Vehicle Launch Guide
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FleetNews FLEETS EXPECT THEIR COSTS TO INCREASE POST BREXIT HELPING COMPANIES RUN EFFICIENT AND COMPLIANT FLEETSNews SINCE 1978 January 25 – February 7 2018 £4.00 CITROËN C4 CACTUS AVAIL ABLE THIS SPRING NISSANNISSAN LLEAFEAF AAVAILABLEVAILABLE TTHISHIS SPRING SEAT LARGE SUV 2018 AVAILABLE LATE 2018 VEHICLE LAUNCH GUIDE From Alfa Romeo to Volvo, we reveal every fleet car and van due for launch this year Fleet in Focus/Award winner: Insight: Fleet software Freedom Group Spotlight: Atticus Paul Brown on why The seven things you Fleet Accident Repair flexi-rent is the best need to know before Group rebrands with option for his fleet investing in a new new service offer and software system goal to cut fleets’ costs adRocket Subscribe to Fleet News: 01635 588495. CONTENTS subscriptions@email.fleetnews.co.uk The text paper used in this publication is 100% recycled, produced from post-consumer waste. NEWS Cover feature 4 Post-Brexit costs increase expected 7 Lack of policy stunts ULEV growth 8 Terror attacks to hit rental figures 2018 11 No change to first MOT timings 12 Fines management firm ups ante VEHICLE 15 Thousands join ‘mis-selling’ group 16 Fleets ‘nervous’ about diesel LAUNCH REGULARS GUIDE 18 Letters and editor’s Big Picture 20 Opinion: Used cars/Fleet policies 21 Ask Nigel: Signing off 56 Awards winner: FleetCheck 66 Last word: Vicky Brown CAR/VANC A R / V A N REVIEWSR E V I E W S 58 Volvo XC40 60 DS77 CCrossbackrossback 62 Volkswagenlkswagen TT-Roc-Roc 63 Alfa Giulia road test Get the low down on the new cars and vans 33 worth considering for your fleet this year 64 Long-term reports 26 51 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Fleet in Focus: Insight: Freedom Group Software FLEET SOFTWARE Important decisions need to be made when Freedom Group’s Paul selecting a fleet management software package Brown says ‘fleets are sick of doing this dance’. He’s referring to end ADD ELECTRICITY. of contract damage In the spotlight: recharges 30 Atticus Innovation THE MINI COUNTRYMAN PLUG-IN HYBRID. Shut up shop or face complete reinvention. Those were the choices facing FARG. Under Mike Monaghan’s direction the To find out more, visit mini.co.uk/business re-named Atticus outfit chose the latter MINI Fleet & Business Sales Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Countryman range: Urban 30.1-58.9 mpg (9.4-4.8 l/100km). Extra Urban 45.6-68.9 mpg (6.2-4.1 l/100km). Combined 38.2-122.8 mpg (7.4-2.3 l/100km). CO2 emissions 49-169 g/km. *Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle using a combination of battery power and petrol fuel after the battery had been fully charged. They are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions. The MINI Cooper S E ALL4 Countryman is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that requires mains electricity for charging. †Charging time varies between a minimum of two hours and a maximum of eight hours, depending on the provided fleetnews.co.uk January 25 2018 3 voltage and battery levels. FP_FLEETNEW_359409id3337671.pdf 17.01.2018 10:25 NEWS For the latest news, visit: www fleetnews.co.uk/news outcomes achieved may change very quickly. able to adapt quickly to maximise any opportunities “Also, it will be important to not commit to any that arise from a new trading regime. And there More than half of fleets expect single remarketing method. There may well be might still be a few years where the current trading FLEET FACTS arguments for quickly altering the disposal strat- conditions as an EU member are extended. AND FIGURES egies that you are using in response to changing “It is a challenging and changing world and circumstances.” Brexit will have an impact,” he said. “But it will OPINION POLL costs to increase post-Brexit The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Associa- also present major opportunities. Businesses What will be the biggest challenge tion (BVRLA) told Fleet News that with nothing must be nimble and alert – and that includes facing fleets in 2018? concrete from the negotiations between the UK within the fleet arena – and move forward as and EU so far, it was unable to offer any advice. opportunities occur. As March 29, 2019, draws closer, the ‘no negative effect’ sentiment is in retreat ACFO, the organisation that represents fleet “March 29, 2019, is when the UK is scheduled operators, was also reluctant to speculate on to withdraw from the European Union. That date which actions fleets might find beneficial with the is a long way off and the reality is that Brexit By Simon Harris with higher discounts and consumer incentives. outcome of the Brexit negotiations still unknown. negotiations are likely to be protracted and could leet operators are lacking clear guid- Sudden economic shifts can have a dramatic It means frustration for fleet operators who, continue much longer than the Government’s ance on how to best prepare for the effect on consumer demand, and while busi- according to some, are wary of how Brexit will two-year forecast in terms of having new trade consequences of Brexit, as current “Brexit is nesses will follow a more stable, planned course, affect their businesses, and have no alternative to agreements in place. talks appear to show little sign of agree- already the appetite for used vehicles will have an effect include in current business plans. “Therefore, fleets must continue to ment over the UK’s future trade rela- on the value of fleet assets. Geoffrey Bray, chairman of the operate against a background of Ftionships with the EU. Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) Fleet Industry Advisory what is known and manage Fleet funding 6.3% Other 6% weighing on the However, there is agreement among fleet chairman Glenn Sturley warned the uncertainty Group (FIAG), said: “Fleet assets effectively and effi- experts that leaving the EU will result in increased decision-making of Brexit negotiations is hanging over the economy, decision-makers are ciently. That means Pump prices 27.9% Air quality 25.4% Company car tax 34.3% fleet costs. creating the kind of uncertainty that makes busi- fearful of the outcome continuing to evolve A Fleet News online poll in December showed process within ness planning very difficult. of Brexit. But what a because standing FleetNews view: almost 60% of respondents believe Brexit will some fleets” He said: “In 2018, it is very likely that the ‘B word’ world will look like still while awaiting Company car tax increases, hurt fleet budgets with higher costs. is going to be unavoidable. The issue is that there with the UK outside Will the Brexit’s outcome, volatile pump prices and air This contrasts with an earlier poll in March 2016 Geoffrey Bray, remains such a wide range of potential scenarios of the European NO decision to YES which will take quality concerns are among the where close to the same number (61%) of Fleet Industry Advisory Group – from a cliff edge departure from the EU through Union and, specifi- leave the European many months and biggest challenges facing fleets respondents believed there would be no negative to abandoning Brexit altogether – and the outcome cally, the impact on 41.8% Union increase 58.2% even years, simply this year. One in three (34.3%) effect on fleet costs. A further poll – before the may not be known until the last minute. vehicle pricing and fleet costs? means costs will said company car tax was their referendum – suggested more than half of fleet would push up service, maintenance and repair “As the year progresses and we get closer to in-life vehicle costs, escalate.” biggest challenge, while one in operators wanted the UK to leave the EU, with the (SMR) costs. the deadline for leaving the EU, this uncertainty is is unknown. Colin Tourick, prof- four highlighted pump prices as number backing Brexit significantly higher than Concerns were echoed by Paul Hollick, likely to become more acute and the resulting “However, I am opti- essor of automotive their number one concern. It is the score for remain (51.6% vs 42.8%). chairman of the ICFM, who toldFleet News that impact on the overall economy is more difficult to mistic and, while I cannot manage ment at the clear that both domestic and Since then, trade body Society of Motor Manu- as well as the impact of higher costs through predict. It is not difficult to foresee situations predict the future, Brexit is University of Buckingham international politics could impact facturers and Traders (SMMT) has expressed tariffs, there was potential for delays in new where the economic effects are quite severe and already weighing on the deci- business school, also offered fleet operations and planning for concern at uncertainty over the future trading vehicle and spare parts deliveries due to border sudden, especially if they are accompanied by sion-making process within some advice. every eventuality will be key. structure with the bloc, as well as the impact of customs changes. political instability. fleets. He said: “Businesses should review tariffs on goods crossing EU borders with the UK Brexit was listed as one of the major issues “Against this backdrop, the remarketing industry “Nevertheless, fleet decision-makers must how they fund and manage their fleets now, with This week’s poll: How often do you post-Brexit should the Government walk away facing the contract hire industry in 2018, according must maximise values for used vehicles, realising acknowledge the fact that the UK is not an a view to keeping costs as low as possible.