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?pilot_project_for_mobility_leasing_in_the_netherlands_48370-en-131-176302.html ]]>Business governments and leasing companies in the Netherlands have started a pilot project for mobility leasing a new type of leasing that combines a traditional leasing contract with a so-called `mobility budget´ the Dutch trade publication Fleetmotive reports. Mobility leasing is based on the principle that the lease driver uses part of the budget calculated in advance for every kilometre driven in the leased vehicle. ... Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:59:27 GMT Stijn Phlixi-mobility managementMobility and travelNetherlands http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?renault_electric_strategy_48369-en-131-176301.html ]]> Renault has announced that its electric car strategy has begun. Production of the Kangoo Rapid Z.E. is set to start next year with further models to follow shortly afterwards. The manufacturer is planning to make 10% of its sales in electric vehicles by 2020. Three modes of battery recharging are planned: the full `overnight´ charge the `quick´ half hour recharge and a battery replacement system (Quickdrop) whereby drivers go to specially equipped service stations and have their `flat´ battery replaced by a fully charged one automatically and in the same time as it takes to fill up with petrol. ... Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:47:50 GMT Tim Harrupi-mobility managementManufacturers and carsEurope http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?car_sharing_by_daimler_48368-en-131-176300.html ]]>  Daimler is offering a new service to give drivers independent mobility without having their own car reports autohaus online. The `Car2gether´ website is being developed by the manufacturer enabling easy arrangement of shared vehicles via a smartphone. The move is in response to a growing trend towards what Daimler calls `zero car households´ as more people particularly in urban areas prefer not to have their own car. ... Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:22:02 GMT Tim Harrupi-mobility managementManufacturers and carsGermany http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?ion_to_cost_499_per_month_48367-en-131-176299.html ]]> Peugeot has begun its press launch of the all electric Ion and announced a long term rental price (5 years) of € 499 per month. This sum also includes services guarantee and Peugeot Connect SOS. The `ticket price´ however has not yet been given. The car has an improved range of 150 km (mixed driving) compared to earlier versions. ... Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:03:43 GMT Tim Harrupi-mobility managementManufacturers and carsFrance http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?car_production_drops_48353-en-110-176284.html ]]>Car production dropped in July reports industry association the SMMT. The total production figure for the month was 98 000 which represents 8.9% less than for the same month last year. This is the first drop after eight consecutive months of increases. Overall in 2010 car production is over 40% higher than last year however. ... Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:11:36 GMT Tim HarrupManufacturers and carsManufacturers and carsUnited Kingdom http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?technology_no_substitute_for_driver_attention_48352-en-127-176283.html ]]> The danger of believing that modern car technology can take the place of driver attention has been pointed out by Arval. Fleet and Road Safety Manager Tracey Scarr comments: “We welcome the continuing development of safety-driven vehicle technologies to assist drivers.  From seat-belts through to crumple zones airbags and now advanced driver assistance systems the benefits are proven  However technology is just one side of the coin and the driver must not get lazy relying upon such assistance alone to keep him/her safe and accident free. ... Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:01:41 GMT Tim HarrupGreen and safetyLeasingUnited Kingdom http://www.fleeteurope.com/www/default.asp?arval_offers_car_sharing_48350-en-131-176282.html ]]> Arval is continuing with its development of alternative mobility solutions through a car-sharing scheme. This system enables company fleet managers to operate their own car sharing process with the advantage of Arval technology. The objectives are to improve the mobility of employees and to increase the usage ratio of cars while delivering cost savings and reducing the company´s environmental footprint. ... Mon, 06 Sep 2010 9:57:31 GMT Tim Harrupi-mobility managementLeasingFrance 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