All articles by Fred Crawley
Fred Crawley
The next big thing?
As the debut of Hondas new Hybrid Insight succeeds only in stirring up another round of media interest in Toyotas Prius, it seems a fitting moment to ask just how much attention fleet lessors should be paying to part-electric cars.
Whose funding line is it anyway?
In a job market that has been virtually dead for the best part of a year, it is notable that two recruitment consultancies this month made comment to Motor Finance on the recent increase in brokers phoning in to seek contact with other brokers.
On the edge of a revolution?
Fred Crawley looks into the viability of leasing electric cars and vans, and asks whether the fleet industry is about to undergo an electric epiphany. As the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders welcomes electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors into its fold, the automotive world seems to have taken yet another small step towards incorporating zero emissions vehicles into its basic fabric. Yet in a subject obscured by so much smoke and mirrors on the part of companies and political entities keen to foster an image of corporate social responsibility, it can be hard to get a realistic idea of exactly how advanced the rise of the electric vehicle is or, indeed, whether it is happening at all.
BCA in new remarketing deal with Siemens
British Car Auctions (BCA), an auction house specialising in commercial vehicles and passenger cars, has signed a remarketing deal with Siemens Financial Services that will see BCA sell around 2,000 ex-lease vehicles a year, it has been announced As well as a national sales programme based around five auction centres, each physical sale will be broadcast online via Live Online, BCAs internet bidding service.
Lessor receives partial payment in Gwent case
Law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing has achieved a further positive result for an asset finance house in the ongoing legal action following the Gwent Fleet Management series of frauds, with an outcome that avoided proceedings being launched against an innocent third-party consumer (see Motor Finance, October 2008 for more on Gwent) HBJ Gateley Wareing , acting for car finance giant ING Lease (UK) Ltd, has settled a case which involved both a consumer and a third-party dealership, Trainer BMW of Swansea, in which the latter paid out a significant proportion of the value of the asset in dispute.
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Brough and ready
Fred Crawley talks to Don Brough about his career in motor finance, and the technical side of people management. Don Brough, CEO of First Response Finance, is a difficult man to categorise
Traditionally inclined
Fred Crawley talks to Peter Cakebread of Marshall Leasing about back-to-basics leasing.
Hewer FM acquires 35 Berlingos with Lex and Automotive
Heating and electric specialist Hewer Facilities Management has acquired a fleet of 24 Citron Berlingo vans on contract hire with Lex Vehicle Leasing this month, with a further 11 to be delivered in late April on an agreement with Leaseplan subsidiary Automotive Leasing.
Rule change warning
Leaseurope has warned that a proposed new lease accounting standard could lead to increased complexity in financial reporting and a disincentive to leasing.
Evolution in action
Dave Stanley of Carillion Fleet Management tells Fred Crawley how the lessor grew from an in-house function to an outsourcing specialist.