2010 Fleet News Award Winners
Vauxhall came out on top at this week’s Fleet News Awards, scooping the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award ahead of fierce competition from runners up including Ford, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Vauxhall.
The awards night took place last Wednesday in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. They recognise the achievements of manufacturers, suppliers, products and individuals in the automotive and fleet management industry.
Over 1,200 individuals, businesses, suppliers and manufacturers attended the awards night which was hosted by the well-known Radio 4 comedian and star of BBC2’s ‘Mock the Week’, Hugh Dennis.
Fleet News Editor Steven Briers said about Vauxhall’s victory that “Vauxhall’s extensive dealer network, the innovative way it maintains its market position and its strong fleet model line up, which includes the ecoFLEX green range, were behind our readers’ decision to vote Vauxhall as their fleet manufacturer of the year.”
In addition, environmental awards were presented to BMW as manufacturer and Goodyear as supplier. Both received the award for their sustainable and environmentally-conscious practice throughout their business model. Such credentials often go unrewarded, so this is a particularly valuable and encouraging accolade.
Judges said about BMW’s green culture in particular that “It ensures a holistic approach and, because the concept is embraced at all levels of the company, it doesn’t only benefit tailpipe emissions, it’s also ingrained in manufacturing and logistics, as well as every aspect of the business.”
Skoda, too, has had a remarkable year, achieving a record 1.6% share of the corporate market. The achievement was acknowledged now only in the award of Best Upper-Medium Car, but also Most Improved Manufacturer.
According to the judges, “Skoda has gone from strength to strength in 2009 and its flagship Superb typifies the carmaker’s success.”
Ford claimed Best Technical Innovation award for their invention, the intelligent refuelling system ‘Easy Fuel’. ‘Easy Fuel’ automatically prevents petrol from being put into a diesel fuelled engine; a mistake that I’m sure many of us are familiar with. The innovation solves a problem which is not only an annoyance, but also a great cost.
Other suppliers who scooped awards were National Mobile Windscreens for their outstanding customer service, Arval for their safety standards and Enterprise for short term vehicle rental.
Two individuals were also commended for their skills in fleet management.
Caroline Sandall of Barclays Bank received the award for Fleet Manager of the Year. In 2009, Sandall focussed on cost reduction, achieving huge reductions in Barclay’s fleet bill. Clearly talented in the field, though, Sandall’s achievement has not compromised other important tasks, and her cost-cutting has been managed to avoid adverse affect on the fleet.
Entering Fleet News’s Hall of Fame this year is Tony Leigh for his efforts giving something back to the industry. Tony has achieved great personal success in the field having worked as both employee and in charge of his own business, now managing Price Waterhouse Coopers’ large fleet. In addition, Tony has worked tirelessly for the industry more generally.
As one of the biggest events on the fleet calendar, these accolades will certainly be prized by the winners. Congratulations to them all. It was Prominent at the show that there where many car insurance providers keen to capitalize on the current safety innovations.