Fleet World June 2019

EVERYTHING FLEETS NEED TO KNOW 

June 2019 • fleetworld.co.uk 

AUDI A4 

Advanced connectivity and electrified drivetrains 

mean broader appeal for fleet favourite 

CHANGING TIMES 

Flexible mobility offers 

convenient alternatives 

to the traditional fleet... 

We look at the options 

FLEET FINANCE 

Why now is the 

perfect time to start 

benchmarking your 

fleet costs 

DRIVEN 

Octavia turns 60 

BMW 7 Series 

Mercedes GLC 

Volvo V60



AUDI A4 

Advanced connectivity and electrified drivetrains 

mean broader appeal for fleet favourite 

INSIDE 

CELEBRATING 


CHANGING TIMES 

Flexible mobility offers 

convenient alternatives 

to the traditional fleet... 

We look at the options 

FLEET FINANCE DRIVEN 

Why now is the Octavia turns 60 

perfect time to start BMW 7 Series 

benchmarking your Mercedes GLC 

fleet costs 

Volvo V60 

13 Innovation > Citroën’s 19_19 

Concept previewed and explained 

Director 

Jerry Ramsdale 

jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Editor 

Martyn Collins 

martyn@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Editor-at-large 

Alex Grant 

alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Business Editor 

Natalie Middleton 

natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Content Editor 

Jonathan Musk 

jonathan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Editor Van Fleet World 

Dan Gilkes 

dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Account Directors 

Claire Warman 

claire@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Yvonne Wright 

yvonne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Kevin Gregory Van Fleet World 

kevin@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Darren Brett 

darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Circulation Manager 

Tracy Howell 

tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Head of Production 

Luke Wikner 

luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Designers 

Dan Bennett 

dan.bennett@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Tina Ries 

tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

Victoria Arellano 

victoria@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

10 News Analysis > Could 

road charging work in the UK? 

18 Spotlight > New Audi A4 

22 Driven > Mercedes-Benz GLC 

20 Driven > BMW 7 Series 

31 Grey Mobility > 

Alternatives to 

traditional fleet 

Published by 

Stag Publications Ltd, 

18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, 

St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ 

tel +44 (0)1727 739160 

fax +44 (0)1727 739169 

email fw@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

web fleetworld.co.uk 

24 Škoda Octavia > history of 

the fleet and family favourite 

40 SWOT > BMW X2 42 Fleet Finance > 

Benchmarking 

your fleet costs 

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: 

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Certified circulation 

Jan – Dec 2018 

16,673 

fleetworld.co.uk • 003

F R O M T H E 

E D I T O R 

Brexit might not 

have happened 

[yet], but its effect 

continues to be felt, 

like a chilly wind 

throughout the 

motor industry. 

New broom, old challenges 

2019 was always going to be an unpredictable year for our industry, 

but half a year in, I don’t think many of us could have predicted 

what has happened in the UK. As I write this, prime minister 

Theresa May is about to step down, and on top of the uncertainty 

around leaving the EU, we have the unpredictability of what will 

follow once her chosen replacement takes control. 

Brexit might not have happened [yet], but its effect continues 

to be felt, like a chilly wind throughout the motor industry. 

According to figures released at the end of May by the Society 

of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), British car 

manufacturing output plummeted by almost half in April. Just 

70,971 cars rolled off production lines in the month, which is 

down 44.5% year-on-year, as factory shutdowns, rescheduled to 

mitigate against the expected uncertainty of a 29 March Brexit, 

took effect in many plants across the UK. 

In the month that followed, fleet and business registrations 

continued to fall by 4.4%, with 104,293 units registered. This 

means fleet and business registrations have fallen 3.2% to 567,902 

units, compared to the first five months of 2018 which totalled 

586,684 units – in a UK new car market that had also declined by 

4.6%, with 183,724 units registered in May. 

Reasons cited for this fall, apart from the underlying economic 

and political climate, is the ongoing distaste for diesel and Clean 

Air Zones, plus the removal of incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles. 

All this, plus an added decline in consumer confidence. 

What we need from the next government is clarity and 

compassion for the fleet industry – whilst at the same time 

either securing a quick exit from the EU, or organising a separate 

solution. However, it is unlikely to backtrack on the axed plug-in 

hybrid car grant. 

With all this uncertainty, plus ongoing changes to WLTP testing, 

is it any wonder there’s a rising trend in employees opting to 

take the cash, rather than a company car. It is a subject we’ve 

been watching closely here at Fleet World, and we’d like to get you 

all involved – and you can start by turning to page 31 of this issue! 

We’d like to find out how grey fleet is affecting your business 

mobility. So, with the help of the BVRLA, we’ve put together a short 

Survey on page 37 and would be grateful if you fill it in and send it 

back to us... Or, you’ll probably find it quicker to go online to 

www.fleetworld.co.uk and complete the Survey there. It’s all part 

of trying to make your fleets more efficient in the future. Thanks in 

advance, and in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the issue. 


editor 

Fill in the Survey online at fleetworld.co.uk 

EXHIBITION > AWARDS > CONFERENCE 

30 JANUARY • NOVOTEL LONDON WEST 

www.greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk 

2020

Model shown is a New Mondeo Titanium Edition Hybrid Estate 2.0 TiCVT Auto with optional Adaptive Headlamps and Power Tailgate. 

Fuel economy mpg (l/100km): Combined 46.3 (6.1). *CO2 emissions 113g/km. 

Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life 

driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. *There is a new test used 

for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown, however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration.

E N E R G I S E Y O U R W O R K F O R C E 

Introducing the ultra-efficient and practical New Mondeo Hybrid Estate. 

Featuring premium leather interior and SYNC-3 technology which keeps drivers connected 

on the go, this self-charging hybrid will put the spark back into your business. 

VISIT: FORD.CO.UK/MONDEO-HYBRID

. 

T H I S M O N T H I N F L E E T 

www.fleetworld.co.uk 

IN BRIEF 

74% 

Vehicle compliance rate in first 

month of London ULEZ. 

A5 

Source: Transport for London 

A41 

A52 

MARYLEBONE ROAD 

A501 

EUSTON ROAD 

Honda and Ford announce 

plant closures 

Ford has begun a consultation on its 

Bridgend engine plant in Wales, which 

could close by September 2020, 

risking 1,700 jobs. 

The carmaker said the proposed 

action was necessary to support its 

global business redesign and is part of 

the company’s strategy to create a 

more efficient business in Europe. 

The news came just weeks after 

Honda confirmed its Swindon 

manufacturing facility will close in 

2021 after a consultation failed to 

identify viable alternatives. 

20% 

Rise in private parking tickets 

in last 12 months. 

Source: RAC Foundation 

A400 

5200 

Save up to 30% on 

maintenance costs 

A new solution claimed to be already 

saving fleets up to 30% on parts and 

labour has been introduced by Fuel 

Card Services for fleets of all sizes. 

The pay-as-you-go MyService 

Expert solution gives fleet managers 

and drivers direct access to a 

nationwide garage network offering 

competitive savings on fleet servicing, 

maintenance, repairs and MoTs, using 

pre-negotiated discounted rates. 

A520 

A5200 

A201 

A501 

A5201 

CITY ROAD 

ATE 

A1 

COMMERCIA 

A1208 

A11 

Michelin to acquire Masternaut 

Michelin is to acquire European telematics specialist Masternaut for an undisclosed 

amount as part of its ongoing expansion into the telematics sector. 

The acquisition will see Masternaut continue to operate under its own brand as a 

fully owned subsidiary within Michelin, and was announced a month after Bridgestone 

Europe completed its own acquisition of TomTom Telematics for €910m (£781m) under 

plans to become a “mobility solutions leader”. 

For Michelin, the acquisition of Masternaut marks its third major deal in the fleet 

telematics industry, following previous investments in Nextraq in North America and 

Sascar in South America, and will give the firm access to Europe’s rapidly growing 

telematics market – projected by industry analyst Berg Insight to grow by over 15% p.a. 

in the next five years. 

The acquisition will also accelerate Masternaut’s product development and its 

growth across Europe including new markets, drawing upon Michelin’s investment and 

automotive expertise. Masternaut will particularly target developments data science, in 

areas such as predictive maintenance and operational re-engineering. 

Dhruv Parekh, CEO of Masternaut, said: “Together with the Michelin brand, we are 

well-positioned to expand in the connected vehicle industry across Europe. Operating 

within the Michelin Group accelerates our ability to achieve the vision of a connected 

world that is safer, cleaner and more productive.” 

Discovery Sport gets extensive 

mid-life upgrades 

Land Rover has revealed a heavily 

revised version of its fleet favourite – 

the Discovery Sport – which gets a 

new mild hybrid engine line-up – and 

an all-new platform. 

Unveiled following the debut of the 

second-generation Evoque, the 

updated Discovery Sport retains its 

practical 5+2 seating and basic 

styling – but be in no doubt there’s 

more to this facelift than a new set of 

lights and bumpers. 

Firstly, as with the new Evoque, this 

Discovery Sport now sits on Jaguar 

Land Rover’s Premium Transverse 

Architecture. This enables it to 

introduce 48-volt mild hybrid 

technology for all models bar the 

entry-level D150 diesel – bringing CO2 

emissions as low as 144g/km and fuel 

economy up to 40.9mpg – along with 

a full plug-in version due next year. 

And thanks to the new underpinnings, 

the Discovery Sport is 13% stiffer than 

before, according to Land Rover. 

The Discovery Sport is the next 

Land Rover recipient of the clever 

Clearsight Groundview and Clearsight 

Rearview technologies. Clearsight 

Groundview works via cameras in the 

grille and mirrors to project a view 

through the front of the car on to the 

central touchscreen. Clearsight 

Rearview makes use of an aerialmounted 

camera, which projects an 

image to the rear-view mirror. 

Under the bonnet, it’s the RDE2- 

compliant front-wheel drive 150hp 

diesel – the only unit not using mild 

hybrid tech – that will bring the 

highest efficiency for fleets, offering 

emissions from 140g/km of CO2 and 

fuel economy from 47.8mpg 

(5.9l/100km) as well as exemption 

from the 4% BiK surcharge. 

The Discovery Sport is available to 

order now, in Sport, S, SE, HSE and R- 

Dynamic trims. Pricing starts from 

£31,575, for the entry-level D150. 

008 • fleetworld.co.uk

FCA exits Renault merger talks 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it's pulled 

out of merger talks with Renault just a 

week after submitting a proposal as it 

blames French politics. 

Proposed at the end of May, the 

€33bn (£29.2bn) deal would have seen a 

50/50 merger, creating the world’s thirdlargest 

carmaker after Volkswagen and 

Toyota, and allowing the companies to 

share development costs on key 

technology such as electric vehicles and 

self-driving cars. 

In its latest statement, which follows a 

board meeting, FCA outlined that while it 

“remains firmly convinced of the 

compelling, transformational rationale of a 

proposal that has been widely appreciated 

since it was submitted”, it had become 

clear “that the political conditions in France 

do not currently exist for such a 

combination to proceed successfully”. 

Less than an hour before FCA’s 

statement, Renault had said that a 

meeting had seen the board of directors 

continue reviewing the proposal with 

interest but that they had been unable to 

take a decision due to the request by the 

French Government, which has a 15% 

stake in Renault, to postpone the vote to 

a later council. 

French Finance Minster Bruno Le Maire 

acknowledged FCA’s decision to exit the 

merger talks but said in a statement that 

the state had worked constructively on the 

deal with all stakeholders. He added that 

agreement had been reached on three of 

the four conditions set by the state for a 

final agreement but needed to get explicit 

support from Nissan. 

WLTP unfairly advantaging 

petrol engines, study shows 

The new WLTP test cycle is significantly 

underestimating the real-world fuel 

consumption and CO2 emissions of petrol 

vehicles, according to Emissions 

Analytics, potentially over-incentivising 

them against diesels. 

The firm’s analysis of official figures for 

latest WLTP-certified petrol cars show 

that, despite the test getting tougher CO2 

emissions have fallen. They were 

expected to have risen from 152g/km 

under NEDC to a fleet average of 

133g/km on an NEDC-Correlated basis. 

Meanwhile the full WLTP figure stands at 

151g/km; still down on the NEDC figure 

despite the tougher WLTP test cycle. All 

these values still lie far below the realworld 

figure of 185g/km measured by 

Emissions Analytics in its own EQUA Index. 

In contrast, the official CO2 values for 

diesel cars have risen between NEDC 

and WLTP, as would be expected. Under 

NEDC conditions, the diesel group 

averaged 124g/km, rising to 143g/km 

under NEDC Correlated 

and 175g/km under WLTP; very close 

to the Emissions Analytics’ real-world 

average figure of 173g/km. 

Concerned that the differences may 

be due to specific vehicles tested 

under the new regime, Emissions 

Analytics averaged EQUA Index results 

before and after the change to WLTP. 

The data showed a difference of only 

2%, indicating very little change due to 

vehicle selection. 

In response, Emissions Analytics 

concluded that “optimisation of the labbased 

WLTP test has already set in”. 

However, the SMMT’s Mike Hawes 

criticised the study, calling the claims 

“misleading” and saying: “On-road 

testing of CO2 emissions can only ever 

provide a snapshot of how a vehicle is 

being driven and cannot be used as a 

comparison with official test values.” 

APPOINTMENTS 

Mel Dawson steps 

down as ALD MD 

Mel Dawson, 

managing 

director, of ALD 

Automotive UK 

is stepping 

down in June, 

after 22 years at 

the company. 

Following 

stints as commercial director in 

1997 and sales director in 2004, 

Dawson was appointed 

managing director in 2012 where 

he oversaw a doubling of the 

company’s fleet size to 145,000 

vehicles. 

VWFS UK names 

new CFO 

Jean Smith has 

returned to 

Volkswagen 

Financial 

Services UK in 

the new role of 

chief financial 

officer. 

Smith brings 

more than 30 years’ experience 

in both captive and non-captive 

financial services, and joined 

VWFS in 2001. 

Her return to VWFS UK follows 

four years in a number of 

international roles and sees her 

succeed Albert van den Bergh, 

who has recently moved to 

VWFS AG. 

Charlie Norman takes 

helm at DriveTech 

DriveTech (UK) 

has appointed 

Charlie Norman 

as its new 

director, building 

on his 16 years’ 

experience with 

the AA. 

Norman was 

previously chief financial officer 

at DriveTech and replaces David 

Wilson, who has decided to 

move on after three years in the 

role to be closer to his family. 


A N A LY S I S 

ROAD USER PRICING 

FOR WHOM THE ROAD TOLLS 

The subject of road user pricing has been back in the headlines 

following a new report from Centre for London. Natalie Middleton 

wonders if such a system could work on a UK-wide basis. 

Reports outlining how road user 

pricing could tackle issues in the 

UK are nothing new – this year 

marks the 55th anniversary of the socalled 

Smeed Report that recommended 

the Conservative Government at the 

time introduce nationwide road pricing 

to cut congestion. 

But road user pricing suggestions do 

seem to be coming with increasing 

alacrity as concerns mount not only 

over rising traffic but also on how to fill 

the gap from declining fuel and vehicle 

excise duty as drivers switch to ultra-low 

emission or fully electric cars; just last 

month, at the ICFM conference, Harvey 

Perkins, director of fleet consultancy 

firm HRUX, warned that we will see 

some form of UK-wide road charging if 

revenues do decline. 

This includes a recent solution mooted 

by transport planner Gergely Raccuja, 

who won the 2017 Wolfson Economics 

Prize for his idea of a pay-per-mile road 

tax that would be collected through the 

insurance industry and based on rates 

dependent on the vehicle’s weight and its 

tailpipe emissions. The tax would replace 

VED and fuel duty and the money raised 

would be used to boost investment in 

roads and improve air quality. 

Meanwhile AA president Edmund 

King and his wife, the economist 

Deirdre King, were shortlisted for the 

prize with their idea of Road Miles, 

where drivers benefit from at least 3,000 

free Road Miles each year with a small 

charge thereafter of less than 1p per 

mile and fuel duty discounts are 

deducted. The scheme would see fuel 

duty drop 20% within five years to 

47p/litre and drivers would be compensated 

for excessive roadwork delays and 

closures while the Government would 

get £2bn extra per year, helped by 

commercial income. 

The latest report comes from thinktank 

Centre for London, which has 

called for the capital to switch to a single 

road user charging system, which would 

charge drivers on a per-mile basis with 

charges varying by vehicle emissions, 

local levels of congestion and pollution 

and availability of public transport alternatives. 

It would also be integrated with 

London’s wider transport system via a 

new app and digital platform that would 

open up mobility options. 

Such schemes, which tend to be 

supported by both economists and environmentalists, 

are showing increasing 

sophistication in resolving issues with 

previously mooted solutions, not least by 

eliminating most, if not all, other 

charges on drivers and by helping to 

ensure a balanced approach that makes 

drivers think about their alternatives, not 

just switch to driving on cheaper roads. 

Rapid advances in technology mean 

that supporting such schemes no longer 

need be an issue either. In 2004, the 

Labour Government’s work on A Feasibility 

Study of Road Pricing in the UK 

found that a national road pricing 

scheme would probably become technologically 

feasible in 10 years’ time 

from the report date. 

But the main issue, as always, lies 

with the public. Despite the potential 

for less congested roads, road user pricing 

remains a hot potato explored and 

dropped by a number of governments, 

due to negative reactions from drivers 

and concerns over invasions over civil 

liberties. And it’ll take a novel scheme 

that doesn’t charge more than current 

road taxes to overcome this. 

DISTANCE-BASED ROAD USER CHARGING > 

THE FUTURE FOR UK ROADS? 

Anthony Alicastro, chief executive officer of emovis – the UK’s largest operator 

of toll roads, was part of the discussion panel at the launch of the Centre for 

London report. He outlines the considerations. 

Distance-based road user charging – a national ‘pay as you drive’ system for the UK. 

Will it happen? It’s politically challenging but there is a major financial driver – as electric 

vehicles become the norm in 10 years’ time, that is a lot of lost fuel duty. HM Treasury 

will need to recoup its revenue from somewhere and the roads will still need 

maintaining. Opinion in London is gathering momentum in favour of this as a simpler, 

greener and fairer alternative than six separate charging schemes around the capital, 

but how would distance-based charging work at a national level in the UK? 

Here’s five guiding principles to get you thinking... 

• A replacement for road tax and fuel duty – a ‘pay as you drive’ scheme will be 

more progressive than a flat tax and the replacement of fuel duty would be critical 

to a fair system 

• Simplicity and interoperability – at the very least different schemes will need to 

talk to each other (like E-Z Pass in Eastern USA), but one simple scheme would be 

best for customers, particularly for fleet drivers 

• Transparency – an app will show you a fixed cost and journey time as well as 

public transport options and time savings 

• Repayments for delays – a major change from what we have in the UK today but 

we do it with trains and planes – why not automobiles? 

• A clear link to infrastructure investment – where does the money go? Government 

will need to be very transparent about its investment plans and priorities for 

the money raised. 

There are lots of different implementation options. Whether the UK has a series of 

city-based schemes or one national network that includes motorways is for policymakers 

to decide. But we could have a road user charging system that is simple to 

use, fair for motorists, enables healthy living and has real green credentials. 


MEASURE DISTANCE IN EMOTIONS. 

NOT KILOMETERS. 

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ALFA ROMEO STELVIO 

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with elegant Italian design. The technology behind Alfa Romeo is created to enhance performance and to give great driving sensations. Both models 

feature all the latest cutting-edge technology in safety and infotainment including Alfa D.N.A. driving mode selector, Lane Departure Warning 

(LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and 8.8” Connect 3D Nav with DAB radio. All this combined with 

exceptional fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. For more information call 0808 168 7146 or email alfaromeo.fleet@fcagroup.com 

OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE ALFA ROMEO RANGE MPG (L/100KM) COMBINED: 53.3 (5.3) TO 24.5 (11.5). CO2 EMISSIONS: 227 – 123 G/KM. 

Fuel consumption figures determined on the basis of the new WLTP test procedure as per Regulation (EU) 2017/1347. CO2 figures, based on the outgoing test cycle (NEDC), will be used to 

calculate vehicle tax on first registration. Only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life 

driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

INNOVATION 

FOR 

APPS, GADGETS AND ESSENTIALS 

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE... 

CITROËN REVEALS VISION FOR LONG- 

HAUL MOTORING WITH 19_19 CONCEPT 

THE FRENCH MANUFACTURER, CELEBRATING ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY HAS SHOWN THE SECOND ELEMENT 

OF ITS FUTURE MOBILITY PLANS - THE 19_19 CONCEPT MARTYN COLLINS FINDS OUT MORE. 

The first element, the Ami One 

Concept, which debuted at this 

year’s Geneva Motor Show, 

focused on urban mobility. The 

19_19 Concept carries on from 

here, offering long-haul mobility 

to all these people live in the city, 

as a means to escape. 

Citroën believes, that in the 

future these people won’t take a 

flight due to C02 implications, so 

instead they will make very longhaul 

drives and the 19_19 Concept 

is the answer. How? Well, according 

to Arnaud Belloni, Citroën’s 

Global Marketing and Communications 

Senior Vice President, 

“These users will not accept electric 

vehicles that will have to be 

plugged in mid travel, so you need 

to rework the trip.” 

So, it would boast a long electric 

range, be autonomous on demand 

and driven by artificial intelligence. 

“It’s also highly comfortable, 

respecting the DNA of 

Citroën, plus you’ve got a floating 

cabin and the technology coming 

from aircraft.” 

Inside, the interior is designed as 

a saloon, but there are individual 

seats, and the bench at the rear is 

designed like a comfortable sofa. 

To emphasise the comfort of the 

19_19 Concept, Citroën have 

worked with Goodyear on those 

massive 30-inch wheels for the 

tyres. Made of up of layers of 

rubber, apparently there are lots of 

patents pending on this completely 

new generation of tyres. 

Although a production version of 

the 19_19 Concept is a way off, it 

would be link through to the Ami 

One’s 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days or 

full ownership prospect – the same 

as those for production electric 

models going on sale next year. 

So far Citroën has shown two 

mobility visions, as part of its 

centenary celebrations. However, 

Arnaud told me they are working 

on one further third pillar for next 

year, which he described “as a step 

further.” These cars might be a 

way off, but the ownership 

prospect is very real. 


evfleetworld.co.uk 

For greener, more flexible, future fleets... 

IN BRIEF 

BP’s new Fuel & Charge card 

BP Chargemaster is launching a 

combined fuel and EV charge card for 

fleets. Due to launch later this summer, 

the new card provides access to both 

the BP Plus cross acceptance network 

and the Polar network of more than 

7,000 EV charging points. The 

announcement comes as BP confirms 

that it will begin rolling out nextgeneration 

150kW chargers at BP 

forecourts from July. 

Coventry to get EV battery 

centre of excellence 

The UK Government is driving its zeroemission 

vehicle ambitions with new 

investment in EV battery development. 

The £28m funding will be used on 

top of an £80m initial investment for 

the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, 

which is under construction in the 

West Midlands to provide claimed 

world-leading testing facilities. 

ALD and ChargePoint team up 

ALD Automotive has signed a global 

framework agreement with 

ChargePoint to bring a comprehensive 

electric vehicle charging solution 

across its customer spectrum. 

The joint end-to-end electric vehicle 

solution will be rolled out across 

Europe over the next few months, 

helping facilitate and accelerate the 

transition to e-mobility for international 

corporate clients, SMEs and private 

individuals. 

Orders open for MG SZ EV 

MG Motor UK has opened order books 

for its ZS EV electric car. 

The brand’s first fully electric car, 

the ZS EV will join petrol versions of 

the model. Details for pricing, range 

and the motor are yet to be revealed 

but MG has said it’s powered by a 

44.5kWh water-cooled battery with 

rapid charging capability that will 

enable it to be recharged from 0-80% 

in 43 minutes, while a full charge using 

a domestic 7kW unit takes 6.5 hours. 

First-ever electric Corsa 

to bring 205-mile range 

Vauxhall has taken the next 

step in plans to electrify its 

fleet with the reveal of the 

electric Corsa, due on sale 

later this year. 

Unveiled just days after the 

brand took the wraps off the 

Grandland X PHEV, the sixthgeneration 

Corsa gets a fully 

electric variant in line with 

Vauxhall plans for an 

electrified version of every model in its range by 2024, as first revealed in its 

PACE! post-takeover turnaround plans announced two years ago; this includes 

the new Mokka X and Vivaro models due in 2020. 

Available to reserve now, the Corsa-e is built on the same platform as the 

Peugeot e-208 and also features a 50kWh battery – guaranteed for eight years 

– that brings 136hp of power, a 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds and up to an 

official 205-mile WLTP range, compared to 211 miles for the Peugeot. Drivers 

can choose between three drive modes: Normal, Eco and Sport; with the Eco 

mode extending range by up to 40% compared to Sport. 

A 11kW on-board charger is included as standard and works with home 

and rapid chargers, with the latter enabling an 80% capacity battery charge 

in 30 minutes. 

The new Corsa – which will be five-door only and will also be available in 

conventional petrol and diesel forms – will also get advanced driver assistance 

systems while on-board equipment includes a range of infotainment systems 

and also offers the Vauxhall Connect telematics service. 

Reservations 

open for new 

Volkswagen 

and Honda EVs 

Volkswagen and Honda have both opened pre-orders for their new electric cars, both 

which are said to be seeing significant interest. 

Honda has announced its electric car – its first mass-production electric vehicle in 

Europe – will be called the Honda e and will start first deliveries in spring 2020. No 

further technical details have been revealed – just confirmation of Honda’s 

announcement at Geneva that the Honda e will deliver a range of more than 125 

miles and a ‘fast charge’ functionality of 80% battery charge in 30 minutes. 

Volkswagen has also opened pre-booking for the ID.3 electric hatch – which marks 

the first of its forthcoming ID family of all-electric cars. The line-up will bring three 

production battery options, giving WLTP ranges of between 205 to 342 miles with 

prices expected to start at under €30,000 in Germany (around £25-26k). The special 

edition available for pre-booking has a WLTP range of around 261 miles and is 

expected to be offered for less than €40,000 (around £34k). 

014 • evfleetworld.co.uk

M O B I L I T Y 

Welsh public sector urged 

to ban grey fleet cars 

Public bodies in Wales should end the use of grey fleet cars to cut emissions as 

well as costs. 

So says the Urban Mobility Partnership as it highlights that turning to leased 

cars or car clubs could cut CO2 emissions from grey fleet journeys by 42% for the 

44 public bodies in Wales. 

Such a move would also save the four largest local authorities in 

Wales (Rhondda Cynon Taf, Newport, Swansea and Cardiff) more than £2.8m a 

year, according to the organisation at a briefing for Welsh ministers and 

government officials on ways to cut congestion and improve air quality. 

Held just days after the Welsh Government declared a ‘Climate Emergency’, 

the specially convened summit also said that mobility credits and MaaS were the 

answer to Wales’ transport problems. 

The mobility credits would work in the form of a ‘Netflix-style’ app that could 

be used for journeys using trains, buses, car clubs and bike hire, as already being 

trialled in Manchester by Enterprise and Stagecoach and funded by Imove from 

the European Union to provide transport on demand across a variety of modes to 

Manchester Airport Group staff. 

New Cenex-Connected Automated 

Mobility event opens for registration 

IN BRIEF 

French ride-hailing app takes 

fight to Uber in London 

French ride-hailing service 

Kapten has launched in 

London to bring a ‘best 

value’ rival to Uber. 

Backed by Daimler and 

BMW, the firm – formerly 

known as Chauffeur-Privé – operates 

across zones 1-5 in vehicles including 

PHEVs and EVs and will offer ongoing low 

pricing claimed to bring fares on average 

20% cheaper than rivals. 

Toyota invests in Faxi 

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) has taken a 

majority stake in London-based Faxi, to 

capitalise on the firm’s ‘incentivised 

carpooling’ to reduce single occupancy 

vehicles, congestion and emissions. 

The news follows the two companies' 

work together since 2018 on the 

development of a Toyota-branded 

carpooling platform to offer such services 

in Europe. 

Visitors can now register for the firstever 

Cenex-Connected Automated 

Mobility event, which will spotlight 

the latest mobility and connected/ 

autonomous vehicle (CAV) 

developments when it takes place 

on 4-5 September 2019. 

Running alongside the Cenex- 

LCV2019 low-carbon vehicle event 

at Millbrook Proving Ground in 

Bedfordshire, the Cenex-CAM event 

– previously part of Cenex-LCV – will 

have its own dedicated exhibition, 

seminar hall and networking area in 

line with a growing focus on CAVrelated 

issues. Highlights include six 

seminar sessions over the two days 

in a 150+ seated seminar hall along 

with test ride options. 

By registering for Cenex-CAM, 

visitors will also automatically be 

registered for Cenex-LCV2019, 

which includes a technology 

exhibition, extensive seminar 

programme and ride and drive 

options for the latest R&D and 

commercially available vehicles. 

Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex, said: 

“We are really pleased to open 

visitor registration for the Cenex- 

LCV and Cenex-Connected 

Automated Mobility events. The 

registration process includes the 

opportunity for visitors to express 

their areas of interest and this helps 

us shape the balance of the 

seminar content to best reflect our 

visitors’ key areas of interest.” 

New UK-wide ride-hailing app 

A new app that enables 

passengers to find 

minicabs and taxicabs in 

their area has launched 

across the UK. 

Operating across cities 

and rural areas, the Xooox (pronounced 

‘zooks’) app shows passengers local ridehailing 

solutions based on a broad range 

of criteria, including the cost of the fare, 

type of cab, its emissions, ETA, boot 

space, number of seats and whether the 

vehicle is wheelchair accessible. 

10,000 

Number of reservations received 

for Volkswagen's new ID.3 fully 

electric hatchback less than 24 

hours after pre-ordering opened. 

Source: SMMT 

Source: Volkswagen 

evfleetworld.co.uk • 015

O P I N I O N 

Curtis Hutchinson 

motor industry guru 

Hyundai’s fleet vision 

How the erstwhile retail brand’s focus has changed to the 

business sector and the role played by electrification. 

You would be forgiven for thinking 

that Hyundai was primarily a 

retail brand. It has, after all, 

built its reputation on an ever-increasing 

range of models, keen pricing and 

the backing of a customer-friendly fiveyear 

warranty. 

Yet Hyundai has been active in fleet 

for over two decades, maintaining a relatively 

low-level presence as an alternative 

to the established players, with 

generously specified cars supported by 

award-winning fleet aftersales processes 

across its dealer network. 

Last year the brand reassessed its 

fleet proposition in a move which saw 

business sales account for 56% of its 

total registrations, equating to a new 

record of 50,571 units. Its hero car was 

the Tucson, accounting for 19,919 of 

those sales. From this position of 

strength Hyundai is looking to further 

develop its fleet business. 

Heading up this new focus is director 

of fleet Michael Stewart. He joined the 

business in January 2018 from Nissan 

where he was head of leasing and 

specialist fleet sales, having previously 

looked after corporate sales planning 

and operations. Prior to this he 

managed Mazda’s fleet marketing, 

having joined the sector in 2003 as Vauxhall’s 

rental marketing manager. 

“My brief when I joined was to 

relaunch the Hyundai fleet proposition. 

We already had strong fleet elements in 

the brand but we needed a more 

forward-thinking strategy linked to the 

new product we’re seeing coming 

through. What you’ll see from us now is 

a more sustainable and smart growth 

strategy in fleet,” says Stewart. 

Working alongside him is Tim White, 

appointed national fleet sales manager 

last November after two decades at 

Vauxhall, most recently as national fleet 

sales manager. 

Future business sales will more closely 

mirror the 52:48 fleet/retail split of 

the wider market. Consequently, fleet 

volumes are likely to be lower this year 

but with reduced short-cycle rental 

volumes and increases in true fleet. This 

should provide a stronger base for the 

brand to grow its long-term fleet business 

as it maximises on the opportunities 

afforded by new models. 

Stewart’s fleet strategy is based 

around the concept of “smart growth” 

whereby the significantly expanded 

fleet team, supported by an investment 

in a new back-office infrastructure, is 

able to steadily build its true fleet book, 

talk to more end-user customers, especially 

SMEs, and engage with funders. 

“We can grow steadily through acquiring 

a strong order bank, especially 

through our SUV and transitional product 

line-up; we don’t have to buy chunks 

of volume. Whatever we do has to be 

sustainable and smart,” he says. 

Pivotal to Hyundai’s ambitious fleet 

plans will be the support and services 

offered by its 163-strong dealer network. 

The brand’s ambitious new National 

Fleet Centre Programme has seen the 

formation of 15 large fleet centres 

around the country, each with a dedicated 

Hyundai fleet infrastructure, national 

fleet delivery capability and pre-delivery 

inspection capacity for over 1,000 vehicles 

each. Each will also have the capacity 

to facilitate a minimum of 500 fleet 

registrations, hinting at Hyundai’s longterm 

aspiration for its fleet business. 

In time these fleet centres will provide 

support to the rest of the network, which 

Stewart describes as “fleet and business 

ready”, ensuring every Hyundai dealer 

will have services in place to grow and 

support local SME business. 

In pursuit of delivering the best possible 

experience for customers, Hyundai 

has introduced a new Fleet Aftersales 

Charter and a dedicated fleet support line. 

With transparent pricing and processes, 

the charter sets out a commitment to 

reduce cost of ownership for fleets, 

including hourly labour rates capped at 

£60 (+VAT), a discount on MOT costs and 

a reduction on parts and accessories. 

The charter also guarantees a service 

appointment within 48 hours and offers 

a Fleet Response service, which sets a 

target of 60 minutes to diagnose an issue, 

or provide alternative onward transport. 

Meanwhile, electrification is playing a 

key role in Hyundai’s fleet proposition. 

It is the only global carmaker offering 

hybrid, PHEV, EV and fuel cell models 

and this is opening corporate doors 

previously shut. By 2020 Hyundai says 

75% of all models sold in Europe will 

have an electrified version. 

“Electrification is now incredibly high 

on fleet agendas, so much so that there is 

more appetite, attention and demand 

than there is supply from manufacturers 

across the board. We are talking to major 

companies, the public sector and SMEs, 

everyone’s interested in electric vehicles. 

“With hydrogen we have good access to 

Nexo product and can offer a real proposition 

which means we are winning business 

where others can’t supply. 

“Hyundai is a fleet brand. We are 

ready, capable and able to meet the 

needs of the fleet market in a sustainable 

way,” finishes Stewart. 


S P O T L I G H T 

AUDI A4 

FOUR SIGHT 

Advanced connectivity and electrified drivetrains are the headlines 

for the heavily-updated A4 range, explains Alex Grant. 

EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION 

It’s not all-new, but this is a significant update. The bonnet, roof 

and tailgate are the only exterior parts carried over from the 

outgoing A4, while the new, animated, all-LED lighting and the 

swage line that breaks across the top of the doors bring it in line 

with the larger A6. 

Audi also hasn’t changed the line-up much between generations. 

UK demand is almost equally split between the saloon and ‘Avant’ 

estate, though slightly weighted towards the former. Take-up is 

strongest for S line, which includes the biggest visual changes 

compared to the old car, now marked out by colour-contrasted 

intakes on the bumper and triple air inlets at the leading edge of 

the bonnet – a nod to the Sport Quattro rally car of the 1980s. 

Around 5% of UK customers opt for the Allroad Quattro, which 

features a 35mm raised height, wider tracks, larger wheels and 

under-body protection for light off-road use. 

THE FUEL PICTURE 

Attitudes towards diesel are shifting, even in the compact 

executive class. So you might be surprised to hear that Audi 

has no plans yet for a plug-in hybrid A4, despite strong fleet 

uptake in rival products. The launch line-up includes three 

‘mild hybrid’ petrol engines, but the only electrified diesel is 

the 344hp S4. None of the diesels are certified to RDE2, 

though this will follow within months, ahead of the January 

2021 deadline. 

In the UK, the entry-level 148hp petrol engine is expected 

to remain the best-seller both in retail and fleet. At launch, this 

will be the only version not fitted with an automatic transmission 

as standard, though Audi will offer a manual option for the 

188hp shortly afterwards. Two ‘mild hybrid’ diesels, at 134hp 

and 161hp, are also due to be added to the range in the near 

future. No fuel economy or CO2 data has been released yet. 


Better ConneCted 

Audi set the benchmark for cabin aesthetics with the outgoing A4, so 

there’s no need for radical updates here. The biggest change inside is 

the new MMI infotainment system, now featuring a touchscreen instead 

of the old rotary controller. It’s better suited to Android Auto and Apple 

CarPlay smartphone connectivity than hopping from icon to icon using 

a wheel, and offers simpler search function using natural phrases - either 

voice commands or typed into the screen. 

The A4 also has the foundations of more advanced connected 

services. It can receive live information about forthcoming hazards, 

parking availability and (in selected cities) traffic light sequences transmitted 

via short-range data transfer. In turn, it will recommend an 

average speed based on the next green light, said to encourage 

smoother driving. Optional technology includes the ability to add new 

software features via a subscription, and a smartphone app for keyless 

access and engine starting. 

In SUMMArY 

The A4 is a fleet staple – half of 

UK cars are sold to businesses – 

and that sector has changed 

significantly since the outgoing 

model arrived in 2015. So it’s 

surprising to see the updated 

version introducing neither 

RDE2-certified diesel engines, 

nor a plug-in hybrid. While that’s 

unlikely to topple it out of this 

sector’s best-sellers, both 

soften this familiar fleet car’s 

competitive edge. AG 


D R I V E N 

BMW 7 Series 

BMW’s 7 Series update is much 

more than just skin-deep, finds 

Jonathan Musk. 

BMW expects to sell around 2,000 

7 Series in its first full sales year in the 

UK, with the 730d and 740d the 

expected big sellers, while the new 

and improved plug-in hybrid should 

take a good 10% chunk of sales. 

Short- or long-wheelbase is the first 

choice to make, but if you don’t ever 

intend on ferrying passengers it might 

be worth looking at BMW’s more 

svelte 8 Series instead. 

Next up is engine choice, which 

consists of silky straight-six diesel and 

petrol options, as well as BMW’s only 

V12 offering in the form of the magnificent 

M760Li xDrive. The 730d is hard 

to fault, however, and happens to be 

the cheapest in the range, starting 

from £69,445. It’s outrageously quiet 

and refined, not to mention powerful 

and reasonably economical, returning 

41.5-44.1mpg*. It also benefits from 

CO2 emissions of 138g/km. 

Urban drivers would do well to step 

up to the £76,815 plug-in hybrid that 

features a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol 

engine in place of the old PHEV’s 

2.0-litre four-pot. Although on paper it 

‘only’ offers an extra 68hp, the straightsix 

makes a huge difference and 

ensures the 745e is properly premium, 

while the useful 34-36 mile electric 

range keeps CO2 at 48g/km (52g/km 

for the LWB 745Le xDrive). And that electric 

oomph means it’s monstrously quick. 

External styling changes include the 

difficult-to-ignore barbeque-sized 

‘hexagoned’ front grille that’s 40% 

larger than the outgoing model and a 

more upright stance to the car all-round. 

LED head and tail lamps are also now 

standard, as is thickened glass to aid 

acoustic insulation. 

New to the range are six colour 

choices, as well as four alloy wheel 

designs, three of which are available 

on M Sport trim – which also adds 

M Sports steering wheel and dechromed 

exterior trim. 

You could easily fill this magazine 

with the 7’s lengthy equipment list 

alone, but interior highlights bring the 

latest iteration of BMW Live Cockpit 

which includes a 12.3-inch digital 

instrument cluster, 10.25-inch central 

touchscreen, ‘Hey BMW’ natural voice 

control, USB-C connectivity, wireless 

charging and Harmon/Kardon speakers. 

Choose from four simplified interior 

packs – Visibility, Premium, Technology 

or Rear Seat Comfort – to add 

typically desirable options. Chauffeuring 

must-haves comprise the £5,995 

Rear Seat Comfort pack, or crème-dela-crème 

LWB-only £9,995 Rear Seat 

Comfort Plus pack that bring executive 

rear-seat opulence at the tick of a box. 

Choosing a 7 must reward with a 

sense of occasion and the updates to 

this latest version don’t disappoint. The 

six-cylinder engines evoke notions of 

past great BMWs and it’s a credit to the 

Bavarian firm's engineers that they’ve 

managed to make them economical in 

such a large car. Ride quality is nothing 

short of superb thanks to twin-axle air 

suspension too, although this does 

mean that coming to a stop without 

the car nodding takes a little practice. 

Wafting about in the 7 Series is what 

motoring is all about and there’s no 

question the updates bring the car 

bang up-to-date. 

THE LOWDOWN 

KEy FLEET MODEL 

730LD 

STRENGTHS 

ELEGANT, MODERN AND HIGH QUALITY 

WEAKNESSES 

IT’S MASSIVE. COSTLY OPTIONS 

THE VERDIcT 

Updates to the 7 Series cement it 

as our favourite large executive car 

of the moment thanks to its excellent 

range of efficient engines, 

prestige, technology and comfort. 

SECTOR Large executive PRICE £64,530-£76,320 FUEL 35.3-134.5mpg* CO2 49-186g/km** 

RATING 

*WLTP 

** NEDC correlated 


D R I V E N 

Mercedes Benz GLC 300 d 4MATIC 

New engines, plus styling and tech 

tweaks, refine the already very 

competent GLC package, reckons 


With the UK’s ongoing love of SUVs, 

it’s no wonder the GLC is one of 

Mercedes’ biggest models in the UK. In 

fact, in 2018, it accounted for 22,000 

of total sales, with around 30% of those 

going to fleet customers. 

Three years into the current GLC’s life, 

and with rivals such as Audi’s Q5 and 

Land Rover’s Discovery Sport catching 

up – it’s time for a facelift. Outside, this 

equals a sleeker nose, with all-LED 

headlights, plus new grilles and revised 

front bumpers dependent on version. At 

the side there are new alloy wheel 

designs, with the back following the 

front of the GLC, with new LED rear 

lights and rear bumpers. 

Inside, new GLC facelift highlights 

include the MBUX multimedia system, 

which brings the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice 

activation and optional MBUX Interior 

Assistant with the multimedia system 

able to recognise and distinguish 

between hand gestures, by the driver 

and front passenger. It also gets the 

all-digital instruments fitted from AMG 

Premium Line models upwards. 

More significant changes for the GLC 

have happened under the bonnet, with 

two new diesel engines available at 

launch, powering the 220 d and 300 d. 

The GLC 220 d is fitted with a new 

2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, 

producing 194hp and 400Nm of 

torque, while achieving 40.9mpg on 

the WLTP combined cycle and emitting 

137g/km of CO2. Go for the GLC 

Coupé and this model is capable of a 

WLTP combined 41.5mpg with 

145g/km of CO2. 

The GLC 300 d is also powered by a 

2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, 

this time with 245hp and 500Nm of 

torque. However, this GLC delivers up 

to 39.2mpg on the combined cycle 

and emits just 157g/km of CO2. Go for 

the sleeker Coupé, and it can achieve 

39.8mgp WLTP combined, while emitting 

159g/km of CO2. 

Most important from a fleet point of 

view is that both these new diesels are 

RDE2-compliant, thus meaning they’re 

not subject to the usual 4% surcharge 

on BiK or increased first-year VED. I only 

got to try the 300 d, in range-topping 

AMG Line Premium Plus Ultimate trim 

at the international launch. Overall, it’s a 

refined and punchy engine, well suited 

to the GLC’s car-like drive. Being the top 

spec car, this GLC was also fitted with 

Air Body Control, which includes air 

suspension and continuously adjustable 

damping. The upshot was, despite the 

standard 20-inch wheels, this GLC was 

very comfortable to drive – only feeling 

slightly wallowy during some camber 

changes and around town. 

Out of town, this GLC is pleasingly 

dynamic to drive, with responsive steering. 

Body control is also very good - with 

body roll kept well in check, although 

you are always aware of how heavy the 

GLC feels, especially when feeding it 

along tight country roads. 

New tech aside, the look and feel are 

much the same as the last GLC. This 

means high-quality trim and switchgear 

– but is the interior design a bit dated 

now? Front and rear space is good 

though. 

THE LOWDOWN 

KEy FLEET MODEL 

GL 220 D AMG LINE 

STRENGTHS 

REFINED, COMFORTABLE, 

ENGINE IS RDE2 COMPLIANT 

WEAKNESSES 

INTERIOR FEELS A BIT DATED 

THE VERDICT 

The GLC has been sensibly 

updated. These changes, plus the 

new RDE2-compliant engines, 

should be enough to stop buyers 

going elsewhere. 

SECTOR Compact SUV PRICE £39,420–£57,670 FUEL 39.2–41.5mpg* CO2 137–159g/km** 

RATING 

*WLTP 

** NEDC Correlated 


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Discover more about Masternaut On Time at masternaut.com/ontime

F L E E T I N S I G H T 

THE OCTAVIA STORY 

THE OCTAVIA HAS BEEN A FLEET STAPLE FOR DECADES, BUT ITS RICH 

HISTORY GOES BACK MUCH FURTHER, FINDS JoNaTHaN MuSk. 

EARLY HISTORY 

Škoda was a highly respected 

engineering firm long before the first 

Octavia arrived in 1959. Prior to the 

Second World War, the company had 

been at the top of its game and even 

produced Rolls-Royce rivalling cars, 

such as Hispano-Suiza H6 under licence. 

In a bleak turn of events, the 

requisition of its factories by occupying 

forces put a stop to that and its factories 

were subsequently torn to smithereens, 

its workforce decimated and car 

production ceased altogether. 

Rubbing salt in the wound, just hours 

after the declaration of peace on 9 May 

1945, retreating forces bombed the 

Mladá Boleslav factory, significantly 

damaging the few remaining car 

tooling and production lines. 

However, such was the pride in 

Škoda, and testament to the remaining 

few surviving workers, vehicle 

production restarted just 15 days later 

on 24 May 1945, and on 24 June the very 

first post-war Type 256 truck rolled off 

the production line. 

Just one year later, Škoda’s first postwar 

car, the 1101 Tudor, started 

production. 

THE FIRST OCTAVIA 

Skipping a few models and years, 1959 

saw the entrance of an appealing new 

Skoda model that would allow the 

brand to compete on a global stage 

and embrace the growing US and 

Indian markets. 

As the eighth post-war Škoda, its 

name was derived from the Latin 

word for eight, ‘octo’, and the Octavia 

was born. 

Leaning on the company’s previous 

440/445 model, the new car benefited 

from double wishbone suspension 

instead of leaf springs. While 

producing a new chassis would have 

been a costly undertaking for the firm, 

changing the suspension was a 

negligible cost by comparison, yet 

offered vastly superior handling. 

Differing greatly from today’s 

Octavia, early examples were powered 

by a 1.1-litre four-cylinder engine 

producing 40hp to the rear wheels via a 

four-speed transmission, delivering 

70mph performance and 30.5mpg. A 

larger 1.2-litre engine arrived later 

offering 45hp in the Octavia Super. 

Although by today’s standards, 

horsepower increases were pitifully 

small, the Octavia Touring Sport (TS) 

with 50hp – 25% more than the 

outgoing car – was launched on 10 

March 1960. This was a significant car 

for the brand, as it heralded its re-entry 

into rally motorsport. Although still on 

a shoestring budget, Škoda’s faith in the 

car paid off, with class-wins at the 1961, 

’62 and ’63 Monte Carlo Rally. 

Rally had put Škoda back on the map 

once more and with that success behind 

it, the company was able to grow its 

market reach from Chile to New Zealand, 

while in Britain customers endured 

significant waiting lists to secure one. 

ŠKODA’S RENAISSANCE 

Following the fall of communism in 

Czechoslovakia, most industries were 

subjected to privatisation. The Czech 

government chose Volkswagen over 

Renault in 1990, and on 28 March 1991 

a joint-venture partnership was 

formed with Volkswagen Group taking 

a 30% share – just one year after 

Volkswagen Group also took full 

ownership of SEAT. 

On 19 December 1994, Volkswagen 

Group increased its share to 60.3%, and 

a year later to 70%, and between 1991 

to the introduction of the new Octavia 

in 1996, Volkswagen Group had already 

invested 1.4bn Deutschmarks in new 

production facilities at Mladá Boleslav, 

Czech Republic, as well as Škoda’s 

design, research and engineering 

departments. 

OCTAVIA RESURRECTED 

The new Octavia was designed by a 

team headed up by Dirk van Braeckel, 

and made good use of Volkswagen 

underpinnings, using the A4 platform 

that also saw service for the Audi A3 

and Golf Mk4 among others. 

Likewise, engines were borrowed 

from the Volkswagen line-up, with 

the initial range consisting a 1.6-litre 

petrol model. 

Although the car was first introduced 

in Europe in 1996, due to high demand, 

it wouldn’t be until 1998 before British 

customers would finally be offered a 

right-hand drive version. 

A 1.8-litre turbo was added to the 

range in 1999, along with diesels and an 

estate version, and in 2000 the line-up 

was revised with new trim names: 

Classic; Ambiente, Elegance, and the 

range-topping Laurin & Klement, as 

well as a new engine range. 

In 2001, the first Octavia vRS model 

was launched, powered by a 1.8-litre 

turbocharged petrol engine with 180hp. 

The model marked the first 

performance Škoda since the late 1970s 

proving a hit with customers, 

particularly in estate form, and laying 

the foundations for Škoda’s multimodel 

vRS range today. 

After eight years a total 1,451,636 

Mk1 Octavia had been produced – 

including more than 78,800 sold in the 

UK – before it finally ceased production 

in 2004, making it the most successful 

Škoda at the time. 

GLOBAL CONQUEROR 

The Mk2 Octavia arrived in 2004 

following its debut at the Geneva Motor 

Show, and featured a larger cabin and 

new design by Thomas Ingenlath, who 

would go on to design some of Škoda’s 

most notable models, including the 

family-favourite Yeti. 

Now based on the Volkswagen Group 

A5 platform, a new engine range was 

offered with direct-injection and sixspeed 

transmissions, as well as dualclutch 

‘DSG’ transmissions. 

The new model would also see two 

all-wheel drive models, the 4x4 and 


The first Octavia arrived in 1959, 

helping put Škoda on the map. 

1996 marked a new generation 

of Octavia for the modern age. 

The Mk2 Octavia introduced 

a 'hot' diesel vRS model. 

The Mk3 Octavia claims 

24% of Škoda's UK sales. 

Scout, as well as the first vRS powered by 

diesel in 2006. 

More critically for Škoda, the new 

Octavia allowed it to expand in all 

directions, with new production facilities 

set up in India, China and Russia. 

2009 brought along a major facelift to 

the car, sporting a radically different 

design inside-out and new smallercapacity 

engines such as a 1.4-litre TFSI 

petrol to replace the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre 

FSI engines. 

In 2011, Škoda UK set about proving 

the Octavia vRS’s worth, by setting a 

speed record of 227.080mph at the 

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, and 

becoming the world’s fastest 2.0-litre 

turbocharged production car in the 

process. 

By the time of its replacement in 

2013, the Mk2 had doubled in 

popularity compared to the Mk1 

Octavia, with more than 2,274,500 built, 

including 130,662 sold in the UK. This 

was thanks largely to the car’s ability to 

transcend markets, being bigger than a 

Volkswagen Golf, yet smaller than a 

Passat and cheaper than both. 

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM 

The Mk3 Octavia would continue where 

the old car left, launching in 2013 and 

now based on Volkswagen Group’s MQB 

architecture, while sporting a design by 

Jozef Kabaň, itself based on Škoda’s 

VisionD concept car presented in 2011. 

Thanks to the MQB’s flexible system, 

Škoda was able to introduce some sectorfirst 

driver assistance and safety 

systems, along with size and equipment 

increases, despite offering a 100kg 

weight advantage over the Mk2 Octavia. 

Separating it from its siblings in the 

Volkswagen Group, the Octavia features 

several ‘Simply Clever’ details, including 

an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap, a 

reversible textile/rubber boot mat and a 

removable bin in the door pocket. 

In 2017, the range was revised with 

a new look and introduction of latest 

technologies. For the first time, a new 

1.0-litre TSI petrol three-cylinder 

engine was added to the line-up too. 

Meanwhile, the vRS received handling 

tweaks and more power up to 230hp, 

as well as a vRS 245 as the ultimate 

halo Škoda. 

Despite being on sale fewer than six 

years, the Mk3 is already the most 

popular Octavia with more than 2.5m 

units built globally, and claiming 24% of 

Škoda’s UK sales – a feat made all the 

more impressive by the fact that Škoda 

now offers nine models in the UK. 

In just over 20 years, more than half a 

million Octavia have been sold to UK 

buyers, indicating the appetite for 

Škoda’s most versatile model shows no 

signs of letting up anytime soon. 

The 1996 Octavia was the first all-new 

Škoda since the launch of the 

Favorit/Type 781 in 1987. 


D R I V E N 

Škoda Octavia 1.0 TSI SE Drive 

The basic Octavia is all the car you’ll 

ever need, finds Jonathan Musk. 

Equipment options and specifications 

are easy to get bogged down in, so in 

our digital age it is refreshing to find a 

car that doesn’t drown you with 

acronyms and instead just gets the 

job done. The Octavia is one such 

versatile machine, and rightly the 

Czech brand’s most popular model in 

the UK. 

SE Drive trim isn’t the most basic 

though – that accolade goes to the S 

– but it doesn’t get a lot more kit, only 

adding 17-inch alloys, dual-zone 

climate control and an Amundsen 

8.0-inch touchscreen sat nav. It’s a 

back to basics, no-nonsense breath 

of fresh air. 

But don’t go thinking the car is 

austere, as despite its very reasonable 

asking price, it has a large interior 

and comes equipped 

with such fleet niceties as 

Bluetooth, AEB, driver 

fatigue sensor, cooled 

glovebox and electric 

heated mirrors, amongst 

many other features. 

Naturally, all the usual 

welcome design touches 

Škoda is known for are 

present, including ‘simply clever’ ice 

scraper in the fuel filler flap and 

umbrella under the passenger seat – 

things that bring a satisfied smile 

whenever you see them. 

The 1.0-litre TSI pumps out a 

respectable 115hp, which might not 

sound much but thanks to the threecylinder’s 

torque it is usable in everyday 

driving and the six-speed 

gearbox is a delight to use, with 

sharp, easy changes. It’s simple to 

drive, rewarding even, and never 

feels strained despite the Octavia’s 

size. Fuel consumption is respectable 

too and working the manual box, official 

figures can be exceeded. 

With a starting price less than the 

most basic Volkswagen Golf, but 

certainly no less a car, and yet with 

space almost as accommodating as 

a Passat, the Octavia is something of 

a bargain. 

It’s impressive to drive, economical, 

refined, spacious and inexpensive. 

Could this be the ideal fleet car? 

SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £20,310 FUEL 43.5-48.7mpg* CO2 110g/km** 

RATING 

*WLTP 


Škoda Fabia 1.0 TSI Monte Carlo 

Sportiest trim shows there’s still 

plenty of life in Škoda’s supermini, 

thinks Martyn Collins. 

Despite last year’s minimal Fabia 

facelift, there’s no doubt that 

compared to sister car, the SEAT Ibiza 

– awarded Best Fleet Supermini in 

the 2019 Great British Fleet Awards – 

the current model still looks a bit 

angular and dated. 

That’s not the case with the Monte 

Carlo version we’ve driven. In fact, 

it’s amazing how a thorough 

dechrome can make a car look more 

contemporary. Along with the added 

exterior styling pack, and optional 

17-inch Torino alloy wheels filling the 

arches, I reckon it’s the sportiest 

Fabia we’ve seen yet. 

The interior gets colour-coded cloth 

and rather OTT carbon-fibre like trim 

on the sides of the seats, one-piece 

sports seats, and a sports, 

leather-trimmed three-spoke 

multi-function steering 

wheel, but apart from that it’s 

all standard and sensible 

Fabia. This means lots of 

high-quality pointy design, 

loads of stowage, good 

levels of interior space, plus a 

decent-sized 330-litre boot. 

Think this is another high-performance 

version of the Fabia hatch, 

helping in part to fill the gap left by 

the former vRS? Well, you’d be wrong 

as the Monte Carlo is just the rangetopping 

trim level. In fact, this test car 

wasn’t even fitted with the highestpower 

110hp version of the 1.0-litre 

TSI petrol. Instead, it had the most 

popular 95hp version, which offers 

impressively spirited performance, 

especially around town – although 

the gearbox is a bit notchy and you 

do miss a sixth gear on the motorway. 

On the road, the optional bigger 

wheels and sports suspension equal 

more road noise and a slightly unsettled 

ride. However, this Fabia is still 

good to drive, with precise steering, 

good control and negligible body roll. 

Rival supermini models in the 

Volkswagen Group might be getting 

all the attention at the moment, but 

this Škoda Fabia is still worth a look, 

although for business buyers, the midspec 

SE trim makes more sense. 

SECTOR Supermini PRICE £16,785 FUEL 47.1 – 50.4mpg* CO2 106g/km** 

RATING 

*WLTP 



D R I V E N 

Volvo S60 

Far from just being the salon version 

of the V60, the S60 has much more 

to offer, says Martyn Collins 

To those not in the know, the S60 

appears to just be the saloon version of 

Volvo’s mid-size estate, the very likeable 

V60. Dig deeper and the S60 is in 

fact a landmark Audi A4, BMW 3 Series 

and Mercedes-Benz C-Class rival. Why 

landmark, I hear you ask? Well, essentially 

it’s the first Volvo to be built at its 

US manufacturing plant in Charleston, 

South Carolina. 

It is also the first Volvo model not to 

be offered with a diesel engine, instead 

the Swedish company will focus on 

petrol and petrol hybrid power. 

However, until the hybrid version arrives 

later this year, we will have to make do 

with the distinctly un-fleety, 250hp SR, 

2.0-litre T5 petrol, here in first R-Design 

Edition trim. Still, in its current form, 

Volvo reckons this V60 will appeal to 

the fleet driver who perhaps doesn’t 

have to drive so far for the company; 

motorway warriors need not apply! 

Outside, think scaled-down S90 with 

added aggression thanks to the sharp 

exterior detailing of the S60’s design. 

It’s another great-looking Volvo. Inside, 

there’s more of the same minimalist 

interior design that Volvo has become 

known for since the rebirth of its range. 

This also equals, in my opinion, some 

of the most comfortable and supportive 

sports seats in the class, plus a 

multi-adjustable driving position and 

adequate space in the back for two 

passengers. Not to mention a generous 

442-litre boot. 

Does the US-built S60 feel as wellput 

together as our Swedish-made 

V60 long-termer? Annoying dashboard 

rattle on our launch car aside, I 

couldn’t spot or feel any difference. 

In £37,920 R-Design Edition trim 

you’re not left wanting for more kit as, 

on top of the already generous standard 

specification, this launch trim adds 

a rear-view camera, smartphone integration, 

Pilot Assist driver assistance 

technology and adaptive cruise control. 

Volvo predicts the R-Design Plus trim, 

upon which this model is based, will 

account for up to 80% of all UK sales. 

On the road, in expected best-selling 

T5 petrol turbo form, the S60 isn’t 

short of performance. Acceleration to 

62mph takes just 6.5 seconds, yet 

despite its pace it has CO2 emissions 

of 152g/km and a WLTP combined 

economy figure of 35.3-39.9mpg. To 

make the most of the performance, 

even in Dynamic mode, I found it best 

to wake this 2.0-litre turbo engine by 

engaging manual mode and flicking 

the small and subtle steering wheelmounted 

paddles. 

Volvo also makes great claims for 

the improved dynamics of the S60, 

and it’s definitely the sharpest new 

Volvo in the toolbox. It may not be a 

BMW 3 Series, but body control and 

grip is excellent, plus the steering is 

well-weighted with a reasonable 

amount of feel. 

Ride-wise, those standard 19-inch 

alloys might look the part but they 

probably add a firmer edge to what is a 

generally comfortable drive. 

THE LOWDOWN 

KEY FLEET MODEL 

S60 T5 R-DESIGN EDITION 

STRENGTHS 

KEEN DRIVE, DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY 

WEAKNESSES 

ONLY THE T5 PETROL UNTIL HYBRID ARRIVES 

NO DIESEL OPTION PLANNED 

THE VERDIcT 

The most dynamic Volvo yet 

isn’t quite up to BMW levels of 

involvement, but it looks great 

and drives well. Will the lack of 

engine choice count against it? 

SECTOR Compact Executive 

PRICE £37,920 FUEL 35.3–39.9mpg* CO2 152g/km** 

RATING 

*WLTP **NEDC Correlated 


NO MORE GREY AREAS 

What you need to know to manage the risk of your ‘grey fleet’. 

Managing your ‘grey fleet’ 

2018 saw the introduction of the WLTP 

testing regime, and the resulting 

change in fuel consumption and CO2 

emissions figures. These developments 

resulted in further rises in 

company car taxation, which is 

increasing year-on-year. With all these 

changes, some employees are questioning 

the value of a company car. 

Allowing company car drivers to 

use their own [private] vehicle for 

business use, or a ‘grey fleet’ policy, 

can provide an alternative solution. 

However, adoption of this policy does 

not absolve the company or the fleet 

manager from their duty of care 

responsibilities. 

So, you want to operate a ‘grey fleet’ 

policy, but do you have the correct 

legal framework in place to support 

this? According to the Department for 

Transport, over a quarter of road traffic 

accidents involve someone who is 

driving for work. Every vehicle – when 

driven on company business – is still 

considered a place of work, so health 

and safety rules still apply. 

Therefore, an employer’s legal 

obligation extends to include 

employees in their own vehicles 

while at work, so that they don’t 

suffer unreasonable or foreseeable 

harm or loss. Consequently, employees’ 

own vehicles must be treated in 

the same way that company cars and 

drivers are treated. 

How to have an effective 

‘grey fleet’ policy... 

Put someone in charge > Assign ‘grey 

fleet’ responsibility to a member of staff, to 

increase policy accountability. 

Establish a policy > Ensure everyone knows 

what is expected and that the policy includes 

safety guidelines plus a code of conduct. 

Conduct a risk assessment > Review 

employees’ driving records, to identify those 

who could benefit from driver training. In addition, 

look at how long employees are spending 

behind the wheel. Driver training can help make 

sure ‘grey fleet’ drivers are aware of company 

expectations while driving for business. 

Fit to drive? > Driver licence and documentation 

checking should be the norm – take 

particular care that vehicles have the correct 

business insurance in place, and that MOTs are 

current if the vehicle is over three years old. 

Safe to drive? > Encourage drivers to carry 

out periodic checks for tyre pressures and 

tread depth, oil and fluid levels, condition of 

wiper blades and functioning of lights. These 

checks should be performed with the same 

frequency as required of company vehicles. 

Also, provide clear guidelines to drivers 

regarding mobile phone usage. 

Setting limits > Make sure that you set 

timetables and journey times that don’t 

require drivers to exceed speed limits. 

Supporting fleet operators 

SEAT achieved huge growth in true fleet sales 

last year – 27% up on the previous year. This 

growth, which came as the sector shrunk by 8% 

in a period of unprecedented change in the 

fleet industry, means the brand has been the 

fastest growing manufacturer in the sector for 

the past two years. Aside from an awardwinning 

model range, SEAT is dedicated to 

making life easier for increasingly under-pressure 

fleet managers and is working hard to help 

its customers respond to emerging challenges. 

This includes launching an extensive fleet 

management section of its website 

(www.seat.co.uk/fleet-cars/business/fleetcost-calculators.html), 

which includes informative 

and useful content on current topics like 

‘grey fleet’ and writing down allowances. 

In addition, SEAT is also working on a range 

of self-help tools, so total cost of ownership 

and company car tax can be calculated; plus 

‘car or cash’ tools to help employees evaluate 

the benefit of taking a company car – instead 

of a cash allowance. 

To help with a final decision, businesses 

can benefit from SEAT’s award-winning, 

extended 4-Day Test Drive, to help find an 

appropriate solution for their fleet operations. 

To find out how SEAT Business 

could help your enterprise 

achieve more: 

w www.seat.co.uk/business 

t 0800 975 7844 

e support@gfbcseat.co.uk 

Every vehicle – 

when driven on 

company business 

– is considered a 

place of work, so 

health and safety 

rules still apply. 

Brought to you by 

advertisement feature

In association with 

CHANGING 

HABITS 

THE EMERGENCE OF FLEXIBLE MOBILITY IS 

PROMISING CONVENIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE 

AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY 

ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRADITIONAL FLEET. 

ALEX GRANT FINDS OUT HOW WELL TODAY’S 

SERVICES STACK UP FOR BUSINESS USERS. >> 



CHANGING HABITS... 

Reports of the demise of private 

transport are, it seems, exaggerated. 

Department for Transport 

data shows British motorists are travelling 

50% further annually than they were 

45 years ago, with the majority of business 

mileage and journeys still undertaken 

in cars and vans – almost 

unchanged during the last decade. 

Despite growing concerns about climate 

change, drivers are as unwilling to reduce 

vehicle usage today as they were in 2011, 

when the DfT started asking them. 

So it’s no surprise that the UK’s vehicle 

parc is growing. Standing at 38.2 million 

licensed vehicles in Q4 2018, there are 

10.6 million more (+39%) on the roads 

than 20 years ago, with cars (+8.2m) and 

light commercial vehicles (+1.7m) 

accounting for the majority of that 

increase. Nor is it surprising to discover 

delays per mile are growing steadily as 

the vehicle population rises. Traffic data 

analytical company INRIX claims 

congestion cost the UK almost £8bn in 

2018 – an average of £1,317 per driver. 

The problem isn’t new, but the oftenhyped 

potential solution is an emerging 

one; a suite of flexible, seamless, multimodal 

mobility. Intelligent travel solutions 

which offer an alternative to vehicle 

ownership, claiming to cut 

congestion, improve air quality and 

boost productivity. The UK Government 

has earmarked £90m to establish four 

‘Future Mobility Zones’, piloting solutions 

with end-users, and outlined mediumterm 

plans to cut dependence on cars 

and vans in a strategic report earlier this 

year. Consumers are already familiar 

with ‘on-demand’ services; now could be 

the time for fleets to take notice. 

Mobility as a Service 

For business or private travel, convenience 

is the car’s major selling point. 

So, alternatives have to be user-friendly 

to gain traction. Businesses can already 

encourage employees to use public 

transport, but these journeys typically 

include multiple suppliers and complicated 

route-planning – which is where 

‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS) steps in. 

MaaS brings all available travel 

modes together. Enabled by widespread 

connectivity, it offers route-planning 

via multiple suppliers’ timetables, overlaid 

with historical and real-time data 

IN NUMBERS 

8.2m more cars and 1.7m 

more commercials than 

20 years ago 

Congestion costs the UK 

almost £8bn in 2018 - an 

average of £1,317 per driver 

UK Government has 

earmarked £90m to 

establish four ‘Future 

Mobility Zones’ 

and requiring only a single payment. 

According to Yovav Meydad, chief 

growth and marketing officer at 

Moovit, a multi-modal route-planning 

smartphone app, this not only benefits 

end-users, but offers quicker 

improvements for cities than investing 

in road infrastructure. 

“A city that offers MaaS to its citizens 

takes a very active and responsible role 

Multi-modal route 

planning smartphone 

apps are becoming 

more popular. 

Businesses can 

already encourage 

employees to use 

public transport, 

but these journeys 

typically include 

multiple suppliers 

and complicated 

route-planning – 

which is where 

‘Mobility as a 

Service’ (MaaS) 

steps in. 


Businesses can already encourage employees to 

use public transport, but these journeys typically 

include multiple supplier and complicated route 

planning... Transport alternatives have to be userfriendly 

to gain traction. 

in creating a society where car ownership 

is no longer needed,” he says. “This 

will result in healthier, safer, cleaner, 

greener cities that are less congested.” 

However, this is in its infancy in the 

UK. In March, the House of Commons 

Transport Committee published its 

response to last year’s call for evidence 

on how such schemes could be implemented. 

Local and national government 

support would, it said, be vital for 

bringing this data together. ACFO, 

which was among the organisations 

that presented evidence, sees mobility 

as a way for fleets to keep track of how 

their employees move and for technology 

to advise on the right method. But, 

it added, today’s solutions need work. 

“ACFO has seen numerous apps, for 

journey planning and ticket holding, 

from various business travel agents, as 

well as apps for recording and the 

submitting of expenses,” says former 

chairman, John Pryor. “But the ability 

of a company to join them together is 

‘fairly rare’. Consequently, the support 

of government towards a more integrated 

system will help businesses 

adapt and manage their mobility needs 

more effectively.” 

Matt Dale, head of consultancy at 

ALD Automotive, which is offering 

bespoke ‘Mobility Experience’ consultations 

for businesses looking at travel 

solutions beyond the traditional fleet, 

also advises caution. “What we’re 

seeing is a lot of Mobility-on-Demand. 

If you scratch Mobility-on-Demand you 

have taxis and public transport. What 

we’re seeing with some of these is it’s 

cheaper to book your own train than it 

is through the app. We are working 

towards MaaS, but it’s not there yet.” 

New ways of working 

The landscape is moving quickly, and 

nascent technology isn’t an excuse to 

stand still. Europcar Mobility Group 

research, conducted last year, showed 

only 39% of fleet managers review their 

travel policies annually, while almost 

10% said they either don’t review it or 

don’t know how often they do so. Yet 

employees’ behaviour as consumers 

means resistance to change might not 

be as big as it once was. 

“Vehicle travel and the company car 

is not so engrained in the psyche of 

younger employees today as it was in 

yesteryear,” says ICFM director, Peter 

Eldridge. “Companies could look to set 

a mobility budget for each employee 

that will influence the mode of transport 

they take, based on a range of 

factors including fitness-for-purpose, 

cost, convenience and safety. Employees 

will be able to access travel options 

via their own portal, make bookings 

and keep track of their budget.” 

So the onus is on operators. The 

Energy Saving Trust advises organisations 

to develop a ‘travel hierarchy’ for 

employees – a flow chart or website 

outlining the available options, potentially 

including web conferencing to 

avoid travelling at all. This not only 

reduces ad-hoc grey fleet journeys, but 

it ensures employees are using the most 

time and cost-efficient modes. Some 

forward-thinking fleets are negotiating 

discounts with public transport operators 

or have mileage policies in place to 

incentivise drivers out of their cars. 

But the UK has a lot to learn, according 

to Craig Grant, head of mobility 

services at Alphabet UK: “In the Netherlands 

and some other European countries, 

Alphabet provides employees of 

corporate customers with a ‘mobility 

budget’, allowing them to choose the 

mode of mobility that best suits their 

needs – which could be a car lease, 

public transport travel card or even a 

cash payment, if they choose active 

forms of travel like walking or cycling. 

But this budget has to cover all their 

business mobility costs, meaning they 

can’t then expense a train trip if they’ve 

spent all of their mobility budget on a 

company car,” he says. 

“Ultimately it comes down to mindset 

and senior-level buy-in. For those businesses 

that can align the various stakeholders 

and get key decision-makers to 

collaborate, then you can move towards 

an understanding of your business’s 

true mobility costs, both in money and 

in employee time.” 

>> 



>> The case for Cars and Vans 

Consumer familiarity with ‘on-demand’ 

services doesn’t necessarily translate 

into business use. End-to-end journeys 

can often be substituted, but multi-stop 

trips are still problematic, as Peter 

Golding, managing director of 

FleetCheck, highlights. 

“Our experience of the concept of 

mobility management is that it is something 

that is frequently discussed across 

the industry but that very little is yet 

happening in the real world,” he says. 

“This is not to say that we won’t move 

closer to a mobility model over time, but 

that businesses don’t seem ready or able 

to make that move in large numbers at 

the moment. Everyone can see the potential 

but the price in terms of infrastructure 

investment and lost efficiency makes 

genuine change difficult to achieve.” 

It’s a view shared by Ashley Barnett, 

head of consultancy at Lex Autolease, 

who says the company’s customer 

forums haven’t reflected widespread 

interest in the alternatives yet. Cars and 

vans might not be the cheapest option, 

but – particularly outside urban environments 

– operators are prepared to pay 

for that convenience, he continues. 

“In the context of the country’s full 

fleet size, it’s difficult to see shared 

services competing with the practical 

benefits of having 24/7 access to a 

private vehicle. While we welcome the 

introduction of more alternative mobility 

solutions, we don’t anticipate they 

will become viable for business users in 

the short to medium term,” he explains. 

In the meantime, operators are taking 

a more flexible approach to sourcing 

their fleets, and suppliers are catering 

for that demand. Europcar Mobility 

Group now offers a suite spanning from 

its Europcar One platform, designed to 

provide access to shared and private hire 

vehicles and taxis for short-term users, 

through to Advantage which caters for 

longer-term car and van needs, without 

the ties of a traditional lease contract. 

Both offer an adaptable solution given 

that uncertain market conditions are 

driving a rise in grey fleet use. 

“I believe the current Benefit-in-Kind 

tax regime has much to do with this 

changing trend,” says Peter Crabtree, 

corporate sales director at Europcar 

Mobility Group. “It has created an environment 

where employer control of 

transport options is diminishing. Where 

given the choice, more employees are 

going for ‘cash4car’, and this takes the 

oversight away from the employer.” 

David Brennan, CEO at Nexus Vehicle 

Rental, has a similar viewpoint. The 

company says the ability to react quickly 

to new requirements, or new challenges, 

is proving desirable. “Ongoing market 

uncertainty means business customers 

spanning all industries are increasingly 

reluctant to invest in depreciating assets 

and long-term contract hires. Flexible 

usership, on the other hand, provides a 

mobility solution that offers some 

protection in the short and medium 

term,” he says. 

It’s worth noting that fleets are well 

placed to be contributors to the mobility 

ecosystem rather than just being users. 

The Drivy service, for example, allows 

businesses as well as private individuals 

to share and make an income from their 

vehicles when they would otherwise be 

idle, including keyless handovers via an 

app. It means those who are still dependent 

on vehicles can at least contribute 

to, and benefit from, what is still a 

developing market. 

Fleet management is set to change 

rapidly over the next decade, as new 

technologies enable richer data and 

easier use of alternative travel modes. 

But, while usage of vehicles will change, 

tomorrow’s mobility managers are likely 

to be just as responsible for a fleet of cars 

as their present-day counterparts. 

It’s worth noting that fleets are 

well placed to be contributors 

to the mobility ecosystem 

rather than just being users. 


going 

grey 

The rise in employees opTing To Take 

cash raTher Than company cars has led 

To a growing reliance on higher-co2 

grey fleeT cars, conflicTing wiTh The 

governmenT’s emissions TargeTs. 

marTyn collins asks The major funders 

abouT how Their own cash or car 

schemes are Tackling eco and risk 

issues and also asks The fleeT experTs 

for advice on managing cash Takers... 

£50 

50 

£5 

£50 

50 

£ 5 5 

£ 

50 

50 

ald auTomoTive 

ALDSelect is ALD Automotive’s new 

fully digital employee car scheme for 

corporate customers, designed as a 

complementary, low-admin proposition 

alongside traditional company 

car schemes. 

The new scheme is designed to run 

alongside traditional company car 

schemes, enabling HR and reward/benefits 

professionals to provide a car 

scheme to all their employees including 

grey fleet drivers and even those with no 

existing car allowance. 

In essence it supports organisations’ 

staff recruitment and retention efforts 

by giving them access to new, safer and 

greener cars at competitive prices. 

More impressive is that the whole 

process, from searching to managing, 

can all be done online – at the office or 

at home using a PC or smartphone. 

ALDSelect starts with an online search 

and quote; which are provided in real 

time, personalised to each driver and 

saved for comparison. Employees can 

also apply for credit via the website, 

select maintenance if they require it, 

and once they have chosen, they are 

given a quick credit decision. Once 

ordered, employees can then track the 

progress of their order via their dashboard, 

e-sign their documents, pay and 

set up a direct debit, all online. 

It operates in a completely different 

way to salary sacrifice; ALDSelect uses 

manufacturer discounts and competitive 

finance to give employees a highly 

valued perk, but with no financial 

commitment or administrative requirements 

by the employer. This agreement 

is only between the employee and ALD 

Automotive; a key benefit for employers. 

It also vitally reduces the environmental 

impact of the grey fleet by 

putting drivers in newer, safer and 

more efficient vehicles. 

Ian Turner, ALD Automotive’s sales 

director, explained: “We are very 

excited to be able to offer a fully digital 

all employee car benefit scheme in 

ALDSelect. We know that employees 

will love having direct access to savings 

and competitive finance on new cars, 

and employers can benefit from offering 

all their employees a car scheme.” >> 

This agreement is only 

between the employee 

and ALD Automotive; 

a key benefit for 

employers. 



>> EUROPCAR MOBILITY GROUP UK 

The rise in drivers opting for cash 

allowances, Europcar Mobility Group 

believes, is as a result of heavier Benefit-in-Kind 

taxes leading to a growing 

reliance on grey fleet, which is in direct 

conflict with the Government’s emissions 

targets. 

Peter Crabtree, corporate sales director, 

comments: “Europcar Mobility 

Group UK recently commissioned 

research of fleet decision-makers, 

which found 29% said up to a quarter of 

staff have opted for cash allowance, 

while 26-50% have gone this route, for 

nearly a quarter of companies. Ultimately, 

this leads to increased use of 

grey fleet and nearly half of companies 

said that almost a third (30%) of 

employees use their own car for business 

journeys.” 

With the average age of a grey fleet 

vehicle standing at 8.2 years as per 

BVRLA research, such vehicles not only 

present risks by lacking modern safety 

equipment – and possibly business-use 

insurance and MOT certification – but 

they’re also potentially far higher 

polluting. According to figures, an estimated 

12bn miles are travelled in grey 

fleet vehicles each year, emitting 3.5m 

tonnes of CO2. And then there’s mileage 

reimbursement costs too. 

“One way to overcome this is to integrate 

a range of mobility solutions that 

offer viable alternatives to cash for 

cars, for both employees and businesses 

into a one-stop business travel 

platform,” says Crabtree. “If journey 

optimisation is an integrated component 

of a multi-modal mobility 

service, businesses and their travellers 

can choose the best travel option for 

every journey.” 

Employers can also help staff manage 

their own cash allowance budget by 

recommending solutions that don’t 

necessarily tie them into a long-term 

contract, such as PCP. Europcar’s Long 

Term Flex is one such example and is 

claimed to be ideal for the cash 

allowance audience. Unlike traditional 

solutions, Europcar’s Long Term Flex 

offers 6-18 month contracts, has no 

large upfront payment and no exit 

penalty after six months. 

“Cash for cars isn’t going to go away, 

so it’s vital for business productivity and 

profitability – and the wider environment 

– that fleet, business travel and 

mobility managers adopt new processes 

and policies to keep a control on grey 

fleet usage.” 

ALPHABET 

Another solution to the cash or car 

conundrum is Alphabet’s AlphaCity 

scheme. First launched in 2012, the 

forward-thinking scheme was intended 

to provide a more practical and costeffective 

alternative to both traditional 

pool cars as well as daily rental, taxis 

and grey fleet usage by enabling 

employers to set up their own, fully 

managed Car Sharing scheme. This can 

be accessed and booked by employees 

directly, via a user-friendly web portal 

and the costs automatically attributed 

to the relevant cost centre. 

Until last year, AlphaCity solely 

offered BMW Group vehicles but this 

was expanded into other carmakers and 

LCVs following a successful trial. 

The scheme has also seen increased 

take-up in usage of electric and hybrid 

vehicles. Average CO2 output for the 

entire AlphaCity fleet now stands at 

just over 100g/km and with the 

increase in take-up of electric and 

hybrid vehicles the expectation is that 

this will decrease further. 

Craig Grant, Alphabet’s head of 

mobility services, commented: “Shared 

mobility requires a mindset shift in the 

industry and with fleet decision 

makers; it’s not about the sheer 

number of vehicles you have on fleet, 

it’s about how you use them to deliver 

more mobility with less vehicles. The 

key questions for successful shared 

mobility are around how often your 

vehicle assets are being employed, the 

number of people who can access 

them and ultimately the number of 

employee journeys which they are 

providing solutions for.” 

HITACHI CAPITAL VEHICLE 

SOLUTIONS 

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions’ 

managing director John Lawes believes 

that as an industry there is a large focus 

on the impact of alternatively fuelled 

vehicles (AFV), but grey fleets are often 

left out of the conversation. 

“There are 14m grey fleet vehicles on 

the road, a figure that is only set to 

increase, so businesses need to seriously 

consider effective measures to 

manage their costs.” 

As such, he suggests customers with 

employees taking cash allowances 

should educate staff on the benefits of 

AFVs or implement grey fleet policies 

that encourage staff to use more environmentally 

friendly transport options – 

and can also help maintain lower costs. 

Lawes explains: “We regularly work 

with customers to help manage the 

impact of grey fleets and associated 

costs to their businesses, and find that 

considering car rentals, or an extension 

of the fleet beyond core company cars, 

can also be particularly wise choices. 

The benefit of migration to AFVs, he 

adds, should not be underestimated. The 

firm’s own research found that if all of 

Britain’s vans and HGVs were to switch 

to electricity, businesses could save 

around £14bn a year in fuel costs alone. 

“The first step to cost saving is a thorough 

evaluation of grey fleet and, from 

this, policies, controls and checks can be 

put in place to make sure there is a safe 

and compliant grey fleet in operation.” 

Lawes also warns that incoming 

Clean Air Zones (CAZs), including 

London’s ULEZ, could cause real issues 

for grey fleet too. 

“The BVLRA estimates that grey fleet 

vehicles are on average over eight 

years old and emit 152g/km CO2 emissions. 

[Diesel] engines that adhere to 

CAZ thresholds are at most just a 

couple of years old, so it’s likely that 


GREY FLEET 

only a tiny proportion of these cars 

will qualify for CAZs. The vast majority 

will either need to be replaced, or the 

way that employees use their own cars 

will need to be revaluated.” 

SURVEY 


LEASEPLAN UK 

To provide an alternative to unstructured 

cash allowances, LeasePlan has 

launched its ‘My Car Choices’ scheme; 

designed for corporate clients to use as 

part of their employee benefit and 

reward packages and similar in concept 

to ALD’s ALDSelect. 

A members-only, employer-endorsed 

web platform, it has been developed to 

provide customers’ employees with 

access to preferential rates on a wide 

range of brand-new cars from LeasePlan. 

Matthew Walters, head of consultancy 

and customer data services, 

explains: “This scheme offers the 

employee with a ‘cash taker’ mindset 

more choice, whilst giving the control 

back to the fleet manager, enabling 

them to ensure that a fleet policy is 

more detailed. As we move into a more 

emission-aware future, with the development 

of CAZs across our towns and 

cities, it’s important to ensure fleets are 

as up-to-date and therefore as environmentally 

friendly as possible.” 

Employees benefit from this scheme 

as, according to the firm, it offers great 

prices on a number of finance options, 

with tailored deals that often have shortened 

lead times. Offering peace of mind, 

it also includes full UK and European 

breakdown assistance, as well as routine 

servicing and fair wear-and tear-repairs. 

For employers, the scheme can bring 

numerous gains including enhancing 

employee retention and satisfaction 

without any implementation cost. 

LeasePlan also makes it simple to 

implement and manages the whole 

process, free of charge. The relationship 

is established directly with the 

employee, so the employer carries zero 

risk or liability. 

And by ensuring drivers are at the 

wheel of new cars, businesses can 

mitigate both the risks and the higher 

emissions involved with a traditional 

grey fleet. 

$ 

1. How many vehicles do you 

have on your fleet? 

A) 1-30 

B) 31-100 

C) 101-300 

D) 301+ 

2. What is the composition 

of your fleet (%)? 

A) Job need ………….. % 

B) Perk vehicles …………. % 

3. Over the last five years, 

has your fleet… 

A) increased in size 

B) decreased in size 

C) stayed the same size 

And why? …………………………… 

4. Does your organisation 

allow employees to use 

their own vehicles (aka. Grey 

Fleet vehicles) for company 

business? 

A) Yes 

B) No 

5. Does your organisation 

offer cash allowances for 

employees to choose vehicles 

outside the company 

car scheme? 

A) Yes 

B) No 

6. If YES, has the number 

of cash allowances offered 

on your fleet over the 

last five years… 

A) Increased 

B) Decreased 

C) Stayed the same 

7. Do you have policies to 

encourage staff to use cash 

allowances for green vehicles? 

A) Yes 

B) No 

8. Have you changed your 

policy on Grey Fleet during 

the last five years? 

A) Yes 

B) No 

9. If YES, are you offering any 

of the following alternatives? 

A) Pool vehicles 

B) Car sharing 

C) Short term rental 

D) Mobility credits 

10. If NO, which of these 

would you be interested 

in implementing over the 

next two years? 

A) Pool vehicles 

B) Car sharing 

C) Short term rental 

D) Mobility credits 

Are you considering moving 

to or offering a Personal 

Contract Hire scheme to 

your employees? 

A) Definitely 

B) Possibly 

C) No 

11. What processes, policies 

and procedures do you have 

in place to control cost and 

reduce risks? 

……………………………......................... 

Name ...................................................................... Job Title ...................................................................... 

Company ............................................................ Email ................................................................................ 

Please fill in the GREY FLEET survey by post to: Fleet World, 

18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ, or 

online at www.fleetworld.co.uk or by phone 01727 739160... 


incorporating...

NEWS > INTERVIEWS > WHITE PAPERS > CASE STUDIES 

The latest news, interviews, case studies, white papers and 

a host of other features from the very best fleet suppliers 

Call 01727 739160 or email 

gbfe@fleetworldgroup.co.uk to 

find out how to become a GBFE 

Partner and stay informed at... 

www.greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk

S W O T 

BMW X2 

Our expert panel analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats 

facing the X2, BMW’s attractive mix of coupé and compact SUV. 

STRENGTHS 

WEAKNESSES 

OPPORTUNITIES 

THREATS 

AC The X2 is different to many 

SUVs on the market and much 

better to drive. It may be lower 

than the X1, but it is still a very 

practical family car and interior 

space is still generally very 

good. 

GA Dynamically great as you 

may expect from BMW. The 

interior is very ‘premium’ and 

combined with a sporty driving 

position, it makes for a very 

compelling drive. 

MJ Great alternative to a 

conventional SUV – a true 

crossover – with a low driving 

position. Good load space area. 

Dynamic with familiar BMW 

feel, comfortable and high 

quality. 

MW Styling certainly has the 

‘wow’ factor. It has great lines, a 

fantastic silhouette, and has 

those all-important turbine 

badges. 

AC When you look at the rivals 

here, the BMW is around 

£3,500 to £4,000 more, which 

is quite a gap, so you would 

really have to want the BMW to 

make the choice. 

GA Styling might not appeal to 

all – the low roof line may put 

some people off. There’s the 

X1 in that case. 

MJ Sporty Coupé styling 

means reduced rear space. 

Centre touchscreen is 

responsive, but a bit shallow. 

Strangely, it has Apple Car Play 

but not Android Auto. 

MW The X2 is really an SUV, but 

BMW has called it a Sports 

Activity Vehicle (SAV), and it’s 

probably right. This will cause 

confusion again over the naming 

and badging. Also, is there just a 

bit too much plastic cladding 

under the doors – or will it help 

protect the bodywork? 

AC It does offer something 

different for those who don’t 

want a full-size SUV. However, 

because of the higher list price, it 

would be an emotional decision 

rather than a financial one. 

GA There's no doubt that the 

sporty styling and driving 

characteristics will appeal to 

users who would maybe shy 

away from the X1 and some 

of the more conventional 

competitors. 

MJ BMW's X range sales 

continue to grow. The X2 is 

another opportunity and should 

attract buyers not yet ready for 

a full-fat SUV. 

MW The X2 will certainly open 

doors for new customers who 

want those BMW badges (an 

extra two now) plus want the 

practicality of this SAV, but 

don’t want to go into full-blown 

SUVs such as X1 or X3. 

AC To many the X1 will be the 

better choice as it is cheaper 

and more practical; I guess that 

BMW is relying on X2 customers 

wanting something a little 

different and willing to pay 

slightly more for it. 

GA This is a highly competitive 

segment, with lots of strong 

competition – particularly from 

the other German 

manufacturers along with 

Jaguar and Volvo. There is 

certainly lots of choice. 

MJ Smaller SUVs used to be 

rather unexciting, but the 

competitors here mean that X2 

faces some good competition, 

albeit more conventional. 

MW Are there any real threats 

for this group of vehicles? 

Probably not, but the X2 could 

be accused of simply filling a 

gap between the X1 and X3, 

with no real need for it. 


Martin Ward (MW) 

Manufacturer 

relationship 

manager, Cap 

Gavin Amos (GA) 

Global valuation director 

Global Analytic Services 

Mark Jowsey (MJ) 

Director, 

KeeResources 

KwiKcarcost 

Andy Cutler (AC) 

UK car editor, 

forecast values 

Glass’s 

BMW X2 

Strengths 

AC Interior is well laid out. 

GA The interior is very ‘premium’ and 

combined with a sporty driving position. 

MJ Good level of standard equipment. 

MW It sits perfectly in the range and 

will be appealing to many. 

Weaknesses 

AC Many say it is style over substance. 

GA Styling will not appeal to all, maybe 

the X1 would be a better choice? 

MJ Dash is as X1, no rival to 3 Series. 

MW The X1 and X3 have most things 

covered. 

BMW X2 xDrive 18d M Sport 

OTR: £37,375 

P11D: £37,110 

Fuel: 48.7mpg 

CO2: 127g/km 

RV*: £14,650 (39.48%) 

BiK: 33% 

SMR: £3,078 

Fuel costs: £7,459 

Insurance: £4,155 

Finance: £5,010 

NI: £5,172 

VED: £500 

Cost per month: £1,330 

Standard equipment: 

• DAB, BT, USB 

• Climate Control 

• 6.5-inch central screen 

• Sat nav 

• LED daytime running lights 

• Remote central locking 

Optional equipment: 

• Metallic paint £550 

AUDI Q3 

Strengths 

AC Interior quality second to none. 

GA Badge remains desirable. 

MJ Good handling. Comfortable highquality 

interior. 

MW The latest Q3 is handsome. 

Weaknesses 

AC Not the most fun to drive. 

GA Not involving to drive. 

MJ Looks too much like the prior generation. 

MW The Q3 really cannot do anything 

wrong, but again, like the rest of the 

range, Audi’s new badging is confusing. 

Audi Q3 35 2.0 TDI 150 

OTR: £33,985 

P11D: £33,720 

Fuel: 48.7mpg 

CO2: 127g/km 

RV*: £14,650 (39.48%) 

BiK: 32% 

SMR: £3,078 




NI: £5,172 

VED: £500 





• MMI with sat nav and 10.1 inch 

touchscreen 

• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto 

• LED driving lights 

• Cruise control 



JAGUAR E-PACE 

Strengths 

AC Dynamic drive and looks great. 

GA Refined and good dynamics. 

MJ Compact, spacious and practical. 

MW The right size and it looks like a 

Jaguar. 

Weaknesses 

AC CO2 levels and interior not the best. 

GA Often overlooked by buyers. 

MJ Feels heavy, some plastics hard, 

Digital display set low. 

MW The Jaguar’s badging is confusing, 

some think that E means Electric, but 

it’s the ‘I’ that is electric. 

Jaguar E-Pace 2.0D 150 R-Dynamic 

OTR: £37,145 

P11D: £36,235 

Fuel: 39.4mpg 

CO2: 158g/km 

RV*: £19,585 (45.95%) 

BiK: 37% 

SMR: £2,633 




NI: £5,550 

VED: £1,145 





• Touch Pro 10.0-inch 

touchscreen 


• LED driving lights 

• Cruise control 



VOLVO XC40 

Strengths 

AC Great standard spec. 

GA Premium feel inside. 

MJ Comfortable, good ride. 

MW Looks great, drives well. 

Weaknesses 

AC Not the most fun dynamically. 

GA Could still be overlooked against 

its competitors. 

MJ Engine harsh under acceleration. 

MW The XC40 is good looking, but 

potential buyers don’t like the look of 

the rear C-pillar. It is just too big and 

chunky in their opinion. 

Volvo XC40 D3 150 R-Design 

OTR: £34,085 

P11D: £33,500 

Fuel: 47.1mpg 

CO2: 131g/km 

RV*: £14,850 (44.33%) 

BiK: 34% 

SMR: £2,800 




NI: £4,808 

VED: £820 




• Front/rear parking sensors 

• Climate control 

• 9.0-inch touchscreen 


• LED foglights with cornering 

function 

• City Safety pack 



*3 year/60K 


F L E E T F I N A N C E 

COST MANAGEMENT 

IN A PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY 

IF YOU DON’T BENCHMARK YOUR FLEET COSTS ALREADY, NOW’S 

A PERFECT TIME TO START, SAYS PROFESSOR COLIN TOURICK. 

The Brexit process has been messy 

and we are in a period of uncertainty 

that will probably last for a 

long time, because even if we do manage 

to exit the EU in an orderly fashion we 

will still have to negotiate a trade deal, 

which could take years to finalise. 

So spare a thought for those people in 

leasing companies who have to set 

residual values. Is the sluggish economy 

about to take off or crash? How might 

that affect the price of used cars in 3-4 

years? Making the wrong call will harm 

their business, and this uncertainty 

must be making them particularly 

cautious, leading to lower RVs and 

higher rentals for their clients. 

Does your company have a view on 

the likely effect of Brexit on the UK 

economy? If you’re fairly optimistic you 

may well be more optimistic than the 

RV-setters in your leasing company. In 

which case now might be a good time to 

consider switching from contract hire 

to finance lease to fund your fleet, so 

that you’ll pay for the actual cost of 

your cars over the next few years, 

rather than costs predicted, when so 

much is up in the air. 

Changing tack now, let’s talk about 

another way you might save costs; 

benchmarking – comparing supply 

costs across several companies. Your 

company may already check the cost of 

raw materials, photocopies, gas and 

electricity charges and so on, but most 

fleet managers don’t benchmark their 

fleet costs. It has been relegated to the 

‘too difficult for now’ pile, which is 

understandable for several reasons. 

First, it would be impossible to find 

another fleet having exactly the same 

mix of models, vehicle ages and 

mileages as yours, let alone multiple 

fleets to provide a large population 

against which to compare costs. Also, 

two identical cars of the same age and 

mileage will show different costs if 

one is overdue a scheduled service or 

just had a new set of tyres (maybe 

because it’s used off-road a lot). And 

each vehicle model on your fleet is at a 

different stage in its product lifecycle: 

if a model is too early in its lifecycle 

there will be few costs to benchmark 

and if it is about to be discontinued 

there’s little point in benchmarking 


ecause it will be too late to save costs 

by dropping an expensive model from 

the fleet list. So quite a lot of ‘cost 

benchmarking’ in the industry 

involves comparing actual costs with 

leasing companies’ or data providers’ 

cost predictions, which is fine, but it 

would be better to have real-time 

historic cost data to measure against. 

So, given these difficulties, what 

costs can you benchmark? 

Perhaps the easiest cost to benchmark 

is fuel cost. You can easily 

compare your actual fuel cost per mile 

against the manufacturer’s specification 

and your fuel card company’s data. 

You will quickly identify individual cars 

where mpg is lower than expected, and 

you can then investigate the reasons for 

this. (You suspect it’s this particular 

driver’s heavy right foot? Fit a telematics 

unit to measure the G-forces and 

average driving speed.) 

If you have several similar or identical 

cars on your fleet you can also 

Most fleet managers 

don’t benchmark 

their fleet costs. It 

has been relegated to 

the ‘too difficult for 

now’ pile, which is 

understandable for 

several reasons. 

benchmark mpg across all of those 

cars. The best mpg is 15% higher than 

the worst? What can you do to get the 

worst up to the best? 

Next let’s consider service, maintenance 

and repair costs. If your leasing 

deal covers SMR costs you can probably 

skip the next paragraph but if you pay 

your own costs, perhaps through an 

‘actual cost’ deal with your leasing 

company, read on. 

You have one car that has driven, say, 

32,000 miles in the 26 months since it 

was added to the fleet, and SMR has cost 

£1,900 to date. How can you know if 

that’s reasonable or high? You have three 

sources of data to benchmark against. 

First, if you have several other identical 

models on your fleet of similar ages and 

mileages you can compare the costs and 

spot the variances. If not, your leasing 

company should be able to supply that 

data. They probably have enough examples 

of that model of a similar age and 

mileage and can tell you how much they 

have spent to date on SMR. And if they 

don’t have that data you can ask a data 

company to supply it. They’re in the 

business of predicting SMR costs and 

they assemble these by looking at costs 

likely to be incurred at each stage of a 

vehicle’s life, so they should be able to 

provide you with good data against 

which to benchmark SMR costs to date. 

Next let’s consider how you might 

benchmark the lease rentals you are 

paying. Each leasing company is going 

to be more expensive than the market 

average on some models and less 

expensive on others. By and large it’s a 

bad idea to go seeking the cheapest 

rental in the market every time you add 

a new vehicle to the fleet (you’ll be 

bogged down with admin, have multiple 

leasing agreements to manage and 

you’ll find it hard to manage pooled 

mileage) but if your leasing company is 

consistently more expensive than 

others you need to know this, even if 

just to allow you to have an informed 

discussion with them. 

Perhaps the best way to benchmark 

your lease rentals is by enlisting the 

help of a lease broker. They have access 

to multiple suppliers’ prices and for a 

modest fee may well be prepared to 

carry out an occasional cost-comparison 

exercise for you. 

Benchmarking isn’t a panacea. Whilst 

it might highlight cost differences that 

allow you to go back to your supplier 

and beat them up on price, a more 

constructive approach is to see what 

other insights it delivers. Why does that 

car seem to be costing more than 

others of the same model on our fleet? 

That model is very similar to these, so 

why is its mpg so low in comparison or 

its SMR cost so high? 

This type of analysis can help you 

make broader fleet decisions such as 

which vehicles to put onto your fleet, 

how long to run them for and which 

vehicles to use for which type of role. 


Daily rental & car sharing 

Implementing plug-in vehicles 

with confidence 

With the increased focus on air quality and more Clean Air Zones 

coming into effect, now is the time to start planning and implementing 

plug-in vehicle policies. But where do you start? What 

sort of vehicle will work for your business? How do you charge 

them and ensure drivers use them properly? The switch to plugin 

can be daunting with many things to think about, but it 

doesn’t need to be a problem, so long as you plan it properly. 

Possibly one of the most important things is to run a proper 

vehicle trial before implementation and not just take a vehicle on 

a quick test drive. Think about vehicle charging (which could 

include home, business and even client based chargers). Ensure 

that your fleet policy is updated to meet the needs of a plug-in 

fleet and don’t forget to include reimbursement for home 

chargers where necessary. ALD has advised and supported many 

customers with trials, but before we did that we ran a trial 

ourselves. After all, how can your provider supply you with knowledge 

and experience if they haven’t experienced it themselves? 

Speak to the consultancy team at ALD for more information... 

www.aldautomotive.co.uk 

03700 011 181 

Delivering the best customer experience 

in MaaS/TaaS scenarios 

Delivering the best customer experience is one of the key 

elements mobility providers must strive to address. Customers 

are savvy and competition is tough. 

Business people, employees and consumers of all categories 

want to organise their transport needs quickly, easily and reliably 

- whether booking vehicles, accessing account or product information, 

or making payments - wherever and whenever they want, 

even if that’s 3am in a hotel lobby! 

Self-service apps are the best way for mobility providers to 

fulfil this need so customers can access what they want using 

their smart phone or tablet while on the move. Done well, this is 

also a key way to differentiate service provision by delivering a 

better experience right to the customer’s fingertips through their 

device of choice. 

• Increase market propositions and maximise return on your assets 

Alongside a Driver and Inspections app, Bynx is continuing to develop 

its portfolio of self-service apps, plus a mobility module that allows 

for utilisation, management and tracking of vehicle assets in sharing 

and pooling environments. This offers far better utilisation than 

would otherwise be possible as vehicles can be made available to 

drivers with charges levied on a per use basis across any number of 

MaaS or TaaS offerings. 

www.bynx.com 

sales@bynx.com 

Should fleet managers be switching 

to electric and hybrid vehicles? 

With ambitious Government targets that will see at least half of 

new cars being ultra-low emission by 2030, if not already doing so, 

managers should be planning to include electric and hybrid vehicles 

within their fleets. 

This can give rise to questions such as ‘How much do electric 

and hybrid vehicles cost to purchase, fuel and maintain when 

compared to petrol and diesel’? 

Fleet Management Software such as FleetWave can prove invaluable 

in aiding the transition towards electric and hybrid vehicles. 

In addition, integrated fleet fuel management systems provide 

detailed visibility of accumulated fuel costs and fuel economy 

performance (MPG, L/100Km). 

Environmental impact reporting tools generate real-world CO2 

emission reports, eco-ratings and fuel analysis comparisons of whole 

life costs of fleet vehicles and fuel types. They also provide comparisons 

of real-world emissions versus the manufacturer’s figures. 

Initial higher purchase prices of an electric or hybrid vehicles can be 

recouped through lower maintenance and running costs, making 

them an economically comparable choice to petrol and diesel. 

The ability to auto-update with the latest government emission 

labels and sort company vehicles into categories 

for more complex fuel and emission reporting 

ensures that companies comply with legislation. 

sales@chevinfleet.co.uk 

0177 382 1992 


Our panel of leading suppliers helps you get the most out of your fleet... 

It's time for your fleet to go green 

With electric vehicles offering an increasingly clear positive return 

on investment, lowering overheads by radically reducing fuel costs 

and opening up opportunities to reduce the environmental impact 

of a business, it’s almost surprising that uptake hasn’t been even 

more rapid than it has been. 

Looking at what’s holding firms back from making the switch, 

one key aspect may be that electric vehicles (EVs) don’t operate in 

terms of some well-established ways of thinking about and 

working with internal combustion-based vehicles. The result is a 

new set of pain points that fleets have to solve for: availability of 

charging points, anxiety over vehicle range, and a different logistical 

framework for vehicle maintenance. 

Geotab’s telematics solution combines a leading data collection 

device with a world-class analysis platform to help offset those pain 

points, making it easier to monitor Electric Vehicle (EV) and Plug-in 

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) performance, to understand charging 

as well as to use real-time state of charge data to dispatch the right 

vehicles. Applied to an existing fleet, it can also show in clear terms 

how much of a fleet can be effectively electrified today, and what 

needs to change to complete that project in the future. 

www.geotab.co.uk 

03469 527 2407 

Helping you to prepare 

for an electric future 

The adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles is on the rise with new 

technology, environmental initiatives and benefit-in-kind advantages, 

this trend will only continue. 

When you start looking to adopt EVs into your fleet; primarily they 

have to deliver your operational objectives. To achieve this, it is important 

to analyse your drivers’ fleet profiles using telematics data and 

fleet reporting to gain an insight into their journeys, mileage undertaken 

and fuel usage. This will provide you with a clear understanding 

of the requirements for new vehicles thus allowing you to make an 

informed choice. 

Whilst immediately switching all vehicles to electric may seem like 

the practical financial decision due to government incentives and BiK 

advantages; it is also important to remember that diesel can still be the 

most cost effective option for employees carrying out significant mileage. 

JCT600 VLS sees EVs as part of the ‘blend’ of fleet, but not the 

whole answer - not yet anyway. They can be seen as an opportunity to 

make savings by diversifying your fleet and future proofing your 

company’s fleet development. 

Using whole life cost modelling, data capture and analysis - JCT600 

VLS can guide you through this; enabling you to source the right vehicles 

for your business that deliver operationally, 

environmentally and financially. 

www.jct600vehicleleasingsolutions.co.uk 

sales@jct600.co.uk 

In-life repairs and refurbishment 

for EV/Hybrid vehicles 

When EV/hybrid vehicles are part of your fleet, it is important to 

have an in-life repair and refurbishment partner who understands 

the associated issues of complex car technology, electronics and 

changes in body architecture. 

Our approach, as one of the UK’s leading vehicle refurbishment 

companies, is to invest in the latest equipment and training to help 

our people keep pace with today’s fast-moving technological 

advances: 412 employees have taken hybrid training courses to date 

with more in the pipeline so that we are ready for this change in the 

vehicle park. 

Our unique in-house training academy ensures our technicians 

have all the skills and knowledge they need to keep fleets moving 

via our network of state-of-the-art technical centres in Wiltshire, 

Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Scotland. We recently rolledout 

an innovative Rapid In-Life Repair service resulting in shorter 

turnaround times and reduced costs for fleet operators, ensuring 

vehicles are back on the road as quickly as possible. 

We also offer a wide range of end-of-life services including inspections, 

repairs and refurbishment, enabling our customers to unlock 

the value of every vehicle being de-fleeted. Our expertise extends 

from traditional petrol/diesel 

cars to hybrid and electric vehicles 

and from wheelchair-accessible 

cars to vans. 

www.smartfleetsolutions.com 

New Insight telematics 

platform from Trakm8 

Trakm8 Insight is a unique and highly-customisable telematics and 

business intelligence platform. User-friendly dashboards display 

data on the metrics which matter to you the most, such as realtime 

location, driver behaviour, and vehicle health and maintenance 

information. Alternatively you can easily build your own dashboards 

for a personalised overview of your fleet. 

Insight’s comprehensive reporting suite includes time sheets, 

expenses, league tables, journey details, and vehicle status. Our user 

friendly, step-by-step report builder enables you to build personalised 

reports to deliver data in the way you want it packaged. 

Insight integrates fully with Trakm8’s award-winning RH600 

telematics camera, which is already established with major fleets 

such as Iceland Foods and Calor Gas. The RH600 combines full 

telematics capabilities with the additional benefits of vehicle 

cameras, including live-streaming of footage over the 4G network. 

The RH600 is proven to cut accident rates by up to 39 per cent 

and incidences of speeding by up to 35 per cent. It can also cut fuel 

expenditure by up to 10 per cent. Trakm8 is adding advanced driver 

assistance systems (ADAS) to the RH600, which include the ability 

to monitor distracted driving or driver drowsiness as well as collision 

warnings and tailgating alerts. 

www.trakm8.com 

info@trakm8.com 

0330 311 5157 


Daily rental & car sharing 

Our panel of leading suppliers helps you get the most out of your fleet... 

Electric and Hybrid vehicles 

are the future for fleets 

According to recent reports, they are expected to become dominant 

in 89% of fleets before the end of the next decade. 

Making your existing fleet lower-emitting needn’t be daunting 

and there are a multitude of benefits a fleet of Ultra-Low Emission 

Vehicles (ULEVs) can deliver, including: 

• Saving drivers and employers Tax and NI – with Benefit in 

Kind brackets starting at just 2% from April 2020, drivers and 

employers could make substantial savings 

• Reducing fuel costs* with savings of up to £1,000 per year for 

drivers, and with company car mileage at just 4p/mile for electric 

vehicles, it’s another saving for employers too 

• They’re environmentally-friendly – it helps reduce the 

company’s carbon footprint (though Tusker cars are all carbonneutral, 

this is definitely another positive) 

• ULEVs are cheaper to service, cost less in road tax and don’t 

attract ULEZ or Congestion Charges 

With one of the UK’s 22,000 charging points every 3.8 miles** 

and electric cars now able to do over 250 miles on a single charge, 

electric vehicles are now more accessible than ever before. 

Tusker have over 150 ULEVs available. Get in touch today to 

find out how we could help save 

you money while you help save the 

environment. 

www.tuskerdirect.com 

0333 400 1010 

How to overcome barriers to 

adopting electric vehicles on policy 

Is your driver policy fit for purpose? We recommend including 

sections on eligibility and fuel reimbursement to minimise risk to 

your company. Guides informing drivers of charging responsibilities, 

workplace charging and how to achieve maximum efficiency 

will also help to ease the transition by making these decisions 

before an electric vehicle (EV) is added on to the fleet. 

Eligibility is also important. Whilst employees may complete a 

lot of annual miles, when considering electric, daily travel is the 

key factor. Do you know which populations may suit electric now? 

It may be more than you think. 

Moving to a whole life cost policy and trapping all fuel costs is 

crucial to show how fuel and NI savings can overcome the higher 

funding cost of an EV. 

Finally, consider broader policy in scheme design, such as 

allowing employees to trade up to an EV. The lower BiK that an EV 

attracts plus the trade up payment may be lower than the BiK of 

their current diesel car whilst being cost neutral for you. 

Contact our friendly team today: 

0344 848 9311 

oneteam@zenith.co.uk 

www.zentih.co.uk 

*dependent on the type of car chosen 

**on average. zapmap.co.uk 



October 2018 • fleetworld.co.uk 

September 2018 • fleetworld.co.uk 

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F L E E T 

FIRST REPORT 

MAZDA CX-5 Sport Nav+ 150PS 2WD 

P11d/BiK: £29,635 (33%) MPG/CO2: 49.6mpg* / 128g/km** Test MPG: 43mpg 

MAZDA’S mainstream SUV, the CX-5 

was updated last year, with revisions 

to the 2.2-litre Skyactiv-D diesel 

engine and an increase in active 

safety equipment. There are 10 

models on offer, with 165hp petrol or 

150 and 184hp diesel engines, along 

with manual and automatic transmissions. 

All-wheel drive only comes 

with the 184hp diesel, so our 150hp 

model is front-driven and we’ve 

opted for a manual gearbox. 

The trim choice is equally straightforward, 

with SE-L Nav+, the midgrade 

Sport Nav+ trim that we have 

here and a range-topping GT Sport 

Nav+ available. All three come with a 

generous specification and the only 

option box that we have ticked is 

pearlescent paint (£560). 

Standard safety kit now includes 

Traffic Sign Recognition, Radar Cruise 

Control, Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring 

with Rear Traffic Cross alert, Smart 

Brake Support, High Beam Control 

and Lane Keep Assist with Lane 

Departure Warning. We’ll report back 

on the effectiveness of this comprehensive 

line-up in future issues. 

However, initial impressions make it 

easy to understand why this is Mazda 

UK’s best-selling car. 

Dan Gilkes 

JAGUAR XF R-SPORT D180 AWD 

P11d/BiK: £40,925 (36%) MPG/CO2: 44.1-40.2mpg* / 144g/km** Test MPG: 41mpg 

OF late, I’ve found myself behind the wheel of many different 

cars from low budget to upper premium, from saloons 

to SUVs and hatchbacks. However, each time I return to the 

Jaguar I’m genuinely impressed by the way it drives, which 

is something that can all too easily be overlooked if taking 

one out for a five-minute spin from the showroom. It’s 

comfortable, smooth, quiet and rapid in equal measure. 

Similarly easy to understate is its engine. In a powerobsessed 

world, the 180 horses might not strike you as all 

that much to push along the XF’s 1,696kg bulk, but it’s the 

430Nm torque number that raises an eyebrow. Criticise 

diesel all you like, but there’s no denying the fuel’s turning 

force is second only to an electric motor and facilitates the 

XF’s flexible do-it-all-and-do-it-well approach. 

As such, the XF has become the go-to family car for all 

occasions. It’s at home whether going to the shops, the 

recycling centre or a red carpet – the latter enhanced by our 

car’s 19-inch gloss black alloys (£1,255 option). 

Meanwhile, the heated and cooled front seats have been 

well worth the £540, ensuring bottoms have been kept at 

the right temperature no matter what the fickle weather has 

thrown at us. 

Jonathan Musk 

*WLTP 



F L E E T 

FIRST REPORT MERCEDES-BENZ A 200 AMG Line 

P11d/BiK: £28,705 (25%) MPG/CO2: 42.2-47.9*mpg/136g/km** Test MPG: 38.2mpg 

DESPITE the almost ubiquity of SUVs of all sizes these days, 

the humble hatchback is still, as the kids say, a thing. 

Carmakers are producing new generations of faithful old 

models – especially in the profitable premium sector, where 

we’re due a new BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 this year. 

Mercedes-Benz has stolen a march on its German rivals, 

however, by launching its third-generation A-Class last year. 

The A-Class is one of Merc’s most important fleet cars, so it’s 

a prime candidate for a Fleet World long-term test, providing 

a useful benchmark of the segment as we await its rivals. 

When discussing the specification with Mercedes, it 

emerged that the first tranche of orders for the new A-Class 

resulted in petrol cars being the most popular among fleet 

buyers, so we’ve opted for an A 200 model, powered by a 

1.4-litre, 163hp unit, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch 

automatic gearbox. First impressions are that it’s a bit revhungry, 

with a penchant for holding on to the gears for 

longer than you’d expect (or want). This is especially noticeable 

around town and, as a result, fuel economy isn’t great. 

However, we’ve managed to take the A-Class on a few 

longer motorways runs and been able to get 49mpg, which 

is better than the official (WLTP) fuel consumption figure. 

We’re interested to see how this develops. 

Indeed, there already seems to be a strong argument to 

see the A-Class as two cars, with the ride quality also having 

a form of duality. On a motorway run, it's very comfortable, 

soaking up expansion joints, for example: in town, however, 

the low-slung chassis doesn’t like speed humps, requiring 

slowing down to just over 10mph if you want to avoid that 

tell-tale scaping sound. And there are lots of speed humps 

where I live in south-west London. 

The A-Class’s fleet tenure is already proving to be very 

interesting. 

Craig Thomas 

FINAL REPORT SEAT ARONA 1.0TSI FR Sport 115PS 

P11d/BiK: £21,435 (23%) MPG/CO2: 48.7mpg* / 114g/km** Test MPG: 53.1mpg 

SO our SEAT Arona has now dosed up on 

steroids and morphed into an all-new sevenseat 

Tarraco. The Arona’s big brother is the 

new kid on the block but it’s clear there’s a 

common DNA running through SEAT’s awardwinning 

model range these days. 

Apart from the obvious first-world problem of 

not being able to fit into such compact parking 

spaces despite the Tarraco’s rear camera 

upgrade over the Arona, the main thing will be to 

remember to grab the diesel pump each time. 

The Arona’s brilliant 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine 

gave faultless service, 50mpg+ economy and 

was perfectly suited to the car. I’m expecting 

similar fuel efficiency from the Tarraco, which 

arguably offers a little more comfort and 

certainly more useable space. 

The Arona – evidenced by a colleague ordering 

one as a personal car, and positive feedback 

from FW readers – is a very agreeable way to 

travel. Sure, there were times when more space 

was needed, but that’s where SEAT, with the 

Ateca and new Tarraco, has the bases covered. 

Luke Wikner 


AUDI A6 AVANT 40 TDI S line S tronic 

P11d/BiK: £43,210 (32%) MPG/CO2: 60.1mpg* / 129g/km** Test MPG: 43.2mpg 

HONDA CIVIC 

1.6 i-DTEC EX 

Manual hatchback 

P11d/BiK: £24,750 (23%) 

MPG/CO2: 61.4mpg* / 93g/km** 

Test MPG: 47.3mpg 

LAST month we analysed the worth of 

the optional extras fitted to the exterior 

of our A6 Avant – now it’s time to 

look at the interior options. 

We were quite restrained in speccing 

our Audi, although the three interior 

extras added nearly £4,400 to 

the price. 

The biggest expense was the 

£1,895 ‘comfort and sound pack’, 

which offers 360° parking cameras, 

upgraded Bang & Olufsen stereo, 

interior LED light pack and keyless 

entry and go. While the parking 

cameras are incredibly useful, they 

alone are not worth the price of this 

ALPHACITY VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.6 CDTi SRiNav 

Bookings: 12 Mileage: 20,858 Test MPG: 51.7mpg 

THE team had another early start this 

week, heading off to Belgium for a 

day of visiting clients and more than a 

little sampling of the local chocolate 

shops. Luckily, our trusted AlphaCity 

steed was on hand to get us to the 

airport on time, with the comfortable 

interior and quiet engine making the 

4am start a little more bearable. The 

sat nav guided us on time and without 

incident to Heathrow airport; the clear 

and concise audio directions and 

visual display helping to ease the 

early morning brain fog. On the return 

leg, and after a long day, the Astra’s 

nippiness got us home nice and 

quickly, but retained a safe and sturdy 

feel as we battered rain and wind 

down the M25. All round, the Astra is a 

pleasant, responsive car that will get 

option pack (plus you get keyless go 

and parking assistance as standard). 

Is the £1,495 technology pack 

(upgraded MMI navigation, virtual 

cockpit and wireless mobile phone 

charging) worth the outlay? Yes, 

simply because it makes a driver’s life 

easier – important if the car is being 

used as an office on wheels. 

Finally, the £1,000 leather seating 

upgrade? Probably not. The standard 

part-leather/ Alcantara seats are fine, 

although opting for the lighter grey 

colour scheme does lift the predominantly 

black cabin. 

Julian Kirk 

you from A to B, doing exactly what it 

says on the tin. 

Hayley Everett 

IT may be a divisive subject but the 

Civic’s looks have struck a chord 

with me right from the start – and 

it’s been enhanced by having seen 

a number of other ones in car parks 

of late. 

One area where I blow hot and 

cold though is the infotainment 

system; there’s so much functionality 

there but some things, such as 

changing the volume, are hard to 

do on the move, although the steering 

wheel controls help with this. 

I remain a fan of the sat nav 

system. It’s easy and quick to 

programme, the graphics are 

sublimely clear and there’s a wealth 

of extra functionality there, from a 

‘Where am I?’ tool – which provides 

location details in case of emergency 

and includes hospitals, 

police stations and fuel – to detailed 

fuel information and spend once 

programmed with a few details, and 

even a mileage reporting function. 

I’ve also discovered the EcoChallenge 

feature that rates you on driving 

style through a number of 

parameters, including overall, 

current and braking scores and a 

chart of the last 30 minutes. And the 

Civic even shows me how much 

space is left on my USB stick. 

All in all, very fleet driver friendly. 

Natalie Middleton 

*WLTP 



F L E E T 

ŠKODA KAROQ SE L 1.5-LITRE TSI 150PS 

P11d/BiK: £24,370 (30%) MPG/CO2: 39.2-35.8mpg* / 128g/km** Test MPG: 39.0mpg 

I’M not normally one to get taken in by 

brand-building exercises or snappy slogans 

thought up by a marketing department, but 

Škoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ is one I can relate 

to. I’ve mentioned last month about the 

value of the common sense additions 

dotted around the car – the ‘mobile boot 

dividers’ specifically – but on a general 

level, the Karoq is a very capable, yet 

straightforward vehicle. 

For example, in a world seemingly intent 

on maximising efficiency, I’m delighted to 

report that this five-seater comfortably 

transported five people on a c.600-mile trip 

to Tenby and back in the Easter holidays. A deceptively huge boot ensured luggage for five 

was packed in with ease, while there were few complaints from the junior Challens (apart 

from being hungry – not much the Karoq could do about that) on the four/five-hour journeys 

to/from Wales. I’ve always said that a family doesn’t NEED a seven-seater and the Karoq 

proves the point. 

Something else that surprises a lot of people is the level of standard equipment – the clear 

and effective rear view camera being one such item. Many passengers are surprised to see it 

in this type of vehicle, but it’s just another feather in the Karoq’s cap. 

John Challen 

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV 4hS 

P11d/BiK: £41,965 (16%) MPG/CO2: 139mpg* / 40.3g/km** Test MPG/MPkWh: 54.0mpg/2.8mpkWh 

SUPPLIER 

DIRECTORY 

electric vehicle 

charging 

Bynx 

Tel: 01789 471600 

www.bynx.com 

ev cOntract hire, 

leaSing & Finance 

GKL 

Electric Leasing 

Greener Fleet Consultancy 

Tel: 01844 852252 

www.evcarleasing.co.uk 

Lex Autolease 

Tel: 0344 824 0115 

www.lexautolease.co.uk 

THE Outlander PHEV might just have the 

world’s best navigation system on board, 

but it’s not Mitsubishi’s own. There’s no 

expensive built-in option, so the touchscreen 

offers turn-by-turn directions from a 

range of Android or Apple-compatible 

smartphone apps. Waze is my current go-to. 

It’s a brave move on an expensive car, 

but I've long wondered why manufacturers 

try to offer alternatives. Waze is free, the 

maps are updated daily by other users 

(instead of manually via an SD card) and I 

get live warnings about hazards and traffic 

for more accurate route-planning too. I 

suspect this is the start of a trend. 

Alex Grant 

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management 

Tel: 0141 332 2626 

www.acvm.com/electric-vehicles 

Driver licence 

checKing 

Licence Bureau 

Tel: 01442 430980 

www.licencebureau.co.uk 

driver licence 

checking 

Chevin Fleet Solutions 

Tel: 01773 821 992 

www.chevinfleet.com 

Jaama 

Tel: 0844 8484 333 

www.licence2check.co.uk 

*WLTP 


TMC 

Tel: 01270 525 218 

www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk 


. 

. 

. 

. . 

. . 

. . 

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY 

cOnTracT Hire, 

leasing & finance 

dailY 

renTal 

risk 

managemenT 

fleeT managemenT 

sOfTware 

ALD Automotive 

Tel: 0370 00 111 81 

www.aldautomotive.co.uk 

Alphabet (GB) Limited 

Tel: 0370 50 50 100 

www.alphabet.co.uk 

Thrifty Car & Van Rental 

Tel: 01494 751 550 

www.thrifty.co.uk 

DriveTech (UK) Ltd 

Tel: 01256 610907 

www.drivetech.co.uk 

Bynx 

Tel: 01789 471600 

www.bynx.com 

Venson Automotive Solutions 

Tel: 08444 991402 

www.venson.com 

Lex Autolease 

Tel: 0344 824 0115 

www.lexautolease.co.uk 

Promote your 

company here and 

online for just 

£500/year. 

Tel: 01484 551060 

www.edriving.com 

Promote your 

company here and 

online for just 

£500/year. 

sgfleet 

Tel: 0845 154 0721 

www.sgfleet.com 

GKL Leasing 

Tailor Made Contracts 

Tel: 01246 572181 

or 01844 852000 

www.gkluk.com 

Europcar 

Mobility Group UK 

Tel: 0871 384 0140 

www.europcar.co.uk/business 

Tel: 

01905 887884 

www.bespokedrivertraining.com 

help@bespokedrivertraining.com 

Sofico NV 

Tel: +3292018040 

www.soficoservices.com 

Maxxia 

020 7520 9450 

www.maxxia.co.uk 

Zenith 

Tel: 0344 848 9327 

www.zenith.co.uk 

Tel: 01792 222133 

www.daysrental.co.uk 

Jaama 

Tel: 0844 8484 333 

www.jaama.co.uk 

0845 2172 608 

daysfleet.com 

Promote your company 

here and online for 

just £500/year. 

fuel managemenT 

euroShell Card 

Tel: 0800 915 6021 

www.shell.co.uk/euroshell 

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management 

Tel: 0141 332 2626 

www.acvm.com 

fleeT insurance 

insureFLEET 

Tel: 0333 202 3133 

www.insurefleet.com 

Fourways Vehicle Solutions 

Tel: 0344 8000 385 

www.fvsl.co.uk 

Nexus Vehicle Rental 

0871 984 1947 

www.nexusrental.co.uk 







fleeT managemenT 

Fleet Operations Ltd 

Tel: 0844 567 8000 

www.fleetoperations.co.uk 

Chevin Fleet Solutions 

Tel: 01773 821 992 

www.chevinfleet.com 




fleeT cOnsulTancY 

claims managemenT 

PVS Ltd 

Tel: 01278 550270 

www.puddyvsolutions.co.uk 

Opus claim solutions ltd 

01905 641664 

www.opus.claims 

fuelGenie 

Tel: 0345 371 2490 

www.fuelgenie.co.uk 

TMC 

Tel: 01270 525 218 

www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk 

asseT prOTecTiOn 

and recOVerY 

CanTrack Global Ltd 

Tel: 01908 330385 

www.cantrack.com 

TelemaTics & Tracking 

accidenT 

managemenT 

Selsia 

Tel: 0845 468 6800 

www.selsia-vac.co.uk 

For more information, please contact 

Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or 

email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk 

EV FLEET WORLD 

Tel: 01727 739160 

www.evfleetworld.co.uk 

smr 

Autoserve Limited 

Tel: 0121 521 3500 

www.autoserve.co.uk 

The Fuelcard Company 

Tel: 0845 073 0873 

www.fuelcards.co.uk 

www.quartix.net 

Tel: 0870 013 6663 

Telogis 

Tel: 0203 005 8805 

www.telogis.co.uk 

TomTom Telematics 

Tel: 0208 822 3605 

www.tomtom.com/telematics 

VeHicle ccTV 

& safeTY 

BP Oil UK Ltd 

Tel: 0845 603 0723 

www.bpplus.co.uk 

Airmax Remote Limited 

Tel: 0333 358 3488 

www.airmaxremote.com 

Tel: 0345 055 8555 

Ctrack 

www.ctrack.co.uk 

Teletrac Navman 

Tel: 0345 604 8813 

www.teletracnavman.co.uk 

www.navmanwireless.co.uk 

Parksafe 

Automotive 

Tel: 01773 746591 

www.parksafeautomotive.com 


WE ARE ALL MADE OF WILD. 

NEW JEEP ® COMPASS 

CO 2 

FROM 

128g/km 

BIK FROM 

P11D £ FROM 

UP TO 

30% 23,185 MPG 47.9 

CO 2 

FROM 

129g/km 

NEW JEEP ® RENEGADE 

BIK FROM 

P11D £ FROM 

UP TO 

30% 23,240 MPG 48.7 

NEW JEEP ® COMPASS AND RENEGADE. BORN TO BE WILD. 

For more information contact our business centre on 0808 168 5840 or visit Jeep.co.uk/fleet 

OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE JEEP® RANGE MPG (L/100KM) COMBINED: 48.7 (5.8) TO 25.0 (11.3). CO 2 EMISSIONS: 213 TO 128 G/KM. 

Fuel consumption fi gures determined on the basis of the new WLTP test procedure as per Regulation (EU) 2017/1347. CO2 fi gures, based on the outgoing test cycle, will be used to calculate vehicle 

tax on fi rst registration. Only compare fuel consumption and CO2 fi gures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These fi gures may not reflect real life driving results, which 

will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fi tted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Jeep® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.

Fleet World June 2019

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