Fuel Management

DATA There is no shortage of management data for fleet bosses to analyse and digest, so what do fuel cards bring to the party? Curtis Hutchinson reports.

F

leet management has long been a data rich business. If you operate vehicles under contract hire, leas‐ ing or leet management agreements then you will have access to a plethora of real time digital data identify usage patterns, costs and much more.

Realistically, though, how much time can a leet manager dedicate to inter‐ preting and actioning all this data? For many leet managers the sourcing and running of cars is only part of a much wider job function, so digesting all this data can be a challenge.

With this in mind Fleet World has gone back to basics to see how that original tool of data capture, the company car fuel card, has responded to the proliferation of telematics‐based leet data. Fuel cards have been around for decades and were amongst the irst generation of tools to enable leet managers to monitor running costs and mileages.

Keeping Track Fuel cards continue to do the same basic job of keeping drivers fuelled and on the move with minimal fuss while achieving HMRC compliancy. However, they remain a powerful management tool providing businesses with just‐in‐time data which can inform current usage and help plan future strategy.

“Fuel cards are increasingly used by fleets as an essential data‐gathering tool rather than simply as a purchas‐ ing mechanism,” said Paul Hollick, managing director of The Miles Consultancy (TMC), the fleet fuel management specialist.

“Fleets can obtain a very clear picture of their cost‐drivers by using consoli‐

28 / fleetworld.co.uk

RICH

dated data from fuel cards and other sources, such as mileage capture, telem‐ atics, HR and vehicle manufacturers.

This joined up approach can yield signi icant and immediate savings through monitoring and compliance,” he said.

“The wider trends driving the requirement for a 360° view of mobil‐ ity costs include the rising number of PHEVs on leet, the excessive gap between cars' advertised and actual MPG, and the perceived need to manage fairly rapid de‐dieselisation. All these trends require a detailed and accurate understanding of current costs‐per‐ mile across all your mobility sectors.”

TMC, which administers the Barclay‐ card Fuel+ card for fleets across the UK and Europe, offers a service designed to cut fuel costs, reduce administra‐ tion, provide management information and ensure HMRC compliance. Feeds are taken from telematics and fuel cards with drivers logging their mileages through an app, with each journey audited to ensure accuracy with follow‐up calls to drivers if any anomalies are spotted.

“One term we will hear more of, in relation to leet data, is 'platform inde‐ pendence'. TMC enables businesses to use multiple telematics and fuel card suppliers to suit the differing needs across the business without the admin‐ istration hassle of trying to get an overview by consolidating all the data and analysing it themselves. We combine the different data streams with our audited mileage data and channel the information to a single dashboard for them.”

Thinking Multi-Modal Flexibility, for both drivers and managers, is also essential according to Andy Allen, UK Fuel Card Manager for BP Fuel Cards, who says the days of cards just being used for top‐ups are long gone; they are now expected to deliver a wide variety of mobility solutions.

“Fleet managers are often time poor so there is a continued trend for them to look for an offer that goes beyond just fuel. Fuel cards are evolving and moving towards a mobility solution for a leet, therefore providing a solution to many more problems.”

With this in mind BP provides a service allowing drivers to set up their fuel cards so they automatically pay the London Congestion Charge and Dart‐ ford Crossing toll, reducing the poten‐ tial for costly ines.

Allen believes fuel cards should also deliver quanti iable bottom line bene‐ its: “With a fuel card you’re not only able to save on cost through competi‐ tive pricing, but you access a range of tools that can help save you time and even more money,” he said.

“From having an overview of spend across your entire leet using an online dashboard, to being able to set up custom spend or product alerts for each card. The fuel card keeps transactions secure and captures information to feed into online tools that make a leet manager’s life easier.

“Through additional services linked to the fuel card, such as telematics transactions are linked to driver behaviour data to give insights that can help run a more ef icient leet and reduce the potential for fraud.”

→

SYSTEM MESSAGE -----------------------------------

Could replace with PHEV

SYSTEM MESSAGE -----------------------------------

Provide driver training

SYSTEM MESSAGE -----------------------------------

Expenses received

fleetworld.co.uk / 29

FEATURE Fuel Management

DATARICH →

Streamlined Expenses Despite fuel cards being an integral part of the leet landscape for so long, Allstar is noticing a wave of new interest from smaller leets who have identi ied the bene its of enabling drivers to consoli‐ date all their out of pocket travel expenses, from fuel to accommodation, on a single card.

“Fuel card usage continues to grow among UK leets as operators are start‐ ing to leverage the bene its of the tool.

Increasingly it is smaller leets that are getting to understand how utilising fuel cards can be advantageous,” said Paul Holland, chief operating of icer at Fleet‐ cor, Allstar’s parent company.

“There has also been a marked increase in demand from drivers for options to pay for the costs associated with being on the road, such as toll roads or sustenance. A convenient and cost‐ effective solution is to use an integrated fuel and expenses card which can support all costs that drivers will incur on the road, from accommodation to parking.

“Carrying a fuel card eliminates the need for drivers across a leet to take cash or company cards with them on the road and rids managers of the pay and reclaim process. Additionally, fuel cards play an important part in delivering convenience and control for leet operators by consol‐ idating all transactions onto a single monthly invoice. This saves a lot of time on administration and improving cash low with regular predictable payments that are easy to keep track of.”

Clearly the fuel card is alive and well as a powerful management tool across all leet sizes and a convenient way for drivers to consolidate the variety of out of pocket expenses typically incurred whilst travelling on business. Meanwhile, the associated real world data is enabling businesses to keep a tab on fuel costs and plan for the future and this will prove to be invaluable as they review diesel usage and start planning for the alternatives. It would appear that leet managers cannot have too much data after all.

30 / fleetworld.co.uk

Petrol, diesel… hydrogen?

With hydrogen emerging as a deliverable future fuel for leets, Allstar Business Solutions has become the irst supplier to include payment facilities on its cards.

The move was prompted by a request by ITM Power that runs a UK network of hydrogen refuelling stations. The business had been approached by a large public sector organisation with an expanding hydrogen leet who used Allstar cards to pay for its other fuel usage.

Paul Holland, chief operating of icer at Fleetcor, the parent company of Allstar, said the move to embrace hydrogen was strategically impor‐ tant for the business.

“By teaming up with alternative fuel providers like ITM Power, Allstar can ensure it is doing everything it can to continue to support leet oper‐ ators as they evolve their leets to suit their changing business needs and, importantly, improve choice for customers.

“The refuelling landscape is evolving at a signi icant pace. Not only is the demand for alternative fuel growing but the global hydrogen gener‐ ation market alone is set to grow nearly 6% up to 2021.

“It is unlikely to be just one fuel type that will replace the traditional fuels, hydrogen however is looking like one of the leading alternatives for the future. Fuel cards that support a variety of fuel options can help leet operators enhance the ef iciency of their leet’s fuelling process, whatever fuel mix they opt for.”

“Clearly the fuel card is alive and well as a powerful management tool across all fleet sizes and a convenient way for drivers to consolidate the variety of out of pocket expenses.”

TIME TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT?

Our exceptional choice of world-leading hybrids helps you reduce emissions and save money. For a test drive or more information call 0344 701 6186 or visit toyotalexusfleet.co.uk/cleanup

FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS Best Ultra-Low Emission Car: Renault ZOE

Innovation in Driver Management: Alphabet Mobility Consultants

Best City Car: Kia Picanto

Technology Award: Toyota/Lexus Hybrids

Best Supermini: Ford Fiesta

One to Watch: Hyundai Kona EV

Innovation in Electric Mobility: Alphabet Electrification Potential Analysis

CAR AWARDS Best New Car: Ford Fiesta

Best Lower Medium Car: Volkswagen Golf Best Premium Lower Medium Car: Audi A3 Best Upper Medium Car: Skoda Superb Best Compact Executive Car: Audi A4 Best Executive Car: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Innovation in Fuel Saving and Management: TMC Fuel+ MANUFACTURER AWARDS Most Improved Manufacturer: Seat Fleet Manufacturer of the Year:

Innovation in Rental: FleetEurope De-Risk

INNOVATION AWARDS:

Innovation in Risk Management: Licence Bureau View My Data Portal

Best Luxury Car: BMW 7 Series Best Large Family Car: Skoda Kodiaq

Innovation in Contract Hire and Leasing: ALD Mobility Experience

Best Small SUV: Mazda CX-3

Innovation in Cost Reduction: TMC Mobility+

Best Large SUV: Volvo XC60

Innovation in Remarketing: Shoreham Vehicle Auctions

Mercedes-Benz

Innovation in Accident Management: Arval Active Link

Best Medium SUV: Peugeot 3008

Innovation in Mobile Comms: Chevin FleetWave Forms

Innovation in Customer Service: Zenith Accelerate 2.0

Innovation in Telematics: Crystal Ball SmartCam

Keep reading to find out about some of the best products and services in the world of fleet... →

fleetworld.co.uk / 33

FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS

Innovation Awards

Matt Dale collects the award for ALD Automotive

Peter Leavy picks up the award for Arval

Accident Management Arval Active Link in-house telematics “ Arval’s solution offers a seamless

”

accident management process. It’ll log the time and location of the accident, with details of the driver’s prior behaviour, and can contact a recovery company after a rollover.

Contract Hire and Leasing ALD Mobility Experience

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

TMC Mobility+ powerful tool for managing “ Amulti-modal travel, Mobility+

34 / fleetworld.co.uk

2018 HONOURS

Customer Service Zenith Accelerate 2.0

Cost Reduction

”

ALD hopes to disrupt the way businesses think about mobility. Its immersive, audiovisual experience brings key stakeholders together to balance priorities and develop a bespoke, multi-modal solution to suit company and employee needs.

Helen Naylor picks up the award for Zenith

Mark Sinclair collects the award for TMC

combines data from suppliers to give a clear view of how staff move. Not only does this cut admin time, but it can perform audits and make recommendations to help reduce costs.

Presented by Jonathan Musk, content editor, Fleet World

has introduced board“ Zenith level meetings and added a 2018 HONOURS

”

customer service director to improve its fleet offer, while also updating its customer service platform, automating communications, improving the complaints-handling process to ensure consistency.

2018 HONOURS

Danielle Baldwin-Rowe picks up the award for Alphabet

Stefan Oswald collects the award for Alphabet

Driver Management Alphabet Mobility Consultants

Electric Mobility Alphabet Electrification Potential Analysis

Mobility Consultants team “ The is gives a helping hand to busi-

”

nesses without a fleet manager.

It can help establish a self-service mobility suite for employees, including rental and car sharing services, while minimising the administrative burden of keeping the workforce mobile.

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Designed to help businesses confidently add the technology to their fleet. Using a GPS data logger, it analyses journey patterns and real-world fuel consumption, showing not only where ULEVs can work, but presenting a detailed cost analysis too.

2018 HONOURS

FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS

Innovation Awards

David Gladding collects the award for Chevin

Mark Sinclair picks up the award for TMC

Fuel Saving and Management TMC Fuel+ only is it accepted at most “ Not forecourts, but it offers excep-

”

tional visibility for operators, including using telematics data to analyse routes and suggest where ULEVs could be deployed. It’s a proven solution already delivering significant savings for operators.

Mobile Communications Chevin FleetWave Forms

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Michael Simmons collects the award for Shoreham Vehicle Auctions

”

36 / fleetworld.co.uk

2018 HONOURS

Rental FleetEurope De-Risk

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions

EV residual values, Shoreham Vehicle Auctions launched free training courses to help dealers educate customers Developed with the Energy Saving Trust, they’re an important step in supporting a growing market

Chevin claims a 92% reduction in admin spend for its new mobile application, compared to manual or paper-based forms.

It’s a flexible tool which enables businesses to design bespoke forms for field-based staff, sharing business-critical information via the FleetWave software.

Carlos Montero picks up the award for FleetEurope

Remarketing that slow demand “ Recognising among used buyers was affecting

Presented by Johnathan Musk, contents editor, Fleet World

damage charges can be a “ Minor costly, time-consuming issue.

2018 HONOURS

”

De-Risk offers low-cost cover for all repairs under £500, regardless of fault, including misfuelling. It’s offered across all contract lengths, and helping to build trust and cut admin time for customers.

2018 HONOURS

Don’t let Vehicle Rental Damage Claims Become a Burden Damage to Windscreen

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With De-Risk you’ve got it Covered

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FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS

Innovation Awards

Tara Singh collects the award for Crystal Ball

Malcolm Maycock picks up the award for Licence Bureau

Risk Management

Telematics Crystal Ball SmartCam

Licence Bureau View My Data Portal is a big challenge for fleets, “ GDPR and this new portal aims to

”

make compliance as straightforward as possible. It enables employees to amend their own data, notifying them of any actions required, and issues consent letters to avoid problems later on.

Presented by Johnathan Musk, contents editor, Fleet World

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

SmartCam builds on the proven FleetTracker system with a raft of useful functions for fleets, including behaviour monitoring and journey classification. An all-in-one solution, with an HD camera and data connection, it’s helping to cut claims and protect from scams.

Register now at thefleetshow.co.uk

9TH MAY 2018

2018 HONOURS

FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS

Car Awards

John Hargreaves picks up the award for Kia Motors

Chris Rushton collects the award for Ford UK

Best City Car Kia Picanto

Best Supermini Ford Fiesta

Picanto effortlessly meets “ The the opposing challenges of this

”

sector. Compact, agile and fun to drive around town, yet also sure-footed for motorway use and offered in a wide choice of generously-equipped, highvalue trim levels to suit all sorts of drivers, it’s a class act.

Presented by Alex Grant, editor, Fleet World

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Ford has packed a raft of talents into the new Fiesta, improving high-speed comfort and 2018 HONOURS refinement, and adding technology, but without blunting its trademark driver appeal. Despite fierce competition, and some notable newcomers, this is a clear winner.

FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS

Car Awards

Mike Orford picks up the award for Volkswagen

Laura Ayres collects the award for Audi UK

Best Lower Medium Car Volkswagen Golf benchmark, “ Athelong-established Golf continues to push the

”

boundaries. It’s impeccably built, technology rich and spacious enough to question the need for anything bigger.

With a broad range to choose from, there's a Golf for every business need.

Best Premium Lower Medium Car

Audi A3

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Henry Williams picks up the award for Skoda

”

comfortable and cost-efficient for job-need users, but with the design appeal, refinement and breadth of range to lure drivers out of premium products. It’s a no brainer, and the segment benchmark.

40 / fleetworld.co.uk

2018 HONOURS

Laura Ayres collects the award for Audi UK

Best Upper Medium Car Skoda Superb Superb is all the car “ The you’d ever need; practical,

The segment-defining A3 sets tough benchmarks. This is a downsized luxury car, with unrivalled cabin quality, a broad range of trims and bodystyles and the latest tech for drivers.

All are backed by strong residuals and a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in drivetrains for fleets.

Best Compact Executive Car Audi A4

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

A4 features the latest connectivity and assistance features with increased space and a focus on driver appeal.

Factor in a line-up of fleetfriendly diesel and petrol engines, versatile Avant and Allroad versions, and it’s a strong offer.

2018 HONOURS

Brian Luff picks up the award for Mercedes-Benz UK

Andrea Holland collects the award for BMW

Best Executive Car Mercedes-Benz E-Class technology and design “ Taking cues from the S-Class, the E-Class

”

Best Luxury Car BMW 7 Series

“

sets the standard for executive 2018 HONOURS travel. The saloon and capacious estate share a sumptuous cabin and cutting-edge driver assistance technology, paired with effortlessly efficient newgeneration diesel and plug-in options.

Henry Williams picks up the award for Skoda

”

”

with the versatility and driver appeal of an SUV. There’s space for up to seven adults on board, with plentiful storage, two and four-wheel drive versions and a broad trim line-up for drivers.

2018 HONOURS

Andreas Welham collects the award for Mazda Motors UK

Best Large Family Car Skoda Kodiaq Kodiaq combines the “ The endless flexibility of an MPV,

The 7 Series is a technological showcase and a preview for what’s likely to appear elsewhere in the range in the near future. But it’s also a great business tool, backed by finance packages tailored towards chauffeurs and a plugin hybrid for urban fleets.

Best Small SUV Mazda CX-3

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

The CX-3 offers the best of all worlds; merging the cityfriendly agility of a supermini with the space, flexibility and refinement of a larger hatchback. Mazda’s excellent Skyactiv engines guarantee low running costs for fleets, and RVs are rock solid too.

2018 HONOURS

fleetworld.co.uk / 41

FLEETW RLD 2018 HONOURS

Car Awards

Dave Holden picks up the award for Peugeot Motor Company

Ben Foulds collects the award for Volvo Cars UK

Best Large SUV

Best Medium SUV Peugeot 3008

Volvo XC60

3008 feels like a defining “ The moment for Peugeot.

”

Competing in a hard-fought sector, it’s distinctive, modern and good to drive, with an interior that feels good enough to take on the premium brands.

Yet it’s also great value for money, with CO2 from 103g/km.

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Mark Dickens picks up the award for Renault UK

”

2013, but so has Renault’s chic electric supermini. It offers a real-world range of almost 200 miles in a segment that’s perfectly suited to electrification, with fast charging for longer journeys.

42 / fleetworld.co.uk

2018 HONOURS

Jon Hunt collects the award for Toyota/Lexus Hybrids

Best Ultra-Low Emission Car Renault ZOE have come a long way “ ULEVs since the ZOE launched in

Volvo’s UK best-seller is a reflection of how far the brand has come in recent years. A distinctly non-German take on the premium SUV, it’s quiet and luxurious over long distances and packed full of the latest connectivity, safety and plug-in technology for fleets.

Technology Award Toyota/Lexus Hybrids

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Good to drive and genuinely efficient, the line-up spans most segments, often instead of a diesel engine. The results; 107g/km average CO2 emissions in the UK last year, easily beating the 121g/km market average.

2018 HONOURS

Michael Stewart picks up the award for Hyundai UK

Owen Gregory collects the award for Ford UK

One to Watch Hyundai Kona Electric hybrid, plug-in and fuel-cell “ With products on offer, Hyundai is

”

already delivering what others are only promising. The Kona Electric is a game-changer; a fashionable small SUV with a 292-mile all-electric range, it’s the product to make electromobility mainstream.

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Replacing the UK’s best seller is no easy task; the Fiesta outsells entire model ranges singlehandedly, and it’s a mainstay for fleets. The new version adds connectivity and assistance features and the broadest-ever trim line-up to an already brilliant all-rounder.

2018 HONOURS

Peter McDonald picks up the award for Seat UK

Rob East collects the award for Mercedes-Benz UK

Most Improved Manufacturer Seat

Fleet Manufacturer of the Year Mercedes-Benz

s recent transformation is “ Seat’ incredible, with brilliant new

”

Best New Car Ford Fiesta

products and a focus on fleet.

It’s grown its team, strengthened its network, adjusted its channel mix, and introduced new web portals and four-day test drives to drive awareness.

“ 2018 HONOURS

”

Mercedes-Benz not only offers a broad, fleet-friendly model range, but it's making it easier for company car drivers to get behind the wheel. And the aim isn’t just to grow, but to retain.

It’s become a fully-fledged partner for businesses.

2018 HONOURS

fleetworld.co.uk / 43

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

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

GA Added practicality over regular Tiguan will be a real draw.

Allspace drives well and the brand will appeal.

GA Pricing is at the upper end of the segment, and there is some very strong competition out there.

AC Tiguan has proved popular, and Allspace gives the customer the option of an extra row of seats when required, while the additional length makes it a more practical load carrier.

AC As with many of these 7seat SUVs the rear row of seats can be classed a purely occasional seats and really only for small children. Boot space with all of the seats up is also not great, at 215 litres, which is less than you would get in a small hatchback.

GA There is an opportunity for Allspace to win some conquest business where Tiguan didn’t quite work in terms of practicality. The segment is strong enough for another player.

GA Some users may overlook the new addition to the range without experiencing the benefits over standard Tiguan. The competition is very strong.

MJ Tiguan has been a long term success, so a larger version below Touareg makes good sense. Good equipment levels, excellent front and rear room, and interior material quality that does not disappoint.

Performance from the 188bhp unit is strong, plus ride and handling impressive.

MW The Allspace is not just a longer Tiguan; it offers so much more, and will attract new customers to the brand, especially fleet buyers.

44 / fleetworld.co.uk

MJ CO2 at 153g/km means costlier BiK than some, particularly with the increased 4% diesel surcharge from April 2018. Pricing is quite high allowing competition from premium brand SUVs – albeit mainly 5 seat.

MW Allspace could be regarded as just a Tiguan that’s a bit longer. Not necessarily true, but might hurt its sales.

AC Until now if you wanted a seven-seat Volkswagen it was a people carrier or nothing.

Allspace gives the brand a whole new opportunity with a more stylish option for those customers.

MJ Increasingly costly BiK for diesels may encourage drivers with larger SUVs to consider a slightly smaller, yet spacious and well equipped Allspace.

MW This group’s main opportunities are in nicking business from the D-sector saloon and hatch. They will no doubt, in time, demolish sales of non-SUV cars.

AC One of the main threats comes from its own sister brands such as the superb Kodiaq and Seat’s forthcoming Tarraco.

MJ The burgeoning competition – not the least from other group brand products – brings some real challenges. Plus new players, such as seven-seat Peugeot 5008, can offer good savings.

MW This group is now looking a bit expensive. At nearly forty grand for a SUV, they have crept up at almost the same rate as the demand for them. Something will have to give, sooner or later.

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer relationship manager, CAP

Gavin Amos (GA) Global valuation director Global Analytic Services

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Director, KeeResources KWIKcarcost

Strengths GA Added practicality a real draw.

AC Extra loadspace, seven-seat flexibility.

MJ Tiguan a long-term success, this makes sense.

MW Well proportioned and put together.

GA Strong competition, more efficient rivals.

AC Third-row seats only for small children.

MJ Operating costs now close to premium brand SUVs. MW Awareness might hurt its sales.

Strengths

Discovery Sport SE Tech 2.0 TD4 178bhp AWD

GA Clean, economical, Aspirational.

AC Best for BiK out of this selection, great brand equity.

MJ Proper off-road abilities. More refined with new diesel engine.

MW Land Rover image. Cheapest here.

Standard equipment: • DAB/BT/USB • Sat nav • Cruise control with speed limiter • Front and rear parking sensors • Heated part-leather seats (front) • 18-inch Alloy wheels • Hands-free electric tailgate

GA Some might want to stick with a more common alternative.

AC Reliability has been a bit suspect.

MJ Third row only really for children.

MW Can it match the others' reliability?

Strengths

Škoda Kodiaq Edition 2.0 TDI 188bhp 4x4 DSG (7-seat)

GA A thorn in the side of Tiguan Allspace.

AC Top spec for same money.

MJ Competitive P11d, great WLC and BiK savings. Huge loadspace.

MW Everything you need in a car; seven seats, and space.

Optional equipment: • Metallic Paint £640 • Panoramic roof £1,005 • Adaptive Xenon headlights £1,270

GA Brand snobbery for some.

AC Interior not as good as Tiguan.

MJ Badge snobs may not be convinced.

MW Outdated views of Škoda products.

OTR: £36,570 P11D: £36,015 Fuel: 49.6mpg CO2: 151g/km RV*: £15,625 (43%) BiK: 32% SMR: £2,698 Fuel costs: £6,851 Insurance: £3,561 Finance: £4,862 NI: £5,169 VED: £780 Cost per month: £1,232

Strengths

Nissan X-Trail Tekna dCi 177 4WD XTronic (7-seat)

Weaknesses

Nissan X-Trail Tekna

Standard equipment: • DAB/CD/SD/USB • Sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto • Adaptive cruise control • Front and rear parking sensors • Heated cloth seats (front) • 19-inch Alloy wheels • Adaptive LED headlights • Hands-free electric tailgate • Panoramic sunroof Optional equipment: • Metallic Paint £570

OTR: £36,495 P11D: £36,240 Fuel: 53.3mpg CO2: 139g/km RV*: £16,675 (46%) BiK: 29% SMR: £2,744 Fuel costs: £6,376 Insurance: £4,266 Finance: £4,892 NI: £4,801 VED: £480 Cost per month: £1,199

Weaknesses

Škoda Kodiaq Edition

Tiguan Allspace SE-L 2.0 TDI 188bhp 4Motion DSG OTR: £37,730 P11D: £37,175 Fuel: 47.9mpg CO2: 153g/km RV*: £15,150 (41%) BiK: 32% SMR: £2,745 Fuel costs: £7,094 Insurance: £3,672 Finance: £5,019 NI: £5,335 VED: £780 Cost per month: £1,298

Weaknesses

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Andy Cutler (AC) UK car editor, Forecast Values Glass’s

GA Roomy and performs well. Reliable.

AC Plenty of space and practicality.

MJ Europe’s top-seller in this sector.

MW An option for Qashqai drivers who want something bigger.

Weaknesses GA High pricing. Not the cleanest or most economical here.

AC Dated interior, most expensive here.

MJ 162g/km CO2. Worthwhile 2017 update not communicated well.

MW Most expensive, highest CO2 here.

OTR: £38,070 P11D: £37,515 Fuel: 46,3mpg CO2: 162g/km RV*: £11,900 (32%) BiK: 34% SMR: £2,695 Fuel costs: £7,339 Insurance: £3,672 Finance: £5,065 NI: £5,591 VED: £780 Cost per month: £1,411

Standard equipment: • Sat nav, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay • Cruise control • Rear parking sensors • Metallic Paint • Heated leather seats (front) • 19-inch Alloy wheels • Adaptive LED headlights • Electric tailgate Optional equipment: • Panoramic roof £1,165

Standard equipment: • DAB/CD/USB/aux-in • Sat nav • Cruise control, speed limiter • Park Assist and 360° cam • Heated leather seats (front/rear) • 19-inch Alloy wheels • Adaptive LED headlights • Hands-free electric tailgate • Panoramic roof Optional equipment: • Metallic Paint £575

* 3yr/60k

fleetworld.co.uk / 45

MARKET OVERVIEW Contract Hire, Finance & Leasing

Activa Contracts At Activa, we take a holistic approach to vehicle management. Our company ethos ‘Powered by People’ is reflected throughout the business with our dedicated, knowledgeable team continuously working towards customer satisfaction. We are proud of our friendly, straightforward attitude to business and provide an honest partnership approach- working with you to deliver the best possible solutions.

This allows us to tailor our services best for your needs.

Activa works with industry renowned partners and our unique business model allows us to adapt to an ever changing industry and continue to provide the highest level of service to our customers.

Contact: Sally Lewis Sally.Lewis@ActivaContracts.co.uk www.activacontracts.co.uk

Tel: 01908 288400

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management As we’re part of a family business, ACVM offers a personal, friendly service with dedicated account managers to help you every step of the way.

We’re one of the UK’s top vehicle leasing and management companies; part of the largest independently-owned automotive company in Europe. Along with 50 years of experience, ACVM offers an extensive range of manufacturers and funding options, daily rental, fleet consultancy, grey fleet management and complimentary fleet tools. Our experts are uniquely placed to develop a tailored, flexible vehicle solution, getting you safely on the road and keeping your fleet running smoothly.

Contact: Calum Ewart calum.ewart@arnoldclark.com www.acvm.com

Tel: 0141 332 2626

Days Fleet

Fleet Alliance

Since 1998, Days Fleet has been providing fleet solutions to organisations in the private and public sector all across the UK and has grown to become one of the country’s leading independent vehicle funding, leasing and fleet management companies.

We have the flexibility and the desire to deliver an outstanding service to fleets of all sizes. With no affiliation to a bank or vehicle manufacturer, we are well placed to offer impartial advice and to recommend the optimum fleet solution tailored to you.

At the heart of all of our services are our experienced, dedicated team who work to meet all of your fleet requirements.

Fleet Alliance Group is an award winning fleet management provider offering an extensive range of funding and fleet solutions products. We currently manage over 25,000 vehicles with a combined value in excess of £692m.

We deliver a complete fleet solution via our market leading Fleet 360 model which encompasses the key principles of both price and service. This is delivered through our cloud-based fleet management system, e-Fleet, and our award-winning smartphone app, e-Fleet Mobile.

We have an unrivalled reputation for helping fleets reduce acquisition and operation costs whilst improving driver behaviour through a unique combination of panel-funding solutions and supporting technology for drivers and business stakeholders.

Contact: Neil Vaughan Tel: 0845 815 0019 neilvaughan@daysfleet.com www.daysfleet.com

Contact: Grant Boardman Tel: 0345 601 8407 grant.boardman@fleetalliance.co.uk www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Inchcape Fleet Solutions

JCT600 VLS

Inchcape Fleet Solutions (IFS) has been providing flexible fleet management solutions to Corporate, Government and Nonprofit sector clients throughout the UK for more than 50 years and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading fleet management companies.

Inchcape Fleet Solutions is a subsidiary of Inchcape plc, a leading global premium automotive group that operates in 29 markets with a portfolio of the world’s leading car brands in the fast growing luxury and premium segments.

The voice of our customers is the driving force behind our innovation and we are committed to creating an incredible fleet customer experience for all of our clients.

JCT600 VLS has been delivering quality fleet and leasing services for 30 years. Part of the JCT600 Motor Group we are uniquely placed to really understand the needs of our customers and the UK vehicle industry. We can provide all types of vehicles from commercials to EV’s and everything in-between.

Our services include business contract hire, personal contract hire, grey fleet management and short term rental all supported by modern technology including Web based reporting and our new driver app. “drivevls”.

JCT600 provides a professional and flexible customer experience.

“We don’t want to be the biggest, just the best”.

Contact: Jennifer Davis sales@ifs.inchcape.co.uk www.inchcapefleetsolutions.co.uk

Contact: Kerry Clark Tel: 0113 250 0060 kerry.clark@jct600.co.uk www.jct600vehicleleasingsolutions.co.uk

46 / fleetworld.co.uk

Tel: 0333 222 0966

Approximately how many vehicles does your company operate?

Will you provide a bespoke Internet/Intranet site for major clients?

Do you offer an open discloure/profit sharing option?

Do you offer integrated telematics solutions?

Do you offer an ECOS / COP scheme?

Do you have a dedicated phone-based facility for small fleets?

Do you offer an on-line solution for managing a grey fleet?

Do you offer a salary sacrifice scheme?

Do you offer pooled mileage as standard?

Do you offer a fleet management option for non-funded vehicles?

Do you offer a consultancy service for fleets looking to use plug-in vehicles?

Do you offer EV drivers access to petrol or diesel models for longer trips?

Do you offer a recovery service for electric vehicles?

FLEETW W RLD

Activa Contracts

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Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

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Days Fleet

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Lex Autolease

380k

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Venson Automotive Solutions

Lex Autolease

Tusker

As the UK’s leading vehicle management and leasing specialist, Lex Autolease has the scale and strength to keep British business moving.

We currently manage more than 380,000 cars and commercial vehicles across the country and can tailor our range of leasing and funding options to suit your fleet requirements.

Our in-life support covers a full range of services – from end-to-end fleet management to customised plans that improve fleet safety and reliability.

Harnessing our expertise on transport data systems and deep insights into mobility trends, we work closely with fleet operators to deliver flexible, tailored solutions for organisations of all sizes and complexities.

By bringing together extensive expertise, innovative service and a comprehensive range of vehicle and funding options, Lex Autolease can keep your fleet running smoothly with unrivalled fleet management intelligence.

Hello, we’re Tusker. We specialise in optimised fleet solutions for your company car and van drivers, cash allowance takers and grey fleet drivers, as well as offering a fantastic Car Benefit Scheme to all your employees. We offer consistency, savings and a great service to everyone we engage with; using the latest technology to ensure the most efficient management of your fleet. We offer a range of services from all-inclusive Contract Hire, to Daily Rental and our Car Benefit Scheme, providing you with comprehensive fleet management, whatever your requirements.

LACorporateCustomerService@lexautolease.co.uk www.lexautolease.co.uk Tel: 0800 389 3690

Contact: Daniel Gray hello@tuskerdirect.com

Tel: 0333 4000 554 www.tuskerdirect.com

Venson Automotive Solutions Venson is a hands-on fleet management specialist with a proven track record in reducing fleet costs and increasing vehicle availability.

Our level of experience, knowledge and service allows us to give you the kind of impartial advice that has real financial returns whether your business is in the private, public, not-for-profit or emergency services sector. From sourcing the right vehicles to funding, maintaining and delivering commercial vehicle fit-outs, we handle every aspect and we don’t let our clients down, our 95% retention rate is testament to that. Get in touch and drive your business in a new direction.

Contact: Danielle Tilley sales@venson.com

Tel: 0800 328 0370 www.venson.com

fleetworld.co.uk / 47

PROFILE Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

PARK LIFE Balancing all-terrain, all-weather capability with the need to keep a close eye on running costs and environmental impact, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority might be a small fleet, but it’s one with some sizeable obstacles to overcome. By Alex Grant.

S

prawled over 520 square miles, spanning from Aber‐ gavenny in the East, to Llandeilo, north of Swansea, in the West, the Brecon Beacons is the largest of the three National Parks in Wales. Home to a sparsely distributed 35,000 people, over a million sheep, and – for the park’s Authority – an incredibly diverse fleet to manage it all.

Based in Brecon, and sharing its headquarters with the local police force, the authority comprises just over 130 staff and volunteers. Under the Welsh Government, it’s tasked with maintaining and enabling access to the National Park, as well as the wellbeing of residents, which puts seemingly opposing requirements on the vehicles it runs. Road transport is a neces‐ sity here – there are no railway stations within the park boundaries – and the image and cost, as a public sector organ‐ isation, of its operations are a key consideration too.

Despite this, there is no dedicated fleet manager; it’s a role handled by IT Systems officer, Kevin Booker, with advice from the field provided by area warden Jon Pimm. The fleet is entirely job‐need, comprising 25 vehicles which cover a combined 250,000 miles per year, all except two of which are sourced though the Government framework on three‐year, fully‐maintained leases. Most are based out of the head office, including pool cars for staff to carry out site visits, and selected to keep CO2 emissions as low as possible, Booker says.

In part, that’s to help balance the effect of the hardest‐work‐

ing vehicles on the fleet. The authority has two warden teams, for the east and west regions of the National Park, utilising ten Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab pickups for most jobs. These single‐user vehicles account for over half of the fleet’s total mileage, and they are essentially mobile offices. Wardens receive off‐road training to familiarise themselves with their capabilities and ground clearance, and features such as start/stop which could affect how they perform in the field. It helps to avoid damage in use.

Environmental performance is improving – the L200s are the first warden vehicles to come in under 200g/km CO2 – however, as mission‐critical vehicles, genuine off‐road ability is essential, explains Pimm: “When you’re driving cars or vans, you’re thinking about whether you can go down farm tracks or park without getting stuck. It’s a lot easier with these, because you don’t have those concerns. But they are bigger; so you’ll see scratches and dings on the corners from field gates or pulling off narrow lanes to let cars come past.”

Sourcing them is a collaborative effort; Pimm feeds informa‐ tion from the wardens back to Booker to ensure vehicles are ordered to the right spec. But, for the most part, these are stan‐ dard vehicles on road tyres, ordered in mid‐spec to maximise residual values and sharing a single trailered winch rather than adding that weight to the entire fleet. The upshot is that this includes air conditioning, which is vital for keeping the windows

“There will be EVs [on the fleet], and we don’t want to have to do a transition where we haven’t experienced one in the real world.”

48 / fleetworld.co.uk

de‐misted when the wardens are driving with damp clothing.

“We’ve got the advantage that we work off the government framework, so we get vehicles cost‐effectively,” says Booker.

“But they’re generally factory orders, we add Bluetooth – for taking calls not making them – and safety equipment such as ESP, which we added before it was a legal requirement, and reversing cameras and parking sensors, for public safety. That can affect lead times.”

In turn, the wardens’ fleet is supported by a network of stor‐ age depots; a main site in Brecon, not far from the head office, and a series of satellite sites around the park to avoid unnec‐ essary mileage while collecting equipment. These are also home to the lighter off‐road machinery, including quad bikes and a road‐legal Kubota RTV utility vehicle, which allow wardens to go off the tarmac without leaving tracks that could tempt the public to follow. With a hire centre nearby, addi‐ tional equipment is only purchased where it’s entirely neces‐ sary, though the Kubota’s role even extends to hauling a water tank and functioning as a fire engine when necessary.

Despite the terrain, and the climate, the authority has a progressive attitude to ultra‐low emission vehicles. It’s one of only two Go Ultra Low fleets in Wales, and Booker sees it as a good advocate in the community. The first ULEV – a liveried BMW i3 with the range‐extender petrol engine – joined the fleet in 2016, and there are now two based at its head office.

On‐site 7kW Pod Point fast chargers mean most site visits are within range of a battery charge, Booker says, though cold winters can make them reliant on the range extender when the weather turns.

As an EV driver himself, Booker’s ambition is to keep adding plug‐ins where appropriate: “This fleet renewal we’re trying to get an Outlander PHEV for the wardens’ fleet,” he explains. “There’s no way to get around the fact that there will be EVs [on the fleet], and we don’t want to have to do a transition where we haven’t experienced one in the real world. If we get an Outlander, we can get used to an automatic, and see how it works. With the motor torque it should be good off road, and it will still tow. It’s just trying to get that feel for it.”

This could, eventually, affect more than its own operations.

The authority is considering whether it can help overcome the patchy Welsh charging infrastructure north of the M4. Among the options being considered, this could introduce charging points at its visitor centres, with a minimum output of 7kW suited to the amount of time people tend to stop there.

But it is an investment in future‐proofing itself. There’s no typical week for the fleet and with changing attitudes to fuel, and the growing capabilities of plug‐ins, it’s a job‐critical part of the operation that looks likely to become even more diverse over the next decade.

fleetworld.co.uk / 49

FEATURE Taxation & Funding

In praise of contract hire Against an uncertain backdrop, contract hire offers some muchneeded predictability.

Professor Colin Tourick explains.

I

n this article I plan to praise the virtues of contract hire, the inance product that revolutionised how businesses acquire vehicles and which is still very much the product for today, for reasons I will explain.

But irst let’s talk about Brexit, after a leaked Treasury report showed that the UK would be worse off under every scenario they looked at and that new trade deals would only deliver modest bene its.

During the referendum the national press diligently reported politicians’ sound bites and we learned a lot about the back room scheming. But how many of us understood the implications of withdrawing from the single market or the customs union or the benefits we obtain by trading across frictionless borders, or that in order to enjoy some of the benefits we currently possess, the EU would insist on free movement of labour?

When the history books are written about this period, the failure of the national press to explain such key issues will be seen as a failure of a central plank of our democracy. If we don’t fully understand what we’re voting for, how can we decide how to vote?

The post‐referendum period has, in some ways, been even more weird. The Government’s mantra is ‘Brexit means Brexit’ and they have reaf irmed that we will leave the customs union and not have a hard border in Northern Ireland, but that in some as‐yet unexplained way they want us to retain the bene‐ its of being in the customs union and to have a viable land border in Northern Ireland.

The Conservatives have only 316 House of Commons’ seats out of 650. They are propped up by the DUP’s 10 seats but that is still not a majority. Few MPs from any party will be keen to support a Brexit deal that leaves the country economically damaged, whilst the DUP will not support a hardening of the Northern Ireland border. And the EU can’t give us a great deal as this would encourage other countries to rush for the door.

50 / fleetworld.co.uk

So one begins to wonder if any deal could meet the needs of the EU, the British public, the Conservatives, the DUP and parliament. What happens if the Government negotiates the best deal it can, presents it to parliament and it gets voted down because of a lack of support by the DUP, Labour or some Conservative MPs? No point going back to the negotiating table if the EU has already conceded all it prepared to concede.

No point calling a general election. That won’t solve anything.

No point trying to hold a referendum on the deal. It would be vetoed by Parliament: they won’t want the Government to circumvent them on a deal they’ve just turned down.

It seems there would be only two options left.

The irst is a hard Brexit, with all of the consequences that would bring, including uncertainty about whether the North‐ ern Irish peace process would last and the rights of citizens.

The City of London would lose its banking passporting rights, which would dent Government income. In total the City deliv‐ ers £71.4bn in tax payments, 11.5% of the total tax generated [Source: PWC, 2016], much of which comes from EU deals.

A government facing a big loss of revenue has few choices: cut spending (again? After so many years of austerity?), raise taxes (never popular) or borrow more – which would proba‐ bly see interest rates rise.

Alternatively there could be a second referendum on whether the UK should leave the EU. Given that the majority of parliamentarians are said to have

been in favour of Remain, and parliament has won the right to vote on the inal deal, this might actually be the only available option politically. The outcome would be anyone’s guess but we would certainly have a period of instability and economic uncertainty that could last for some time.

If you are still with me, thank you for wading patiently through 700 words, none of which seem to have had much to do with leet management. You may in fact be wondering why we have been discussing this at all.

The reason for doing so is that if you think that the logic set out above is reasonable and that there is a chance – however small – that we may be heading for a period of uncertainty and instability, you’ll want to think about the impact on your company and your leet.

Forty years ago, when a company needed cars it sourced them and negotiated to buy them car‐by‐car, dealer‐by‐dealer, often using HP or their bank overdraft. They didn’t get partic‐ ularly good discounts; often left it to their employees to nego‐ tiate the purchase and sale, and often let them arrange servicing, approve repairs and manage the accident claims process (though they might have known little or nothing about such matters). Companies often found it hard to obtain bank funding when the economy was doing poorly or bank funds were tight.

Contract hire revolutionised this process, bringing profes‐ sionalism, management control, cost control and huge buying power to bear, so that leets today don’t suffer from these prob‐

“It’s not for nothing that contract hire is by far the most popular method of vehicle management and funding. It’s good for the good times, good for the bad times and should serve you well if things get dodgy.” lems. And the contract hire client doesn’t have to worry about residual values, a major issue when the economy takes a down‐ turn and used vehicle prices start to slide.

Every leasing company is in the asset inance business. They own the vehicle and when the economy is looking wobbly they are more comfortable funding new cars than a bank would be to advance an unsecured loan or to increase an overdraft.

It’s not for nothing that contract hire is by far the most popu‐ lar method of vehicle management and funding. It’s good for the good times, good for the bad times and should serve you well if things get dodgy. If you are still using your bank over‐ draft to fund your leet, now might be a good time to review this and to consider ixing the cost of funding your leet by moving to contract hire.

Three cheers for contract hire.

fleetworld.co.uk / 51

our fleet Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI Ultra 190 S line S tronic OUR A5 is fitted with two optional packs both costing the best part of £1,500 – but which is the more worthwhile?

First up is the £1,250 driver assistance pack which, as its name suggests, incorporates a range of technology aimed at making life easier for the driver.

The main feature of this pack is the adaptive cruise control system, incorporating traffic jam assist. This is worth the price of the pack alone for its cleverness – it regulates distance to the car in front at speeds ranging from a standstill to top speed. It also controls the brakes, throttle and steering up to a speed of around 40mph to keep you in your lane and up to speed with slow moving or stop/start traffic.

There’s also the energy advice system, which suggests when you should be coasting to save fuel; camera-based traffic sign recognition, collision avoidance, lane assist and turn assist –

the latter a handy extra pair of eyes for when you are manoeuvring out of a junction (the system detects approaching vehicles and applies the brakes if you try to pull out).

The second optional package is the £1,395 technology pack – this brings upgraded navigation, the Audi phone box offering wireless charging (subject to your phone being compatible – my iPhone SE isn’t) and the excellent virtual cockpit.

While you can make a solid business case for the added safety benefits of the driver assistance pack, the advantages of the technology pack are less tangible. The latter is lovely to have – if only for the virtual cockpit which transforms how you access and use information on the move. Driving a car without these clever new instrument binnacles makes them suddenly feel very out of date.

Julian Kirk

the figures OTR PRICE £39,640 POWER 188bhp @ 3,800-4,200rpm TORQUE 295lb.ft @ 1,750-3,000rpm 0-62mph 7.9 seconds TOP SPEED 130mph COMBINED MPG 65.7mpg CO2 112g/km (27% BiK)

Suzuki Swift 1.0 Boosterjet SZ5 MORE snow to report at Fleet World HQ this month which, given the recent big freeze, probably applies to everyone in the UK’s fleet industry. I thought it would mean a longing for our previous four-wheel drive Swift, which coped so admirably back in late 2017, but that isn’t the case.

The 2WD Boosterjet is more than up to the task of negotiating the slippery roads at present, and has also highlighted the importance of an efficient heater.

The cabin gets warm very quickly, and although there’s sometimes a slight resonance from the 1.0-litre unit when cold, there’s no doubting that this is a great engine, underlining why the recent shift away from diesel – both in fleet and elsewhere – is occuring.

Heated seats would be lovely right now as well, but sadly they weren’t on the options list.

Luke Wikner

52 / fleetworld.co.uk

SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

9TH MAY 2018 THE GREATEST SHOW IN FLEET

PUT YOUR FLEET IN POLE POSITION The fleet industry is undergoing change like never before: explore the issues and discover how new vehicles, products and services could benefit your business and give you a competitive advantage...

Test Driving. Seminars. Exhibits. Networking.

DATA SAFETY

TRACKING ELECTRIC

MOBILITY

AUTONOMY .uk

w

r no e t s i g e R

.co w o h s t ee at thefl

our fleet AlphaCity BMW 320d SETTING up a new account to drive the AlphaCity is a five minute affair, with the company sending through a card that literally unlocks doors within five days. Once received, the process is simple. Log on, book a time, pay a fee and take a car.

In-car a personalised pin must be entered using the neat iDrive system and away you go. I’ve been impressed by the practicality of the service and the ease of use. And, on a recent trip up north it made perfect sense to take the 320d rather than my own car for a business trip, ensuring no grey fleet miles covered.

The only issue gripe I found with the system was upon first entry into the car a two-minute wait ensued before being able to enter my pin and start the engine. During the reservation the car can simply be locked and unlocked using the card over the windscreen pad a bit like a normal key an the pin need not be re-entered during the loan period. Overall, the experience isn’t so alien as to not be practical and from a fleet management perspective the benefits are plain to see.

Jonathan Musk

Jaguar XE 2.0d Portfolio THE driver who came to take away the Jaguar happened to be delivering a Renault Kangoo EDC test van at the same time.

Given that only one of the two was equipped with an automatic transmission, I’m fairly sure he wasn’t expecting it to be the little van from Mauberge, rather than Coventry’s finest.

Fleet specifications can be funny things and few private buyers would consider ordering the XE with a six-speed manual, it is more as an entry point for business drivers.

Swapping your own gears is no hardship in the Jaguar though, with a light but positive throw to the lever. The

54 / fleetworld.co.uk

manual also contributes to the car’s impressive fuel economy.

Despite a paucity of rear seat space and a relatively compact boot, it never felt less than a privilege to be behind the wheel of the Jaguar and I enjoyed pretty much every mile. I’ve never had so many positive comments about a test car too, with many putting it in a class above its natural competitors.

Over 8,000 miles, in all conditions, it consumed fuel at 56mpg, got through 1-litre of oil and 10-litres of AdBlue. It will be missed.

Dan Gilkes

Toyota C-HR Hybrid Excel FOLLOWING my previous adventure in the C-HR across France on a 1,200-mile journey, I was eager to see how it would cope with regular UK winter commuting. I’m fortunate enough to have a short sixmile daily journey, which typically kills a non-hybrid car particularly in cold weather, due to rarely reaching temperature or optimum efficiency. However, with the Toyota’s electric assistant pushing the C-HR along and bring far less dependent on a warm climate the local commute appeared not to have any detrimental effect on fuel economy and stubbornly maintained 50mpg – the same figure I’d experienced while romping fully loaded across France at 80mph.

It’s worth remembering the C-HR offers the same hybrid powertrain as the flagship Prius, while in a lighter and more fashionable package and this goes someway to explain its sales success.

But that’s not its only accolade - its suspension handles even the most potholed Hertfordshire roads with ease and offers stable handling without compromising ride quality – and has become my benchmark for judging other crossovers. Unfortunately, the C-HR has now returned to Toyota, though perhaps its lasting legacy will be that I’ll sorely miss it when I didn’t think I would.

Jonathan Musk

Mazda6 2,2D 150 SE-L Nav

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport 1.6 SRi VX Line Nav Turbo D ecoTEC S/S

WITH pretty much every option a business driver could want included as standard on our Mazda6 SE-L Nav model, it makes for a rational decision for fleets.

But I’ve had some differences of opinion with Mazda’s sat nav over the location of destinations. I have to fess up here to having been a bit of a muppet when it came to entering the postcode. So it’s my fault that I’ve been relying on using towns and street names but three times it’s sent me to the wrong area. This included one time when I was trying to reach the road for Southampton crematorium, which the sat nav decided to relocate to the city centre.

I’m yet to be late to my own funeral but I’ve now been a couple of minutes late for someone else’s!

Natalie Middleton

THE observations made by Mr Moody last month about the Passat GTE were similar to conclusions that I’ve come to.

Despite the explosion of the crossover segment, traditional saloon and estates can – in many cases – prove every bit as good as the young pretenders. The Insignia really came into its own last month – firstly transporting five (plus luggage) from Sussex to Suffolk for a week and then as a proper motorway cruiser for me when I had to return home mid-break. There was easily enough room in the boot for the Challen family belongings for the first task and for my solo journeys, the creature comforts I’ve come to enjoy made the three-hour late-night and stupidly early commutes fly by!

John Challen

fleetworld.co.uk / 55

our fleet Renault Koleos Signature Nav dCi 130 A busy schedule in the last month has seen me rely on the Koleos more than usual.

As an urbanite living in the capital, most of my journeys tend to be relatively short and, with two teenage daughters, the Dad’s Taxi Service is pressed into action on an all-too-regular basis.

But some out-of-town meetings, UK-based car launches and a couple of trips to the Land of My Fathers mean that I have somehow racked up over 1,800 miles in little three months. That won’t sound like much to many fleet drivers, but it’s more than I tend to cover.

The result is an average fuel economy figure of 38.2mpg, which seems to be remaining pretty constant, even with the weight of urban driving. For a fairly large SUV, that’s a respectable figure.

One slight fly in the ointment is that the Apple CarPlay feature on the R-Link infotainment system has given up the ghost. When connecting my phone via the cable, nothing appears in the Media menu. I can still stream music via Bluetooth, but it’s the other capabilities - particularly the phone and the ability to read out texts - that I’m missing.

Time to head to the nearest dealer, I think...

Craig Thomas

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY electric vehicle charging Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

accident management Selsia

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

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

Volvo V90 D4 Momentum THE other week, while upstairs in my office, my phone went off. Via my iPhone’s On Call app, the V90 was politely reminding me that, when I’d rushed out to grab something from the glovebox, I’d left it unlocked. I barely had to move to rectify this; you can lock the car from the app, too.

It’s funny how quickly you get used to this sort of convenience. But I’ve made the most of being able to control the car via my smartphone during the winter. Mostly for comfort; sending it navigation destinations means I can just get in and go, and I can pre-set the cabin temperature from my bed. I can also check it’s locked without waving a key out of the window and looking out for flashing lights.

Actually, I’ve barely scratched the surface.

On Call has bugged me to top up the washer 56 / fleetworld.co.uk

SMR fluid, and will remind about maintenance, but I’ve yet to need any. And I can download spreadsheets showing all my journeys during the last 100 days, including fuel use and start and end points (though not the route I’ve taken), but so far I’ve only done so for curiosity’s sake. A neat feature, nonetheless.

The other half of this is the car’s on-board modem. It gives me a WiFi connection fast enough to stream HD video (or, more importantly, download podcasts quickly), underpins accurate traffic information and – amusingly – lets me send myself voice memos from the passenger seat. Thankfully, though, the car can remind me of most things without even lifting a finger. Bliss.

Alex Grant

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

driver licence checking TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk Chevin Fleet Solutions Tel: 01773 821 992 www.chevinfleet.com

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.licence2check.co.uk

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

daily rental

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

risk management

Nexus Vehicle Rental 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

fleet management software Sofico NV

Tel: 01905 887884

Tel:+3292018040

www.soficoservices.com

www.bespokedrivertraining.com help@bespokedrivertraining.com Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com 0845 2172 608 daysfleet.com

ALD Automotive Tel: 0370 00 111 81 www.aldautomotive.co.uk

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

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

Tel: 01484 551060 www.virtualriskmanager.net

Thrifty Car & Van Rental Tel: 01494 751 550 www.thrifty.co.uk

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RLD FLEETW of Michael O’Shea

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

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Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

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uk .uk o.u o ld.co.uk fleetwor

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

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

Telephone 0113 250 0060

www.jct600vehicleleasingsolutions.co.uk

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

fleet management sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk fuel management BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Fleet Operations Ltd Tel: 0844 567 8000

Tel: 01792 222133 www.daysrental.co.uk

www.fleetoperations.co.uk

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731 www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

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

fleet consultancy

PVS Ltd Tel: 01278 550270

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

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

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk telematics & tracking Fleetmatics Tel: 0800 975 4566 www.fleetmatics.co.uk

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk

Tel: 0870 013 6663

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

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

www.quartix.net

Airmax Remote Limited Tel: 0333 358 3488 www.airmaxremote.com

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

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

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

Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk CanTrack Global Ltd Tel: 01908 330385 www.cantrack.com

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

vehicle CCTV & safety Parksafe Automotive Tel: 01773 746591

www.parksafeautomotive.com fleetworld.co.uk / 57

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For all your fleet electric vehicle needs and to stay up to date with the latest news and developments, visit

evfleetworld.co.uk @EVFleetWorld

EV Fleet World

VAN

March 2018

FLEETW RLD

at a glance SPOTLIGHT Renault Master Z.E.

INTERVIEW James Douglas of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

REVEALED New Sprinter

vanfleetworld.co.uk

i nbusiness

Updates unveiled at Geneva show

P

eugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall have revealed the appearance of the next generation Partner, Berlingo and Combo vans, or at least they have in their peo‐ ple‐carrying versions. The Peugeot Rifter, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show points the way to the new Partner that will be launched later this year, while the Vauxhall Combo Life proves that Vauxhall will move from the previ‐ ous Fiat Doblo platform, to base its next compact van on new parent company PSA’s Partner and Berlingo.

While instantly recognisable from the outside, the three boast an all new inte‐ rior that, in passenger car form at least,

boasts a host of new technology. This in‐ cludes a central touchscreen monitor, head‐up display, forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking.

There will be two body lengths, but this time around it looks like they will be based on different wheelbases, which should boost carrying performance. As people carriers, the vans come with a choice of 1.2‐litre petrol engines or 1.5‐ litre BlueHDi diesel motors, with the op‐ tion of an eight‐speed automatic transmission on the diesel. We’ll have to wait a while to see de initive light com‐ mercial speci ications and prices.

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

New Cross Climates

Michelin has extended its Cross Climate tyre range to include vans and light trucks. The Agilis Cross Climate is a summer tyre with full winter capability. It is said to offer all-weather safety with high mileages and strong damage resistance.

“The Agilis CrossClimate solves the problem of wintry conditions bringing a van or light truck fleet to its knees in the UK and Ireland,” said Jonathan Layton, Michelin’s head of fleet in the UK and Ireland.

“It also eradicates the expense of buying different sets of winter and summer tyres – which, given the relatively mild climate across great swathes of the country in winter, can be an unwanted outlay for fleet managers.

CoolKit offers Melform

NEC to host CV Show 2018

T

he Commercial Vehicle Show re‐ turns to the NEC in Birmingham from April 24‐26, with a host of new and improved vans and services on display.

The annual event is the biggest commer‐ cial vehicle show in the UK, attracting around 21,000 visitors a year. Exhibitors include vehicle manufacturers and con‐ verters, telematics and leet manage‐ ment providers and a host of support businesses. There is a dedicated Cool Zone for those working in refrigerated transport, while the Workshop section provides a shop window for the after‐ market sector.

Highlights for van buyers this year in‐ clude new Ford Transit Custom, Connect and Courier models, rear and all‐wheel

60 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

drive derivatives of the new Volkswagen Crafter, a new SsangYong Musso pickup and much more. Van Fleet World and Vans A2Z will be present throughout the show, with a stand in Hall 4.

CoolKit has secured the UK and Ireland distribution rights for the Italianmade Melform range of insulated and temperature-controlled containers. Melform produces a range of insulated containers from 20 litres right up to 1,350 litres capacity. Temperature control is available either by electrically powered refrigeration, through rechargeable batteries or through rechargeable eutectic plates.

The containers are suitable for a range of temperature-controlled operations, including chilled and frozen foods, biomed supplies and industrial catering.

1,000th van delivered

Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has taken delivery of its 1,000th vehicle from local Mercedes-Benz dealer Intercounty Truck & Van in Wellingborough. Since 2008 the company has ordered 851 Sprinter vans, three Vitos and 11 smaller Citan vans, along with a number of larger delivery trucks.

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New Models

New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Mercedes-Benz takes the wraps off the third-generation Sprinter, the most advanced van to date, says Dan Gilkes.

U

rbanisation, digitalisation and versatility have been the main drivers in the design and development of the latest Mercedes‐Benz Sprinter. With more than 3.4m Sprinters sold around the world since the launch of the second‐generation van in 1995, Mercedes has done everything it can to ensure that the Sprinter success story continues.

That means new drivetrain options, including front‐wheel drive and a nine‐speed automatic transmission for the irst time. It means unprecedented connectivity, with an on‐board internet connection and in‐house development of tracking and telematics systems. It means an electric version, for zero‐emission last‐mile deliveries. It also seems certain that Mercedes’ customers will be working much more closely with the manufacturer and its dealers in the future.

Despite the option of LED headlights and daytime lights, the new van is easily recognisable as a Sprinter from the outside. The changes are far more noticeable inside the cab, where a completely new dash now incorporates the MBUX multimedia system recently unveiled on the irm’s A‐class cars.

There have been developments under the bodywork too. The traditional rear‐wheel drive layout has been retained, with a choice of three 2.1‐litre diesel engines delivering 114bhp, 143bhp and 163bhp, along with a 3.0‐litre V6 that puts out 190bhp. However, Mercedes has also developed the 2.1‐litre engine to work with a front‐drive layout, where it offers 114bhp or 143bhp. The engine can also be ordered with 177bhp when supplied for motorhome conversion.

The rear‐drive vans get a choice of six‐speed manual or the irm’s seven‐speed 7G‐Tronic Plus automatic transmission. For the front‐ drivers there is also a six‐speed manual on offer, alongside a new nine‐speed automatic box. All‐wheel drive remains an option, based on the rear‐wheel drive models. Rear‐driven Sprinters will bene it from 37,000‐mile/two‐year service intervals, while front‐driven vans will need to visit the dealer after 24,000‐miles/two‐years.

62 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

From 2019, there will also be a full EV electric version of the front‐wheel drive van. This provides a payload of up to 1‐tonne within an 11m3 body. The eSprinter will come with scalable battery packs, that sit beneath the load loor and the option of AC or DC rapid charging.

The front‐wheel drive Sprinter will be offered in three weight variants, from 3.0‐4.1‐tonnes GVW, while rear‐drive models will get a top weight of up to 5.5‐tonnes. There will be three wheelbases, three roof heights and four body lengths available on panel vans, taking maximum load volume to 17m3. Front drive models will be around 50kg lighter than RWD vans, offering a load loor that is 80mm lower. Chassis cabs, in single and crew cab layouts, will also be offered with a wide range of wheelbases.

For the irst time Mercedes will offer the front‐drive Sprinter as a ‘traction head’ which is basically the front of a chassis cab that can be integrated into a full van conversion. This has primarily been designed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing motorhome market, but will also suit minibus and coach builders.

However, commercial use remains the main focus for Sprinter and Mercedes has developed a host of connectivity and operational systems to create what it is calling the irst holistic solution for urban logistics. Through the internet connection and Mercedes PRO applications, Sprinter will be offered with eight connectivity packages at launch. These will include Vehicle Supervision, Vehicle Operations, Fleet Communications, Maintenance Management and Accident Recovery packs, along with a digital driver’s logbook.

These systems will be integrated with the new multimedia system, MBUX, which can be supplied with a 10.25” touchscreen display in the new cab layout. Drivers can also interact with MBUX through voice control, using keywords and everyday speech.

The order books are open, ahead of a irst media drive in April.

Customer vans are expected to start to arrive in the UK by May, with a steady changeover from old model to new throughout 2018.

INTERVIEW James Douglas, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Crafted service James Douglas, head of sales operations at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, tells Dan Gilkes of LCV growth opportunities and aspirations.

V

olkswagen Commercial Vehicles is looking forward to a year of growth in the UK, despite industry predictions that the overall van market will continue its slight decline. The company, which sold more than 41,600 LCVs in the UK last year, or 46,300 when you add in people‐carrying Caravelles, retained its number two position behind Ford, with a market share of 11.5%.

“We’re quite bullish about this year,” said head of sales opera‐ tions James Douglas.

“Our order take in January was ahead of target and our volume is forecast to be slightly up this year, with more Amarok, more Caravelle and new versions of Crafter. Crafter is the big opportunity.”

In contrast to the coming 12 months, Volkswagen had predicted a drop in sales last year, as it pulled back from the fast turnover rental market with Caddy and experienced restricted supply with Amarok. It was also a changeover year for the irm’s biggest van, with new Crafter variants arriving throughout 2018. However, while the company had expected a drop in Transporter registra‐ tions, a number of opportunities resulted in T6 growth, in retail and SME markets, as well as in leet. The RAC, for example, recently ordered 300 Transporters, all equipped with Volkswagen’s DSG automated transmission.

“We’d always planned to sell fewer vehicles in 2017 and our performance was strong and extremely controlled. But we had an opportunity to do more Transporters,” said Douglas.

“We will grow in 2018, but we won’t chase sales.”

Volkswagen will however be having a lot of discussions with large van buyers, as the broader mix of Crafter models, with front and rear‐wheel drive, will allow dealers to target new customers and market segments.

“Crafter is a huge focus for us, even though it’s a sector that is not currently growing,” said Douglas.

“The opportunity is huge and we have aspirations. We are an 11‐12% market share brand.”

The company has been preparing for Crafter’s arrival with a growing network of converters ready to work on the new van. As around 50% of Crafters will have some form of conversion work, Douglas sees this as critical to the van’s success.

“We have built the infrastructure to supply pretty much what‐ ever the customer wants,” he said.

“Conversion work is the most striking area of complexity that the leet market experiences and it’s important the customer can see what the commitment from us is. We need to adapt our sales proposition to meet the needs of the customer.

“The network is good, but I need it to be excellent. We want to

be a supplier of choice for every business,” said Douglas.

Volkswagen currently has 71 Van Centres, plus 26 after‐sales sites, across the UK. While that network offers strong geograph‐ ical coverage, Douglas is keen to develop bespoke after‐sales packages to suit individual customers and has appointed a leet aftersales manager to develop this area and to offer national‐ grade sales support agreements. Volkswagen has also created an uptime focus team in Leeds, working with its roadside assis‐ tance team, to further improve the company’s response times.

There are currently ten mobile service vans operating in the UK network and that number will double by the end of 2018.

They won’t all be Crafter‐based either, the company is looking at service technicians in Transporters and even Caddys, to suit operating areas and customer needs.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is certainly putting in the work behind the scenes to support the arrival of new Crafter and to meet the needs of its customers in a diverse range of business sectors. Further growth in 2018 is perhaps not so surprising as a result.

James Douglas, head of sales operations, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 63

VFW SPOTLIGHT Renault Master Z.E.

Electrification Renault is to launch a full electric version of the Master van, with UK sales in the third quarter of this year. The Master Z.E. will be available as a panel van in two wheelbases and two roof heights, offering load volumes of 8-13m3. There will also be L2 and L3 versions of the Master as a platform cab for conversions.

Electric drive Master Z.E. uses the second-generation lithium-ion 33kWh battery from the latest Kangoo Z.E. 33. This drives the 57kW R75 electric motor from the firm’s Zoe electric car, giving the van a proven driveline. The top speed is 62mph and Renault claims a real-life driving range of around 74 miles (NEDC 124 miles).

There is an Eco mode, that limits performance and top speed, which is said to extend the operating range further.

The van is equipped with a range of recharging options. A domestic 2.3kW plug will require up to 17-hours for a full top-up, while a 7.4kW wall box can provide a full charge in just six hours.

Fleet connection Renault has also introduced Easy Connect for Fleet with Master Z.E. This is a data module that can be ordered with the van or that can be retrofit on Renault vans up to 10-years old. Initially using the on-board diagnostic port, but moving to the vehicle’s CAN system in the future, Easy Connect for Fleet provides all of the van’s operating data to a range of approved telematics suppliers, including Telogis and TomTom, making it easier for fleet managers to access real-time operating information.

64 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Last-mile delivery

FLEET FACT

Unlike the competition, Renault has set the van’s gross weight at 3.1tonnes, rather than 3.5 or the new 4.2-tonne limit for an e-LCV. The company believes that the majority of last-mile delivery companies value load volume over weight.

That said, the 8m3 van offers a healthy 1,128kg payload and even the 13m3 van delivers 975kg of loadcarrying ability.

The battery packs are installed below the standard load body floor, so there is no loss of load area and with front wheel drive the Master Z.E. retains a low load floor.

Prices will start at £53,500 for the smallest platform cab, before the Plug-in Van Grant.

Unlike Kangoo Z.E. Renault will only sell the van with the battery as a complete deal, there will be no battery rental option.

In the cab The Master cab is unchanged, offering a comfortable working environment with plenty of options to tailor the interior to your individual needs. Master Z.E. has an automatic transmission lever to control the drive and there is a small button by the gear lever to vary the amount of regenerative braking.

The dash is also changed to that of the Kangoo Z.E. with a battery level meter and an economy gauge.

For van’s equipped with Renault’s RLink infotainment system, the My Z.E. Connect app allows the driver to view range on a smartphone or computer, while My Trip locates recharging points.

what we think...

It is perhaps a sign of how good the van’s driveline is, that you can forget you are driving an e-LCV in an urban environment. Master Z.E. has more than enough acceleration to keep pace with city and inter-urban traffic and the van happily pulls a half load on more scenic roads. DG

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 65

VAN

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics & Tracking

FLEETW W RLD R

Airmax Remote Limited

In-car Cleverness

Working with both large and smaller fleets, our range of innovative solutions are tailored to help our customers to Reduce Cost, Reduce Risk and Improve Environmental Footprint.

Key features of our services include Driver Profiling, Mapbased journey and route optimisation, Stolen Vehicle recovery, Fuel Efficiency reporting, Vehicle Diagnostics, Driver Expense & Mileage Management and our Blue Light specialist products.

Our system provides tailored Software to our customers using a mixture of location based services and vehicle CANbus data. With a proven track record, installing 250,000 systems since 1986, our robust system is tailored for simple and quick deployment.

In-car Cleverness is an innovative telematics solution from the Accident Exchange Group of companies, offering an established and robust service for all vehicle types, which draws on over a decade of real-world application in keeping fleets running efficiently, economically and safely.

The fully interchangeable In-car Cleverness device, paired with customisable software, generates digestible insights on tailored metrics from driver behaviour analysis, fuel consumption and mileage and everything in between.

To keep downtime and maintenance costs in check, In-car Cleverness also gives the mechanic’s view on condition with regular databased alerts, with the added reassurances of a full digital accident reconstruction facility, 24/7 support and apps for iPhone and Android.

Contact: Dan Faulkner sales@airmaxremote.com

Tel: 0333 358 3488 www.airmaxremote.com

Contact: Paul O’Dowd Tel: 01675 435 169 / 07824 143561 paul.o'dowd@incarcleverness.co.uk www.onboard.co.uk

Ctrack Ctrack, an Inseego company, is one of the leading providers of vehicle tracking and telematics systems with more than one million units deployed with fleet customers worldwide. The company has become partner of choice for a wide range of private and public sector customers, helping overcome some of the most common and difficult challenges facing the fleet sector.

Ctrack delivers real advantage by enabling fleets of all sizes to address business critical performance issues as a result of greater operational visibility, control and efficiency. Some of the many benefits of Ctrack include: Improve fuel efficiency; validate overtime claims, eliminate unauthorised vehicle use; better driver behaviour, increase jobs per day; enhance service levels; reduce environmental impact; and achieve Duty of Care and legislative compliance.

Contact: Steve Thomas, Managing Director Tel: 0345 055 8555 Steve.thomas@ctrack.co.uk www.ctrack.co.uk

MiX Telematics MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to more than 663,000 subscribers in over 120 countries. The company’s products and services provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for efficiency, safety, compliance and security. MiX Telematics was founded in 1996 and has offices in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil, Australia and the United Arab Emirates as well as a network of more than 130 fleet partners worldwide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT). For more information, visit www.mixtelematics.co.uk.

Contact: Jonathan Bates, Marketing Director Tel: 0121 717 5360 jonathan.bates@mixtelematics.com www.mixtelematics.co.uk

TomTom Telematics

Tracker

Vision Track

TomTom Telematics is one of the world’s leading telematics solution providers dedicated to fleet management, vehicle telematics and connected car services. The company’s WEBFLEET Software-as-a-Service solution is used by small to large businesses to improve vehicle performance, save fuel, support drivers and increase overall fleet efficiency.

With more than 809,000 subscriptions worldwide, the company has the industry’s strongest local support network and widest range of sector-specific third party applications and integrations. More than 49,000 customers benefit every day from the high standards of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified service, re-audited in November 2016.

TRACKER is the UK’s number one supplier of stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) tracking services. With over a million market leading security and award winning telematics systems fitted to vehicles including passenger cars, motorcycles, HGVs, LCVs and plant and construction equipment, TRACKER is still leading the way. It is the only SVR company that has a direct relationsip with the UK police force and has to date recovered over £500 million worth of stolen vehicles and continues to recover on average £1 million worth of stolen vehicles each month. TRACKER is part of the Tantalum Corporation, one of Europe’s top ‘connected vehicle’ companies, ranked 14th in the 2015 and 2016 Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100.

VisionTrack, Europe’s leading cloud-based video telematics provider has a range of innovative products to deliver visual insights into driver behaviour in addition to traditional telematics data. Its GDPR compliant IoT platform is hosted on the Microsoft-Azure cloud for maximum data security and resilience.

For fleet customers, its technology encourages good driver behaviour, enhanced duty of care and reduces fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. It helps boost productivity and responsible use of assets. Its next generation camera product range, supported by an advanced fleet tracking platform, includes our flagship VT2000 connected-camera which transmits footage within seconds of an event or panic activation.

Contact: Beverley Wise Tel: 0208 822 3605 uk.business@tomtom.com telematics.tomtom.com

66 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Tel: 0808 509 0909 business@tracker.co.uk www.tracker.co.uk

Contact: Richard Lane Tel: 07825 388318 rlane@visiontrack.com www.visiontrack.com

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

Is it possible to fit sensors to load area doors to detect unauthorised cargo area access?

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

Does your system alert the controller if vehicles stray from their pre-set route?

Can the Police locate the stolen vehicle using your system?

Does your system offer two-way communication/job dispatch facility?

Does your system offer driver behaviour analysis?

Does your management software offer real-time accurate arrival times?

Does your management software offer dashboard reporting?

Does your system take live & real time information direct from the vehicle’s onboard management system such as idle time & RPM?

Do you provide web services for third party integration?

Do you offer a management app/web tool for smartphones or tablets?

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VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW W RLD R daily rental SHB Hire Ltd Tel: 01794 511458 www.shb.co.uk

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

contract hire, leasing & finance

van liners

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

United Vanliners Ltd Tel: 01778 561900 www.unitedvanliners.co.uk

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

accident management Selsia

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

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

fleet management software Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk

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

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

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

Tel: 01792 222133 www.daysrental.co.uk

driver licence checking

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731 www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

fuel management ALD Automotive Tel: 0370 00 111 81 www.aldautomotive.co.uk

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

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk telematics & tracking

Nexus Vehicle Rental 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com

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

fleet management Fleet Operations Ltd Tel: 0844 567 8000

www.fleetoperations.co.uk

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

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk

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

AMBER CONNECT Tel: 01789 774413 www.amberconnect.co.uk

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

www.quartix.net

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

Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

Tel: 0870 013 6663

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 67

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