All the key news in fleet from the last week…

The rates bring a 1ppm decrease for larger-engined petrol cars.

HMRC publishes latest advisory fuel rates

HMRC has published updated advisory fuel rates (AFRs), which are effective from 1 June.

The sole change for the latest rates is a 1ppm decrease for petrol-engined vehicles above 2000cc.

For more details, click here.

Skoda’s Kodiaq SE Technology trim comes with tech as standard to support business on the move.

Skoda Kodiaq gets new fleet-focused trim

Skoda has added a bespoke trim for fleets to its new Kodiaq large SUV.

Priced from £26,860, the SE Technology model brings equipment including Infotainment Online providing satellite navigation, traffic reports and calendar updates, as well as front and rear parking sensors as standard. It’s available with a 2.0-litre diesel 150PS engine and choice of front and four-wheel drive and manual or DSG gearboxes.

For more details, click here.

A next-gen virtual reality handover introduced the energy drink brand’s first ever petrol fleet vehicles.

Red Bull takes delivery of first petrol fleet vehicles

Red Bull has deployed 42 new SEAT Leons for its sales force fleet, marking the first time the energy drink brand has used either petrol vehicles or SEAT models on its fleet.

The Leon 1.0 TSI 115PS SE Technology models were chosen for their combination of whole-life cost, affordability and technology, with Peter McDonald, SEAT UK head of fleet and business sales, saying that the carmaker’s new Ecomotive petrol engines are seeing growing interest from businesses that previously might not have considered them.

For more details, click here.

Alphabet GB’s Rental Services provides a fully integrated mobility package.

Alphabet revamps Rental Services

Alphabet GB Limited has brought together its daily rental and extended rental offerings under a single Rental Services approach to provide a fully integrated mobility package.

The move has also seen Alphabet’s head of mobility services, Nick Butler, recruit a new team of field-based mobility consultants who offer strategic solutions to mobility challenges.

For more details, click here.

The 2018 Superb will feature new infotainment, comfort and driver assistance features.

2018 Skoda Superb gets extra tech

Skoda is updating its flagship Superb model for 2018 with new infotainment, comfort and driver assistance features.

Available to order now, the updated family saloon now gets Skoda’s Care Connect emergency assistance as standard from the SE trim upwards – including the automatic emergency call service as well as infotainment, safety and comfort changes.

For more details, click here.

The Skoda Kodiaq is equipped as standard with an AEB system that detects pedestrians as well as other cars.

Top safety ratings for Kodiaq and MINI Countryman 

Euro NCAP has released new safety ratings, which show the importance placed on the fitment of advanced driver assistance systems.

The latest results see the MINI Countryman and Skoda Kodiaq score five-star ratings, while Nissan’s new Micra receives four stars with standard equipment and five stars with the optional safety pack and the Suzuki Swift gets three and four stars respectively.

For more details, click here.

Total Motion says its new affinity scheme brings a wide array of benefits to employers and employees.

Total Motion launches affinity scheme and scraps salary sacrifice

A new affinity scheme is to launch from Total Motion to provide an employee benefit and help firms deal with grey fleet risk management issues.

Available at no extra cost to employers, the Total Motion Affinity is said to be the only scheme of its kind which is HMRC-approved and can benefit employees by savings of more than £1,000 per vehicle.

For more details, click here.