August 12, 2008
DEARBORN, MI – Ford's new 2009 lineup features all-new or upgraded vehicles, as well as major improvements in fuel economy, smart technology, safety features, and quality.
Tags: 2009 lineup, Ford Motor Company
August 29, 2008
TORRANCE, CA - The first-ever Green Fleet Conference in Chicago Sept.15-16 will open with a keynote speech on fuel-efficient and emissions-reducing models to come in 2009-2011.
Tags: discount, Green Fleet Conference
BRYCE CANYON, UT – A GPS device led a convoy of tourists astray, finally stranding them on the edge of a sheer cliff, according to the Associated Press.
Tags: GPS, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
August 26, 2008
LORDSTOWN, OH – GM announced it will invest more than $500 million in the U.S. to build the Chevrolet Cruze, an all-new global compact car.
Tags: Chevrolet Cruze, General Motors, global compact car
August 22, 2008
ATLANTA – After eight years in the role of CEO for LeasePlan USA, David Dahm has decided to step down, but will remain on as chief operating officer.
Tags: CEO, chief operating officer, LeasePlan USA
August 19, 2008
COLOGNE, GERMANY – Volume production of the new Ford Fiesta, the first of a generation of new global small Ford cars, has started at the company's Cologne plant in Germany.
Tags: Cologne plant, Ford Fiesta, Germany
NEW YORK – After nearly forty years and five decades with Pfizer and legacy companies, Ed Oleksy, senior director global fleet, is retiring.
Tags: Ed Oleksy, Pfizer, Retirement
DEARBORN, MI – Ford's 30-unit fuel cell fleet has exceeded expectations of the it hydrogen research engineers and earned accolades for durability, reliability, and capability.
Tags: Ford Motor Company, fuel cell vehicles, Hydrogen
August 8, 2008
DEARBORN, MI – The 2009 Ford Flex has earned five-star frontal- and side-impact crashworthiness ratings, the highest possible scores, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests.
Tags: 2009 Ford Flex, five-star ratings, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
DETROIT – A glimpse of Buick's upcoming 2010 LaCrosse reveals an exterior design strongly influenced by the Buick Invicta.
Tags: Buick LaCrosse, General Motors, Los Angeles Auto Show
AUBURN HILLS, MI – Chrysler LLC has named Bruce Coventry chief executive officer of Global Electric Motor Cars LLC (GEM).
Tags: chief executive officer, Chrysler LLC , Global Electric Motor Cars
AKRON, OH – Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will close 92 company-owned stores to improve profitability of its U.S. retail operations.
Tags: company-owned stores, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., retail operations
August 15, 2008
MONTVALE, NJ – Michael (Mick) Morris has joined Mercedes-Benz USA's fleet operations as department manager.
Tags: fleet operations , MBUSA, Mercedes-Benz USA
PHOENIX – The Fleet Hall of Fame award will be presented Sept. 11 at the 2008 annual AFLA Conference in Phoenix.
Tags: AFLA conference, Automotive Fleet, Fleet Hall of Fame
DEARBORN, MI – The 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner compact SUVs earned five stars in each of the government's crash-worthiness tests.
Tags: five-star ratings, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner
September 2, 2008
WAYNE, MI – Ford Motor Company will invest $75 million in Michigan Truck Plant's body shop to prepare for small-vehicle production.
Tags: Ford Motor Company, Michigan Truck Plant's body shop
PHOENIX – With a plethora of commercial fleet managers attending the 2008 AFLA Conference next week, the conference provides a networking paradise.
PHOENIX – Tests performed by Ford Motor Company show drivers coached by eco-driving experts can significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their vehicles.
Tags: eco-driving, Ford Motor Company
ROCKLEIGH, NJ – Richard Buchheit has been appointed to Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) as manager, commercial sales.
Tags: commercial sales, Volvo Cars of North America
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – GE's online vehicle configurator provides fleet managers with easy access to current manufacturer data and pricing to facilitate a smooth and accurate vehicle ordering process.
Tags: configurator, GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services , vehicle ordering process
MANCHESTER, NH – Marty Wilds has joined Merchants Leasing as regional sales manager for the Southeast Region.
Tags: Merchants Leasing, regional sales manager
OAK PARK, MI – Azure Dynamics Corporation has signed sales and service agreements with two additional Ford dealerships in Texas and California.
Tags: Azure Dynamics Corporation, Balance Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Ford
PHOENIX – Register now for AFLA's 2008 Conference, "Roadmap to the Future," set for Sept. 10-12. Deadline for hotel reservations has been extended to this Friday, August 22.
Tags: 2008 Conference, Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort
PHOENIX - Registration for total commercial fleet manager attendees at this year's AFLA Conference has reached a record-high. Visit www.aflaonline.com to register for the Sept.10-12 event.
Tags: AFLA conference, commercial fleet manager
CHICAGO – Cars.com has compiled a True Mileage Index to rank automakers by fuel economy.
Tags: Cars.com, True Mileage Index
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By Mike Antich With fuel prices remaining elevated, many companies are wondering whether they are charging enough for personal use. At some companies, this discussion is long overdue. When re-evaluating personal use charges, a common mistake is to focus solely on the cost of fuel, which is understandable because, after all, fuel is the catalyst for these discussions. However, doing so ignores the other “hidden” costs of personal use, which have also risen.
By Mike Antich Interdepartmental conflicts are common in the medical and IT industries, and at most companies between sales and operations. However, for many years, fleet existed as a realm of its own. Management in other departments often didn’t fully understand the nuances of fleet management other than they got a new vehicle every 36 months. Fleet managers of that era (not that long ago) were the “kings” and “queens” of their own realms. However, that reality is rapidly changing.
By Mike Antich
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In This Issue: Ford Gets Tougher with the 2008 Super Duty, Re-Rating GVWR: Why and How It’s Done, Medium-Duty Truck Operating Costs Increase (Again) and much more…