Business Car

🚗 The March/April issue of Business Car is available online 🚗 Featuring all the latest news, reviews and insights car fleet operators need, including: New order: Chinese new entrants are hitting the UK market with gusto. Jack Carfrae asks how they are making their mark on fleets, with Lorna McAtear of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) Professionals, industry consultant Tony Whitehorn, and Chris Chandler of Lex Autolease, Fleet Profile: Leah Louise Lindsay (MAFP) of MWH Treatment tells Rachel Boagey, BA, MA about her journey in the industry and her mission to make the fleet sector more accessible and inclusive for women. Remarketing: The state of EV battery repairs is assessed, with David Gray of EV Battery Solutions by Cox Automotive, and Peter Melville of HEVRA. Plus, reviews of cars including the Audi Q5/SQ5, Fiat Grande Panda, and Jaecoo 7, and the opening of entries for the Business Car Awards 2025 Read all this and more in the digital edition now: https://lnkd.in/etvXgXYz 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔 Audi UK Fiat JAECOO UK

🚗 New CEO for Europcar Mobility Group 🚗 Europcar Mobility Group has announced the appointment of Sebastian Birkel as CEO. Birkel, who takes on the role on 1 May, said: "I’m looking forward to joining an historical player of this industry, which is also one of the largest mobility services providers in Europe today." Supervisory board chairman Dr. Christian Dahlheim said: “We are delighted to have gained an experienced leader for Europcar Mobility Group in Sebastian Birkel." Read more online: https://lnkd.in/eDSrjU63 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

🚗 Ogilvie ReLease used vehicle product launched 🚗 Ogilvie has introduced a new used vehicle leasing product. Ogilvie ReLease is offering cars and vans of all fuel types, taken from the company’s existing fleet, with ages ranging from three months old, to the end of the vehicles’ original lease agreements. Ogilvie Fleet sales and marketing director Nick Hardy said: "ReLease is not just about providing businesses with an alternative leasing model. It’s about embracing a smarter, more responsible approach to mobility." Read more online: https://lnkd.in/eP_ma4Wj 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

🚗 Epyx applies real-world data to expected SMR lead times 🚗 A new project has been announced by software firm epyx Ltd, aiming to bring more certainty to expected lead times for fleets booking SMR. The company is examining historical data to work out actual lead times achieved during the last 12 months by garages and other SMR suppliers through its 1link Service Network platform. These times are then applied to new bookings. Epyx CCO Tim Meadows said: "SMR lead times are currently a real problem for fleets, making it difficult both to schedule routine maintenance and resolve unexpected breakdowns." Read more online: https://lnkd.in/ekienTFG 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

🚗 Business car market propping up leasing sector, BVRLA reports 🚗 Strong demand for business contract hire and salary sacrifice have contributed to slight growth for the overall vehicle leasing fleet, according to the BVRLA. It has published its latest Leasing Outlook report, containing data to the end of Q4 2024, which reveals year-on-year growth for its members’ overall leasing fleet of 0.65%. Contributing to this were a 6% increase in business contract hire cars, and a 61% increase in salary sacrifice.  Chief executive Toby Poston said: "It is no surprise to see the segments performing well are where they have suitable support in place. Business customers have a greater ability to absorb short-term fluctuations, while also benefitting from targeted government incentives to drive the uptake of electric cars." Read more online: https://lnkd.in/eHYAUGGR 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

🚗 Trakm8 telematics adopted by Blue Square 🚗 Marketing company Blue Square has chosen Trakm8 telematics for its 222-vehicle fleet. The fleet, which includes 200 BMW X1 company cars and 22 vans, is being fitted with Trakm8’s RH600 4G integrated telematics camera and ACC750 driver ID and feedback device. Blue Square client operations director Sam Mathews said: "Trakm8 had the perfect solution for us. The RH600 fleet dash cam and ACC750 gives us the visibility, insight, and flexibility we needed to protect our drivers and reduce claims." Trakm8 fleet and optimisation sales director Joe Heidari said: "We are excited to welcome Blue Square as a valued Trakm8 customer." Read more online: https://lnkd.in/eXenzzxk 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

🚗 AI creates insurance fraud risk, Fleetcheck warns 🚗 The dangers of AI-enabled insurance fraud are growing for fleets due to rapidly improving image quality, according to FleetCheck. The software firm’s chief technical officer Neil Avent said: "There has been a jump in the quality of video and image generation. If you take an image of a vehicle that has been involved in an accident and asked AI to ‘add scratches and light dents along the door panel’ today then the output is much more convincing than it was even last year.” Read more online: https://lnkd.in/ePW8ak7X 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

🚗 New Allstar Parking service launched 🚗 Fuel payment company Allstar has launched a new service allowing drivers to pay for business parking at more than 13,500 UK locations. The new Allstar Parking service has been launched in partnership with parking payment app PayByPhone. Paul Holland, managing director for UK/ANZ fleet at Allstar’s parent company Corpay, said: "We’re on a mission to make fuel, EV, and business payments simple. Today, we’re excited to be able to extend this by offering simplified parking payments to our customers." PayByPhone UK managing director Adam Dolphin said: "Our purpose has always been to simplify driver journeys. I’m pleased that through our relationship with Allstar, we’re now able to bring this to commercial use for the UK’s businesses and fleets." Read more online: https://lnkd.in/eKmFaphN 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔 Allstar Business Solutions

🚗 20% taxpayers the key to new Citroen E-C3 fleet opportunity 🚗 Citroën UK managing director Greg Taylor speaks about fleet plans for the new C3 range, with an eye on salary sacrifice. Read more online: https://lnkd.in/evmCaw3x 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔

This week's Business Car newsletter includes news from The Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA), Renault, and the RAC, along with a Fleet Profile on Leah Louise Lindsay (MAFP) of MWH Treatment, and an interview with Steve Beattie of BYD UK. 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights 🔔