This week’s fleet news round-up including Arval online, the first deal for the new Civic, BVRLA’s TfL response, Zenith’s Asda deal and the latest board appointments.
Arval’s online platform doubles total sales in 2012
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Arval, fleet-leasing arm of BNP Paribas, has passed 200,000 used car sales through its online platform MotorTrade.
The e-commerce site, launched in 2009 and now operating in 13 countries, has doubled its total sales from 100,000 between August 2011 and the end of September 2012.
Christophe Conegero, Arval’s head of remarketing, said: “We offer our professional customers the possibility to buy vehicles of all types commission-free, on a remote basis.
“This works because we provide them with full information based on transparent assessments by independent companies. MotorTrade is growing thanks to the trust that our customers put in us, and this trust is something to be earned”.
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By GlobalDataFirst fleet deal for new Civic
Essex-based design and publicity company The Co’dair Group has signed the first fleet deal for the latest model of the Honda Civic.
The Co’dair Group has replaced its entire fleet with 18 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel-engine Civics, days after launch of the model.
The engine, offering improved fuel economy and lower emissions, is the first European launch under Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology banner and John Dedross, managing director at Co’Dair, agreed the advantages in Benefit-in-Kind taxation and fuel costs had played a part in the decision to take the Civic.
BVRLA mixed response to TfL emissions policy
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has welcomed Transport for London’s (TfL) announcement that it intends to make emissions based- discounts for the Congestion Charge ‘technology neutral’.
While it is happy that discounts may be opened to van drivers as well, the BVRLA believes the new emissions threshold is too low. The new Ultra-Low emission discount, which will lower the CO2 threshold from 100 to 75g/km, will come into effect on 1 July 2013 to replace the current Electric and Greener Vehicle Discounts.
John Lewis, chief executive of the BVRLA, said: “Fleet operators at least have some warning this time, but they should remember that a vehicle that qualifies for a 100% discount could lose it at any stage.
“This is particularly important when reviewing fleet policies and operational costs. You should also bear in mind that the discount is not automatically transferable if the vehicle is sold.”
The plans are outlined in a consultation document, open until 8th February.
Zentih helps Asda grow company fleet
Asda has grown its company car fleet by 76% in the last two years, according to independent fleet lessor Zenith.
Zenith now provides funding and management for the supermarket’s fleet of 1,100 vehicles, following a shift from employees taking a cash allowance. The company has also developed an online calculator to demonstrate the differing costs of various company cars compared to privately owned vehicles.
Asda has 1,500 eligible cash allowance takers, with 53% of orders taken between January 2010 and January 2011 being from drivers entering the company car scheme.
Zenith reports that many companies are shifting to company cars schemes due to beneficial changes in tax regulation, including emissions based Benefit-in-Kind, capital allowances and road duty. Asda has significantly reduced its grey fleet of employer-subsidised private cars.
Pair appointed to Fleet Alliance board
Grant Boardman and Angela Robertson, senior managers at Glasgow-based fleet manager Fleet Alliance, have been appointed to the company’s board of directors.
Boardman, currently sales manager, becomes regional sales director while finance manager Angela Robertson is promoted to finance director.
Earlier this year Fleet Alliance announced its fleet size had passed 10,000 vehicles for the first time in its history. The company intends to increase fleet size to 15,000 vehicles as part of a five-year business plan.
Topham promoted at trg Logistics
Fleet logistics provider trg Logistics has promoted Donna Topham to the position of operations director, responsible for all branch operations.
Based at the company’s Wimbledon head office, Topham will oversee work in Dublin, Manchester and Birmingham plus the Bradford and Wimbledon branches which are soon to open, with trg planning to expand to a 14-branch operation within the next two years.
Topham joined the company as regional director for the North in June and her new position will be responsible for all operational sites at customer locations and the company’s compliance and regulation programmes.
