Search
Close this search box.
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter

Dinner with the BVRLA; Skoda’s business car; even a broken Award brings business, and the council that drives a Bentley

806_Gerry_Keaney_BVRLA copy
follows

Share

18 March 2014

Gerry_Keaney_BVRLA
Gerry Keaney took over as chief exec of the BVRLA after John Lewis retired last year

I WENT along to the BVRLA’s splendid annual shindig for the great and the good of the leasing and motor fleet industry earlier this month at the London Hilton Hotel, situated on swish Park Lane. It’s a black tie affair and I was on the vice-chairman’s table so I was on best behaviour.

And all credit to Gerry and his team. It was an excellent evening made better by the brilliance of guest speaker Andrew Marr.

I’d been to visit Gerry at the BVRLA’s HQ late last year to learn more about his plans for the association since taking over from former chief John Lewis. One of his thrusts was to help guide government policy in relation to fleets, particularly the take up of electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.

“BVRLA members can play a key role in driving this change, provided the government creates the right policy and tax environment,” Gerry told me.

However, Gerry is realistic that this is not going to be an easy task. “Fleet take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles will be a marathon, not a sprint,” he confided.

Let’s hope Gerry and the BVRLA can help everyone get their running shoes on then.

For a review of the latest electric car to hit the streets – the BMW i3 – read this: BMW i3 car review – could this be the car to convince your business to go electric? 

 

Skoda to launch SE Business model range

Also at the BVRLA dinner was Skoda national fleet sales manager Henry Williams. This time last year Henry had just been appointed to the role.

Skoda_Rapid_Sport
SE Business models are promised across the Skoda range – they combine business friendly kit like sat nav and Bluetooth with low company car tax rates

And Henry had some good news for SME small fleets. Skoda is planning to launch SE Business models across their range this spring. The SE Business models will have a good level of business specification (Bluetooth, satnav, alloys and so on), low emission CO2 engines, with a really competitive P11D value for maximum business car value and low company car tax.

Sounds like a winning combo to me. 

 

Share this article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit
Email

Want more motoring news?

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

Latest news

Top