Mark Beattie Appointed At Ogilvie Fleet
CONGRATULATIONS to Mark Beattie. Mark has been appointed Business Development Manager for Ogilvie and will be tasked with expanding the leasing company’s new client opportunities. and going into the future.
He will focus on developing new business in the M4/M3 Corridor as well as down to the south coast, incorporating Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Surrey and Oxfordshire. Mark reports to Director of Sales, Jo Clark, who said:
“We are delighted to welcome Mark to the team. We have seen strong new business growth over the last few years, and Mark’s previous success in winning new business, alongside his extensive experience in our industry, will play an important role in our continued development.”
Mark is highly experienced having previously worked at both leasing business Venson and hire company Northgate.
Stellantis Turns Ellesmere Port Facility Into Manufacturing Hub For Electric Vans
STELLANTIS – owner of brands such as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat – is starting manufacture of electric vans at the company’s Ellesmere Port facility in Cheshire.
Formerly home of the Vauxhall Astra, a £100 million investment to transform the plant for EV production sees Ellesmere Port become the UK’s first EV-only manufacturing plant and the first Stellantis plant globally dedicated to electric vehicles.
The Stellantis plant will produce the Vauxhall Combo Electric, Opel Combo Electric, Peugeot e-Partner, Citroën ë-Berlingo and the Fiat E-Doblò compact vans.
From 2024, Ellesmere Port will also produce a range of electric passenger vehicles based on van platforms, including the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, Peugeot e-Rifter and Citroën ë-Berlingo MPVs.
Diane Miller, Plant Director, Ellesmere Port, said: “The start of electric vehicle production at Ellesmere Port signals a bright future for the plant, ensuring it will continue to manufacture vehicles for many years to come. With Vauxhall’s long history of UK manufacturing, it’s especially fitting that the first electric model to roll off Ellesmere Port’s production line is a Combo Electric.”
ATS Euromaster Sees Uptick In SMR Work As Number Of Workshops Shrink
ATS Euromaster has seen a significant increase in the volume of Service, Maintenance and Repair (SMR) work it is now completing.
Volumes on brake changes have increased by 27%, commercial vehicle servicing is up 41% and the number of MOTs completed has increased by 8%.
ATS says a number of factors are at work: an ageing fleet – a hangover of the lack of new vehicle availability – required more SMR work; greater demand for Class 7 MOTs as the number of vans servicing dotcom deliveries increased; and the reorganisation of Rivus following the loss of its BT fleet account.
Mark Holland, Operations Director at ATS Euromaster, said:
“Following the announcement that one of the UK’s largest fleet management companies lost a major telecom utility customer, the company has announced a major restructure with 48 of its garages closing. Along with other providers in the market also closing service branches, this has substantially reduced the number of market suppliers of which we look to be a partial beneficiary.”

Warp Snacks Delivers EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme To Staff Through Fleet Alliance
Warp Snacks, a company that makes healthy snacks, has introduced a salary sacrifice scheme for eligible staff through Glasgow-based fleet management provider Fleet Alliance

Volkswagen Golf Car Review
Can Volkswagen’s revised Golf in mild hybrid form still appeal to fleets. We find out.

Ford Puma Car Review
Has Ford done enough to the updated Puma to keep it competitive, we find out.

Dave Timmis Steps Down From Leasing.com; Mike Fazal Appointed CEO
Dave Timmis Steps Down From Leasing.com after 25 years at the helm to be replaced by Mike Fazal, who is appointed CEO to lead the lease comparison site in its next period of growth

Fiat Prepares For New Models With Changed Management Structure
Fiat has changed its management structure prior to new models joining the UK line up: Victoria Hatfield heads up marketing while Neil Heilbron heads up sales

Volkswagen ID7 Tourer Car Review
VW’s ID7 can now be had as an estate an in quicker GTX format. We test the combination.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Why not join the conversation on SME fleets – visit our LinkedIn SME Fleet Discussion page