Safety-First Approach Leads ATS Euromaster To Toyota
Leading vehicle tyre management and maintenance company ATS Euromaster plays a big part in keeping the nation’s fleet vehicles on the road. Now it has made a significant move on behalf of its own vehicle fleet, by switching the cars used by its operational team to Toyota Avensis – and its prime reason for choosing the model is safety.
ATS Euromaster has ordered its first batch of Avensis 2.0-litre D-4D diesel T3-S hatchbacks, which carry the prestigious Euro NCAP 5-star driver safety rating. Thirty of the 75 cars have already joined the fleet, replacing a variety of makes. Most of the Avensis are being used by the company’s Centre Managers, with annual mileages varying from 10-15,000, as well as managers covering areas such as business development and health & safety. The vehicles are supplied on contract hire by Arval PHH on 36-month/60,000 mile replacement cycles.
Making safety the top priority in ATS Euromaster’s car fleet buying policy is part of a complete overhaul of its business management ethos, designed to integrate health and safety planning into all areas of its operations. The company’s own analysis has shown that its 500 company car drivers and 1400 commercial vehicle drivers are at the second-highest risk of work-related accidents. A safe driving policy is now being developed for implementation in the near future.
“We are theUK’s leading tyre-management supplier to the business sector, with more than 45,000 business customers, and we are looking at ways we can pass on the health and safety expertise we are developing to those companies that might not have our resources,” said Nick Gregg, ATS Euromaster Group Managing Director. “Additionally, purchasing decisions such as 5-star-rated fleet cars may give encouragement to potential suppliers to make safety an even higher priority in their product development.
“Safe working practices are often the most efficient and cost-effective ones, too. In our experience, companies which introduce safer working methods can expect to see a reduction in operating costs.”
Based in Aston,Birmingham, ATS Euromaster is theUKarm of EuroMaster Group, which operates in 10 European countries and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michelin Group. It has more than 530 centres all over theUKand provides services for the retail sector as well as fleets, fitting tyres, brakes, batteries, shock absorbers and exhausts and offering MoT testing.
“ATS Euromaster is setting an example to businesses of all sizes by making the safety of its drivers its prime concern,” said Jon Pollock, General Manager of Toyota Fleet. “We see this as a significant step in what we hope will be a growing trend. Naturally we’re delighted that Toyota Avensis is the vehicle of choice for ATS Euromaster, and feel confident that this car’s many other attributes will serve to reinforce its new fleet policy.”
ENDS
