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Lexus enters compact crossover segment with new UX
Lexus will expand its SUV offering next year with a small SUV called the UX.

Volkswagen reveals forthcoming luxury electric saloon
Volkswagen has given us a glimpse of the luxury saloon of the near future with the unveiling of the I.D. Vizzion concept.

Skoda Vision X concept shows plans for compact crossover
Skoda has revealed plans for a new small SUV with the unveiling of the Vision X concept car at the Geneva Motor Show.

Toyota phasing out diesel cars by 2019
Toyota will have no diesel passenger cars on sale in Europe by the end of this year, citing limited demand and widespread uptake of hybrid

Amsterdam becomes first city to deploy Daimler’s ViaVan ridesharing service
Mercedes-Benz Vans and US technology start-up Via are introducing on-demand ridesharing to Amsterdam through their ViaVan joint venture.

Supertrucks develops multi-use van rack
Supertrucks has launched a new Multi-Purpose Rack to tackle the rapid growth in popularity of bigger, heavier products, such as bi-fold doors and windows, and

Daimler takes full control of Car2Go Europe
Daimler Mobility Services has acquired the remaining shares in Car2Go Europe after Europcar sold its 25% stake for €70m.

Xavier Duchemin to head up Opel sales
PSA sales specialist Xavier Duchemin has taken on the role of executive director sales Opel/Vauxhall Europe.

Dyson seeks additional 300 automotive workforce for EV project
Dyson is looking to employ a further 300 people in “automotive” positions, as it works towards developing its first electric vehicle.

Charging infrastructure not hampering EV take-up, report finds
Slow uptake of electric vehicles across Europe has more to do with limited availability of vehicles than a lack of charging infrastructure, according to a

480km Jaguar I-Pace pricing and spec revealed
Jaguar has revealed pricing, a 480km range and final production specification for its first electric vehicle: the I-Pace.

Fastned to roll out 350kW EV chargers
EV charging network Fastned is to install new-generation 350kW stations in Europe, providing ultra-fast charging for second-generation EVs.

Vision X concept pioneers Škoda’s CNG hybrid-electric drive
Škoda is to unveil a new concept at Geneva combining natural gas, petrol and electric drive as it pushes ahead with plans to launch hybrid

Spanish true fleet market up 20.9% in January
The Spanish passenger car market put in a very strong performance in January with the true fleet sector up 20.9%, according to latest Dataforce figures.

New Audi A6 introduces A8 innovations
Taller, longer and wider than its predecessor, the 2018 model – which debuts at next week’s Geneva Motor Show – gets just a subtle make-over

German cities win right to ban diesel
Germany’s highest administrative court has ruled that cities can ban diesel cars to tackle air pollution in a move that could set a precedent worldwide.

Honda CR-V debuts hybrid power and seven-seater option
Honda’s new CR-V will debut a hybrid powertrain for Europe and a seven-seat option while ditching diesel powerplants.

Sofico opens German office
Software provider Sofico has opened a new German subsidiary with a local office to enhance its service to customers in the country.

CoolKit introduces Melform to UK & Ireland
CoolKit has secured the sole distribution rights for Melform products, enabling it to offer the firm’s range of insulated and temperature-controlled containers in the UK

Next-gen Toyota hybrids to offer all-wheel drive
Toyota has announced a variety of new engine and transmission technology, the core of which will see its next-generation hybrids offering all-wheel drive.

Lexus reveals X1-rivalling compact SUV
Lexus has unveiled more details of its UX compact crossover, which will bring the fight to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

UK true fleet market continues to decline
The UK’s true fleet fell for the 10th month running in January with a continued decline also seen in the private market.

Kia Optima upgrade brings new engines
Kia has facelifted its Optima saloon and Sportswagon estate models with a new, lower-emission diesel and new mid-range petrol unit alongside new safety equipment.

Hyundai Kona Electric revealed with 292-mile WLTP range
Hyundai has revealed the electric version of the Kona compact SUV, confirming a range of almost 300 miles under the new WLTP cycle and rapid

Q&A: Michael Cole, COO Kia Motor Europe
Michael Cole, chief operating officer at Kia Motors Europe talks to Martyn Collins about alternative vehicles, new products and the future of fleet.

Higher taxes on road fuels could plug Brexit budget gap
Increasing taxes on road fuels could be one of the ways to help mitigate a future €12bn-a-year gap as a result of the UK’s departure

Rising EU car registrations bring no relief from diesel decline
European car registrations increased 7.1% in January but drivers continued to turn away from diesels.

Alphabet grows operational lease portfolio 5.5%
Alphabet International saw growth in both its operational lease portfolio and overall order volumes in 2017 while also outperforming the new car market on uptake

Geely chairman acquires 9.7% holding in Daimler
Li Shufu, founder of Chinese automotive firm Geely, has acquired a 9.7% share in Daimler, becoming the biggest shareholder in the company.

EU commercial vehicle registrations put in strong start to year
The EU market for new commercial vehicles rose 7.9% in January with increases seen across all segments, according to latest ACEA figures.

Nissan and DeNA to start autonomous taxi trials
Nissan and tech firm DeNA are to trial a new autonomous taxi service from next month with a view to launching the service from the

Advertising standards ruling to take toll on Irish used car market
The ASA ruling on the value of ex-fleet cars could result in a large influx of stock into Ireland, with a potentially “disastrous” effect on

Volvo XC60 takes UK Car of the Year title
Volvo’s XC60 has taken the overall winner title in this year’s UK Car of the Year Awards.

UK government loses third case over illegal air pollution
The UK and Welsh governments will be required by law to draw up new plans to cure illegal levels of air pollution, following a third

Volvo reveals new V60 estate
Volvo Cars has unveiled the new V60 estate, which will renew its presence in the compact executive sector when it goes on sale later this

Rotary power returns as part of Mazda’s eco range
Mazda has confirmed its first electric car will be available with an optional range extender; the first rotary engine fitted to its production models since

New UK MD at Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi has named Rob Lindley as its new UK managing director from 16 April, succeeding Lance Bradley.

Europcar and SnappCar develop car sharing solution
Europcar Group and peer-to-peer car sharing firm SnappCar have launched a new car sharing solution in Germany and Denmark following an initial trial.

New Peugeot 508 targets the premium brands
Peugeot hopes to attract fleets back to the D-segment with the new 508, re-designing it as a four-door coupe with a view to improving residual

Tougher action needed to curb rising oil demand, says BP
Global oil demand and CO2 emissions will be higher in 2040 than in 2016, even with a total worldwide ban on all new combustion engine

Lexus UX crossover to bring fight to X1 and Q3
Lexus has teased an image of its forthcoming UX compact crossover, which will provide a rival to models including the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and

Seat enters carsharing sector with Respiro acquisition
Seat is expanding its mobility services focus with the acquisition of Spanish car sharing firm Respiro.

Global light vehicle sales up 2.4% in 2017
Soaring demand in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America helped the LCV and car market rise 2.4% in 2017.

Italian true fleet market rises as private registrations fall
The Italian fleet market put in a strong start to the year, although private registrations didn’t fare so well, according to latest Dataforce figures.

Vans, lorries and buses should come with standard alcohol interlocks, says new report
Alcohol interlocks should be mandatory in all new professional vehicles and retrofitted to cars used by repeat drink-driving offenders.

Seat reveals Tarraco seven-seat SUV
Seat has released the first image of its seven-seater SUV, confirming it will be named ‘Tarraco’ when it launches later this year.

LeasePlan’s Sandra Tappermann-Pieper on future fleet strategies
Sandra Tappermann-Pieper, global director of marketing and branding at LeasePlan, speaks to Natalie Middleton about global marketing campaigns and new propositions for the corporate, SME

Smaller electric vans hit parity with diesels
Running costs for smaller electric vans are already on a level as diesel rivals, enabling an extra 80,000 to take to Europe’s roads, a new

EU car registrations up 7.1% in January
Car registrations in the EU rose 7.1% in January although the rise was attributed to a positive calendar effect.

Enterprise expands into Finland
Fleets will now be able to access Enterprise Holdings’ services in Finland following the appointment of the LänsiAuto Group as its franchisee for the country.

Countdown begins to International Fleet Meeting 2018 at Geneva
Fleet managers have just a few weeks left to register for this year’s International Fleet Meeting, which will bring senior industry speakers, a panel discussion
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