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Mercedes Benz to launch new models to attract customers in India

German car maker Mercedes Benz is attempting to overtake other luxury car maker rivals in India by launching a number of new products including several new models.

The luxury car industry is estimated to grow by 50% in the next year and Mercedes Benz want to capitalise on this new area of growth by offering their customers in India the widest range of products. Mercedes have plans in the pipeline for a new sports utility vehicle (SUV) plus a new SLS and an AMG.

Last year BMW stole Mercedes Benz’s crown to become the biggest selling luxury car manufacturer in India. However Mercedes should be able to claw back into pole position within the next 12 months as their most popular vehicle, the E Class, was unavailable in 2009 which may have contributed to the car maker’s fall to second place. The Mercedes Benz E-Class has previously been responsible for 40% of the German car maker’s sales in India.

Other new products which Mercedes Benz are planning to launch in the coming months in an attempt to become the largest luxury car manufacturer in India include a finance department for domestic sales, and also a second hand branch of car dealers.

by Andrew LloydAugust 2, 2010no comment

Northern Irish parliament to review spending on chauffeur driven cars

It has been announced that the Northern Irish Government will commence a review of its spending on chauffeur driven cars for its ministers in an attempt to make savings on public spending.

Finance minister Sammy Wilson will head the review of the chauffeured transport of government ministers. The announcement has been made ahead of the lease expiring in October on 15 chauffeur driven cars currently in use by Stormont officials.

Mr Wilson said the government must not be seen to be ducking out of spending cuts, as the country attempts to make radical public spending cutbacks. He added that “nothing is sacred” and that includes reining in spending on chauffeur driven cars for Stormont ministers.

Although some ministers believe that the situation in Northern Ireland and London is different, and that the security of Stormont ministers is something which needs to be considered in the review of spending on official cars.

One suggestion which is being made to help reduce the cost of transport for Northern Irish ministers is for a pool of government cars to be introduced, or for an account to be set up with a taxi firm, this way the ministers will have easy access to a vehicle for use on official business.

by Andrew LloydJuly 28, 2010no comment

Production at Rolls Royce plant in Chichester, the highest it’s ever been

The Rolls Royce production plant at Goodwood in Chichester has gone into overdrive in recent months and is now producing more vehicles per day than ever before.

Compared to the same period last year when the Chichester plant was producing just 4 or 5 cars a day, production has now tripled with the factory churning out 15 luxury vehicles a day on average, which is the highest rate it’s ever been since the plant opened in 2003.

However demand for the top of the range Rolls Royce vehicles such as the popular Ghost and Phantom models means that even if you were to place an order for one of these cars today, work wouldn’t begin on your vehicle until September due to a backlog of orders.

With so much care and attention being paid to each car during the production process, Rolls Royce takes 3 months to build one of its vehicles from start to finish.

At present the Goodwood plant has no immediate plans to hire more permanent staff members, although if production continues to be high over the coming months, Rolls Royce will look to employ more workers to join its 800 workforce at the facility.

The Rolls Royce Phantom and the Rolls Royce Ghost models continue to be two of the most desired luxury cars in the world.

by Andrew LloydJuly 26, 2010no comment

National road safety award for Arriva

Arriva’s EcoManager project has been recognised at the annual Fleet Safety Forum Awards, presented by road safety charity Brake.

The company was named a winner in the ‘Company Driver Safety’ category for its work in developing EcoManager, the dashboard-mounted LED display which encourages safer and more efficient driving techniques, in partnership with technology provider 21st Century.

Successfully trialled at the group’s Runcorn depot in the North West, the system gives drivers real-time feedback on their driving performance, and is being deployed across all of Arriva’s UK bus operations during 2010. As well as reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions the adoption of ‘eco-driving’ techniques has delivered a simultaneous improvement in accident rates.

Eco-driver training included roadshows, leaflets, posters and one to one discussions which explained to drivers how driving using “the accelerator to go and to slow” and using greater emphasis on forward planning and anticipation would help reduce stress, fatigue and ill health.

Lynne Beale, group risk manager at Arriva, said: “Improving safety and fuel efficiency are always high on Arriva’s priorities. This award recognises everyone’s hard work in the successful delivery of EcoManager, which was made possible by our drivers who fully embraced the technology and have adopted eco-driving styles. This helps Arriva
reduce its CO2 emissions, and also provides a smoother and more comfortable journey for customers. The change in driving style has helped Arriva significantly improve its safety performance.”

The awards, sponsored by ARVAL, recognise the achievements of organisations setting excellent standards for fleet safety and risk management. In addition, EcoManager was also highly commended alongside Gateshead and Liverpool City Councils in the Eco Fleet category.

by Andrew LloydJuly 21, 2010no comment

Enterprise car rental launch app to attract graduates

Leading car hire company Enterprise has launched an application which will help the firm connect with graduates and university students via a youth media network group to relay information on upcoming job opportunities.

The app has the potential to reach some 650,000 students and graduates across 34 different universities in the country. The app will keep university leavers informed on developments within the car hire company, training and internship opportunities and also news on job vacancies.

With recent statistics revealing that there are on average 70 graduates chasing every vacancy in the UK at present, the new app will help those new job seekers get a head start as they’ll be the first to hear of vacancies at Enterprise car rental when they become available.

Car hire in many parts of Europe is reported to be on the increase with some companies reporting more business than they can cope with. For an ambitious graduate the car rental industry is a great business to get into as new services are constantly being introduced as the industry expands, plus there are is a range of positions within a vehicle rental company and plenty of opportunities for career progression.

The YouthWire Desktop Platform can be found on PCs at universities and libraries and a large selection of apps can be found on the programme covering a wide range of job sectors.

by Andrew LloydJuly 15, 2010no comment

Car hire business booming in Turkey

The car hire business in Turkey is booming this year with rental rates set to rise again just as the peak holiday season gets underway.

As a result of the surge in business, vehicle rental prices have shot up as car hire providers struggle to cope with demand which has resulted in the inflated rental rates.

It’s been estimated that the amount of business produced by car rentals in Turkey has risen by 50% this year. This has had a knock-on effect on the price of car hire which has also increased by approximately 30%. This increase in car hire prices is predicted to continue right through until the autumn.

More tourists visiting the country has been the main cause of the boom, although one car hire owner in Turkey says there is another reason why the demand is so high this year.

It’s been suggested that Turkish expats who may be living in countries such as Germany or the Netherlands would have previously driven to Turkey for a home visit during the year. However with the increased fuel prices and low airline fares, more and more are opting to fly home to Turkey and then hire a vehicle for the duration of their stay.

The condition of hire cars in Turkey is fair with the average vehicle being between 1 and 3 years old. Most are fitted with satellite navigation systems. In order to be eligible for car hire in Turkey you must have held a valid driver’s license for at least two years.

by Andrew LloydJuly 9, 2010no comment

Peugeot launch new vehicle rental scheme in London and Bristol

Peugeot have unveiled a brand new rental scheme which offers customers an extensive range of vehicles and other articles for hire via an online system.

The pilot scheme in the UK is taking place in London and Bristol. Named the Mu mobility rental program, customers will be able to hire all kinds of modes of transport including bikes, scooters, a range of cars, MPVs, vans and also accessories such as roof racks, and child booster seats. The scheme will also offer electric powered eco-car hire once Peugeot’s iOn electric car is launched.

To make use of the new scheme customers must first become a Mu account holder. This can be done online and you will be sent your new Mu card. Credits can be bought online which are then exchanged for rentals. You don’t have to be a Peugeot customer to be eligible for the Mu card and the rental scheme.

Two participating Robins and Days dealerships in the cities are currently offering the rental service. A dedicated Mu reception area has been set-up for rental customers at each centre.

Peugeot are offering a variety of flexible hire packages for all of its vehicles and accessories.

The hire program has been running successfully in various parts of Europe including French destinations such as Paris and Nantes, and also locations in Germany, Spain, and Italy. By 2011 Peugeot plan to open a further 9 outlets across Europe.

by Andrew LloydJuly 7, 20101 comment

Plymouth University advertises for chauffeur despite spending cut backs

Plymouth University has raised eyebrows after advertising for a chauffeur to drive its Vice-Chancellor and her senior team just weeks after the budget announcement which spelled serious cut backs for the university sector.

Questions have been raised over the need for a chauffeur driven car for the Vice-Chancellor, however the University has defended its decision to advertise for the position, saying a chauffeur will enable the Vice-Chancellor and her colleagues to utilise their time while on the road.

A spokesperson for the University says the chauffeur driven car, which is used to transport the Vice-Chancellor to official meetings and events, means she and her team can work while travelling, meaning their time is used efficiently.

The spokesperson added that a private driver for the senior figures at the University is a “long established practice” and that it enables the Vice-Chancellor and her co-workers to utilise their time efficiently as they are often required to travel extensively throughout the South West on official business.

In the advertisement for the position of chauffeur it states that the University is looking for a “careful driver” who is also “trustworthy” and “discreet.” The chauffeur will be given a BMW to use to perform his or her duties and the salary will be between £17,606 – £19,185.

by Susan TaylorJuly 5, 2010no comment

Jaguar introduces scheme for UK chauffeurs

Jaguar has launched a special offer in a bid to attract chauffeurs and luxury transportation operators to the Jaguar XJ model.

The new Jaguar XJ model and the XF model offer the speciality chauffeur scheme which provides a range of benefits to the professional chauffeur including a priority repairs and service facility, reduced running costs, and a 24 hour support service.

The chauffeur program from Jaguar is having the desired effect as a number of top UK companies are said to be interested in the scheme, with leading luxury London hotel, the Lanesborough, being among the first to snap up the Jaguar XJ and include it in its fleet of chauffeur cars.

Key features of Jaguar’s Chauffer Program include a like-for-like replacement Jaguar vehicle should the car break down due to mechanical failure, while the vehicle is under warranty. Jaguar Finance will also offer a tailored insurance policy for the chauffeurs which will include a £500 insurance contribution towards the first year of the policy cover.

Others benefits include a year’s free membership to Quintessentially Jaguar which is a worldwide concierge service which assists chauffeurs with special requests from clients by organising theatre tickets, and restaurant reservations among other things. Chauffeurs will also receive the special treatment once their Jaguar XJ goes in for service or repair by being part of a priority scheme which means the car is returned as quickly as possible after maintenance.

For more information on the Jaguar XJ model and the exclusive chauffeur program, please visit the Jaguar website.

by Simon BerryJune 29, 2010no comment

Kylie and Dannii Minogues’ Black Mercedes goes up for auction

A sleek black Mercedes-Benz formerly owned by Australian singer and X-Factor judge Dannii Minogue and later gifted to her sister Kylie, is to go under the hammer next week.

London auction house Bonhams is selling the 1999 Mercedes SLK230 as part of its annual Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on July 2^nd. Part of the proceeds of the sale will be donated to charity.

The black sports car has had just two careful lady owners from new, namely the Australian Minogue sisters, and it has just 19,000 miles on the clock. The Mercedes has been well looked after and is in very good nick. Given the SLK’s celebrity connection, its low mileage and great condition, the auctioneers estimate the car should fetch in the region of £8,000 – £12,000.

The head of the motoring department at Bonhams believes the car will attract plenty of interest from motoring enthusiasts, as well as fans of Dannii and Kylie Minogue.

Kylie is about to release a brand new studio album entitled Aphrodite, in July. Dannii Minogue is on maternity leave from the X-Factor as she prepares for the birth of her first child which is also due next month.

For more information on the Minogue’s black Mercedes-Benz, visit the auction house’s website.

by Simon BerryJune 21, 2010no comment

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