Latest news
International news

Revealed – 2013's big electric and hybrid model launches
Ford Focus Electric The Focus will become Ford’s first electric vehicle when it goes on sale late this year, kick-starting an expanding range of models

Frost & Sullivan: PSA Group should consider partnerships & expand global footprint
So says Frost & Sullivan’s programme manager, Martyn Briggs, following the carmaker’s announcement of a net loss of €5bn for 2012, compared with a €588m

PSA Peugeot Citroen reports €5bn record loss after €4bn write-down
Full-year results for France’s biggest carmaker show a net loss of €5bn, compared with a €588m profit a year earlier. Group revenues were down 5.2%

Geneva News: Chevrolet to add Spark to show
The zero-emission car goes on sale from this summer in the States followed by selected European markets from 2014. The model features a GM-designed permanent

Nissan's European sales fall 16.1% for January while market share stays stable
Last month the carmaker sold 47,449 units versus 55,098 units in January 2012. Market share was maintained at 3.9% although Nissan saw a market share

Brian Matuszewski becomes manager of sustainable strategies at ARI
‘We are really pleased to welcome Brian to our team,’ said Craig Neuber, director of strategic consulting for the global fleet services provider. ‘Brian has an

Geneva News: Ssangyong to show new design direction with SIV-1 concept
Said to define the brand’s new design philosophy, the SIV-1 (short for “Smart Interfact Vehicle”) features a Mobile Auto System and four independent bucket seats.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars sees strong growth in North America for January
For the first month of 2013, the brand saw a 10.6% rise in deliveries in North America to 43,800 units compared to 39,600 for January

2013 World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition to drive biofuels sector forwards
So say participants of the forthcoming 2013 World Biofuels Markets Congress and Exhibition, which is organised by Green Power Conferences and takes place from the

Global survey covers drivers for change in public transport
Carried out by the PTV Group, a provider of software and consulting for traffic, transport logistics and geomarketing, in the last quarter of 2012, the

Fleet Focus on China: Small Market, Huge Potential
“Disappointing” is not the word that European automotive manufacturers would use for sales growth of 4.3% in their home markets at the moment. But that’s

Geneva News: Subaru VIZIV concept vehicle to preview new design direction
Little details have been given about where the model will sit in the model line-up but Subaru has said the name is inspired by the

Geneva News: Citroen C4 Picasso concept offers 98g/km
The Technospace shows new frontal styling for the C4 Picasso with two lots of double headlamps and the latest double chevron grille as well as

Europcar appoints new chief commercial officer and revises Executive Committee
The role will also see Mr Bernhardt look to extend the group’s leadership in alignment with the target model set in its transformation agenda, Fast

DAF XF
SECTOR Heavy truck GVW 44.0 tonnes ENGINE 12.-litre Euro-VI, 410, 460 and 510hp New trucks don’t appear that often, thanks to the high cost/low volume

ACEA says EU vehicle noise regulations will be hard to meet
The draft legislation proposes to phase in two stages of limits, which would six and eight years after the new rules come into force. The

LMC Automotive trims 2012 West European car sales forecast following weak January sales
Sales last month were 851,547 units compared with 940,908 for January 2012, and with a Seasonally Adjusted Annualised Rate (SAAR) of sales of just 10.5

Worldwide sales up 16.3% at Audi
Deliveries were particularly strong in China at 38.5%, the USA (+7.5%) and Europe (+8.6%). Strong sales were also seen in Europe, where market conditions remain

US market gaining its stars and stripes
Industry executives at the Los Angeles Show in December believe the US market will return to its 16 million high within the next three years

Geneva News: Honda Civic Wagon Concept to make European debut
The model, which will be built at Honda’s Swindon plant in the UK, should arrive early 2014 and is likely to feature the recently launched

ASEAN Economic Community to reduce big Japanese carmakers’ dominance in region, says Frost & Sullivan
That’s the view of Frost & Sullivan in its new analysis, which says that smaller Japanese players such as Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Isuzu and new

EU to cut vehicle noise by 25% over eight years
The move has also seen MEPs recommend the introduction of labels to inform consumers about new cars' noise levels and adding sound to hybrid and

Athlon Car Lease calls for tougher economy standards for vans
The three organisations have written a letter to the European Parliament’s recently appointed rapporteur for CO2 legislation, Holger Krahmer, calling for ‘more ambitious CO2 standards

A growing trend of migration for remarketing
As winter hits areas of Europe harder than others, a migration of large used high emission 4x4s from Western Europe to Russia has begun, according

Opel Mokka
SECTOR: Crossover PRICE: €18,990 – €26,820 RANGE: 4.5 – 6.4l/100km CO2: 120 – 149g/km Of Opel’s recent newcomers, Mokka has perhaps the most logical name. Rather like the

Geneva News: Infiniti Q50 to feature Mercedes powertrains for Europe
The model, which replaces the G series saloon, has already been unveiled at Detroit motor show last month but will feature new engines for European

Nissan to build new c-segment model at Barcelona plant
The plant already builds the NV200 and e-NV200 as well as the Pathfinder SUV, Navara pick-up models and Primastar van. The new car brings an

New Audi R&D centre in Shanghai to focus on Asian customer
Located at Beijing, China, the centre houses R&D functions including engine, body, electronics and battery development, a prototype workshop, vehicle test facilities and state-of-the-art 3D

Infiniti appoints fleet manager to cover UK and North Europe
Bishop will report directly to regional director Tony Lewis and will now be responsible for building the Fleet business for Infiniti across the UK and

US government backs workplace charging growth
Employers will be required to assess the demands of their workforce for electric vehicle charging, before developing and installing a supporting infrastructure for at least

Nissan appoints marketing agency for Datsun revival
The move follows the announcement in March last year that the brand would be revived to provide ‘modern, reliable and accessible products for optimistic, up-and-coming

Demand for E-REVs to soar, says Frost & Sullivan
So says Frost & Sullivan in its Strategic Analysis of Global Market for Range Extenders, which estimates the total market for range extenders, such as

Free employers’ guide to driving eyecare launched for Eire
The company says it’s a common misconception that driving laws alone apply to motorists and that the individual is responsible for ensuring they are fit

Hyundai strengthens white label operations with ALD International
ALD is Hyundai’s chosen white label partner in key European markets including the Germany, Italy and the UK. With the partnership proving very successful, especially

Karl-Thomas Neumann brought in as Opel chairman, GM Europe president and GM vice president
Dr Neumann will also take the role of president of GM Europe and GM vice president Steve Girsky, chairman of the Opel Supervisory Board, said:

Volvo V40 D3
SECTOR: Medium hatchback PRICE: €35,374 (as tested) FUEL: 4.3l/100km CO2: 114g/km The Volvo V40, launched in Q4 2012 was the first new model to be launched

Ken Ramirez becomes MD of Renault UK
Born in Puerto Rico Ramirez was previously managing director of Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean, responsible for all of the Nissan and Infiniti brands’

Daimler takes 12% stake in China's BAIC Motor
The deal, which will enable Mercedes-Benz to bolster its position in China, will see the Stuttgart-based manufacturer will pay €640m to gain a minority 12%

Toyota takes lead on European auto industry CO2 emission reduction
The data shows that fleet-wide CO2 emissions for TME stand at 109.3g/km, a decrease of 3g/km since 2010 and 19g/km ahead of the TME specific

SEAT Leon
SECTOR: Family hatchback PRICE: €18,850 – €26,910 (approx) FUEL: 3.8 – 6.0l/100km CO2: 99 – 139g/km The SEAT Leon has perhaps had the unfortunate honour of being

GM to consolidate powertrain development in U.S.
The 450,000 square foot facility already includes facilities for extreme condition testing, and will gain an additional 138,000 square foot test wing by the end

Ogilvie Fleet unveils multi-million pound investment plans for Northern Ireland
The vehicle leasing and fleet management company presently has almost 1,000 vehicles on its books in Northern Ireland and has a strategic objective to expand

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services implements Sofico Miles software
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Benelux covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and is part of worldwide financial services provider, Daimler Financial Services (DFS). The company is

Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg opts for Be-Mobile traffic and mobility information
Commenting on the deal, Jan Cools, CEO of Be-Mobile, said: ‘Extending our services into Luxembourg represents another step forward for the Be-Mobile strategy of internationalisation,

Mazda SKYACTIV demand prompts new transmission plant in Thailand
The transmission plant is being established in response to increasing demand for the carmaker’s SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY engines and will have an annual production capacity of

EU alternative fuel infrastructure plans greeted by ACEA
The plans, which form part of the EU’s “clean fuel strategy” are intended to ensure the build-up of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common

NAFA elevates fleet industry status with global campaign
The New Jersey-based association created its Beyond Fleet campaign at the end of 2011 to spread the word about the importance and value of

Navman Wireless acquired by Danaher Corporation
The company provides advanced fleet and asset management technology with its OnlineAVL2 system and operates across five continents, with key facilities in the United States,

EU commercial vehicle registrations down 12.4% in 2012, reports ACEA
A total of 1,695,173 new commercial vehicles were registered in the EU in 2012, down by 12.4% on the 2011 total. Downturns were seen in

Modest growth for global light vehicle sales in 2013, says LMC Automotive
The company says that the regional variations seen in 2012 will also dominate in 2013, in particular for Europe, where the light vehicle markets fell

Geneva News: Kia pro_cee'd GT hot hatch & cee'd GT to make debut
The models, based on the standard pro_cee'd and cee'd versions, will feature a turbocharged 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine producing 201bhp and 195lb.ft of torque married
Recent Posts
- Only one in four fleets can accurately measure CO2, Alphabet reveals
- Almost half of Europe’s van drivers on verge of quitting amid rising stress and burnout
- UK government-backed deal secures financing for new gigafactory
- Dependable data: Developments for fleet telematics
- ‘Breakthrough’ UK-US trade deal welcomed by auto sector