http://www.fleeteurope.com/rss.php Stay informed of recent news through RSS feeds 84 http://www.mmm.be/www/default.asp http://www.imustbe.be/mmm/logo.gif 284 en © 2009 MMM Business Media http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?peugeot_engine_and_model_offensive_48342-en-110-176267.html ]]> Peugeot is to continue equipping its vehicle with low emissions Euro-5 compliant engines. This move in particular involves the 1.6 HDi FAP which was developed earlier this year. This trend towards ecological friendliness also comes at a time when the all electric iOn is about to be marketed along with the diesel hybrids named `e-HDi´. ... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:37:54 GMT Tim HarrupManufacturers and carsManufacturers and carsFrance http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?keep_mot_at_current_level_roadsafe_48314-en-125-176207.html ]]>Roadsafe a partnership of companies in the motor and transport industries is urging the government not to heed pressure to decrease the frequency at which MOT tests (technical controls on the continent) are carried out. There is a lobby to reduce these tests to once every two years with a starting date when the car is four years old – both of these represent the European minimum requirement. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:03:33 GMT Tim HarrupTax and legislationTax and legislationUnited Kingdom http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?de_lage_landen_increases_profits_48313-en-129-176206.html ]]> De Lage Landen has announced profits for the first half of 2010 which almost doubled to 101 million Euros. The company´s credit portfolio increased to 25.6 billion Euros with very nearly three quarters of this being in operating and finance lease. The car lease business performed better than forecast with order volumes beginning to pick up again especially during the second quarter. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:39:11 GMT Tim HarrupLeasingLeasingNetherlands http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?dutch_lease_market_struggling_to_its_feet_48312-en-143-176205.html In the second quarter of this year the leased fleet in the Netherlands shrunk by 4.1% in comparison with the same period in 2009. In the first quarter of this year the decline was 4.4%. Those figures compiled by the VNA leasing company association show that the low-point of the crisis in the leasing market is behind us. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:10:42 GMT Stijn PhlixNetherlandsLeasingLeasing http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?leaseplan_profits_up_48304-en-129-176190.html ]]>LeasePlan Corporation has announced net profits up by almost 50% in the first half of 2010 to 90 million Euros. The number of vehicles under management stands at 1.3 million. Compared to the end of the first half of 2009 total assets are also up at 17.8 billion Euros. LeasePlan is the world´s leading leasing company and now employs just over 6 000 persons. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:25:04 GMT Tim HarrupLeasingLeasingEurope http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?de_lage_landen_restructures_in_germany_48303-en-125-176189.html Dutch company De Lage Landen has reorganized its entire German operation into a single structure now known as  De Lage Landen Leasing GmbH. This move is in line with the Transformation of Companies Act and although it actually took place in June its is retro-actively operational from January of this year. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 9:36:43 GMT Tim HarrupTax and legislationTax and legislationGermany http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?hans_demant_from_opel_to_vw_48302-en-116-176188.html Ex-Opel boss Hans Demant is moving to Volkswagen. The 59-year old German takes over responsibility for the coordination of international projects within the VW organisation. For 38 years Demant has been working for Opel. Since 2004 he has been in charge of the German manufacturer. In January of this year he was succeeded by Nick Reilly. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:54:02 GMT Stijn PhlixPeopleManufacturers and carsEurope http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?ald_raises_70_000_for_charity_48301-en-129-176187.html ]]> The ALD Automotive `Run for Charity´ gets bigger every year. This year some 13 teams took part raising € 70 000 for the leasing company to spend on charitable projects. The total now raised since the run was launched in 2008 is around € 220 000. ALD head Karsten Rösel declared himself to be “as proud as I am grateful” for the excellent result (he was also a runner). ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:21:13 GMT Tim HarrupLeasingLeasingGermany http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?peugeot_unveils_models_to_russian_market_48274-en-110-176141.html ]]> During the Moscow Motor Show and in a year which has seen it take the title of number one French manufacturer in worldwide terms Peugeot has exhibited two new models  for the Russian market. The new models are the 3008 hybrid crossover and the RCZ sports car. The company has also been able to announce that the Russian government has included the 308 in its scrappage scheme meaning that Russian customers will benefit from 50 000 roubles (+/- 1 250 EUR)  granted by the government and a further 50 000 give by Peugeot. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:30:25 GMT Tim HarrupManufacturers and carsManufacturers and carsRussia http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?india_korea_acquisition_on_cards_48273-en-110-176140.html ]]> Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra has announced that it intends to buy troubled Korean car-maker Ssangyong by the end of this year. If the transaction goes smoothly it is expected that Ssangyong which is principally known in our markets for its SUV´s and its Mercedes-Benz power units would remain under Korean management. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:23:14 GMT Tim HarrupManufacturers and carsManufacturers and carsAsia-Pacific http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?peugeot_launches_the_3008_hybrid4_the_first_full_hybrid_diesel__48272-en-110-176139.html ]]>The denomination Hybrid4 refers to a hybrid version of the 2.0 HDi FAP engine producing 163 bhp and with the addition of an electric motor with a maximum output of 37 bhp. As diesel engines consume less fuel than their petrol counterparts this is a logical choice when putting together a hybrid propulsion unit. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:06:55 GMT Tim HarrupManufacturers and carsManufacturers and carsFrance http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?euro_ncap_focus_on_plug_in_vehicles_and_advanced_safety_technologies_48266-en-118-176130.html ]]>Euro NCAP the organisation dedicated to revealing the safety of new cars releases the crash test results for four vehicles: the Honda CR-Z the Suzuki Swift the Citroen C4 and the Hyundai ix35. All four cars received a maximum five star rating. The results show that manufacturers are rising to the challenges of Euro NCAP's new rating scheme and are continuing to make safety a priority. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 9:10:34 GMT Stijn PhlixGreen and safetyGreen and safetyEurope http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?fuel_cards_gain_in_popularity_48265-en-130-176129.html ]]> Leasing company Arval has produced figures showing that almost three quarters of companies with five or more vehicles in their fleets are now using fuel cards. The findings are backed up by a Fleet News survey which shows a similar percentage using fuel cards as a way of controlling fuel costs particularly in the light of probable fuel increases next year. ... Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:12:56 GMT Tim HarrupFleetsTelematics and softwareUnited Kingdom