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Renault’s chief operating officer stands down
The company said that Mr Tavares is pursing ‘other personal projects’. In a statement, Renault CEO and chairman Carlos Ghosn thanked Mr Tavares for ‘successfully

Netherlands: Driver fines rise in 2013
The company’s data shows that its lease drivers received over 37% more penalties in the first half of 2013 than the same period in 2012.

Nissan on track to lead LCV sales by 2016
Under its Power 88 strategy, Nissan is targeting 8% global market share with a consistent operating profit of 8% or more by the end of

Nissan plans for self-driving car by 2020
In an interview with the newspaper, Andy Palmer, executive vice-president, said: ‘We’re making a pledge that we will bring the first autonomous car to market

AfMA to reveal 2013 Fleet Awards at Gala Dinner
First introduced in 1996, the awards recognise new approaches and applications that have produced substantial reductions in costs, lowered emissions and improved safety outcomes. This

Frankfurt Motor Show: Ford to show S-MAX concept
News agency Headlineauto has reported that the second-generation S-MAX will share architecture, powertrains and technologies with the new Mondeo and be built alongside it at

Mazda boosts SKYACTIV engine production 25%
The move will see the installation of a new engine machining line at the plant as well as the overhaul of an existing line that

Frankfurt Motor Show: Wraps come off Peugeot 208 HYbrid FE with 49g/km
The concept has been developed by Peugeot alongside its oil giant partner Total and is based on a production 208 hatchback featuring a petrol-electric hybrid

Smith Electric plans joint venture in Taiwan
Taikang Technology Corporation, a commercial vehicle specialist, will build the Newton and Edison at a new plant, giving Smith additional marketing coverage. The first three

Frankfurt Motor Show: Peugeot to unveil new 82g/km 308
The new compact family hatchback makes its debut prior to going on sale from early next year and will offer a refined and contemporary exterior

Frankfurt Motor Show: Infiniti reveals Q30 concept
The concept combines the dynamic design and sportiness of a coupe, the roominess of a hatch and the higher stance of a crossover, with Infiniti

First Drive: Volkswagen Golf Variant
Sector: Lower medium Price: €18,950-€30,850 Fuel: 3.9-5.3l/100km CO2: 102-124g/km This, the new VW Golf Variant, is the largest and most practical load-lugging Golf to date. It boasts 100 litres more cargo space

New model launches to bring EV prices down further
So says Frost & Sullivan in its ‘Strategic Outlook of the Global Electric Vehicle Market in 2013’, which also finds that 2013 sales of EVs

Netherlands Profile: Down but not out
For a relatively small European country, the Netherlands has a comparatively large automotive sector. According to the Dutch Automotive Industry website, the industry employs some

NAFA session to cover variances in European & global fleet practices
NAFA’s 3rd Annual International Fleet Academy is a three-day conference designed specifically to meet the unique needs of those who manage fleets of vehicles outside

Frankfurt Motor Show: Kia Soul to debut in European specification
Already seen at the New York Motor Show in March, the Soul will make its debut at Frankfurt in its European specification. The new version

Frankfurt Motor Show: BMW to unveil sub-90g/km plug-in X5 concept
The concept, which follows the BMW Concept Active Tourer unveiled in 2012 , uses a four-cylinder petrol featuring TwinPower Turbo technology and teamed up with an inhouse 95hp

Australia: AfMA video shows impact of FBT changes
The association conducted a series of forums in the major state capitals this month. At these events, the proposed FBT changes were discussed and those

Question Time debate to focus on ultra low carbon vehicles at LCV2013
Taking place on 5th September 2013 at Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK, LCV2013, the UK’s low carbon vehicle event, is run by Cenex, which

Frankfurt Motor Show: Insignia line-up to dominate Opel stand
Centrestage will be the new Insignia, which offers a line-up of power trains emitting just 99g/km CO2. The range includes two variants of the 2.0

Frankfurt Motor Show: Audi A8 line-up to include 147g/km hybrid
The latest model uses an Audi Space frame body built almost entirely of aluminium, with subtle redesigns to the bonnet, grille, front bumper and headlights

NAFA offers travel & transportation discounts on October seminars
The association has arranged for a reduced rate with the Loews Ventana Canyon hotel in Tucson, AZ – the venue for all three events –

Australia: AfMA survey shows wider ramifications of proposed FBT changes
That’s the finding of research carried out by the Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA). The association conducted a series of forums in the major state

EU new car sales up in July but down YtD, says JATO
The company’s data show that Europe’s new car market experienced a 4.9% increase in sales in July, with 48,202 more new cars sold in July

Fleets warned of new cross-border action on driving offences
The European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL) is highlighting that the European Union Directive 2011/82/EU will come into effect by 7th November, from which date EU

Ford unveils 365hp Police Interceptor utility vehicle
The engine, which delivers 350lb.ft. of torque, has been available in a variety of Ford vehicles, including the Police Interceptor sedan, and is the choice

First Drive: Nissan Note
Sector: MPV Price: €13,990-€21,090 Fuel: 3.6-5.2 CO2: 95–119g/km Nissan has taken the frumpy old Note and given it a new lease of life. And it needed to, if its plans to

Profile: Honda looks to the future
Honda remains the most independent of all automakers. Over the years it has steered clear of alliances and mergers, instead preferring to plough its own

Athoris sees pan-European growth on back of success in France
The platform is used by leasing companies, manufacturers and repairers to process SMR activities and has already been extensively trialled with two major leasing companies

Frankfurt Motor Show: Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R concept to make world debut
The concept, which showcases possible future hybrid development ideas, is based on the three-door Yaris but features a 1.6-litre GRE (Global Race Engine) developed by Toyota

Volvo announces first engines from new four-cylinder DRIVE-E family
The full DRIVE-E engine range, dubbed Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) during the development phase, will comprise diesels ranging from 118 to 227bhp. Using different levels

Mixed performance for luxury car markets across global regions, says Frost & Sullivan
According to Frost & Sullivan the Global Luxury Vehicle Market is expected to grow from around 5 million cars today to around 10 million cars

LeasePlan reports 38.9% rise in net profit for H1
Total assets rose to €20.1bn from € 19.5bn for FY 2012, while the leasing giant also reported a rise in the number of vehicles under

New Frost & Sullivan analysis outlines automotive opportunities in ASEAN market
That’s the finding of new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, which finds that the market is likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate

Simon Cox to become design director for new Infiniti London studio
Commenting on the establishment of the studio, chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura said: ‘We have made the strategic decision to establish dedicated design studios for

Green Motion opens first US franchise
The franchise will commence operations at both Miami international airport and down town South Beach Miami on 1st September 2013, with Green Motion Florida then

European police officers to run week-long speed campaign
The operation, co-ordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL), will see a number of speed detection methods employed across all types of road. The

Frankfurt Motor Show: Refreshed Skoda Yeti to be unveiled
The two trim lines will go on sale from the end of 2013 and will offer a redesigned grille and headlights as well as additional

Italian new car sales remain challenged, reports Polk
The firm’s data shows Italian new registrations declined by a moderate 1.3% in July. While the slump in private demand was largely consistent with the

Thatcham to provide repair expertise to Australian automotive industry
Under the £2m, five-year deal with Australian insurer Suncorp Group, Thatcham will provide access to its escribe vehicle repair data product, which will provide subscribers

Rolling resistance & mileage top European fleets’ tyre criteria
That’s the finding of recent research commissioned by Goodyear in several European countries in advance of the launch of its new truck tyre lines. The

Frankfurt Motor Show: Mercedes unveils GLA
On sale in the UK from November, the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 rival is based on the same platform as the A-Class and CLA

ARI closes German acquisition deal with Fleetlevel+ Services
The deal, announced in July, was cemented at a dinner attended by ARI representatives. ARI said that the new company, which will be known as

Ford recalls 2012-2013 Focus & Focus ST models in US
The NHTSA says that ‘due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the

First Drive: Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion
Sector: Lower medium Price: €22,175-€24,750 Fuel: 3.2l/100km CO2: 85g/km In theory, the latest version of the Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion is capable of 970 miles (1,561km) between fill-ups. A bold claim, but

Charging ahead
Intertek is a technology company originally involved in testing, inspecting and certifying products, but now has involvement in a wide range of industries beyond these

Frankfurt Motor Show: Honda reveals Civic Tourer
Designed and developed in Europe and set to be built at Honda’s UK manufacturing facility in Swindon, alongside the Civic hatchback and CR-V, the Tourer

Telematics proves key selling point for Glanbia customer
The company has won the distribution contract for sports nutrition product Optimum Nutrition and is now responsible for the distribution of Optimum Nutrition products across

Frankfurt Motor Show: Kia releases teaser pic of new B-segment model
A rival to the Nissan Juke, the model will be aimed at urban drivers and will feature ‘a clearly robust and substantial yet stylish bodyshape’.

Global light vehicle demand shows slowdown in July
The firm’s data shows that despite the slowdown, the figure remains comfortably ahead of year-ago levels. The Seasonally Adjusted Annualised Rate (SAAR) of sales stood

MAN expands Saudi Arabia service network as fleet demand rises
Increased market demands have led local MAN Truck & Bus Distributor Haji Husein Alireza Co (HHA) to announce plans to build three new service centres
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