Fleet World September 2012 by Fleet World Group

The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

September 2012

FLEETW RLD

The leading monthly magazine for fleet decision-makers

September 2012

FLEETW RLD fleetworld.co.uk

RECRUITMENT For the lastest recruitment vacancies, visit fleetworld.co.uk

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

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

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Contents

The Office of Fair Trading has announced it is going to investigate the price of fuel. Blimey, they’ve been on a very long lunch break haven’t they? Suspected as one of the most disgraceful episodes in retailing, the fast rising, slow dropping prices of forecourt fuel might at last be coming under some independent scrutiny. The road fuel sector in this country is estimated to be worth around £32bn, the OFT reckons, and petrol prices rose by 38% between June 2007 and June 2012, while diesel prices went up by 43% over the same period. At a very, very simplistic level, crude barrel prices were roughly $80 in 2007, and $95 currently, with Brent crude having reached nearly $150 in 2008. In fairness to the oil companies, it’s been an incredibly volatile time. But are they exploiting that for their own gain, at our loss? The issue for the OFT is whether, when the prices come down, the oil firms act with the same keenness and alacrity as they do when barrel prices go up. The oil companies will no doubt lament their lot. After all, BP, currently the weakest of the global giants after its trouble in the Gulf of Mexico and Russia has seen profits plunge to less than $4 billion in the last year. Many oil firms have claimed that supplying the forecourt runs at a loss, and when barrel prices fall and consumers claim they’re not seeing the same trend on the forecourts, they usually roll out the reason that there is a delay between wholesale and retail prices. But is that delay then a bit more delayed, giving them a bigger margin than they should have for longer? Whether the OFT will find anything, or whether the oil companies have been operating with integrity and scrupulous price fairness, we shall find out in due time. But don’t hold your breath that much will change.

04 A month in fleet 10 Fleet World Barometer Making sense of the eet surveys this month

12 Comment 18 Driven Ford B-MAX // Honda CR-V // Merc C-Class

26 Spotlight Eagerly-awaited all-new Mazda6.

28 Paris highlights We preview the future stars of eet at the 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile.

36 Is fleet ageing? Analysing the effects of longer running cycles on the eet market.

42 To buy or lease 48 Interview Jeff Guyton at Mazda Motors Europe.

50 Selling 52 Fleet Academy 54 Market Overview Risk Management.

57 SWOT Team New Mazda CX-5 vs rivals...

62 Fleet Update 67 VAN Fleet World Vivaro ecoFLEX // Transit // Fuel Management

72 MPG Marathon 2012 Your last chance to take part in next month’s event.

82 NUM8ER5 G4ME The eet month in gures.

26 36 48 76

Steve Moody Editor

September 2012

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

FLEETS ADVISED TO REVIEW FUEL CLAIMS FOLLOWING AFR FREEZE HMRC’s decision to hold Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) at their current level despite price rises means fleets should review claims policies, experts have said. The rates, which are used to reimburse company car drivers for business mileage, are to be held at the same level as the last quarter despite rising fuel prices. In its latest fuel price update the AA reported a 2.5% increase in UK pump prices over the last month. Speaking after the HMRC announcement, Paul Jackson, managing director of fuel and mileage management specialists TMC, said: ‘There is bound to be some reaction from drivers against the decision to hold the AFR rates just as fuel prices are once again hitting their wallets. Nevertheless, this is the result of consistent application of HMRC’s methodology. ‘Businesses should always bear in mind that the AFRs are only intended as a convenient guideline to the maximum amounts that drivers can claim for fuel, without supporting evidence from mileage loss and purchase receipts, without incurring liability for Benefit-in-Kind tax.’ The firm advocates that businesses actually look at what is being spent on fuel, rather than settling on Government guidelines. Jackson added: ‘In practice, many fleets require drivers to settle their fuel claims on an actual cost basis, as this eliminates any arguments over the fairness of mileage rates. There are further advantages to going down the actual cost route via an automated mileage capture process: better management information, less paperwork around expenses settlement and (as long as there are effective audit controls in place) records that are fully compliant with HMRC requirements.’

Engine size

Petrol

LPG

1400cc or less

15p

10p

1401cc to 2000cc

18p

12p

Over 2000cc

26p

17p

Engine size

Diesel

1600cc or less

12p

1601cc to 2000cc

15p

Over 2000cc

18p

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CONFIDENTIAL

HONDA HEAD OF FLEET TAKES NEW ROLE AT GLASS'S Honda UK’s head of corporate operations, Ed Hummel (right), has left his post leading the fleet team after 18 months, and will join Glass’s as UK sales director from an unconfirmed date. Hummel’s role at Honda has been centred on re-establishing the carmaker in the fleet market, although the lack of a small diesel Civic, a soon to be replaced CR-V and slow sales of the Accord have hampered efforts. Honda UK managing director, Dave Hodgetts, said: ‘I'd like to thank Ed for his great contribution to Honda over the last 18 months, he has been instrumental in building Honda’s presence in the fleet market. His new post at Glass’s is an excellent opportunity and I wish him every success for the future.’ Hummel added: ‘I will be leaving Honda with some very fond memories. Over the past 18 months I’ve worked with a great team and had the pleasure to launch the new version of the iconic Civic. I know Honda has a very exciting future with some brilliant products set to be launched over the next couple of years – I will be keeping a close eye on their progress.’ A successor will be announced soon.

HERTZ BUYS THRIFTY FOR £1.45BN Hertz is expecting bigger discounts from car manufacturers thanks to the economies of scale generated by its purchase of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group for $2.3 billion (£1.45bn). The deal, which has been subject to much industry rumour for years, will see Hertz Global Holdings acquire the Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental operations. Dollar Thrifty currently has 91 locations across the UK, although it is not yet known what will happen to these branches once the merger is complete. The move will see Hertz badged as the premium choice for business travellers, while Dollar occupies the middle ground and Thrifty focuses on the value end of the rental market. Hertz says it will benefit from improved economies of scale, in part by being able to get better deals on higher volumes of new cars from car manufacturers. The company will also get access to more rental locations. Dollar Thrifty says it will be able to expand its low-budget car rental operations to more regions. The two companies are now working with the trade bodies in the US, where both have headquarters. to ensure they can obtain regulatory approval for the merger. The boards of both Hertz and Dollar Thrifty have already approved the deal.

Ford NEWS

inbrief B-MAX fuel efficiency sets new standards B-MAX brings new standards of fuel efficiency to its class. The 2012 International Engine of the Year 1.0litre EcoBoost petrol engine is available in 100PS and 120PS versions, with the 120PS engine achieving CO2 emissions of 114g/km and 57.7mpg. B-MAX is also available with 95PS 1.6-litre and 75PS 1.5-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, each offering outstanding fuel efficiency; the 1.6-litre model delivers CO2 emissions of just 104g/km and 70.6mpg and the 1.5-litre achieves 68.9mpg.

Ford B-MAX offers the “perfect solution”... THE new Ford B-MAX is brilliant; and who says so? British motoring journalists who make their living assessing and writing about every new car to reach the market. The versatile B-MAX was described by Sun motoring editor Ken Gibson as “the most family-friendly small car I’ve driven,” and he added: “Ford have, literally, opened the door to the perfect solution, offering supermini drivers the interior space and practicality of an estate car, but at half the price. Brilliant.” It was described by The Independent as “an exceptionally appealing product,” and both What Car? and Auto Express gave it five stars out of five. What Car? said: “In every respect the B-MAX represents Ford at its brilliant best.” Auto Express said the B-MAX catered brilliantly for the small MPV buyer and was great to drive, adding: “Strong prices, decent kit levels and low running costs are the icing on this very tasty cake.” Autocar described the B-MAX as “a powerful contender among small MPVs,” and said “It seems more than likely we have a new class leader.” BBC Top Gear described it as “excellent and eminently practical.”

Ford increases share Ford’s best-ever vehicle range has helped the company increase its share of the UK fleet car market from 15.4 per cent in the first seven months of 2011 to 15.9 per cent in the same period this year. “The combination of Ford’s bestever vehicle range, latest fuel-efficient diesel and EcoBoost petrol engines, improving residual values and the power of the UK’s largest dealer network has seen Ford’s fleet business go from strength-tostrength,” said Ford fleet director Kevin Griffin.

...whilst being easily accessible THE B-MAX features a unique design, unrivalled fuel economy and small car technology among the most advanced in Europe. Its Ford Easy Access Door System provides unobstructed entry and exit with hinged front doors and sliding rear doors integrating the central body pillars. It sets a new benchmark for stylish, compact and cityfriendly cars, raising the bar with Ford’s fun-to-drive brand DNA, premium levels of comfort and refinement and a high-quality interior. The spacious interior features high quality, contemporary materials which emphasise detailed craftsmanship and finish, with a particular focus on achieving world-class fits with minimal gaps between components.

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

Ford News Feature // 05

*This interior colour is not available on production B-MAX

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

BVRLA SAFETY RECALL SCHEME TO GO LIVE The free-to-use electronic vehicle safety recall system, ReCare, established by online solutions provider Ebbon-Dacs in conjunction with the BVRLA, is set to go live this month. The scheme was announced last September after the BVRLA appointed Oxford-based online solutions provider, Ebbon-Dacs, as technology partner to deliver a standardised, free-to-use recall system for its members, who own and operate more than 2.5m vehicles. Almost one million vehicles were subject to a vehicle safety recall notification in the UK in 2010, leaving leasing companies with rising costs in administering and managing the range of paper and digital recall notifications they receive from motor manufacturers. The new system will provide a single location for all manufacturers to list their safety recall notifications. BVRLA members or their appointed agents can then retrieve the information by inputting their own fleet data for comparison purposes. The new system shows all vehicles that are subject to a new safety recall notification and highlights those fleet vehicles with outstanding recalls to their fleet operator. It also has the potential to cover non-safety recalls. Steve Molyneux, head of commercial of the Leaselink International division of Ebbon-Dacs, said: ‘There has been a generally wide recognition of the benefits the project can bring and a strong desire to contribute to it from all parties we have worked with. ‘Our primary objective in introducing this new ”standard” on behalf of the BVRLA has always been to simplify the process and reduce the administrative burden fleet operators face in handling vehicle recalls. ‘We believe that in delivering this system on time and to the preagreed parameters, it will lead to greater efficiency, lower costs and faster safety recall handling in future,’ he added.

CONFIDENTIAL

ACCEPTANCE GROWING FOR SAFETY CAMERAS, SAYS IAM STUDY

Public acceptance of safety cameras is on the rise, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists, but most believe speed awareness courses are the answer. According to its survey, 16% of motorists think speed cameras are not acceptable, compared to 30% five years ago. The results showed 82% of those surveyed believe safety cameras are an acceptable way to police speeding motorists, and 85% said they thought the units were a contributing factor to the fall in road deaths since the 1990s. But cynicism remains, with 45% saying they thought raising revenue was the main reason for their usage. Responses also showed widespread acceptance of training, rather than fines, as a way to improve road safety – 72% agreed that speed awareness courses were a good idea. IAM chief executive Simon Best, said: ‘Simply catching and fining drivers does not change drivers’ awareness of the hazards of excessive speed. The popularity of speed awareness courses show that the public think training is the best option.’

ProFleet2 One day, everyone will expect to have this information

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PUMP PRICES CLIMBING AGAIN

INBRIEF

Petrol and diesel pump prices across the UK have risen by around 2.5% in the past month, after oil prices continued to rise from a summer low of $90 a barrel to $114 at present, The AA has claimed in its recent Fuel Report. Tighter supermarket competition has limited some of the impact for now, but substantial wholesale price increases point to even higher prices if the trend continues. Unleaded prices have risen by 3.3ppl from 132.2ppl to 135.5ppl. Diesel prices have risen by 3.1ppl from 137.3ppl to 140.4ppl. The price difference between unleaded and diesel has fallen to 4.9ppl. East Anglia recorded the highest price for unleaded at 136.1ppl. Yorkshire and Humberside recorded the lowest price for unleaded at 135.0ppl. The South West and Wales recorded the highest diesel price at 140.9ppl. Yorkshire and Humberside has the cheapest diesel at 140.0ppl. Supermarket prices for unleaded rose by 3.2ppl to 133.0ppl. The gap between supermarket prices and the UK average for unleaded has risen to 2.5ppl. The UK has the eighth highest petrol price in Europe and the highest diesel price.

SKODA BOOSTS FLEET SALES TEAM WITH KEY APPOINTMENT

TYRESAFE LAUNCHES NEW FLEET FILM TyreSafe has launched a new film for businesses explaining how they can significantly reduce their fuel bills and ensure safer driving by correctly maintaining the tyres on their fleet vehicles. It is estimated that more than a third of cars on the UK’s roads have dangerously under-inflated tyres. However, businesses and fleet operators that implement a robust tyre maintenance policy can enjoy lower running costs and ensure their vehicles are as safe to drive as possible, the group reckons. To drive the message home, the short film available to watch at www.tyresafe.org, gives a graphic example of how the higher running costs for just one car can quickly escalate when applied to a typical larger fleet. Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: ‘Businesses have a duty of care to ensure a safe working environment and this extends to the vehicles their staff use for work. ‘If the prospect of a hefty fine wasn’t enough, then the chance to cut running costs must be reason to implement a tyre maintenance programme.’

VOLVO TARGET BUSINESS DRIVERS WITH BUSINESS EDITION MODEL LAUNCH Volvo Cars UK has announced the launch of Business Edition models in the S60, V60 and V70 line-ups with features aimed specifically at the business driver. With a higher level of specification than the outgoing ES and ES Nav variants, which the Business Editions replace, they have been designed to appeal directly to business drivers by combining the right features and equipment, with the Benefit in Kind (BIK) advantages of low CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The Business Editions also boast a reduced price tag of as much as £3,000 compared to the ES which will automatically reduce a driver's annual Benefit-in-Kind tax liability. The S60 Business Edition on-the-road price starts from £19,995 for the T3 version and from £21,195 for the comparative model in the V60 line-up. The V70 D2 Powershift Business Edition starts from £24,995 OTR, representing a £2,925 reduction on the ES model. Volvo national corporate operations manager, Selwyn Cooper, commented: ‘The business community is vitally important to us at Volvo, particularly as we have seen an increase of nearly a third of business users funding a Volvo through our contract hire and leasing facilities in the first six months of this year.’

SKODA UK welcomes a new addition to its Fleet Sales team this month, with the appointment of Luke Golder (above), as fleet sales manager for the South and South East of England. Golder’s appointment sees SKODA boost its team of fleet sales managers from seven to eight – a demonstration of its continued commitment to fleet sales, the firm said. Joining the SKODA UK team from Lombard Vehicle Management, Golder has three years’ experience of fleet management along with a further seven years’ sales experience, having previously worked in the retail department at Royal Bank of Scotland.

AA DRIVETECH APPOINTS NEW FLEET DIRECTOR Simon Stammers has joined AA DriveTech as its new Fleet Director, and will take over from Paul Holmes who has left the company. Commenting on his appointment, Simon Hudson said: ‘As an experienced, and I like to think successful, sales and marketing professional, albeit from a different commercial sector, I know a good product range when I see one. ‘As the new custodian of AA DriveTech's FleetSafe brand I'm in no doubt about the obvious appeal of its award-winning products and highly developed, customer-facing infrastructure. This was a key factor in me taking on the role.’

September 2012

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

in association with

THE STATE OF FUEL STATIONS DRIVERS’ OPINIONS OF FUEL STATION FACILITIES AND SERVICE: UK drivers are seeing longer queues at the pumps – facing queues of over three minutes to fuel up and also topping up much more infrequently. 98% say they are waiting longer to fuel up than they were a few years ago. More than half are seeing an extra three minutes added to their wait time and one in five is waiting for an additional five minutes or more. 56% of shoppers say the prices are too expensive, while half of motorists said forecourt toilets aren’t clean. Toilets were the biggest irritant to shoppers when asked about forecourt shops, with 51% of consumers saying that poor hygiene was an issue, and 53% said they really hate asking for a key. Source: Palmer and Harvey

TELEMATICS A SURVEY OF DRIVERS’ ATTITUDES TO TELEMATICS: 58% of of businesses do not conduct a formal consultation when changing business systems. 43% of staff’s primary concern is the ‘big brother’ element of telmatics. 21% experienced trouble adapting to a change in systems. 18% noted a lack of clarity surrounding the benefits offered by new technology.

fleetworld.co.uk

Source: TomTom

DRINK & DRUG TESTING A FLEET SAFETY FORUM REPORT INTO DRINK AND DRUG TESTING AMONG FLEETS. Nearly six in 10 fleets (57%) do not test drivers for alcohol, and 63% do not test for illegal drugs. Department for Transport figures for crashes involving drink driving during 2011 show that deaths resulting from drink drive crashes increased by 12% from 250 in 2010 to 280 in 2011, and seriously injured casualties rose by 3% from 1,250 to 1,290. Roslyn Cumming, development manager at Brake, said: ‘The DfT’s latest figures confirm what we already know about the devastating effects of drink driving. I’d urge fleet managers to get hold of this Fleet Safety Forum survey report to see how their organisation measures up, and get expert tips on how to avoid a range of risks to safe driving, including alcohol and drug use.’ Source: Brake

DRIVING ECONOMICALLY DRIVERS’ CHANGING HABITS AS A RESULT OF HIGH FUEL PRICES: • Nearly 14 million UK motorists have pledged to drive more economically as a direct result of high fuel costs, according to research from Green Flag breakdown service. • More than a third (39%) of all motorists will avoid behaviours like heavy acceleration and sudden breaking to help minimise their fuel consumption. • 41% are cutting back on the number of journeys they make and 11% are making better use of public transport. Miranda Schunke, spokesperson for Green Flag, said: ‘There’s no doubt that the current price, and predicted increase of the cost of fuel in the UK is forcing many people to rethink their driving behaviours. Millions of motorists have vowed to be more economical and the knock-on effect of this is safer roads and reduced emissions, so there is a silver lining.’ Source: Green Flag

FUEL MANAGEMENT HOW MILEAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS COULD SAVE COSTS: • 10% - how much businesses could save fuel costs by by using a mileage management system.

Source: Energy Saving Trust

• £1bn - UK firms are expected to spend up to £10.9bn on fuel for their company vehicle fleets of four million vehicles in 2012, a saving of £1bn. • Carbon emissions cut by 10%, the equivalent of 2.4m tonnes of CO2 emissions, would be the equivalent of a single fleet car driving 374,300 times round the world! The Energy Saving Trust says drivers logging company mileage are incentivised to become more efficient in their fuel consumption. Companies can also use the technology to review the types of vehicles they have in their fleets.

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

September 2012

COMMENT

Spoilt for choice? Curtis Hutchinson Low emissions equating to lower tax for employers and employees is only just filtering through to some fleets’ choice lists, says Motor Trader editor, Curtis Hutchinson.

‘Companies are more inclined than ever to show their green credentials’ 12

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Businesses are tightening up choice lists in a way that has not been seen for a while. The move is often cyclical with companies tending to be relatively hands-off during the good times, while being a little more prescriptive when the economy is less forgiving. The latest quarterly Company Car Trends research from GE Capital’s Fleet Services division showed fleet bosses are more inclined than ever to question and restrict choice. An increasing number of the 250 fleet decision makers questioned are using stricter criteria when it comes to deciding which models will be offered to employees. It's no surprise that cost savings are at the top of company car agendas. Such a clamp down might seem a little draconian, but the savings identified are a two-way street with employees also benefitting financially, even if it means sacrificing the car of their dreams for something more prosaic. A bigger bank balance at the end of the month will be welcomed by most in these straitened times. The findings (see panel) could prove a useful barometer for fleets across the country, especially SMEs sourcing cars from their local main dealers where cost savings could pay significant dividends. They can also be useful means to advise drivers taking cash allowances to fund their own cars. Respondents were asked which criteria were being used to set employee car choice now compared with the first quarter of 2011. Criteria used to set employee car choice Now

Q1 2011

CO2 emissions limit

70%

52%

Fitness for purpose

59%

40%

Maximum monthly rental

58%

40%

Safety features

21%

19%

Maximum engine capacity

18%

Source: GE Capital Fleet Services

CO2 emissions topped the list in both surveys but by a greater margin this year (70%) than 2011 (52%). While companies are more inclined than ever to show their green credentials this is a clear indication that lower CO2 emissions means lower whole life costs. Other significant increases were fitness for purpose, up from 40% to 59%, and maximum monthly rental rates, up from 40% to 58%. Discussing the findings Gary Killeen, fleet services commercial leader for GE Capital UK, said they clearly showed a shift in thinking: ‘There has been a lot of interest among fleets in re-examining and tightening up their company car choice lists over the last year or so, with employers using them as a direct means of meeting their key fleet objectives. ‘At the heart of this is a desire to reduce expenditure. This is seen in the increased interest in lower CO2 emissions, maximum monthly rentals and maximum engine capacity. These help reduce acquisition and running costs although there is also the advantage that most will reduce your carbon footprint.’ Franchised dealers have a good understanding of the importance of CO2 emissions, and recent years have seen them increasing stock and selling cars according to this, after all car manufacturers have worked hard to reduce the CO2 levels. Retail customers are more likely than ever before to ask about CO2 emissions as a way of driving down the road tax costs in what has become a progressively harsh VED regime. The same applies to user-choosers who are now fully aware of their exposure to CO2 related BiK tax and could do a lot worse than to visit their local dealer when their car comes up for renewal to see which are the most tax efficient and practical models available. A dealer test drive may even convince doubters that the current generation of low emission, high output engines also deliver performance.

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I OR ES N I T UD O CL M IN YLE T -S

Real-Time Vehicle Tracking

COMMENT

What goes on tour… The Insider Our tame fleet manager is crossing his fingers as cars and drivers head across the continent on holiday.

’Our company policy is clear on what drivers need to do and be aware of when they go abroad’

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As summer draws to a close, I reflect on another season of company drivers taking touring holidays abroad, and bringing their cars safely home again. In principle, we don’t have a problem with our cars going abroad. The trouble is, so many drivers plan to take the car abroad and think only to ask at the last minute whether this is allowed, and what they need to do. And, of course, there are occasions when it’s a business trip arranged at very short notice and they want to leave tomorrow. Drivers must apply to the lease company for a VE103, and take an insurance certificate with them, and pay for overseas breakdown cover. Then there are the headlight deflectors, hi-viz jackets, warning triangle, spare bulb set, spare pairs of glasses, spare keys and this year’s new speciality, the two breathalyser kits required for France. Notwithstanding the necessity to get the lease company to perform at short notice, I can also sense the driver’s eyes glazing over as I mention the list of other items they need – oh yes, at their cost. And the added detail, such as no sat navs with camera detectors built in please, a reminder that the hi-viz jackets need to be in the seating compartment of the car and not the boot, and that the breathalyser kits need to be based on French law not the UK’s more lenient standard, is all just too much for them to take in. The caravanners appear to be more organised, understanding that our insurance covers the car and third party towing risks, but not the caravan nor its contents. They know they need to arrange their own breakdown cover for the caravan too but even this is no longer simple, as some companies are refusing to cover vans longer than seven metres. And seven metres is a fairly average length in this day and age. Whe all this stuff is in order, things are just fine. It’s when things don’t go according to plan

that the problems start. And we’ve had our fair share of those over the years. There was the car written off in an accident, fortunately with no damage to any of the people involved. The lease company sent a breakdown service to recover the bits to the UK, but there were some interesting discussions between them and the insurer about who paid for that. Another chap took the sump off his car when he ran over a boulder. The breakdown service paid for a hire car for the remainder of his holiday, which was really great. But they wouldn’t let him bring the hire car back to the UK. Given he and his family were renting a self-catering villa and had taken the proverbial kitchen sink with them, he was puzzling over how to get all his family and belongings home via train from Calais. Eventually I suggested he pay a friend to drive a large car from the UK to Calais to meet him, which worked just fine. Another driver had a head-on collision with a local when he inadvertently forgot to drive on the right, putting someone in hospital, and resulting in a drawn out court case and insurance claim. There have been the odd on the spot fines for speeding – one of which was inexplicably reimbursed to the offender six months later, but as yet, nothing has been impounded for any contraband offences or other naughtiness. I daresay there have been a few close shaves on roundabouts too, given the French preponderance for driving all the way around the outside lane regardless of which exit they want. Such a strange habit. Like any well-run fleet, our company policy is clear on what drivers need to do and be aware of when they go abroad, and it’s published prominently on the company intranet. But as ever, it’s getting drivers to look at the intranet and act upon it which is the most difficult bit. I’m sure I’ve said that before. Any ideas anyone?

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DRIVEN

Ford B-MAX Neat packaging makes Ford’s compact SUV a great workhorse, says Alex Grant. SECTOR Compact MPV PRICE £12,995 – £18,895 FUEL 44.1 – 70.6mpg CO2 104 – 149g/km Filling the shoes of the Fusion, but with a lot more style on its side, Ford says the B-Max offers an attractive mix of downsized C-Max practicality with the appeal of Fiesta driving dynamics. That’s a tall order for a small car. The small MPV sector is one defined by clever ways of loading passengers and possessions into a compact space, and doors have become a key battleground. Vauxhall’s Meriva set the stage with its reverse-hinged back doors, and now Ford has rallied by making sliding rear doors the defining feature of its new baby. This is no gimmick. B-Max’s clever doors make tight parking spaces less of a nightmare for parents, but they’ve also allowed Ford to engineer the structural rigidity of the conventional B-pillar into the doors themselves. So, open front and rear doors and there’s an access area stretching from the dashboard to back seats. Close them and it’s still as structurally sound as a conventional car. It’s a clever setup, but has drawbacks. The rear quarter panel is short, so the door doesn’t slide all the way to the back of the rear bench and leaves a narrower opening than in a normal car. Its pillarless design means the front seats can tip forward for access, as in a three-door car, but it’s not quite as easy as it could be. Once inside, though, it’s hard to fault the

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B-Max for space. The boot is useably large even with the seats up, and expandable for extra depth using the compartment under the floor. For inanimate loads, all except the driver’s seat fold with a flick of a button, creating a 2.3-metre flat load area from tailgate to dashboard. The B-Max weighs in at between 100 and 130kg heavier than the Fiesta. It’s enough to soften its sibling’s brilliant handling a little, which is a shame, but it’s by no means ungainly. Excellent ride quality and surprisingly good high-speed refinement mean its more likely duties will be carried out in comfort. Engine choices comprise 1.5 and 1.6-litre diesels, with the latter featuring Ford’s fuelsaving Econetic Technologies to bring CO2 emissions down to a best-in-class 104g/km. But 75% are expected to be fitted with petrol engines, and 36.5% of UK models will be powered by the excellent 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder introduced on the Focus earlier this year. Ford only had the more powerful 118bhp version available at the launch, and it suits the B-Max perfectly. It pulls from almost any engine speed and keeps going almost to the top of the rev counter, which bodes well for its future pairing with the Fiesta. It’s an endearing mix of fun and 57.7mpg frugality, but don’t expect to enjoy both at the same time.

The tiny petrol engine even outclasses the 1.6-litre diesel, which grumbles through the gears and never feels particularly urgent. But, even with only five gears, it quietens down at high speed and should offer the best real-world economy for long distance drivers. Ford isn’t actively marketing the B-Max as such, but the majority of its 35% fleet mix are expected to be sold to Motability customers, driving up popularity of the 1.6 petrol with the car’s only PowerShift automatic gearbox. Technically this is an engine superseded by the 1.0 EcoBoost, but the gearbox has yet to be adapted for the new unit. B-Max does a good job of putting big car usability into a small package, but its biggest problem is the sector itself. UK buyers have yet to latch onto the small MPV sector en masse, but drivers wanting one will find this does everything very well.

verdict The small SUV segment is one driven by rational need rather than emotional want, so while the B-Max is a prettier car than the Fusion and cleverly-designed too, it’s competing for a slow part of the market. Those needing the space will enjoy it for its intuitive doors and big-car comforts.

DRIVEN

Honda CR-V Refined and practical, but fleets may have to wait for the two-wheel drive version, says Alisdair Suttie. SECTOR Crossover PRICE £22,000-£33,000 FUEL 36.7-50.4mpg CO2 149-180g/km Honda’s old CR-V was a surprising hit in the company car market, but while it helped lay the foundations of the sector, for the last few years it has been surpassed by more car-like crossovers. So the new fourth generation CR-V has eschewed any rough, gruff off-roader pretensions, and Honda now cites crossovers such as the Volvo XC60 and Nissan Qashqai as its natural rivals, rather than the Land Rover Freelander. With this in mind, all of the many changes over the old model are aimed at making the CR-V more saloon-like to drive while adding to the Honda’s impressive practicality. While using the previous model as its starting point, the fourth generation CR-V is more than just a skin deep revision. For starters, the suspension is redesigned to allow for better compliance over bumpy roads and it’s up there with the best in class for comfort. Honda has also worked very hard with the suspension and underbody design to quell noise in the cabin. This is one of the most obvious changes as the CR-V is now eerily hushed in the cabin all the way up to motorway speeds, with little road, wind or engine noise allowed to intrude. Mechanical noise is reduced thanks to

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heavily updated versions of the previous CRV’s petrol and diesel engines. The 2.0-litre 153bhp petrol engine is now available with front-wheel drive for the first time, which helps cut carbon dioxide emissions to 168g/km and improve economy to 39.2mpg, compared to the four-wheel drive model’s 173g/km and 38.2mpg. However, it’s the four-wheel drive-only 2.2 i-DTEC turbodiesel that will interest company drivers most as it manages 149g/km emissions and 50.4mpg in its more frugal S and SE variants. Go for the higher spec SR or EX models and these figures worsen to 154g/km and 48.7mpg, while the optional automatic gearbox takes emissions to at least 174g/km and consumption to 42.8mpg. The five-speed auto ’box feels sluggish and slow-witted next to rivals with more modern double-clutch transmissions. With a precise shift, relaxed cruising and plenty of low- and mid-rev shove for overtaking without the need to change gear, the CR-V is at its best with the diesel engine and manual gearbox. Honda has lowered the CR-V’s roofline by 30mm but it maintains the comfortable, raised driving position of an SUV. Light steering is ideal in town and it weights up for faster driving.

The CR-V is is still practical. It now provides 589-litres of load space with the rear seats in place, while 1,648-litres of luggage capacity is freed up when the back seats are dropped, at the single tug of a lever in the boot’s sidewall. Honda has also upped the luxury quotient with the new CR-V and all models now come with a five-inch Intelligent Multi Info Display, climate and cruise control, stop/start for manual cars, LED daytime running lights, alloy wheels, ESP, Trailer Stability Assist and Hill Start Assist for the entry-level S model. It’s expected many CR-V buyers will go for the top spec EX model with panoramic glass roof, leather seats and collision avoidance technology. With prices for this version expected at around £30,000, it puts the CR-V into contention with the likes of the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

verdict The new Honda CR-V has class, quality and driving appeal to compete with the premium badges in the SUV and crossover classes. However, company drivers may be better to wait for the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine that will join the range in mid-2013 that will finally offer a diesel-powered, front-drive CR-V.

Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI Executive SE saloon New trim level brings more kit to boost C-Class in face of fresh 3 Series, says Julian Kirk. SECTOR Upper-medium PRICE £28,305 FUEL 64.2mpg CO2 117g/km The C-Class has hauled Mercedes-Benz into contention in this lucrative sector of the fleet market, giving aspiring junior managers another option besides the default A4 and 320d. But with a new 3 Series and facelifted A4 just released, the appeal of the C was begin-

ning to wane a little. Which means it is just the right time to unveil a new 2013 model year line up, with new trim designations and a more economical 1.6-litre petrol engine. Cashing in on the cache of its AMG models, Mercedes-Benz has renamed its specification levels and introduced two top-end

variants: AMG Sport and AMG Sport Plus, both with big alloys, sports trim, etc. Our test car is the more prosaic new entry-level trim, badged Executive SE and is aimed, as its name suggests, at the executive business person. This Ronseal-like clarity of spec naming helps drivers and the trade know what’s what, and CAP has already announced a 5% uplift in residuals for this model. Executive SE models add a sport grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, artificial leather upholstery and LED daytime running lights, all for a price increase of only £35 over the previous SE grade. On the road, the C-Class is not sector leading in any one area. It drives nicely, which sounds like it is being damned with faint praise but that’s not how it’s meant – simply, the C-Class is such an easy car to pile on the miles in. It doesn’t corner like it’s on rails or hug the ground and crash over every road imperfection. Instead, it cruises in a relaxed manner, sips fuel in a miserly way and gets you to your destination without feeling as though you’ve driven on a special stage. Negatives? Well, the 16-inch wheels look tiny and, more importantly, the diesel engine is very noticeable from the cabin, both at start-up and under acceleration.

DRIVEN

BMW 640d Gran Coupe Four doors and more style makes the Gran Coupe an executive's dream, says Steve Moody. SECTOR Saloon/Coupe PRICE £63,900 FUEL 49.6 mpg CO2 148 g/km

DRIVEN IN BRIEF

When it comes to fitting new cars into niches, it has often been the case that you take a couple of doors away, or lop a roof off. But in recent years, there’s been a switch back in the other direction. Thanks to Mercedes-Benz and its wonderful CLS, manufacturers have realised

there’s quite a market out there for slinkylooking cars which still have a decent amout of practicality. Hence the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, which manages to retain much of the stylish, slashed lines of the Coupe version, but adds in a couple of rear doors for good

measure. The result is a head turning coupe-saloon with considerable space and a magnificent engine in the form of the twin turbo 640d. This 313bhp six-cylinder engine offers CO2 emissions of only 148g/km and combined fuel economy of 49.6, as well as truly remarkable performance (0-62mph in just over five seconds), all wrapped up in a luxurious package that should suit any executive perfectly. It’s not cheap though, coming in at more than £60,000, which is some way over the CLS 350 diesel, which is our current luxury car of the year, and the new bi-turbo Audi A7, a car more than £10,000 cheaper. But the 640d Gran Coupe is more refined, bigger and handles impressively too when compared to its rivals. In fact, it is a perfect car for a high mileage driver who needs to be kept in luxury. The addition of a Comfort Plus mode, which makes the car all soft and squidgy, and ECO-PRO to maximise fuel efficiency means the Gran Coupe has all the bases covered. The question for any executive would be whether the big, elegant BMW is worth the extra investment over the other two, although the quality of the car is not in doubt. I'd say it is - it really is a complete machine, and proves niche cars need not be a compromise.

Hyundai Veloster 1.6 GDI DCT

Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI DSG

Chevrolet Aveo LT 1.3 VCDi Eco

It’s always refreshing to see one really push the boat out and do something totally different. Few carmakers really have this luxury. The Veloster couldn’t have rolled out of the design studios of most European manufacturers, but for Hyundai this distinctive compact coupe highlights its new way of thinking. With its single rear door on the passenger side and aggressive, hunkered down proportions, it will polarise opinions. But it’s distinctive and sporty and I can report that it’s not a car for introverts. The 1.6 petrol is quiet around town, but the sweet spot of its 138bhp is found at 6,300 rpm and it sounds tinny when it’s there. SM

The Beetle’s curvy predecessor sustained demand throughout its lifespan, despite using an ancient platform and even older Golf and Polo engines, so it was obviously doing something right. The new one adds to the formula with more masculine style and better engines. The entry point to the new Beetle is Volkswagen’s gutsy 1.2-litre TSI. It’s nothing adrenaline-pumping, but at 103bhp it’s got more than enough go for a style-conscious motorist. Plus there’s a DSG gearbox if you want to dilute that back-to-basics ”people’s car” formula, but the new Beetle is a stylish, relatively affordable and very frugal city-slicker. SM

Although it didn’t have much to build on, everything in the new Aveo is a vast improvement. Perhaps the most vital leap forward is its looks, which are claimed to be inspired by the oh-so-desirable Camaro muscle car. Hard to believe, but the new Aveo is the first to get a diesel engine, as tested here. It’s the familiar GM-Fiat unit also found in the Corsa, among others, and genuinely thrify. Fuel efficiency over 60mpg isn’t too difficult to achieve, and it feels neither unrefined nor lacking in power at motorway speeds. It’s got its work cut out targeting the mainstream, but at least has a little desirability and efficiency on its side with the latest generation. SM

SECTOR Coupe PRICE £19,250 FUEL 44.1mpg CO2 145g/km

SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £16,600 FUEL 47.9mpg CO2 137g/km

SECTOR Supermini PRICE £12,795 FUEL 78.4mpg CO2 95g/km

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Now you can make a big impact on your drivers’ tax bills while they enjoy more of the features they want from a company car. That’s the beauty of Zafira Tourer Tech Line. Its low-emission, fuel-efficient ecoFLEX engines deliver genuine cost savings. And with so much high spec equipment as standard, the P11D value is kept agreeably low. So with Zafira Tourer Tech Line, more really does cost you less.

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Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Zafira Tourer Tech Line range: Urban 53.3 (5.3)-29.1 (9.7), Extra-urban 70.6 (4.0)-48.7 (5.8), Combined 62.8 (4.5)-39.2 (7.2). CO2 emissions 169-119g/km.

* = 2012-13 tax year. General Motors UK Limited does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regards to their particular tax position. ** = Excludes fuel and lubricants; congestion charges; parking and speeding fines and the £250 insurance excess (if applicable). 3 Day Test Drive vehicles are subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Please refer to www.3daytestdrive.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Drivers must be 25 years or older and is available for Mainland UK only. † = Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm excluding Bank Holidays. ‡ = Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday, 8.00am to 5.30pm excluding Bank Holidays. All calls may be recorded or monitored for quality and/or training purposes. All figures quoted correct at time of publication (August 2012) and refer to featured model only (Zafira Tourer Tech Line 2.0CDTi 16v (130PS) ecoFLEX Start/ Stop (119g/km), all features quoted apply to full Zafira Tourer Tech Line range. Model shown features metallic paint, optional at extra cost. Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty covers lifetime ownership of first car owner, 100,000 mile limit, annual check required. The warranty excludes wear and tear and serviceable items and the vehicle must be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedule to continue the Lifetime Warranty. Terms and conditions apply. Offer available to all Vauxhall passenger cars, (this offer does not apply to car-derived vans) registered from 1 August 2010.

SPOTLIGHT New Mazda6

MAZDA UNVEILS ITS 6 Steve Moody reports from the Moscow reveal of Mazdaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital new fleet car.

ENGINES As with the CX-5, the new Mazda6 is expected to offer CO2 levels of 109g/km or below from its 2.2-litre diesel SKYACTIV engine, which will come in two states of tune of around 150 and 175bhp, with the option of an automatic gearbox. Petrol engines will also be offered, although with such impressively low emissions from the diesel, fleet take-up of petrol will be very low. The Mazda6 is the first model in the range to feature i-ELOOP, a brake energy regeneration system that helps power some of the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electrical functions and can improve fuel economy by up to 10%, especially in urban situations. Although not standard on all models. Mazda expects takeup of i-ELOOP cars to be very high. A startstop system will also be offered.

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DESIGN The first Mazda6 became a fleet force in 2002 thanks to its dynamic looks, and the third generation looks set to have a similar impact. Long, low and lean, with sharp, bold creases and the new Mazda face, the 6 will be the most striking car in its segment – and that should mean user choosers come flocking from blander competitors. The new 6 will only come in saloon and estate.

CABIN AND EQUIPMENT

The cabin is noticeably higher quality than even the CX-5, while there is a lot of space, especially in the rear, and in the boot. Although the cabin design doesn’t have the ambition or boldness of the exterior, it is tidily set out and comes with a clear Human Machine Interface system that groups most functions in a screen controlled by a dial. All the usual corporate bells and whistles will be offered too, although exact UK specifications are yet to be revealed.

CHASSIS AND ENGINEERING Mazdas have to drive well – every successful car from the brand has had that at its core. The CX-5 SUV adheres to this and the 6 is likely to as well, with precise gearchange, and SKYACTIV chassis with multilink rear suspension, weightreducing high tensile steel in the construction of the body shell and improved sound deadening to improve cabin comfort.

EDITOR’S VIEW The new Mazda6 is a major step forward, and will ruffle a few feathers in the fleet market, as the first one did in 2002. Chiefly, it is a great-looking car with likely very low CO2 emissions. If it has competitive specs and pricing, details of which will be announced at the end of this month, the new 6 will be a winner.

September 2012

PREVIEW 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile

Paris preview Steve Moody and Alex Grant pick out the likely stars from the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

Volkswagen Golf Continuing a 36-year lifespan which has racked up 29 million sales worldwide, Paris will mark the introduction of the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf ahead of its October sales launch. Up to 100kg lighter than the outgoing car, the engine range at launch comprises two diesel engines starting at 99g/km, and two TSI petrol engines starting at 112g/km. Selectable driving modes, and a smartphone-like touchscreen infotainment are among a raft of features which will be itted across the range. AG

Citroen DS3 Cabrio Citroën is adding another string to the popular DS3’s bow, introducing a Cabrio version with a fabric sliding mechanism similar to the Fiat 500C. The roof is available in a choice of three colour schemes, which are matched to parts of the dashboard, and can be opened at speeds of up to 75mph. Most importantly, it also allows Citroën to compete for soft-top sales of the 500 and MINI. AG

Ford Fiesta Ford has given the Fiesta a major midlife refresh, with a bold new grille similar to next year’s all-new Mondeo, LED running lights, as well as voice-activated in-car connectivity system Ford SYNC, Active City Stop and the acclaimed 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 100g/km or less. Prices are expected to remain at current levels. SM

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Chevrolet Trax Sharing its platform with the Vauxhall Mokka, Trax introduces a small SUV model underneath the Captiva in the Chevrolet range. Powertrain options are similar to the Mokka’s, comprising of a 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 1.7-litre diesel with two or four wheel drive, and a 1.6-litre petrol with front wheel drive only. Trax also gets a new MyLink infotainment system with smartphone integration. AG

The facts. The sporty new Punto TwinAir comes with the revolutionary TwinAir engine. Which means 74.3 mpg, only 98g/km of CO², 10% BIK rating, zero VED and zero Congestion Charge. New Punto TwinAir. From just £169 a month for business users only. Visit fiat.co.uk/fleet for more info.

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Fiat, the car brand with the lowest average CO² emissions in Europe†. Fuel consumption figures for the Fiat Punto TwinAir in mpg (l/100km): Urban 57.6 (4.9); Extra Urban 74.3 (3.8); Combined 67.3 (4.2). CO² emissions 98 g/km.*Under current DVLA regulations there is no charge for Vehicle Excise Duty in the first year of registration and every subsequent year. Vehicle Excise Duty rates are

reviewed annually by the government and are subject to change. Above rentals based on Punto TwinAir 3dr on Contract Hire payment profile of 3 rentals in advance (equivalent to £507) followed by 35 monthly rentals of £169. All rentals exclude VAT and maintenance. Based on 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges apply. Vehicles must be registered with Fiat Contract Hire before 30th September 2012. Offer subject to status, a guarantee and/or indemnity may be required. Fiat Contract Hire, 240 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 4DX. †Source: JATO Dynamics. Based on volume-weighted average CO² emissions (g/km) of the best selling brands in Europe, full year 2011.

PREVIEW 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile

Toyota Auris Toyota’s range refresh continues with the Auris, which will be shown at Paris with petrol, diesel and hybrid drivetrains. Set to be built at the carmaker’s factory in Burnaston, it features a more aggressive front end, more tactile interior materials and is up to 40kg lighter than the model it replaces. Hybrid versions will have a battery under the rear seat, like the Yaris, rectifying the loss of boot space in the outgoing car. AG

MINI Paceman The Countryman has broadened MINI’s horizons in leet, allowing it to compete for sales in the lucrative B-segment. Alongside the Cooper S Works version due to be shown at Paris, MINI will reveal the Paceman three-door version. Marked out by a loating, steeply-raked roof and more muscular rear shoulderline, its engines and ALL4 four-wheel drive are likely to be carried over from the Countryman. SM

Peugeot Urban Crossover Concept Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki is renowned for building small cars and SUVs, and both are employed in the S-Cross, a C-segment crossover concept which is said to hint at a forthcoming production model. The carmaker has released only a design sketch before the show, previewing sharper new styling and a Kizashi-like front end. Expect the production version to feature two and four wheel drive in line with key rivals such as the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan. AG

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First shown at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, Peugeot’s B-segment concept gets its European debut at Paris and is likely to arrive in showrooms badged as the 2008. Slightly smaller than a 308, the concept features claw-like rear lights and trapezoidal grille from the 208 with an RCZ-style double-bubble roof, and could offer a competitive alternative to the Škoda Yeti and forthcoming Vauxhall Mokka if launched with Peugeot’s lowCO2 e-HDI powertrain. AG

PREVIEW 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile

[ IN BRIEF ] AUDI is rumoured to be extending the new A3 range at Paris, unveiling the five-door Sportback and sporty S3 at the show. A convertible version of the 4.2-litre RS5 will also be on display. FIAT will complete the Panda range with a new 4x4 version, including an 85bhp TwinAir petrol engine for the first time and a more efficient 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel.

Vauxhall Adam Hoping to muscle in on the fashionable A-sector, Vauxhall’s ADAM will launch with a wide range of exterior and interior colour options, including two-tone paint, wheels of up to 18 inches and LED-emblazoned “starlight” headlining. The irst models will arrive in UK showrooms in early 2013, with a choice of colourful, luxurious or sporty trims, an internet-connected infotainment system and three four-cylinder engines. AG

Range Rover Range Rover has put a focus on shedding weight with its new full-size model, with a 39% lighter bodyshell saving up to 420kg in some models with bene its for handling and economy as a result. Instantly recognisable as a successor to the outgoing car, it features Evoque-esque styling and will launch with a choice of V6 and V8 diesels and supercharged petrol engines, and could also be the irst model with a hybrid drivetrain. SM

Jaguar F-Type Jaguar’s long-awaited sub-XF sports car will be unveiled in Paris ahead of its sales launch in mid 2013. The production version will be built at the carmaker’s Castle Bromwich plant, and is expected to look similar to the C-X16 concept shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September. It launches as a convertible, powered by supercharged V6 and V8 petrol engines, but a hybrid version in line with the concept car has yet to be con irmed. AG 32

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SEAT’s new Leon is the second Volkswagen Group car to receive the new MQB platform, after the Audi A3, and makes its public debut at the show. Multiple body styles will be offered for the first time, potentially including an ST estate and three-door SC. HONDA will use the Paris Motor Show to announce full details of the sub-95g/km Civic 1.6 diesel, likely to be a key part of its fleet growth plans, as well as the first public showing of the Europeanspec new CR-V. A sub-120g/km 1.6-litre diesel CR-V is expected to launch in 2013.

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SPACE BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

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

NV400 SE

£255

FROM + VAT per month contract hire*

NV400 STRONG ON STYLE, BIG ON SPACE

nissan.co.uk/lcv *BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Contract Hire is available subject to status and conditions on eligible vehicles registered between 01/07/2012 and 30/09/2012. Guarantees and Indemnities may be required. Example based on 12+35 proﬁle, 10,000 miles per annum on a non-maintained contract. Further charges may be made subject to mileage and condition. Excess mileage will be charged at 6.4 pence per mile (excluding VAT). RAC cover, vehicle excise duty and 3 year/60,000 mile warranty included. Contract Hire Finance provided by Nissan Business Finance, a trading style of Arval UK Limited, Windmill Hill, Swindon SN5 6PE. Model shown is NV400 SE from £20,965 exc. VAT and optional metallic paint at £350. Models subject to availability. Prices correct at the time of going to print. Nissan Motor (GB) Limited, The Rivers Ofﬁce Park, Denham Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 9YS.

PREVIEW 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile

Kia Carens Kia has inally updated the Carens midsize MPV, the last-but-one model not to receive the stylish lines of design chief Peter Schreyer. The new version takes the outgoing car’s practicality and packages it in a bodyshell which looks like a scaled up Cee’d, featuring a low roo line, larger wheels and longer wheelbase than its predecessor. Expect a full package of EcoDynamics fuel-saving measures too. AG

Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Mitsubishi is claiming sub-50g/km CO2 emissions for its irst plug-in hybrid, with acceleration said to be similar to a V6 petrol engine. The Outlander Plug-in Hybrid will be the irst production electric vehicle with permanent four-wheel drive, driven using a motor at each axle and with a small petrol engine working as a generator and providing extra power to the front wheels. AG

[ IN BRIEF ]

DACIA is taking its first steps into the UK with the Duster compact SUV, which will be followed by the Sandero supermini due to be unveiled at Paris. Released in the UK next January, it will be priced under £7,000 making it one of the cheapest cars on sale.

MERCEDES-BENZ will introduce a limited-edition electric version of the SLS coupe next year. The SLS AMG E-CELL features a batteryelectric drivetrain with 535bhp and 649lb.ft torque, yet produces no tailpipe emissions. VOLVO will add an R-Design trim to the V40 hatch next year, featuring larger wheels, a sports bodykit and interior styling parts. For the first time, firmer suspension will be optional, allowing drivers to have sporty looks without affecting the ride quality.

Renault Clio Paris will mark the world debut of the fourth-generation Clio, which sheds an average 100kg compared to its predecessor and features a lower, wider chassis setup for improved agility. New Clio will only be offered with ive doors, but comes with a range of personalisation options, the tablet-style R-Link infotainment system similar to the ZOE and new engines including the 99g/km three-cylinder TCe 90 petrol and 83g/km dCi 90 diesel. SM

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TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE? UNWIND ON YOUR WAY HOME.

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VISIT WWW.ALFAROMEO.CO.UK/CORPORATE OR CALL 08446 623 628 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

WITHOUT HEART WE WOULD BE MERE MACHINES.

Model shown Alfa MiTo 875cc TB TwinAir 85 bhp Sprint at £14,575 including Ametista Black metallic paint at £425 and is not representative of the advertised rental. Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa MiTo range: Urban 34.9 – 64.2 mpg (8.1 – 4.4 I/100km); Extra Urban 58.9 – 97.4 mpg (4.8 – 2.9 I/100km); Combined 47.1 – 80.7 mpg (6.0 – 3.5 I/100km). CO2 emissions 139 – 90 g/km. *ABOVE RENTAL BASED ON ALFA MITO 875CC TB TWINAIR 85 BHP SPRINT SOLID BLACK AND EXCLUDES AMETISTA BLACK SPECIAL PAINT, TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. CONTRACT HIRE PAYMENT PROFILE OF 3 RENTALS IN ADVANCE (EQUIVALENT TO £597) FOLLOWED BY 35 MONTHLY RENTALS OF £199. RENTALS SHOWN ABOVE EXCLUDE VAT AND MAINTENANCE. RENTALS ARE SUBJECT TO VAT AT STATUTORY RATE BASED ON 10,000 MILES PER ANNUM. EXCESS MILEAGE CHARGES APPLY. VEHICLES MUST BE REGISTERED WITH ALFA ROMEO CONTRACT HIRE BY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2012. OFFER SUBJECT TO STATUS. ** 2012/13 TAX YEAR. ALFA ROMEO UK DOES NOT OFFER TAX ADVICE AND RECOMMENDS THAT ALL COMPANY CAR DRIVERS CONSULT THEIR OWN † ACCOUNTANT WITH REGARDS TO THEIR PARTICULAR TAX POSITION. UNDER CURRENT DVLA REGULATIONS THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF REGISTRATION AND EVERY SUBSEQUENT YEAR. VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY RATES ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ‡ 100% CONGESTION CHARGE DISCOUNT IS VALID FROM JUNE 2011, REQUIRES REGISTRATION WITH TFL, £10 ANNUAL FEE AND IS BASED ON THE CURRENT TFL POLICY. ALFA ROMEO CONTRACT HIRE, 240 BATH ROAD, SLOUGH SL1 4DX.

FEATURE Contract Hire & Leasing

IS FLEET AGEING? Are fleets running cars longer and older than ever before? And if so, what effects could that have on the market and running costs? Steve Moody investigates.

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n the last few weeks, figures released by Manheim Remarketing showed that the fleet and lease cars going through its sales are older and with higher mileage than the generally perceived benchmark most fleets work to of around three years/60,000 miles. Less than a fifth of fleet cars sold fell into that bracket, while around a quarter were four to four and half years-old, with 80,000 miles or so. So are we experiencing a blip, where the slow economy has resulted in businesses holding on to their leased cars longer, or is this the evidence of a wider, long-term trend, that fleets are now running cars longer and harder than most industry pundits think? And if so, what are the challenges that come with an older, higher mileage fleet? According to Sean Consadine, remarketing and logistics director at Pendragon Contracts, its figures corroborate this underlying trend of cars being held on fleet longer, but this has been a recent occurrence. He says: ‘Over the past three months we’ve seen an average increase of hires over 43 months at 75,000 miles. There is no doubt that in the current climate the ageold benchmark is on the up.’ Pendragon Contracts’ sales and marketing director, John Given, agrees: ‘The contracting mileage total has definitely been creeping up over the past year and we’re seeing more new contracts being written between 42 and even 60 months. A company establishing a fleet policy may use three years and 60,000 miles for its choice list, but then actually order based on what each driver is likely to do and the best financial option.’ Paul Mason, general manager – auction sales, at LeasePlan UK, also reckons that this ageing of the fleet car parc is a blip rather than an ongoing trend, and the three year/60,000 mile car is no longer a thing of the past. ‘The industry benchmark of three years/60,000 miles remains the key measure for company cars,’ he says. ‘Whilst we have seen slight movement towards a longer fleet cycle in recent months – running to around 40 months rather than 36 months – there is no indication that the

overarching trend is changing. Company cars are typically perk vehicles. ‘With many companies still unable to offer pay rises, the perk car remains important as a cost-effective way for companies to offer an attractive benefits package to their employees. Cars have to be new and desirable for that incentive to be effective.’ Chris Chandler, principal consultant at Lex Autolease, has seen the same trend: ‘Fleet operators seem to be moving beyond three years and 60,000, with the average contract hire contract approaching 43 months and 65,000 providing a good balance between cost-effectiveness and providing a car that is acceptable to the end user, as reliability is less of an issue. ‘Some fleets have longer replacement cycles, however this is still fairly rare as the perception of a car older than four years can be an issue to the driver, and may not reflect such a positive company image. In addition from a tax perspective there is no benefit to the employee of having an older car.’ According to Jim McNally, head of asset risk at Alphabet, the figures may well reflect the significant hit the UK economy took back in June/July 2008. He says: ‘At that time, businesses felt the first icy impact of the global recession and accordingly sought to reduce operating costs. An obvious tactic to reduce short term cost was to extend the terms of the lease and run vehicles for longer. We’re now seeing the results of that change in fleet policy four years later, as cars enter the auction market for sale. ‘Certainly, this is a trend that has mirrored the economic downturn of recent years. However, while our data indicates that relatively few fleets have formally changed their replacement cycle policies from 36 to 48 months, there has been a reasonable amount of “slippage”, with vehicles being returned later than originally planned. ‘Having said that, I believe that the move to longer cycles is a function of corporate uncertainty and it does not always make commercial sense when you consider the impact BIK, fuel costs and NI can have on the company and the driver. Once confidence in the longer term economy returns,

The perception of a car older than four years can be an issue to the driver, and may not reﬂect such a positive company image.

September 2012

FEATURE Contract Hire & Leasing

IS FLEET AGEING? we’re likely to see a move back to the traditional three, or even two year model. ‘Even now, we’re seeing fleets exploring options that provide staff with significant perceived benefits – the most efficient and environmentally friendly cars, at a very competitive rate.’ Statistics from Ogilvie Fleet reveal that businesses it deals with are extending the period of time that they operate company cars in two ways to cut costs. Firstly, existing contracts are being extended and secondly new contracts are being taken out for a longer period of time. In 2009/10, the term of all live contracts at Ogilvie averaged 38 months across the total fleet; 25% of all new orders were placed for a period in excess of 36 months. In 2011/12, the term of all live contracts averaged 41 months across the total fleet, and 46% of all new orders were placed for a period in excess of 36 months. Ogilvie Fleet sales and marketing director, Nick Hardy, adds: ‘Existing company car contracts may be for 36 months but clients are not always confident enough in the economy to take out a new lease. Instead they are extending the contract period on existing vehicles. The rental adjustment typically delivers a “double figure percentage” monthly saving if extended for 12 months.’ Showing that there is perhaps no real overarching revision, leasing firm Zenith reckons there has been little change in the past few years. The current average end of contract mileage is 70,000 and the term is 37 months, which compares to 69,000 miles and 37 months for cars in 2007, prior to the onset of the recession. The average contract term and mileage at end of contract steadily increased in 2009 to 2010, however it is now seeing it starting to fall again back to the 2007 levels. Commercial director, Ian Hughes, explains why: ‘This is due to our Salary Sacrifice cars returning (we launched the product in 2009), with the average end of contract term and mileage for Salary Sacrifice cars (at 20k miles and 20 months) being significantly lower than that for traditional company cars.

‘Salary Sacrifice drivers often use their cars for commuting and as a general run around rather than for long business journeys, therefore mileage tends to be lower. Since the driver selects their own term and mileage they tend to choose a two-year rather than a three-year term, as they see this as providing them with greater flexibility. ‘We saw contract lengths increasing steadily in 2009, with some companies choosing to extend rather than renew their contracts due to economic stability and potential for redundancies. Some employers have not wanted to commit to new contracts.’ Pendragon’s John Given believes the benchmark itself isn’t the important aspect, it’s how long and over what mileage a company runs the vehicle. He says: ‘Generally, miles travelled per annum have decreased a little, with many contracts running into extension. But we are also seeing cars travelling 2,000 to 3,000 miles under contract rather than over. ‘There’s no doubt travel has changed mainly due to high fuel costs but it’s not the benchmark that has altered, just the miles travelled. Essentially, we’re seeing a contract norm of 42 to 48 months, enabling companies to keep costs down and run their fleets for longer, as cars become more reliable, warranties extend, and budgeting for a longer period becomes easier for contract hirers.’ It seems that it is financially viable to run cars longer, because much of the depreciation has already been factored in to the earlier part of the contract. Lex’s Chris Chandler explains: ‘Despite the significant increases in fuel costs of late, depreciation is typically still the largest fleet cost. Depreciation is greatest in the early months/ years of a contract and therefore, typically, the longer you keep a car the cheaper it’s running costs will be. ‘Historically, three years and 60,000 miles was the typical fleet benchmark term. However, as cars have become more reliable, robust and capable of carrying out higher overall mileage – especially diesel engines – fleets have been more comfortable with

Instead of taking out a new lease, clients are extending the contract period on existing vehicles

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Four ways to reduce fleet expenditure Fleet management specialist Venson identifies areas of potential savings in 2012. 1

Challenge your fleet supplier

Understanding the wholelife cost of a vehicle is crucial when selecting makes and models to include in your fleet policy. The wholelife cost takes into account all aspects of running a vehicle, including corporation tax, maintenance, fuel, insurance etc. So when faced with two vehicles with an identical list price you can see at a glance the one that will be the most efficient choice for your business. This may also lead to you being able to rationalise the choice of makes/models you use, which in turn will help with maximising manufacturer discounts.

Are you getting the best service you can from your fleet supplier? Do you know if the administration fees, maintenance recharges, tyre and windscreen costs are comparable with other suppliers? With the management and funding of company vehicles subject to regulatory, legislative and environmental factors, the impact on costs for both the employer and the employee can be significant. Is your fleet supplier working with you to ensure that your fleet policy is the most appropriate solution to meet your business and operational needs?

Implement driver training A properly thought through and well deployed driver training programme can be almost self-funding because it helps reduce fleet running costs. Incident rates should start to tumble and the reducing crash rates mean less expenditure on direct costs associated with them. Savings can go deeper than this though with insurance costs reducing as insurers appreciate how a professionally-run driver risk management programme can affect claims. Additionally wear and tear items, like brakes and tyres, can be extended with trained drivers being more mechanically sympathetic.

Request your FREE Audit today Looking for a smarter approach to your fleet management and significant savings?

Call our fleet advisory service on

08444 99 1402

or email sales@venson.com

www.venson.com

Review company vehicle policy

Reduce fuel bills Have vehicles regularly serviced as poorly maintained vehicles have higher fuel consumption. Check tyre pressure regularly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; under inflated tyres can increase fuel use by 5-10%. Promote safe economic and environmentally friendly driving. Help drivers avoid congestion and use the most efficient routes by providing telematics products. Review alternative fuel vehicles such as electric LCVs. Consider racking systems in high tensile steel, this is a material that gives maximum strength and safety with minimum weight, this in turn means lower carbon emissions and fuel costs.

Your fleet program Tailored to suit you.

FEATURE Contract Hire & Leasing

IS FLEET AGEING? running cars for longer, as the only real downsides to keeping them longer were reduced reliability and increased maintenance costs. ‘However, although operating vehicles into a fourth year increases the proportion of the total rental related to service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs, many manufacturer warranties expire at the end of the third year and total mileages increase typically to four years/80,000, so there was a rental reduction as the residual value curve flattened out,’ says Mr Hardy. ‘Most new cars and vans are easily capable of running to four years, even with six-figure mileages, and many of our clients have used some of the cost saving, and better financial modelling with Ogilvie True Cost, to provide drivers with a better car. This minimises the potential HR implications of asking drivers to keep a car for a year longer and is a win-win in most cases,’ he said. But there are other issues to consider, says Ian Hughes: ‘In addition reliability of cars has increased, which means that cars do not necessarily need to be replaced so often. However longer terms need to be balanced against the ability to improve efficiencies by reviewing vehicle choice lists on a whole-life cost basis and taking advantage of new lower emission, potentially more cost effective options. Tax changes can affect the benefits of different approaches to funding or adopting a mixed approach and methods should also be reviewed. ‘Older cars can have higher maintenance costs, which needs to be considered by an employer, particularly if they have a pay on use maintenance package. From an employee point of view an older car may be seen as less desirable and therefore they can act as a less effective employee retention, recruitment and motivation tool.’ It seems that there is a general, if slight, ageing of the fleet car parc, but it’s certainly not universal among all leasing companies and all businesses. If anything, the challenging economic climate has meant all firms have to look more closely than ever at what suits them specifically, rather than just blithely accepting three-year/60,000-mile contracts and getting on with it. The benchmark remains for cost comparisons and building choice lists, but in practice, fleet are working with leasing firms in a more specialised consultative way than ever before.

fleetworld.co.uk

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO LCVs?

The remarketing of light commercial vehicles is a rather diﬀerent story. At LeasePlan, we are seeing a much longer usage cycle as a direct result of the economic downturn. On average, LeasePlan customers are keeping their vans for over four years or around 65,000 miles – the industry average is higher. This looks set to be a permanent shift, even as the economy strengthens. Unlike company cars, commercial vehicles are typically a tool for the job, with no status attached to them. Many companies will make modiﬁcations to the vehicles like adding branding or racking, so they want to amortise that investment by keeping hold of the vehicles for a longer period. This trend created a dip in LCV supply which kept used-vehicle prices high, peaking at Q4 2011 and H1 2012. However, we are now seeing prices stabilising, with most LCVs now running on a four-year cycle. Paul Mason, general manager – auction sales, LeasePlan UK

THE WIDER VIEW BVRLA chief executive John Lewis, on whether there really is a shift in the industry to running cars for longer. ‘Manheim’s figures are rather different than the latest report from NAMA which aggregates figures from across the auction sector. Its analysis of the used fleet car sector going back over the last year shows a pretty steady age profile of between 4043 months and mileage at just under 50,000. Perhaps Manheim has a slightly different product mix? ‘We are certainly seeing lower volumes of fleet vehicles going through auction houses which is an obvious result of the fact that new fleet registrations fell by around 250,000 in late 2008 and 2009. Many of the cars that were sold during this time were purchased through the scrappage scheme and are unlikely to come back into the used market any time soon. ‘All dealers are now much more focused on sourcing good quality ex-fleet stock and they are taking the younger, lower mileage vehicles before they even get to auction. There is going to be a supply imbalance of high-quality fleet vehicles for the foreseeable future, until new car registrations pick up again. This is why used fleet car values remain strong and should continue to do so. ‘There is a gradual move towards running vehicles for longer, with typical current contracts running for more like 39 months than 36. This is not surprising because modern vehicles are more reliable and longer lease periods mean a cheaper monthly rental. However, most fleets and company drivers will want to renew their vehicles within three or four years to take advantage of emissions-based tax incentives.’

Efficient is an online booking tool for daily rental. Because we understand that running your business well is all about being quick off the mark, you can set up a temporary contract online in no time, with our Daily Rental and Mini-Lease solutions.

To find out more about Daily Rental, Mini-Lease and all our other packages call us on 0870 333 2229 or visit www.makingleasingsimple.co.uk today.

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Making leasing simple

FEATURE To buy or to lease? // Part 22

PV SEE

Using the PV function in Excel to calculate a present value, by Professor Colin Tourick. In this series we have already looked at the special function in Excel that allows you to calculate a monthly payment (or lease rental) if you know the amount that’s being financed – the PMT function. And we have looked at a simple way to double-check you’ve used the PMT function correctly and have arrived at the right answer. We have seen how you can use present value (PV) to compare cash flows (lease rentals, loan payments, balloon rental, residual values, etc), and we’ve discussed the great benefits

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to be derived from using a PV approach. This month we are going to look at another Excel function, the PV function, which (surprise surprise) allows you to calculate the present value of a series of cash flows. But first it’s worthwhile dwelling for a moment on the general principles underlying all of these Excel functions, and indeed all lease vs buy evaluations. I know that some of this maths is Greek to some people (there was a time when it was Greek to me too), but now we need to introduce some real Greek into this discussion,

the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, Σ. This letter is called Sigma and makes the same sound as the letter S. In maths we use it to mean ”the sum of”. So, for example, the Σ of 1 and 2 and 3 is 6. In an earlier article we introduced this formula; 1 (1+i)n We used this formula to calculate a discount factor, the amount by which we can discount a future payment to today’s value, ie. it’s PV.

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FEATURE To buy or to lease? // Part 22

The present value of a stream of future payments is the sum of those payments, after each of them has been discounted at the interest rate appropriate for the date when that future payment will take place. That last sentence is important. We already know how to discount a future payment at the interest rate appropriate for the date when that future payment will take place, because the above formula allows us to calculate discount factors for each future payment. And the expression ”is the sum” is relevant here because that’s what the Σ does, it sums (ie. adds together) a stream of future payments. The following formula might look daunting but there’s no cause for alarm as we’ve just described what it does: 36

PV = Σ PMTn 1 (1+i)n What this says is that the present value (PV) of a stream of payments (PMT) is the sum of each of those payments after it has been discounted by the discount factor (ie. the interest rate) appropriate for that payment. This formula says: start with payment 1 and discount it by (1+i )1, then calculate payment 2, and discount it by (1+i )2, and continue doing this until you get to payment 36 when you discount it by (1+i)36. In all these cases the i is the interest rate, expressed as a decimal. So, for example, 1% per month would be entered here as 0.01. Once you’d finished discounting all 36 payments you’d sum them to get the PV. All of the Excel financial functions use an equation where you tell Excel some bits of information and it calculates the missing bit to make the equation balance. So when we looked at the PMT function last month we told Excel the interest rate and the PV and, because Excel hold the PMT equation, it was able to calculate the PMT. Excel also holds the equation for the PV formula shown above. This month we are going to tell Excel the interest rate and the PMT and it is going to use the equation above to calculate the missing part, the PV. Let’s assume we want to calculate the PV of a series of lease rentals on a two year non-maintenance lease, where the monthly rental is £895.45 and the annual interest rate is 7% pa. To start, produce a spreadsheet that looks like the following:

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A 1

Annual Interest

Number of payments

Rental

B 0.07

Annual Interest

Number of payments

-895.45

Rental

B 0.07 24 -895.45 £19,999.96

Last month we used the PMT formula to prove that the payments due on a £20,000 PV (eg. a loan advance or lease investment) at 7% pa over 24 months was £895.45. So now we have proved the A B reverse; we have used the Excel PV func1 Annual Interest 0.07 tion to prove that the present value of 24 2 Number of payments 24 payments of £895.45 discounted at 7% pa over 24 months is £19,999.96. 3 Rental -895.45 The reason for the 4p difference? That’s =pv( 4 PV because the rental last 5 PV(rate, nper, pmt, [fv], [type]) month wasn’t exactly £895.45; Excel rounded the result to the nearest penny, so this month You can now see five expressions; rate, we have a small rounding difference. nper, pmt, [fv] and [type]. Those expresYou can now use this formula to your sions are Excel-speak for Interest Rate, heart’s content. Just change the payment, Number of Payments (or periods), interest rate and number of payments and Payment Amount, Future Value and Type. the formula will calculate the PV. Cell B1 contains 0.07, which is another If your lease has a balloon rental (or a way of saying 7%, so if you click on B1 the residual value) you can put this in at the PV function will pick up the interest rate of [fv] stage using the same approach as we 7%. This is an annual interest rate and you went through last month. If your lease need a monthly rate, so type a slash rentals are made at the start of each symbol and the number 12, ie. ”/12” (Excelmonth (as most are), tell Excel by enterspeak for ”divide by 12”), and then type a ing the number 1 into [type] into the comma. The ”nper” expression in the helpformula and it will adjust the calculation ful note now changes into bold font, telling accordingly. If you leave this blank the you you’ve moved on from entering the function will assume the lease payments interest rate and are now about to enter are made at the end of the month. the number of periods. You can do this by Well done, you can now use the PV funcclicking cell B2 and entering a comma. Now tion! So, how to use this new-found skill? the ”pmt” is shown in bold. Click on cell B3 If you are offered, say, a 24 month lease and the function will pick this up. with monthly payments of £300, or a 36 If you want to you can just close the month lease with monthly payments of bracket now. The [fv] and [type] items are £200, you can use the PV function to optional. If you close the bracket your calculate the PV of each of these two spreadsheet will look like this: options to help you choose the cheapest. You’d have to decide what interest rate to A B use for i, your discount rate. Ideally you 1 Annual Interest 0.07 should use your after-tax weighted average 2 Number of payments 24 cost of capital, though many books have been written debating the ideal number to use. If 3 Rental -895.45 you just want to do a quick-and-simple 4 PV =PV(B1/12,B2,B3) calculation and you normally 5 PV(rate, nper, pmt, [fv], [type]) borrow money on overdraft, use your overdraft rate for Press Enter and it will look like the following: this purpose; the result should be fine. Then, in cell B4, type in =PV( and you’ll notice that a helpful note pops up that looks like this:

GREENER FLEETS

Don’t wait for emissions monitoring legislation Recent news from Westminster has underlined the importance of CO2Count’s accurate reporting of vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions.

“ Independent monitoring is key to tracking the results of any emissions reduction initiative.”

Fleet managers can find out more at www.co2count.org.uk or by calling 0844 870 7893

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From next year, larger companies will be obliged to publish their emissions statistics in their annual accounts – and this will include vehicle exhaust emissions. The government has already con irmed that it will be considering extending the scope of the requirement to smaller businesses. Steve Clarke, general manager of The Fuelcard People, said: “It makes sense for any business to reduce its production of greenhouse gases, for both economic and environmental reasons. Now, DEFRA has put the legislative writing on the wall. Given the cross-party commitment to emissions reductions, we anticipate mandatory reporting for all companies within a decade.” He is ideally placed to comment on emissions monitoring: The Fuelcard People introduced the pioneering CO2Count service to its existing fuel card users at the beginning of 2012, setting a benchmark by which all monitoring services will be measured. Alongside a regular fuel invoice for any fuel card, the customer receives a complementary emissions report, their CO2Count Certi icate. It covers the whole leet, split by vehicle fuel types – diesel, petrol, gasoil, LPG – and, for each type, shows the greenhouse gases produced during the invoice period: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen dioxide (CO2, CH4 and N2O). The leet manager can see, at a glance, leet emissions of each gas and the combined emissions total. “Whether you have a couple of vans, dozens of cars or hundreds of trucks, cutting your leet emissions has to begin with measuring them,” said Steve Clarke, “and your irst CO2Count Certi icate gives a starting point. From there it is simple to keep track of emissions across the leet, and match them against any emissions reduction initiatives. This is an instant and continuing gain for the customer, but the enduring global bene it comes

from our partnership with Cool Earth.” The Fuelcard People remains the automotive industry’s only of icial partner of Cool Earth, Europe’s fastest-growing environmental charity. A donation is made for every CO2Count Certi icate issued, furthering Cool Earth’s work to protect threatened rainforests and their communities. “We developed CO2Count as an essential service for leets,” said Steve Clarke, “and knowing that emissions reporting legislation was inevitable, but our commitment goes beyond way that. In delivering emissions monitoring across the UK, we simultaneously make a positive impact where it is most needed, on the front line of the rainforests.” Cool Earth funds a trust, making the local community the land’s legal custodians, and uses community rangers and satellite imagery to monitor and protect the rainforest 24/7 from illegal activity. It also institutes sustainable employment programmes, complemented by support for schools and clinics, so that indigenous rainforest communities do not suffer from lost logging income. Matthew Owen, Cool Earth director, said: “After checking the environmental credentials of the CO2Count service, we are happy to acknowledge its importance. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital for the planet’s future and independent monitoring is key to tracking the results of any reduction initiative. The automotive sector is not renowned for being particularly green, so CO2Count stands out as a serious measure in its own right. The donation to Cool Earth is a welcome bonus, which will protect vast stretches of threatened rainforests.” Cool Earth has shown that the best way to protect rainforest is from the ground up. By working with local populations, Cool Earth halts deforestation by keeping custodian communities intact and ensuring that the forest will always be worth more to them standing than it is cleared.

September 2012

INTERVIEW Jeff Guyton Mazda Motors Europe

The Sky isn’t the limit New cars, new technology and more profit – Mazda Motors Europe’s president, Jeff Guyton, tells Steve Moody how the brand is reinventing itself. As you might have seen earlier in this issue, Mazda is at a watershed: its range is almost about to be replaced in its entirety over the next couple of years, by cars with significantly lower emissions, and hopefully, considerably more style. European president and CEO Jeff Guyton is perfectly placed to see the change, and he reckons that for UK fleets, the firm will become a major force as a result. ‘Our sales in the UK have been tremendously beaten down, especially where we’ve not done well in the fleet sector, although we have a stronger share in the private sector,’ he admits. ‘The strength of the Yen has made it difficult especially with the discounts some other brands are giving, but the great thing about this new SKYACTIV Technology is that it is less costly to build, so we will see an improvement in our business model and the ability to trade as a result of much improved product. So although its sounds perverse to say, CX-5 for example is much more profitable, yet sells at a lower price point than CX-7 because of the cost of the technology to build, which is head and shoulders better. ‘So that is rolling out across our range, and that’s a big piece of how we intend to make the business more profitable. The good thing that I see is that SKYACTIV Technology is underpinning all the successive models in the next few years, so you have this fundamental technology which is the next step in Mazda’s evolution, and so the proposition is going to be very strong. ‘At this moment our product lineup is as old as it is ever going to be and I see very competitive cars coming, so even though the industry says it is going to be very challenging, I see growth.’ Guyton is confident the brand will see growth on the back of new product, starting with the CX-5 and then the new Mazda6. ‘I think versus today’s Mazda6 we’ll see an uplift in sales, no question, and in a European context the current 6 has a 3% market share, but previously we have done, depending on the market, a 6-12% share with it and I don’t see any reason why this car shouldn’t do that again.’ In the UK, nearly 80% of sales for the Mazda6 are to fleet, but that equates to only a 5% market share, and Guyton believes this can be improved.

He says: ‘We have a strong CO2 story, will have good RVs, very affordable monthly rates and low BiK, so the recipe for this car is very similar to the successful recipe in the market today. ‘We haven’t talked about pricing yet, but ethos is not about big discounts. Buyers will recognise that we don’t typically do the huge discounting but the overall proposition will be strong.’ Low costs are a result of economy boosting SKYACTIV Technology. Although Guyton would not be drawn on exactly what fleets can expect, it is thought that the diesel engine will deliver 109g/km at its highest level, and remarkably may go even lower still. But even so, he is keen for the brand not to get too hung up on Skyactiv for fear of putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. ‘Actually, what I want people to think first and foremost is about Mazda, not SKYACTIV. What you find is most consumers don’t know what puredrive, ecomotion, or any such eco brand is. They know it’s something, and they think its eco-based but they don’t know what it stands for. What I want them to think when they hear Mazda is that it stands for stylish, insight, great performance and fuel efficiency in a lovely package. And if we get there through SKYACTIV then great, but I don’t need them to know what SKYACTIV actually is. ‘Although it’s very difficult to convey this message, and we’re only at the start, the technical premise of the new 6 is that it’s fantastic to drive, with more power but at the same time best-in-class fuel economy, and with great safety. ‘How do we uphold our Defy Convention mantra with this? Well, the way to go about it is that the Mazda6 has a relatively large displacement 2.2-litre diesel engine with a lot of torque, that’s against the current downsizing trend, and that’s not conventional. And so what we’re going to try and say is that you can have your cake and eat it and you don’t have to sacrifice one thing or the other for lower company car tax.’ Mazda has sold more than 120,000 6s in the UK since the car was launched in 2002, and Guyton says the new model offers a real opportunity to get the brand moving: ‘There are so many company car drivers who have had a Mazda6 in the past. Now is our opportunity to go and talk to them about the car, and get them into Mazda again.’

New Mazda6 aims to let drivers have their cake... and eat it.

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“Most consumers don’t know what puredrive, ecomotion, or any such eco brand is. They know it’s something, and they think its eco-based but they don’t know what it stands for.”

September 2012

S E LLI N G

Used car buyers prefer petrol, says BCA Fleets may have to reconsider their preference for diesel engines, according to the results of this year’s BCA New Car Market Report, with 43% of respondents saying they would be looking for a petrol-powered car when they buy their next vehicle, against 30% for diesels. Diesel and petrol demand is almost static from the 2011 report, at 27% and 45% respectively, but has yet to catch up with the sales split among new cars. The report also showed a fall in demand for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, including electric models, down from 3% in 2011 to 2% in 2012. Diesel cars, which are usually more expensive than their petrol counterparts, are likely to be affected by buyers’ preference for choosing based on price. This was considered the most critical factor when buying used, with 41% of those surveyed saying it was top of their priorities. Fuel source accounted for just 12% of responses. Yet 27% said they would be looking to buy a more fuel efficient car as the economy recovers, the highest deciding factor, while 20% were aiming for lower road tax. Report author, Professor Peter Cooke from the Buckingham University Centre for Automotive Management, said: ‘The fleet market is very much enamoured with diesel, but the used car buyer is much more interested in petrol as a power source. And if we’re going to see price hikes in fuel it’s going to bring in all sorts of implications.’ The UK remains Europe’s biggest used car market, and its total value reached £35.7bn in 2011 based on transaction values, the highest on record and an increase of £2.4bn on 2007 figures. Fleet and leasing disposal volumes are expected to drop rapidly this year due to the after-effects of the banking crisis in 2009, falling from 495,000 in 2011 to 415,300 and not predicted to rise again until 2014, the report says.

HOT... Fuel efficiency With fuel prices starting to climb, buyers will begin to take more notice of fuel economy again in the cars they purchase.

Pre-registrations There are increasing numbers of them about, and they’re popular with nearly new buyers, but for how long before they start to affect the rest of the market?

Decent trade-ins With the new plate upon us, used dealers will be looking for good quality trade-ins to sell on.

NOT... Independent dealers According to Citizen’s Advice, more complaints are made to it about independent used car dealers than any other sector.

Convertibles

Defleeting firm goes under A Warwickshire-based defleeting specialist has gone into administration after the failure of a key client. Radium Automotive, which previously traded as JohnsonVellen and Jet Total Vehicle Solutions, went into administration on August 28. Andy McGill and Mark Orton from KPMG have been appointed as administrators. The business, which worked with fleet management companies to refurbish exlease vehicles before selling them back to the trade, employed 167 people from its extensive site in Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. Due to significant cashflow problems within the business, the administrators had to make the majority of the employees redundant upon appointment. Joint administrator, Andy McGill said: ‘The business invested heavily in recent years, acquiring its new 35-acre leasehold site in Long Marston. ‘However, the failure of a key customer earlier this year, plus on-going economic pressures in the sector have resulted in a material decline in turnover levels and on-going order book. ‘As a result, the business became unviable and regrettably we have had no alternative but to close it down with immediate effect and implement an orderly wind down strategy.’ A number of employees have been retained to assist the administrators.

fleetworld.co.uk

The hopeless weather over the summer has dented demand, and there’s a glut of them as we move into the autumn.

Diesel More and more used buyers are now looking for petrol as they better understand the costs of running a car.

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TYRE LABELLING: What you need to know We’re just weeks away from the introduction of a Europe-wide tyre labelling system. Peter Fairlie, Group Sales Director of ATS Euromaster, gives Fleet World the low-down on what this means for fleet managers.

What is tyre labelling? Tyres are critical to every part of a vehicle’s function – they impact on reliability, fuel efficiency and safety, stopping distances and noise reduction, not to mention the ability to cope with poor road conditions. Selecting the right tyres for your fleet means either prioritising your needs or choosing tyres which offer good all-round performance in a number of key areas. The problem is that there is currently no objective, universal method of categorising tyres and explaining their features and benefits so that users can compare like with like easily. The EU is setting out to solve that problem and from November 2012 a tyre labelling system will be introduced.

Who has decided what on the label? The EU is focusing on safety and environmental issues and there are three key criteria: 1. Rolling resistance (which impacts on fuel consumption and emissions) comes from the deformation of the tyre as it contacts the road. Reducing rolling resistance means better fuel consumption. 2. Wet grip (which affects safety). 3. Exterior rolling noise (sound pollution).

When will you see the labels? You’ll see them on pretty much all car and van tyres. Truck tyres will be graded too, but they won’t carry a physical label. There is no legal requirement for them to appear on the tyres supplied with a new car or van, unless the manufacturer offers a choice of tyres. But replacement car and van tyres must have labels which are clearly visible. If the tyres can’t physically be seen, the retailer must inform you of the tyre’s individual rating. Remoulds are not currently included.

Are there any drawbacks to tyre labelling? It’s a significant improvement on what we had, which was nothing at all, but it does have some shortcomings. There are four notable exceptions which well-informed fleet managers, and ATS Euromaster staff, will be aware of: 1. The price of a tyre is one thing, but to judge whether or not it is good value, the buyer needs to know the projected life expectancy in miles. After all, a cheaper tyre that wears out quickly may be poor value compared to a more expensive tyre which lasts much longer. 2. The life of the tyre also affects its impact on the environment. A low-cost tyre which wears out faster costs the same amount of money to recycle as one which lasts twice as long. Shorter-life tyres mean more tyres to recycle.

Does ATS Euromaster approve of tyre labelling? Yes we do. Tyre labelling will increase user awareness that all tyres are not equal and that some have better performance profiles. Generally speaking, informed buyers buy better. That applies to anything, not just tyres. So more information means fleets are likely to make better choices. Tyre labelling also draws particular attention to the problems of certain budget fitments.

3. There is no measure of wet grip when cornering, which in many cases is a critical issue. 4. The system measures braking on wet roads, but not dry roads.

For further information on tyre labelling, call 0845 6180422 or visit www.atseuromaster.co.uk/tyre-labelling

MANAGEMENT Fleet Academy

Join the Motorway safety – is speed the answer? Alex Grant, Motoring Editor, Fleet World

Fleet World magazine’s Fleet Academy is designed to provide a forum whereby those industry consultants and professionals in possession of valuable fleet information can impart it to a select audience of fleet decision-makers. At the heart of the Fleet Academy is a network of independent fleet industry experts whose work brings them into regular contact with end-user fleet managers and other organisations playing a key role in the industry. These fleet experts provide a regular feed of information that is posted on the website forum in the form of a discussion topic. Typical areas of interest include, but are not limited to: taxation, finance and accounting, legislation, environmental issues, fleet safety, insurance, fleet management, supply issues and security. Fleet suppliers are permitted to respond to queries if it is felt that their response represents honest and impartial advice. This aspect of the service is strictly moderated in order to ensure that the quality of information provided remains of the highest standard. We have already attracted a strong network of fleet professionals, and our expert contributors have submitted a number of thought provoking discussion topics, a few of which are previewed to the right. We hope you will consider joining us in this exciting new venture into the world of fleet. To find out more about Fleet Academy and request membership, please visit:

www.fleetacademy.co.uk 52

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If the 80mph motorway speed limit proposal wasn’t generating enough of a furore, ex Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has poured a little extra fuel on the ﬁre by suggesting a move in the opposite direction – a blanket 55mph limit for the entire motorway network. The suggestion, made during an interview with the Radio Times, came on the back of an allegation that most drivers weren’t safe enough to drive any faster than that – in most cases not knowing what they’re doing as they drive too fast and close to the car in front. As a regular user of our major road network, I can see where he’s coming from. A lot of British driving habits leave much to be desired, and I think it’s an attitude rather than a case of them sneaking in over time. But I don’t think a cripplingly low motorway speed limit will help. Speed is a symptom rather than a cause. I recently crossed Germany via its excellent Autobahn network, and for a set of roads which sound like a recipe for disaster they’re an absolute pleasure to use. Drivers use

Mike Palmer, Service Delivery Manager, Nexus Vehicle Management replied… I believe that too much emphasis is placed on the actual speed, and not the conditions of the road. When I was taught to drive, I was taught to drive to the road conditions, and not the speed limit on the road. I would have no issue about the speed limit being raised, but this needs to be in combination with other measures.

Kevin McFeeley, Transport Manager, SMBC replied… I have to agree with Mike… at 50mph or 80mph we will still suffer the usual suspects driving erratically. There is a solution I would like to offer up to aid the flow of traffic, and as a transport manager it pains me to say it… during peak traffic flow HGV’s should be restricted

in association with

debate... Thin end... big wedge Ross Durkin, Publisher, Fleet World their mirrors, stay where they should and the speed limits are obeyed rigidly, with lower speeds enforced when visibility, grip or traffic conditions make the unlimited sections dangerous. People listen. By comparison, I can’t see either a higher or lower speed limit being effective in the UK. Push it up to 80mph and a lot of drivers will view 90mph as acceptable. Nudge it down to 55mph and there’d be concertinas of traffic shuffling up our largest roads, bumper to bumper. Leaving it as it is could be problematic, too. It’s not uncommon to see drivers blasting down the motorway at an entirely legal 70mph despite heading into thick fog, heavy rain or dazzling sunlight. So, what’s the solution? Is it best to monitor, through telematics for example, and incentivise the best drivers, or focus on recurring training to bolster everyone’s awareness of safer driving? Or, do you think simply adjusting the speed limit either way will make a difference?

to the left lane only. I believe speed is not the issue nor is it the root cause of the delays we face, correct use of the lanes available is.

Andrew Wright, Director, Fleet Influence replied… There is only one answer to this, which is sadly very long term. The driving test must become a real one rather than the rather derisory eﬀort we have now. There seems to be an assumption that driving is a right and the test reﬂects that. With no need to develop any particular skills, and no motorway element to the test, it is hardly surprising that we have a majority of drivers who are frankly incapable.

The news that private funding is to be used to increase capacity on a 20-mile section of the A14 is the thin end of a very big wedge, not least of all for the developers themselves. Road tolls are a pain at the best of times, both in the backside and the back pocket. You would think that with the legacy of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) debacle still hanging heavy in the air, governments would learn from their mistakes and find a more cost-effective way of funding road infrastructure improvements. Like spending some of the £48bn raised last year in taxes, only £9.8bn of which was actually spent on the roads. I fundamentally object to paying again for something which I have already helped to fund in the first place and while I find it unlikely that I will be too frequent a visitor to this stretch of road that leads one to the port of Felixstowe, I wouldn’t be surprised if the long-awaited improvement to the A30 near Bodmin was also lined up for just such a scheme. Then I really will kick up.

Ronnie Gunn, Head of Media Communications, MPS & BBI International replied… I quite agree that a toll on the A14 would be a disaster. This is a critical route between the West Midlands and East Anglia and vice versa – in fact just about the only credible way across England between these two points. This proposal would be a highly retrogressive step to both business and tourism development.

Jakes de Kock, Marketing Director, The Fuelcard Company replied… The A14 is the gateway to the Port of Felixstowe – the busiest container port in the UK handling 35% of our country’s container cargo. It is an artery for the British economy and one the UK haulage industry must use to keep Britain in tow with the global markets. Through imposing tolls on this vital roadway, Government is essentially targeting the haulage industry with what amounts to a stealth tax – we’re an industry already stretched to breaking point with record high petrol prices and a fuel duty that makes the rest of Europe either weep or sneer. We simply can’t sustain this extra cost.

September 2012

MARKET OVERVIEW Risk Management

AA DriveTech AA DriveTech is one of the UK’s DriveTech leading road risk management and driver education companies. The FleetSafe Division delivers driver risk management solutions throughout the UK. This includes in-vehicle and workshop training for car, van and LGV drivers (including Driver CPC) and “driving for work” programmes through a fully integrated online risk management solution which includes a licence validation service, driver risk exposure assessment tool and ten e-learning modules. Fleet managers can view driver status and outcomes with a single logon via our FleetRiskManager portal. More information can be seen at www.fleetriskmanager.com. On our website, AAdrivetech.com, we describe how our customers have benefitted from implementing occupational road risk strategies with us. Case studies include: • Center Parcs • Cordek • Feedwater • Thatcham – The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre • Sainsbury’s Online • Shred-it.

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

Tel: 0845 299 6131

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

Contact: Christian McKay christian.mckay@cardinus.com

Tel: 01733 426 015 www.cardinusfleet.com

Jaama Ltd

IAM Drive & Survive Ltd IAM Drive & Survive is a leading occupational driver risk management provider and is the commercial subsidiary of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), the UK’s largest independent road safety charity whose sole aim is that of improving road safety for all. IAM Drive & Survive promotes occupational driver and rider improvement throughout the fleet and business community, utilising online, classroom and on-road modules. It helps employers achieve their duty of care to employees, reduce road incidents and minimise costs and has one of the most comprehensive ranges of occupational driver training, including driver risk management programmes and driver CPC compliance.

Contact: Neil Hawley neil.hawley@iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Tel: 0870 120 2910

Jaama is a multi-award winning fleet software and road safety specialist. Jaama’s Key2 system delivers a totally holistic risk management approach enabling fleet decision-makers to effectively manage their drivers and vehicles including ‘grey fleet’ in-house and in one place. Integrated DVLA licence checking, Driver CPC and ADR management, driver training history driver/vehicle accident, maintenance history and fuel data can be stored and viewed independently or collectively by driver. Having a consolidated view of a driver’s personal history combined with data from their allocated vehicle in terms of mpg and maintenance budget really does provide meaningful information that can help you: • Proactively manage duty of care and meet CSR objectives • Reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions • Reduce incidents and related costs • Identify training needs Jaama also carry out regular one day Fleet Management Essentials training seminars.

Contact: Collette Dooley enquiries@jaama.co.uk

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

Mac GB Ltd

RoSPA

Mac GB Ltd is one of the UK’s leading providers of Occupational Road Risk (ORR) solutions. Through years of experience, Mac knows that a sustained campaign of ORR solutions, linked with the company’s health and safety policy, will have an immediate impact on: •Reduction in accidents •Reduction in fuel consumption •Employees’ attitude and behaviour •Enhance the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility andDuty of Care programme By using ex-police class-one instructors delivering independently accredited courses, you are guaranteed a quality assured service, making Mac the obvious and first choice provider for corporate bodies, whatever the situation.

RoSPA’s driver trainers are Fleet Approved Driving Instructors (not just ADI qualified) and hold a DSA Grade 5 or 6, making them some of the most highly qualified instructors in the UK. In addition all our trainers have passed RoSPA’s Advanced Driving Test at Gold grade and hold RoSPA’s National Diploma in Advanced Driving Instruction. RoSPA offer a range of fleet solutions second-to-none including: •Driver training •Fleet consultancy •Risk assessment •Advanced driving and riding •CPC training and much more.

Contact: Richard Wilyman richard.wilyman@mac-hq.co.uk

Cardinus Risk Management

fleetworld.co.uk

Tel: 01745 828180 www.reduceroadrisk.com

Contact: Nicola Griﬃths enquiries@rospa.com www.rospa.com/drivertraining

Tel: 0121 248 2233

FLEETW RLD

Do you oﬀer on-line Risk Assesment?

Do you oﬀer psychometric driver proﬁling?

Do you oﬀer risk assessment as part of your programme?

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

Do you oﬀer a classroom-based driver training programme?

Do your instructors provide a demonstration drive?

Do you oﬀer a vehicle inspection service?

Do your instructors carry out a driver eyesight test?

Do you oﬀer a licence checking facility?

Do you oﬀer nationwide trainer coverage?

Do you oﬀer training for all vehicle types?

Do you oﬀer Post Accident investigations training?

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

Key to services

AA DriveTech

Cardinus

IAM Drive & Survive Ltd

Jaama Ltd

Mac GB Ltd

Peak Performance

RAC

Roadmarque®

RoSPA

Zenith

Service provided

Service unavailable

RAC Risk Management

Peak Performance Welcome to ‘Better Driving’… • “A 30 per cent cut in accident rates” • “Accident costs have also been almost halved” •“Employee wellbeing and safety have been significantly improved” What Is ‘Better Driving’? ‘Better Driving’ is a multi-award winning range of risk management solutions that delivers deliver positive, effective and lasting results and is proven to significantly reduce accident involvement and improve driver safety. ‘Better Driving’ for your business… Peak Performance has helped hundreds of businesses meet their Duty of Care, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental objectives, delivering signiﬁcant costs savings through fewer accidents and lower costs. …‘Better Driving’ means ‘Better Business’

Contact: Kirstie Snape Tel: 01246 244200 or 07971 207212 Kirstie.snape@peakperformance.net www.peakperformance.net

A risk management strategy is not just a ‘nice to have’, it is an essential requirement for any business today. An effective strategy will help you to comply with road traffic and health & safety legislation, reduce accidents and keep fleet operating costs low. It will also help you to meet your Duty of Care, Environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility objectives. Our risk management solutions are as comprehensive as they are simple to use. These include audits, seminars, workshops, online risk assessment, e-learning, driver document checking, practical training (all vehicle types), driver permit, post accident interview, vehicle inspection and driver cpc. We can also manage your programme on your behalf. Our goal is to provide you with a fleet solution that adds value to your business. Contact us today to find out how our solutions can work for you.

Contact Name: Christian McKay cmckay@ﬂeetriskmanagement.net

Tel: 0870 606 2606 www.racﬂeetriskmanagement.co.uk

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

Contact: Dr Gerhard Manogg enquiries@roadmarque.com

Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

September 2012

FUEL MANAGEMENT

Drivers get on board for fuel savings Mel Dawson Latest research from ALD Automotive shows that drivers are increasingly happy to play their part in cutting ever-rising fuel costs. Mel Dawson, sales director of ALD Automotive, finds out how savvy fleets can use this to their advantage.

“ Drivers are becoming increasingly supportive of actions to reduce fuel spend”

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

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So what passed for a British summer is now over, the kids are back at school – with the resultant morning rush hour problems – and in true style pump prices are on the up again, ensuring that fuel costs remain the thorn in the side of UK Plc as well as motorists. However, one thing that does stand in fleets’ favour is a growing awareness amongst drivers of the need to save fuel. For many fleet operators, the requirement for stringent cost control over fuel costs will be nothing new. The global recession and the sharp rise in fuel prices from 2008 helped instil the importance of fuel management and running more fuelefficient cars in the minds of many within the industry. And with good reason; fuel is the second largest area of fleet spend after depreciation. But it seems that drivers themselves are also becoming more aware of the need to reduce fuel consumption. In fact in a recent survey of a thousand business drivers undertaken by ALD Automotive, we found evidence of changing attitudes towards fuel consumption, with headline results including: • 50% of participants shop around for the cheapest fuel available • 65% drive slower and more smoothly in an effort to save fuel • 20% drive fewer miles. Such a shift in attitude has been brought about not only by the spike in prices but also events such as the panic buying seen earlier this year due to the possible threat of strike action from the hauliers. Rather interestingly there is also evidence that drivers are becoming increasingly supportive of other actions to reduce fuel spend, including the use of onboard telematics technology, which can provide a particularly effective way for fleets to deliver savings. For example ALD Automotive’s advanced ProFleet2 solution can be used as powerful fleet management tool, delivering indepth management information alongside data supplied by a fuel card to enable fuel usage to be matched with actual business journeys and accurate mileage statistics, ensuring that fuel cost reimbursement is controlled effectively.

And ProFleet2 can also significantly reduce fuel costs by helping to identify bad driver behaviour, including excessive speeding, harsh acceleration and sharp braking, etc. By highlighting good performance and benchmarking drivers’ performance, the technology helps employees to strive to achieve better fuel consumption. As a result, firms that have successfully implemented a telematics solution could see some significant fuel savings. According to one ALD Automotive customer: ‘The Fuel Management System via ProFleet2 provided savings of £90,000 in fuel submissions for private usage in its first year, as well as accurately reporting the reduction in Carbon Output. In addition, over £100,000 of vehicles were recovered using its tracker capability.’ Another customer added: ‘By introducing ProFleet2, having the ability to monitor vehicle movement’s identify unnecessary journeys, idling times and erratic driving behaviours, a 37% reduction on fuel spend was achieved.’ While the cost benefits of telematics solutions for fleets may be clear, some firms have previously shied away from implementing the technology due to concerns over employees’ suspicions of how it will be used. However, as the ALD Automotive research shows, drivers are actually increasingly embracing the technology, helped by latest technology developments that can be used to their benefit too, for example to help validate time sheets. In fact, according to another ALD Automotive survey of 500 UK business drivers, 87% of respondents would approve of on-board technology that could help reduce their fuel bill – clear evidence that telematics is being embraced by drivers. Finally, one further way to manage fuel costs is through ALD Automotive’s mileage capture product, making the whole business mileage reclaim process simple and fully auditable for both the company and HMRC compliance – providing a further beneﬁt to drivers too. So with drivers increasingly happy to play their part in reducing fuel costs, and pump prices set only to go higher in the future, the onus is now on ﬂeets to pump up the fuel price savings.

SWOT TEAM

MAZDA CX-5 v RIVALS

THE RIVALS KIA SPORTAGE

NISSAN QASHQAI

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

THE TEAM

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

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

September 2012

SWOT TEAM This month the SWOT Team analyses the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new MAZDA CX-5 against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

MW The CX-5 is the new kid on the block and its design is spot-on, coupled with SKYACTIV Technology it offers a good all-round-package. Qashqai started this sector and is still popular, while the Tiguan is liked by fleets because it offers so much more than a regular hatchback for not much more money. The Kia Sportage is probably the best looking of the bunch and is well built too.

MW Sportage is let down slightly by its CO2 emissions, and the Qashqai is starting to get on a bit in its lifecycle, so must be due a model change soon. Tiguan has those all-important Volkswagen badges, which is reflected by its comparatively high price. The CX-5 is a good car, but will have to battle to get onto fleet lists, as it’s more of an unknown.

AS Qashqai proved an instant hit with buyers look-

ing for something other than the hatchback offerings, and the 1.6 dCi engine is a welcome addition to the range. CX-5 is a similar vehicle in type and size to a Nissan Qashqai +2 and comes to market with a good quality feel. The 2.2 diesel has been cleaned up as part of the SKYACTIV Technology upgrades and now emits just 119g/km CO2 with a manual gearbox. Tiguan’s solid build quality and well-designed cabin has helped its strong image, while Sportage really moved the game on for SUV styling, offering a car-like driving experience but with a high seating position for a ”go-anywhere” impression.

MJ CX-5 is Mazda’s first car with SKYACTIV Tech-

nology, which includes lighter components and very efficient petrol and diesel engines and transmissions. It’s well finished, looks distinctive and is sensibly equipped, while good fuel economy and CO2 from 119g/km means low operating costs. Qashqai has continued to grow volume year-onyear, taking sales from the C-sector and SUVs too. It’s good to drive, and has low whole life costs particularly for the new 119g/km 1.6 dCi engine. Sportage’s modern looks, aggressive pricing, high equipment levels and spacious, well-built interior surprised some. With its transferable seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty the proposition is very strong. Tiguan’s mid-2011 facelift seemed early, particularly given that this followed a period of extended delivery times, but has given the car a fresh look, so was strategic rather than vital.

fleetworld.co.uk

AS Mazda has greatly reduced its CO2 outputs with the SKYACTIV Technology upgrades, but the carmaker is missing the point when it comes to the fleet market. The CX-5 is crying out for a smaller capacity, super-clean diesel, which would help it get noticed. There are signs of ageing in its competitors. Qashqai’s pricing has become top-heavy, and while the new low-CO2 1.6-litre diesel is a welcome addition, the quality of its interior plastics has fallen behind the rest of the models here. Parts of the Sportage’s interior could be better built, too, and both this and the Tiguan suffer from uncompetitive CO2 emissions against the sub-120g/km Nissan and Mazda. Volkswagen’s refresh of the Tiguan last year brought a small downward push on CO2 emissions, but it also introduced more topheavy pricing. MJ CX-5’s 119g/km 148bhp diesel is ideal, but Qashqai has shown that lower 105/110bhp power outputs mean bigger volumes in the UK. Mazda’s biggest challenge is achieving greater awareness of the brand, and getting onto people’s shopping lists. Qashqai’s rear accommodation is not the biggest in this group and some interior materials don’t feel as premium to touch as they could. Tiguan is well-liked by drivers, but its conservative styling may not attract buyers who are new to the brand. Volkswagen and Kia are let down by high CO2 emissions in this sector, compared to the latest competition, and a low entry point for the Sportage and Tiguan might help.

MAZDA CX-5

KIA SPORTAGE

NISSAN QASHQAI

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

MW CX-5 has come at just the right time for

MW There are smaller, more compact SUV/MPVs

Mazda as this market is certainly the one to be in and low CO2 emissions will help it when it comes to decision time. The Sportage with its good looks and bold design will continue to make inroads into fleets, and more people will want one, as it is very desirable. Tiguan has the name and is probably the best and safest buy, while Qashqai has the packaging and running costs to maintain popularity.

AS The CX-5’s low CO2 figures mean it’s a great

choice for drivers who may have been forced down from the D-sector size vehicle or one of the premium brands. Residuals are likely to hold up well. Tiguan has the advantage of a strong brand image, a major plus point in this overcrowded SUV sector, and is a popular choice for user-choosers and with used buyers too, which is good for residual values. Qashqai’s 1.5 dCi has been popular with new and used buyers, so the new 1.6 dCi is sure to be sought after too, holding strong residuals. Kia has growing credibility for reliable, well-built, high value cars, and Sportage throws style into the mix which appeals to fleet buyers and helps remove existing image barriers, which should help residuals going forward.

MJ There is an immediate opportunity to use CX-

5 to prepare the market for the all new Mazda6 and help put Mazda back on some people’s radar. But if you need this type of car and already are a Volkswagen driver then why would you not consider a Tiguan? Qashqai’s new 1.6 dCi 130 Stop/Start engine, which is around 30% more economical than the previous 2.0 dCi, will give the British designed and built Qashqai a fresh appeal – particularly for corporate buyers. Sportage is a European-built product with great looks and will continue to build sales.

appearing on the market, and many more to come that offer nearly as much interior space, but in a shorter vehicle, and at lower prices. The Mazda CX-5, Tiguan, Sportage and Qashqai need to keep looking over their shoulders as a new sector starts to develop.

AS Qashqai hit upon a success story, but this is

now a fiercely competitive segment which is becoming overcrowded due to many other models introduced in recent years. Mid-sized SUVs are under more residual value pressure of late, and while the market has improved lately this is only true for the ones that offer low CO2 outputs. Twowheel drive models are increasing in numbers, and this will be part of this sustained growth. Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen must make sure CO2 emissions and pricing are kept low, while quality remains high or improves to stay competitive. Mazda’s biggest problem will be communicating SKYACTIV Technology to customers and getting them to understand. The competitors are working very hard to lower CO2 outputs and slot into lower VED bands, which is the only way forward for this sector.

MJ Regardless of how good Tiguan actually is, it is not seen as a head-turner, while Sportage still faces a little resistance from those who are unaware of the changes to the product, but this will be overcome and new product volumes grow. Qashqai was the first of a new genre and has built strongly on that success. However, the competition is now offering true SUV products in two wheel drive, so Qashqai can expect a proper fight. High volumes could hurt RVs, although new and used buyer interest remains high. Mazda seems likely to find restricted availability of CX-5 a frustration and potential threat – albeit that this is much preferable to a surplus of cars.

September 2012

SWOT TEAM

MAZDA CX-5 v RIVALS

MAZDA CX-5

Mazda CX-5 2.2 SE-L OTR: £22,995 P11D: £22,940 Fuel: 61.4mpg CO2: 119g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £8,800 (38%) BiK: 17% SMR: £2,404 Fuel costs: £6,046 Insurance: £3,105 Finance: £3,097 NI: £1,709 VED: £60 Cost per month: £850

KIA SPORTAGE

Kia Sportage 3 1.7 CRDi 2WD OTR: £22,200 P11D: £22, 010 Fuel: 52.3mpg CO2: 143g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £8,500 (39%) BiK: 22% SMR: £2,909 Fuel costs: £7,098 Insurance: £2,205 Finance: £2,971 NI: £2,096 VED: £405 Cost per month: £868

NISSAN QASHQAI

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi n-tec+ OTR: £23,145 P11D: £23,090 Fuel: 62.8mpg CO2: 119g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £8,250 (36%) BiK: 17% SMR: £2,179 Fuel costs: £5,911 Insurance: £3,330 Finance: £3,117 NI: £1,721 VED: £60 Cost per month: £867

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

VW Tiguan SE 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology OTR: £24,215 P11D: £24,040 Fuel: 53.3mpg CO2: 139g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £9,950 (41%) BiK: 21% SMR: £2,320 Fuel costs: £6,975 Insurance: £2,880 Finance: £3,245 NI: £2,190 VED: £360 Cost per month: £892

THE VERDICT

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs • 5.8-inch touch-screen • Dual-zone climate control • Front and rear parking sensors • Front and rear electric windows • Smart City Brake Support • Cruise control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £520 • Satellite navigation £600 • Tow bar £190

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs • Cruise control • Leather upholstery with heated front and rear seats • Rear parking sensors • Panoramic sunroof • Dual-zone climate control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £475 • Satellite navigation with reversing camera £995 • Tow bar £310 • Front parking sensors £134

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs • Nissan Connect satellite navigation • Panoramic glass roof • Rear parking sensors, reversing camera and Around View Monitor • Cruise control • Automatic lights and windscreen wipers • Dual zone climate control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £500 • Front parking sensors £365 • Detachable tow bar £378

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth and USB connectivity with auxiliary input • Touch-screen radio/CD with DAB reception • Dual-zone climate control • Park Assist automatic parking with front and rear sensors • Front and rear electric windows Optional equipment: • Satellite navigation £545 • Leather upholstery £1,640 • Metallic paint £495 • Retractable tow bar £640 • Rear-view camera £300

THE crossover segment has become a crowded and competitive one since Nissan’s first generation Qashqai launched in 2007. New names, reinvigorated old models, value for money and a downward push on CO2 have added to the challenges. Establishing the CX-5 could be difficult, but low costs, good looks and high driver appeal will all help it find homes. The biggest challenge will be raising awareness of its clever technology, and overcoming the perceptions of a market which is moving into downsized engines.

fleetworld.co.uk

CALL 01727 739160 TO EXHIBIT AT THE SHOW

thefleetshow.co.uk

SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, UK

WEDNESDAY 24TH APRIL 2013

FLEET UPDATE

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium In its 14-year lifespan, the Focus nameplate has been attached to some ground-breaking Fords. It debuted the carmaker’s ”kinetic design” – a quantum leap forward in styling from the Escort it replaced – when it launched, enjoyed a long World Rally Championship career and now, in its third generation, it’s home to some very interesting low-CO2 drivetrains. Focus Electric will be the real technological spearhead next year, but for the mass market it’s the smallest member of the EcoBoost petrol engine family that will be the most interesting development. Debuted in the Focus, this offers performance and consumption close to a 1.6-litre diesel, but from a 1.0-litre petrol engine with only three cylinders. This means near-unbelievable 56.5mpg with CO2 emissions of 114g/km, 18% more efficient than the old 1.6-litre engine and with CO2 emissions almost identical to the less powerful 1.6 TDCi. What it lacks in the technical capacity it makes up for with a turbocharger, almost matching the 1.6 diesel for straight-line acceleration. It also avoids headaches from diesel particulate filters some inner city drives might encounter. So is it time to rethink defaulting to a diesel engine? Seeing the advantages of an engine like this takes time, so we’ve added the more powerful 123bhp version to the Fleet World fleet for six months to find out how it fares. We’ll be covering long and short journeys to assess real-world economy and the flexibility of such a small engine in a relatively large car. But first impressions are very good. In its first week on fleet, several members of the Fleet World team had a chance to drive the new arrival and all reported it felt much like a conventional larger petrol. The advantage is a preferable three-cylinder rumble under load, and considerably livelier performance at the bottom end of the rev range.

Alex Grant

This month A petrol Focus joins the fleet, as a diesel Scenic leaves.

Kia Optima 2 Tech 1.7 CRDi The other day, I said to Fleet World’s motoring editor, Alex Grant, that I was struggling to find fault with the Optima, and having driven Kia’s £21,695 upper-medium car for the past few weeks, that view still holds true. Let’s start with the looks. Kia’s styling department, basking in the visual glow of the Sportage, Rio and latest cee’d, have produced the goods in a sector not famed for its aesthetics. That the designers have managed to combine the styling with a truly capacious boot is testament to the Optima’s considered inception. Sure, the access to the boot could be a little more wideload-friendly, and colleagues have commented that an Optima estate (not in the pipeline) would solve this, but it’s a small gripe, given the amount of family paraphernalia that could be stowed inside with clever packing. Inside the cabin is all good news too. Heated, front electric seats (part leather on 2 Tech spec) are something I would always specify, while several rear seat passengers have commented on the generous legroom in the back. This is important because although there is a trend for downsizing away from the D-segment – smaller engines, ”eco” hatchbacks etc – there are many company car drivers for whom a Golf/Focus/Megane-sized car just isn’t big enough. And for those who don’t enjoy parking a car with a boot, there’s even a reversing camera as standard too. As for the engine...1.7-litres and 134bhp may not sound like a great deal these days but it’s the only engine on offer and suits the Optima just right, with sensible gearing and a light, six-speed manual gearbox. In a sector where the CO2 figures will keep tumbling and MPG will keep rising, a sub-120g/km Optima might not be too far away. For now, 128g/km is on a par with similarly powered stop-start equipped rivals and it also averages 54mpg without too much difficulty. Optima, therefore, is great to drive, good to behold, well priced, well equipped, increasingly well supported by Kia’s fleet aftersales team and won’t force drivers into any sort of compromise. It has to be one of the best fleet all-rounders available today.

Luke Wikner

OTR PRICE £19,195 POWER 125bhp @ 6,000rpm

OTR PRICE £21,695 POWER 134bhp @ 4,000rpm

TORQUE 170lb.ft @ 1,400-4,500rpm 0-62MPH 11.3 seconds

TORQUE 239lb.ft @ 2,000-2,500rpm 0-62MPH 10.2 seconds

TOP SPEED 120mph COMBINED MPG 56.5mpg

TOP SPEED 125mph COMBINED MPG 57.6mpg

CO2 114g/km (13% BiK)

CO2 128g/km (19% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk

FINAL REPORT

Renault Grand Scenic dCi 110 EDC Auto A good sign of how successful a longterm test car has been is when you’re sad to see it go. And so it is with the Grand Scenic, which we reluctantly wave goodbye to a year after it arrived on the Fleet World fleet. It’s a year that’s featured a lot of changes for Renault, including a drastic streamlining of its model range that saw the Scenic’s big brother, the Espace, dropped for the UK market. And there’s been a facelifted version of the Scenic introduced with new features including a Stop & Start model that offers better economy and performance. This is very much welcome as the 1.5 dCi in our version hasn’t been the most spritely of vehicles and I’ve only achieved an overall mpg of 38.4mpg over the year – although the car has seen a lot of round-town usage as well as frequently being loaded up with passengers and/or family paraphernalia. Generally I’ve been really pleased with

our ’11 plate Scenic. It’s certainly proved reliable and we’ve had no problems over the last year. I’ve also been impressed by how the interior has borne up to some tough family treatment, with the Teflon coating on the upholstery having done the trick of keeping it impervious to any stains. But for me, perhaps the biggest attraction of the Grand Scenic is its mix of family-friendly features in a compact vehicle that still manages to look smart and businesslike while throwing in some suitably hi-tech gadgets. These include Bluetooth connectivity and the keycard, as well as the built-in Carminat TomTom Live sat nav. Admittedly this is now Hobson’s choice as it’s the only trim available on the facelifted model although I would have wholeheartedly recommended it anyway. You do have to pay a subscription fee after the initial three-month free trial, which costs £125 including VAT for three years. But to be

honest I think that the subscription fee is a small price to pay for the extra versatility that this unit delivers compared to traditional sat navs and over the last year I’ve found it to be a great asset if you’re doing long journeys or driving frequently to new destinations. The Grand Scenic has proved itself to be very practical in terms of transporting family about. It’s not the niftiest of MPVs – the second row of seats don’t fold completely flat, but you can tumble them forwards or fold them down and clamber over to the rear. And though room for the back row occupants isn’t great, they’re certainly fine for kids. From a personal perspective I’ve been surprised at how many occasions there have been when a seven-seater has come in extremely handy – it’s saved us from having to take two cars on trips many times and I shall certainly miss it.

Natalie Wallis

OTR PRICE £22,300 POWER 108bhp @ 4,000rpm TORQUE 177lb.ft @ 1,750rpm 0-62MPH 13.3 seconds TOP SPEED 112mph COMBINED MPG 60.1mpg CO2 124g/km (18% BiK)

September 2012

FLEET UPDATE

Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TDI SE manual

The Audi has been on its summer holidays, travelling to Cornwall and then to Bournemouth, and I must admit it looked pretty sorrowful by the time it made it home, having been filled, smeared, and mashed with various products my two young children have to keep them variously occupied or fed on long trips. We talk about the quality of interiors quite a lot, and especially Audi Interiors, about smooth, well-formed plastics and clicky switches and precise buttons. It’s all very nice and premium, and stylish. But actually what this means is that having been subjected to the sort of infantile assault the Avant has endured over the past couple of weeks, when the wrappers, melted chocolate and sand have been cleared away, it’s actually pretty easy to get the interior back up to showroom condition. Pieces of trim have not snapped off, the gaps between dials and switches and their housings are tiny and so have not filled with infinitesimal grains of rubbish, and everything still works. And that means, that means the car doesn’t age quickly. A thing I hate more than anything in older cars is shiny steering wheels. It’s a depressing reminder of sweaty palms spending tens of thousands of miles wheeling them around. It ages a car horribly, because touchpoints – steering wheel, gear knob, pedals – always give the game away, no matter how good the condition of the paintwork. In the Audi, the wheel is still in its perfect matt leather finish. It will stay like that for years, and it makes a massive difference when it comes to buyers’ perceptions at resale time. One thing though that this car doesn’t have that I would definitely order is blacked out rear windows. They help the kids relax if the sun is strong (some hope) but also, when the car is packed to the gunnels with iPads, DVD players, laptops and bags, sitting in remote car parks you get the feeling a criminal would be less likely to take a gamble on breaking in if they couldn’t be sure anything was inside.

Citroen DS5 2.0 HDi 160 Citroen’s reputation for producing slightly quirky but innovative cars took a bit of a knock in the mid 1990s when a stream of more sensible cars came forth from their French factories, so the arrival of the new DS range was a relief to many of their more left-side-of-the-brain followers. What my youngest son loves the most – the vast number of buttons and switches to play with – would give some of Germany’s minimalist automotive designers sleepless nights. And that’s the beauty of the DS design ethic. It won’t please everyone, but some will absolutely love it, and hopefully for Citroen there will be enough of the latter. It’s certainly a car that draws the eye. The 2.0-litre HDi engine is a unit with few – if any – vices and mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox provides smooth and reasonably brisk progression up to cruising speed. Gear changes are near seamless and at motorway speeds the engine produces little more than a distant rumble in the background. Road noise is more noticeable, however, and is joined on the list of undesirable elements by the occasional jarring on poorer road surfaces. Those who live life on the motorway might never experience it, but certain short deep holes can catch the suspension out. It took some experimenting to find the perfect seating position but after a couple of false start we’ve now found a pose that is good for 300 miles without a hint of fatigue. First impressions are important with any new car and the overall feeling with the DS5 is that it is stylish and well built, with good shut lines and nothing that rattles. The cabin can be as light as you like with four individual sunroofs and if you fiddle with the buttons for long enough you’ll probably find something interesting that you never knew was there.

Ross Durkin

Steve Moody OTR PRICE £32,100 POWER 175bhp @ 4,200rpm

OTR PRICE £28,000 POWER 160bhp @ 3,750rpm

TORQUE 280lb.ft @ 1,750-2,500rpm 0-62MPH 9.0 seconds

TORQUE 251lb.ft @ 2,000rpm 0-62MPH 8.5 seconds

TOP SPEED 138mph COMBINED MPG 56.5mpg

TOP SPEED 134mph COMBINED MPG 55.4mpg

CO2 132g/km (19% BiK)

CO2 133g/km (19% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk

Specialist solutions for specialist vehicles.

At Alphabet, we understand your business may need a variety of commercial vehicles to suit your everyday needs. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a car-derived van or a specialist modiďŹ ed vehicle, our dedicated commercial vehicle team can assist in delivering the right solution for you. From the intricacies of ply lining, cranes and tail lifts, to corporate livery, we can offer a tailored solution for your business. Find out more: Tel: 0870 50 50 100 Email: alphabet@alphabet.co.uk www.alphabet.co.uk

FLEETW RLD

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

AUCTIONS & REMARKETING

ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT

DAILY RENTAL

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

RISK MANAGEMENT

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

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

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

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

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

FAST-FITS & TYRES

DRIVER LICENCE CHECKING

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

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

RAC Risk Management Tel: 0870 606 2606

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

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

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

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

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

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

Peak Performance Tel: 01246 244200 www.peakperformance.net

Sofico Tel: 07815 601622 www.soficoservices.com

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

Full listings online at fleetworldgroup.co.uk

www.racfleetriskmanagement.co.uk

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

CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE CBVC Vehicle Management Tel: 01283 509177 www.cbvc.co.uk

Lex Autolease

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

White Clarke Automotive Solutions Tel: 0870 787 2211

www.cardinusfleet.com

www.whiteclarkegroup.com

White Clarke Group Tel: 01908 576 605

DriveSense Tel: 01628 581930

www.whiteclarkegroup.com

www.drivesense.co.uk

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

Leasedrive Tel: 01344 466 466 www.leasedrive.com

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946

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

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

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

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

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

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

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

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

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

Full listings online at

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

www.arnoldclarkrental.com

DriveTech

Days Contract Hire Tel: 0845 296 4423 www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

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

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

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

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

Full listings online at fleetworldgroup.co.uk

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

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

FUEL MANAGEMENT The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

January 2012

DIARY DATE

FLEETW RLD

18/4/2012 Visit evfleetshow.co.uk for more information and to register for the event

inside Seoul Searching

Leasing trends

Hyundai plans major fleet push

Is the contract hire industry due more change?

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

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

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

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

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

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

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

driving towards lower fleet emissions

Stars of 2012 Featuring all the essential new cars launched this year

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

fleetworld.co.uk

VAN FLEETW RLD September 2012

NV200 4.2m3 load volume 739kg payload 55.4mpg/135g/km CO2

4.2M3 OF LOADSPACE IN A COMPACT VAN. THE NV200. PRACTICALLY GENIUS. Sound impossible? Just wait till you open the back doors and see for yourself. 4.2m3 of load capacity means bigger loads, fewer pick-ups and even quicker ﬁnishes. And because it’s all in the footprint of a compact van, it’s easier to park and get around town too. Now that’s more than practical, it’s practically genius.

Nissan. Innovation that excites.

NV200 SE 1.5 dCi

£155

FROM + VAT per month contract hire*

nissan.co.uk/nv200

*BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Contract Hire is available subject to status and conditions on eligible vehicles registered between 01/07/2012 and 30/09/2012. Guarantees and Indemnities may be required. Example based on 12+35 proﬁle, 10,000 miles per annum on a non-maintained contract. Further charges may be made subject to mileage and condition. Excess mileage will be charged at 6.4 pence per mile (excluding VAT). RAC cover, vehicle excise duty and 3 year/100,000 mile warranty included. Contract Hire Finance provided by Nissan Business Finance, a trading style of Arval UK Limited, Windmill Hill, Swindon SN5 6PE. Model shown is NV200 SE 1.5 dCi priced £13,970 exc. VAT and optional metallic paint at £350. Models subject to availability. Prices correct at the time of going to print. Nissan Motor (GB) Limited, The Rivers Ofﬁce Park, Denham Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 9YS.

VAN

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FLEETW RLD September 2012

‘Vivaro ecoFlex delivers improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions with no effect on the driving experience.’

September 2012

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

NEW TECNICO VERSIONS FOR FIAT DUCATO AND DOBLÒ CARGO Fiat Professional is extending its Tecnico line to cover both Ducato and Doblo Cargo models. The firm will offer a Ducato 30 van, with the 130hp Multijet II engine in L1H1 configuration alongside the existing Ducato Tecnico 35 van in L3H2 form. Both vans offer a host of extra kit, including air conditioning, front fog lights, Blue&Me with steering wheel controls, TomTom ready mounting in the dashboard, the Blue&Me TomTom Live navigator and cradle, Start&Stop, reverse parking sensors and ecoDrive Professional software. The Ducato 30 Tecnico is priced at just £13,995 excluding VAT, while the larger Ducato 35 Tecnico comes at just £16,995. That’s an on-paper saving of up to £10,900. Metallic paint is a £100 option on either van. There will also be two versions of the Doblo Cargo in Tecnico spec. These are a 1.3 Multijet II with 90hp, and a Doblo Cargo Maxi with the 105hp 1.6 litre engine. Based on SX trim vans, the Tecnico models get a similarly generous upgrade to their specifications, yet start at just £10,495 for the Doblo Cargo Tecnico 1.3, and at £11,995 for the Doblo Cargo Maxi Tecnico 1.6. That’s a saving of up to £6,300 over the standard SX vans with the extra options. Metallic paint is again a £100 extra. ‘The addition of these new Tecnico versions provides further testimony to Fiat Professional’s commitment to provide customers with new technological features, environmentally-friendly solutions and great value for money products with which they can confidently conduct their business,’ says Fiat Professional director, Sebastiano Fedrigo.

CONFIDENTIAL

TNT TAKES DELIVERY OF TEN VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER CONVERSIONS Parcel delivery company TNT Express is testing Volkswagen’s 5 tonne Crafter chassis against its standard 7.5 tonne trucks. The Crafter chassis cabs will be fitted with Cartwright box van conversions and will operate from TNT’s Bristol depot. It is believed that the 5 tonne van chassis will offer greater operational flexibility and save on running costs.

LCV OVERHAUL AT FORD Ford of Britain managing director Mark Ovenden (right), has conﬁrmed that the company will completely overhaul its entire light commercial vehicle range in the next two years. Speaking at the ﬁrst drive of Transit Custom, he said: ‘This is my number one priority. We will not launch anything more important over the next two years.’

D-MAX AWARDED FOUR-STAR SAFETY RATING Isuzu’s D-Max pick-up has been awarded a four star safety rating by Euro NCAP, making it one of the safest pick-ups in the sector. The D-Max received an 83% mark in adult occupancy, scoring maximum points for side impact protection. Front and rear head restraints were also praised for their protection against whiplash. ESP is standard across the range and that, with a front seatbelt reminder system, contributed to a 71% score for safety assist, while in the child occupancy category the pick-up scored 67%.

‘UPGRADE TO BUSINESS CLASS’ SCHEME EXTENDED

New Fiat Doblo Cargo Tecnico

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Citroen is extending the Upgrade To Business Class scheme that was launched earlier this year. The scheme includes a four year/60,000 mile service package, four years of Citroen Assistance and a warranty extended to four years/120,000 miles. Upgrade To Business Class had originally been available on vans registered before July 31. However it will now be available for the foreseeable future on all Euro 5 Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans supplied by participating dealers and Business Centres.

FIRST DRIVE Ford Transit

Transit Custom delivers driver comfort Ford's Transit Custom was worth the wait, as a first drive opportunity in Germany demonstrates that the firm's engineers have produced a winning combination, says Dan Gilkes.

Ford’s sixth generation Transit, the Transit Custom, is a cracking good drive, which is probably not much of a surprise given how important the van is to the company. However that’s far from the full story, as for the first time Ford is splitting its 1 tonne and 2 tonne carrying commercials into two completely different ranges, much as Mercedes has Vito and Sprinter, or VW’s Transporter and Crafter. We’ll have a first glimpse of the larger 2 tonne Transit at the Hannover Show this month (September), but won’t get behind the wheel of that vehicle until about this time next year. It doesn’t stop there though, as there will be a replacement for the smaller Transit Connect and a new model to fit between FiestaVan and Connect, all due to be launched within the next two years. But what of Transit Custom? Available as both a short wheelbase van, with a 6.0m3 load volume, and a long wheelbase model, carrying 6.8m3, Transit Custom drives through the front wheels only. Power comes from Ford’s Euro 5 compliant 2.2litre Duratorq TDCi engine in three states of tune: 100hp and 310Nm of torque; 125hp and 350Nm; 155hp and 385Nm. All three engines drive through a very easy to use six-speed manual gearbox

fleetworld.co.uk

and Ford is claiming an average 6% reduction in fuel use, with average CO2 levels now set at 178g/km. There are three trim levels: Base, Trend and Limited, though there will also be a new SportVan next year in typically limited numbers. Next year will also see the introduction of an ECOnetic model based on the 100hp engine. That said, all models now come with Auto-Start-Stop and an ECO switch, which controls both the Auto-Start-Stop function and a 70mph speed limiter. Fleets can have a fixed limiter set by the dealer if preferred. All vans get a fixed full height steel bulkhead, though the bulkhead has a load-through flap to allow longer loads to extend beneath the passenger seat. A clever integrated roof rack is available as an option, with the cross bars folding flat to the roof when not in use to improve fuel consumption. The Custom is available from day one as a panel van, a double-cab-in-van, a Kombi or as a Tourneo people-carrier. The factory-built double-cab-in-van, of which Ford sold more than 800 last year in the UK, retains enough payload and load area for customers to reclaim VAT if registered. All vans come with ESP, ABS, Hill Start Assist and daytime running lights.

Bluetooth will be standard from next February, when the current radio/CD will be dropped in favour of a radio with USB connection and Bluetooth phone set-up. The majority of models retain their 6E insurance grouping, while service intervals have been extended even further, to 30,000 miles/two years. The warranty stays the same at 100,000 miles/three years, though the perforation warranty has been extended to 12 years. The new van’s structure is 30% more rigid than before, which contributes to the improved ride and handling. It does increase the basic weight of the van though, so Ford has upped the GVWs to keep payloads comparable, so for instance the popular 280SWB becomes a 290SWB. On the road the Transit Custom rides extremely well, with very low levels of noise and vibration making it through to the cab. The handling, steering and braking are equally impressive and, though many fleet customers may never feel it, the 155hp engine really has plenty of pull. Equally importantly though, Transit Custom offers the ability to carry three Euro pallets, or 8x4 sheets of material either horizontally or vertically. Available to order now, customer deliveries start in November.

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2012

Four Pillars Hotel > Cotswold Water Park Wednesday 3rd October – Thursday 4th October 2012 THE MPG Marathon is the UK’s longest-running and bestknown economy driving event. Featuring a wide range of cars and vans, the MPG Marathon is a demonstration of how both the vehicle itself, and the person behind the wheel, can make a massive difference to an organisation’s fuel costs and carbon emissions. Now in its twelfth year, the MPG Marathon generates a great deal of media coverage in regional, national and even international press and provides the perfect showcase for new technology and well-honed driving skills. Previous competitors include fleet managers, celebrities, academics, motoring journalists, professional drivers and senior figures in the automotive industry. This year, the MPG Marathon is taking place on the 3rd and 4th October, based at the Four Pillars Hotel in South Cerney, just outside Cirencester. Competitors will push for the best economy over two days, on a route covering around 380 miles of British countryside, including A and B roads and motorway driving. Day 1 takes drivers west into South Wales, while day 2 circumnavigates the Cotswolds and South Midlands. Vehicles are split into classes depending on CO2 emissions, with a maximum CO2 limit for passenger cars of 160g/km introduced this year for the first time. Awards are given for the most economical drivers, as well as the most efficient cars and vans. The winners will be awarded at a presentation held on the 10th October at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London.

HOW DO WE MEASURE MPG? There are many devices, including factory-fitted items, which can measure fuel economy and many of them are very accurate. But for the sake of consistency, the MPG Marathon is based on a brim-to-brim measurement of how much fuel is used over the duration of the course. With modern fuel tanks coming in numerous shapes and sizes, each car’s tank is brimmed with fuel with one side

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jacked up to ensure that there is no air trapped anywhere inside the tank. Competitors can check fuel levels before the event, after which time the fuel cap is sealed for the duration to avoid en-route top-ups. Prizes will be awarded for the best overall fuel economy and the best percentage increase compared to the manufacturer’s figures, both in each vehicle class and overall for the event.

TRANSPORT MINISTER TO PRESENT MPG MARATHON TROPHIES Transport minister, Norman Baker MP will be the guest of honour at the 2012 MPG Marathon trophy presentation lunch. The minister, who has considerable interest in a wide range of green driving initiatives, will present the prizes to the winners of the competition at the special event to be held at the Royal Automobile Club. MPG Marathon event organiser, Ross Durkin, said: ‘It will be a great honour to welcome Norman Baker as our guest of honour for the MPG Marathon awards presentation. His enthusiastic support for green transport initiatives in both the consumer and fleet sectors is well documented and we are delighted to receive his support for the 2012 MPG Marathon.’

HOW DO I ENTER? If you want to enter this year’s MPG Marathon, you can request a place by completing the registration form on the event website – www.mpgmarathon.com We give priority to entrants working for fleet companies and those with eco-driving experience, but there are plenty of opportunities for others to get involved. For more information on taking part in the MPG Marathon, go to www.mpgmarathon.com call 01727 739160 or email mpgmarathon@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Meet the sponsors... AA The organisation is keen to raise awareness of how risk assessment and practical driver training, which includes fuel efficiency training, can help businesses to save money through reduced fuel consumption as well as improved driver safety. AA Business Services will also be ensuring the integrity of the event by lending logistical and scrutineering support, and precision refuelling through its Fuel Assist service.

ALD Automotive ALD Automotive is one of the UK's leading providers of vehicle funding and management solutions and manages over 73,000 vehicles. The ALD Automotive group is also the 2nd largest vehicle leasing operation in Europe and manages over 900,000 vehicles across 37 countries worldwide. As such we are, once again, delighted to organise the 2012 MPG Marathon. The event has proved to be an ideal fit with our own business strategy as it focuses on cost reduction, health and safety and environmental issues. These are the core issues at the forefront of our own and our customers’ thinking. Our support reflects the great importance we place on safer, smarter driving and our award winning risk management solutions – for company car drivers and the grey fleet alike, such as DriveSafe Solutions and ProFleet2 in-vehicle telematics – are testimony to this. It’s clear the MPG Marathon has gained a momentum of its own and is set to remain a key feature of the fleet motoring calendar.

Energy Saving Trust The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is one of the UK's leading organisations working in the field to limit the effects of climate change. A social enterprise with charitable status, EST works in partnership with government, local authorities, third sector organisations and businesses. EST provides impartial advice to fleets to help them reduce fuel use and improve efficiency with benefits to both fleet finances and the environment. EST is delighted to support the 2012 MPG Marathon as a vital part of raising awareness of eco-driving techniques.

Shell FuelSave Shell FuelSave is proud to be the headline fuel sponsor of the 2012 MPG Marathon. Shell FuelSave Regular Unleaded and Shell FuelSave Regular Diesel are enriched with the Shell Efficiency Improver, designed to improve fuel economy from the very first drop, meaning you could benefit from this advanced fuel economy formula from the first time you fill up your vehicle. This fuel-efficient formula is designed to ignite and burn more effectively, helping to produce more efficient combustion in your engine. In addition to this, it is also designed to help prevent the build-up of deposits on fuel injectors, improving your engine's efficiency. This helps you get the most out of every drop of Shell FuelSave Regular Unleaded and Shell FuelSave Regular Diesel, saving you more fuel with every tank.

TRACKER We are thrilled to be involved in the 2012 MPG Marathon. TRACKER has been leading the way in the field of vehicle tracking and telematics since 1993 and has over a million market leading security and award winning fleet management systems fitted to vehicles across the UK. Our expertise in monitoring and assessing vehicle usage and driver behaviour will come to the fore in this exciting partnership, with TRACKER Fleet delivering real-time information on each and every competitor performance. With our help, the industry can truly get behind the Marathon by following progress throughout the economy driving challenge. Whether it’s passenger cars, motorcycles, HGV’s, LCV’s and plant and construction equipment, we continue to lead the way in providing solutions that support the individual needs of today’s fleets irrespective of size or industry. Good luck to all the competitors, your supporters will be with you every inch of the way. September 2012

MOVANO

NO JOB TOO BIG Big, strong and versatile enough to handle any task. Movano is designed for tough business conditions. With more flexibility and choice than ever before, there’s No Job Too Big for Movano. • 4 vehicle lengths, 3 roof heights • Payload up to 2500kg, towing capacity up to 3 tonnes • FWD, RWD or twin-rear wheel RWD

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES The Wheels of Business

For more information visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/vans

DRIVEN

Vauxhall Vivaro ecoFLEX

Words Dan Gilkes

specification Vauxhall Vivaro ecoFLEX 2700 2.0CDTi 16V BASIC PRICE £19,948 ENGINE 4-cyl/1,995cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 115hp @ 3,500rpm TORQUE 290Nm @ 1,600rpm Weights (kg) GVW 2,770 KERB WEIGHT 1,670 MODEL

PAYLOAD MAX TRAILER WEIGHT

1,100 2,000

Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,415 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,633 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,387 WIDTH between wheel arches 1,268 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 549 LOAD VOLUME 5.3m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 70 litres COMBINED MPG 34mpg CO2 emissions 220g/km OIL CHANGE 1 yr/10,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/60,000 miles

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Vauxhall has taken an interesting approach to the eco van theme, having introduced ecoFLEX versions across all of its vehicle lines. Unlike some though, this doesn’t automatically include Stop/Start or cruise control, though on the last Vivaro we tried it did include a speed limiter. Indeed on first inspection you would be hard pressed to spot that this is an ecoFLEX Vivaro at all, other than the signs on the back door. Even from inside the cab there is little to let you know, as the familiar 2.0-litre CDTi engine still puts out a healthy 115hp and 290Nm of torque, enough to see the van easily keeping pace with motorway traffic. Interestingly that’s the more powerful version of the 2.0-litre engine, though you can opt for the 90hp version in ecoFLEX trim if you prefer. What the ecoFlex Vivaro has under the body is cooled exhaust gas recirculation, improved thermal management, optimised gear ratios, low rolling resistance tyres and a barely noticeable aero kit. The speed limiter is now optional, but it will probably be a well ticked box by fleet managers looking for maximum economy. Talking of which, the result is a claimed combined fuel figure for the 2700 ecoFLEX van of 40.9mpg and a CO2 figure of 180g/km. That compares to the standard 115hp van’s 37.7mpg and 198g/km. Given that the oncost is just £500, companies should recoup that premium in fuel costs alone. The real joy for the driver however is that getting the most from the Vivaro ecoFLEX doesn’t involve any great change in driving style. There are green lights on the dash to tell you when to change up or down, but otherwise it is just like any other Vivaro to drive. Which let’s face it, is no bad thing. There is more than enough performance available and the van handles well on country roads and in town. When it comes to longer distance motorway cruising, few vans of this size provide such a comfortable, effortless driving experience.

Few vans have stood the test of time as well as the Vivaro/Trafic. Even now, as we rapidly approach a new version next year, it remains a contemporary van with a very modern feel, inside and out, even in the rather strange Ocean Green hue of our test vehicle. Vauxhall’s mid-life facelift a couple of years ago updated the interior of the van and kept things fresh. Our Vivaro had a few extras on board too, including a Vision Pack of rain-sensitive wipers, auto lights, front fogs and selective door locking (£455), air conditioning (£630), a single passenger seat with driver and passenger lumbar adjust and armrests (£100), ESP with traction control (£400) and a CD30BT stereo with USB input and Bluetooth (£340). Standard kit includes height, reach and rake adjustable steering, height, reach and recline adjust for the driver’s seat, a full height solid bulkhead and unglazed rear doors. The base van lists at £19,948, or around £2,000 more with the options fitted. No doubt Vauxhall dealers are able to reduce that somewhat though if they want to win the deal. Vivaro is certainly not short of competition these days, much of which has been introduced or updated in the last year or two as part of the move to Euro5 engine emission standards. And while 40mpg is impressive for a van of this size, it is no longer cutting edge. The ecoFLEX Vivaro offers customers a lower emissions, reduced consumption option, without sacrificing driveability or performance. For those companies looking to tick the eco box, that may well be enough.

verdict The Vivaro ecoFlex doesn’t shout about its green credentials, paint colour aside. Yet it delivers improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions with no effect on the driving experience.

LCV OPERATIONS Fuel Management

Emerald weight loss cuts CO2 Emerald Automotive is aiming to cut emissions by 80%, reports John Kendall. It’s that time of year when fuel prices tend to be more stable, making it easy to relax and lose sight of the bigger picture. But without sounding too much like a profit of doom, fuel prices will continue to rise and the pressure to contain the cost is not going to go away. At the same time, many fleets are responding with some serious plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across their businesses. It’s not only about ”greening” operations, but very much tied in with controlling costs. At the same time, a report published in the last few weeks from independent researchers Berkeley Earth in California – headed by Richard Muller, who has expressed scepticism in the past about man-made global warming – points to a 1.5°C temperature rise in the Earth’s surface over the past 250 years. 0.9°C of that rise has taken place in the past 50 years. The mass of data used in the report points strongly towards that rise being associated with man-made carbon dioxide emissions. So there are compelling reasons – cost and environmental – to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption. Engine downsizing has helped to an extent, but to make significant cuts on the scale that some businesses are planning, more needs to be done. As any fleet manager knows, van weights have increased as safety and emissions equipment has been added. Reducing vehicle weight is key to big cuts in emissions and fuel consumption. The problem is that none of the established manufacturers have lightweight products in their model plans. It’s easy to understand why – they have systems working 24 hours a day designed to build vehicles quickly in steel, and changing would have many implications. That’s the thinking behind Emerald Automotive’s plan to build a lightweight hybrid van. Fleets such as Royal Mail, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, La Poste in France, FedEx, BT and others are aiming at 50% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for

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their fleets, but currently have no way of achieving these targets. Emerald’s target has been to cut CO2 emissions by 80% compared with traditional vehicles, translating into a fuel consumption reduction of 80%. The project is no pipe dream. VFW will be driving a prototype model in the next few weeks. Emerald’s estimates show that for the Royal Mail, the vehicle has a potential for savings of over £250 million a year alone – roughly £7,200 per vehicle per year. Hybrid vehicles tend to weigh more than their conventionally powered counterparts but the Emerald project overcomes this by using lightweight construction, with an aluminium chassis and a space frame cab structure with composite body panels that can meet current crash requirements. The Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV) uses battery electric drive with a Ford 1.4TDCi diesel engine to charge the batteries. The engine, which is not connected to the wheels, starts up automatically when battery charge falls below 20%. Battery range is around 60 miles, which can be extended to around 250 using the engine. The demonstrators built so far have achieved a target gross vehicle weight of 3,050kg but have not yet reached the 1,550kg target kerb weight, which would Emerald’s target has been to cut CO2 emissions by 80% compared with traditional vehicles

give a payload of 1,500kg. Kerb weight currently is 1,665kg, giving a payload of 1,385kg, but Emerald Automotive is working on it. And the fuel consumption? The project set a series of targets for the demonstrator vehicles. These were for combined fuel consumption using the recognised UN ECE R101 test, fuel consumption over the first 125 miles of testing – set at better than 100mpg, and carbon dioxide emissions, also measured on the UN ECE R101 cycle. In testing, the demonstrator returned 232mpg in the UN ECE R101 tests, compared with 31mpg for a typical diesel van. In the first 125 miles of testing, the van returned 91.5mpg compared with 24mpg for a typical diesel van, and CO2 emissions of 31.4g/km compared with 200g/km for a typical diesel van – a reduction of around 84%. Emerald plans to sell vehicles direct to fleets, on the basis that they mostly have repair and maintenance arrangements in place and the vehicles can be serviced using those channels. The company reckons it can break even producing 4,000 vehicles a year, but has based its business plan on building 10,000 a year, hardly enough to worry the major manufacturers, reckons Emerald. One central production plant, possibly in the UK, would supply kits to assembly plants around the world. Production could begin in 2014.

MARKET OVERVIEW Fuel Management

BP PLUS Fuel Card

The Fuelcard People

The BP PLUS Fuel Card offers the UK’s best combination of price, network, security and management information. BP offer competitive and flexible pricing and can help improve a customer’s cash flow with interest free credit (subject to status). Customers enjoy access to over 1 in 3 forecourts in the UK, including BP’s own unrivalled motorway and extensive A-road network. BP PLUS fuel cards have been designed to minimise fraud with individual driver PIN numbers, automatic alerts of unusual card use and online authorisation. BP PLUS Online Services helps to save time and money on routine fleet administration and enables customers to monitor and control fuel spend.

You’ll like the fuelcard people. We’re dedicated to achieving great savings for all our customers. More than just savings off their fuel bills. Saving them time and paperwork too, through great service. CO2Count helps our customers to count, control and cut their carbon footprint. And saving them the worry of guarding against fraud. It’s a relationship that starts with ensuring you get the right fuel cards to match your business operations. The right fuels, and refuelling network, for your vehicles and route. Let’s get together! We offer the largest range from one supplier. Our cards are accepted at quality sites including: BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, Gulf, Morrisons, Diesel Direct and UK Fuels.

Contact: BP Fuel Cards Sales Team Tel: 0845 603 0723 bpcardsadmin@uk.bp.com www.bpplus.co.uk

Contact: Steve Gale Tel: 0844 870 9856 info@thefuelcardpeople.co.uk www.thefuelcardpeople.co.uk

Esso Petroleum Company Ltd

Shell UK Oil Products

Esso offers a range of cards and pricing options that can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of your business. This includes accessing your fuel card account online 24/7. Esso Card can be used at 1800 stations nationwide and 15000 sites across Europe. Esso Cards enhanced card security and the availability of your latest online transactions provides peace of mind. Esso’s Energy Fuels help your vehicles run at optimal engine efficiency so if you are looking for value for money, quality fuel and a secure easy to use platform, make your life easier by choosing Esso.

With over 50 years’ experience in the fuel card business, the euroShell Card gives you access to over 3,500 Shell and partner stations in the UK, and over 22,000 in Europe. Our online management system gives you access to a range of customisable reports, fraud prevention alerts and 24/7 card management. We know every business is different, which is why we have a range of fuel card options to help you manage your fleet costs.

Tel: 0800 626 672 essocardsales.uk@exxonmobil.com www.essocard.com

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euroShell Card, your partner on the road. Contact: euroShell Card Sales Tel: 0800 731 3131 generalcardrequest-uk@shell.com www.euroshell.co.uk

The Fuelcard Company As one of the largest commercial fuel card resellers in the UK, The Fuelcard Company enjoys partnerships with most of the large fuelling networks including Shell, Esso, Texaco and Keyfuels and this means we have over 4,500 UK sites where our cards are accepted. As experts in our field, we have a wealth of experience in delivering tailored and competitive solutions to better manage business fleets of all sizes. In addition to our first class customer service, our online account management allows access to all account transactions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 0845 270 6214 info@fuelcards.co.uk www.fuelcards.co.uk

What is the number of filling stations at which the card is accepted? Is your card single branded or multi-branded? Do you provide management reporting? Do you offer account and database management via the Internet Does your card offer pan-European coverage? Do you offer a card to pay for non-fuel items? Do you offer rebates to major fleet customers? What types of vehicles does your cards cover? Do you offer a chip and pin security system? Do you charge a card fee? Do you offer a non-pump price agreement? Can your system accept data from own-pump transactions? Do you offer a fuel bunkering facility? Can customers pay for alternative fuels, such as natural gas or electric using your cards?

VAN FLEETW RLD

Key to services

BP Fuel Cards 2.75k Multi All

Shell UK Oil Products 3.5k+ Multi All In Q2 2013

The Fuelcard Company 4.5k Multi All

The Fuelcard People 7k+ Both All

Esso Petroleum Company Ltd 2k Both

All

Service provided

Service unavailable

THE online resource for fleet decision-makers...

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evfleetworld.co.uk

September 2012

NUM8ER5 G4ME the fleet month in figures

98%

£1.45bn

135g/km

43%

The cost of buying Thrifty car rental, by Hertz.

CO2 of the new two-wheel drive BMW X3 18d, with deliveries starting in October.

The percentage of used buyers looking for petrol cars, compared to 30% after diesel. The rest don’t mind either way.

SOURCE > Hertz

SOURCE > BMW

SOURCE > BCA

£49,360 The entry level price of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. SOURCE > Mercedes-Benz

£1bn

578 The number of vehicles in the Army’s operational training fleet to be fitted with telematics to aid fuel economy and limit downtime.

SOURCE > Energy Saving Trust

SOURCE > British Army

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1 in 20 The number of drivers running out of fuel each month trying to avoid paying at the pump. SOURCE > Palmer and Harvey

The amount UK fleets could save if they introduced more robust fuel management software.

SOURCE > EuroNCAP

The EuroNCAP occupation protection rating for the new Volvo V40 – the highest score ever in the programme.

NV200 4.2m3 load volume 739kg payload 55.4mpg/135g/km CO2

Nissan. Innovation that excites.

NV200 SE 1.5 dCi

£155

FROM + VAT per month contract hire*

To ﬁnd out more call the Nissan Fleet Centre on 0800 294 0579 or email nissan.ﬂeet@nissan.co.uk

nissan.co.uk/nv200

E M U L O V

E H T P U P M PU

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VAN

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

FLEETW RLD AUCTIONS & REMARKETING

CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE

RACKING SYSTEMS

TAIL LIFTS

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

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

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

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

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

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Full listings online at

CBVC Vehicle Management Tel: 01283 509177 www.cbvc.co.uk

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

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

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

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

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

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

VAN

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

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

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Lex Autolease

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

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

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

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

FUEL MANAGEMENT

VEHICLE VENTILATION

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

FAST-FITS & TYRES ATS Euromaster Tel: 0121 325 8842 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

Full listings online at

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

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

Tel: 0113 346 7705 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

DriveSense Tel: 01628 581930

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

www.drivesense.co.uk

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

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

The Fuelcard People Tel: 0844 870 9856 www.fleet-fuelsavings.co.uk

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

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

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

TOTALCARD Services Tel: 0800 147 148 www.total.co.uk

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

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

VAN

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FLEETW RLD January 2010

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

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

January 2010

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

Incorporated into every issue of VAN Fleet World and interactive online at www.fleetworldgroup.co.uk £400 flat rate for the year. Cost includes a rotating monthly listing in SUPPLIER DIRECTORY in VAN Fleet World. PLUS... • Full listing on fleetworldgroup.co.uk • Email link to sales contact • Website link to homepage • Full-colour company logo September 2012

One day, everyone will expect to have this information Whether you work in Fleet, Finance or in HR, having access to accurate and timely data allows you to make informed decisions quickly and easily, saving you both time and money. With ProFleet2 telematics by your side, not only will you be alerted to key events to reduce cost, risk and your carbon footprint, but benchmarking fleet performance becomes an effortless task. And with in-built driver consent you can rest assured your employees will be kept on-side too. Partnerships that work. Contact us today and ask for a free trial* rhys.harrhy@aldautomotive.com

* Terms and conditions apply