The cost of car servicing and repairs could rise by 30%, and up to 40,000 independent businesses could go bust following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, a leading independent academic has advised the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
If that occurred the impact on the fleet industry would be huge with many company-owned, leased and rented vehicles undergoing service, maintenance and repair (SMR) work in the independent sector.
Professor Jim Saker of Loughborough University has told the IMI, the professional association for individuals working in the motor industry, that many of the 500,000 jobs and businesses in the sector it represents would be at risk.
Used vehicle valuation experts are divided on their view as to whether prices will fall in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
Rupert Pontin, director of valuations at vehicle information provider Glass’s, said: “If the Brexit voters are correct in their thinking, it could create greater prosperity for the country in the long term but, over the next few months and years, the road is likely to be very bumpy.
“Markets will be affected, as will the value of the pound, and we expect to see consumer confidence tail off until the view of the way forward becomes clearer.
“For the motor industry, all of these developments are very likely to have negative effects including a period of instability for new and used car sales, as well as an increase in pre-registration activity and downward pressure on [used car] values.”
A major consultation on changes to the Highway Code and insurance to help pave the way for automated cars to be used on British roads has been launched by the government.
Under the proposed measures, rules will be changed so automated vehicles can be insured for use on the roads.
In addition, the Highway Code and regulations are to be altered so advanced driver assistance systems that change lanes on the motorway and park the vehicle by remote control can be used safely.
Cars with advanced driver assistance features, like remote control parking and motorway assist, are expected to be on sale in Britain in the next two to four years with automated and driverless vehicles expected on the roads any time from the mid-2020s onwards.
The size of Britain’s ‘grey fleet’ and the cost of mileage claims is “invisible” to UK company bosses and “a blind spot in the government’s transport strategy”, according to a new report.
Now the British Vehicle Leasing and Rental Association (BVRLA) is calling on the government to tackle the challenges of the UK’s ‘grey fleet’, following publication of the report which it says shows the true cost of employees using their own cars for work purposes.
The UK’s ‘grey fleet’ – employees who drive their own cars on business trips – comprises 14 million cars, 40% of all vehicles on the road, and costs employers more than £5.5 billion a year in mileage claims and car allowances, it is calculated in the report. Collectively some 12 billion business miles are driven each year on Britain’s roads by employee-owned cars.
Leading hire management software provider Jaama is busy following up numerous new business opportunities following leads secured at the recent Vertikal Days show.
Despite torrential rain and the attraction of the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship, Jaama is confident that discussions held with stand visitors will trigger an increase in sales of its industry-leading Key2 Hire Management software for plant and vehicle assets.
The annual two-day crane, access and telehandler event held at Haydock Park, Merseyside, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
Jaama is taking the plant and tool hire industry by storm with its next generation Key2 Hire Management as an ever-growing number of companies recognise that with constantly squeezed margins, implementation of good software can bring real benefits.
Key2 Hire Management is the most advanced, flexible web-based product on the market. Allied to Jaama’s on-going development and investment programme which negates costly upgrade fees, the system is at the forefront of innovative management across the sector.
Jordan Thompson, Jaama’s hire sales manager, said: “We are following up more than 25 good quality business leads, which is a tremendous return from the show as Jaama continues to make significant inroads into the plant market.”
What’s more recently launched system functionality includes a new day book module to proactively manage equipment delivery and collection with associated assets and a slicker, streamlined and efficient ‘quick hire’ process.
Nearly two thirds (63%) of respondents to the latest British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Fleet Technology Survey strongly agree that more standards and regulation are required to control access to and use of vehicle and driver data. This year’s survey collected the views of more than 85 fleet managers, rental operators and leasing […]
Leading fleet management software supplier Jaama has strengthened its customer support team with the appointment of a further two support analysts.
James Price and Joshua Riley join a team responsible for maintaining strong communications with Jaama’s ever-growing customer base and helping fleets and contract hire and leasing and rental companies maximise use of the its multi award-winning Key2 management system.
Business growth has led to leading fleet and asset management software supplier Jaama appointing two more project managers.
Mark Bagnall and Richard Ludlow have joined Jaama to work with customers on implementation of the company’s multi award-winning Key2 software and provide training to new and existing customers so as they gain maximum benefit from the sophisticated web-based asset and driver management solution.
Leading fleet and asset management software company Jaama has appointed Alex Loach as its new customer services manager.
Mr Loach has joined Jaama after 16 years with a Nottingham-based software company where he started in sales before moving into customer service and latterly headed up customer technical support and quality assurance.
He said: “At Jaama my main objective is to ensure that the quality and levels of service that we provide to all customers exceed expectations. I will be working closely with the customer services team and other areas of the business to ensure that our processes, governance and compliance levels provide the core foundations of the required service delivery model.”