VOSA DISCUSSION FORUM AT DRIVE '08

VOSA has confirmed it is to discuss the limousine industry as a whole and talk to the industry about its future at an exclusive seminar at The Chauffeur Drive ’08 on April 20th and 21st 2008.

Head of Traffic Enforcement policy Neil Barlow and Passenger Service Vehicle Policy Engineer Ian Bacon will be hosting a seminar on the role of the agency and the current situation regarding the compliance of the limousine industry.

The seminar will cover the overall limousine process from designing, importing and purchasing a vehicle through to registration, operation and maintenance requirements. The aim of the seminar is to improve compliance within the industry and ensure the vehicles are run in a safe and legal manner.

The seminar will also cover some of the future changes that are expected to impact on the industry such as the introduction the EC whole vehicle type approval scheme.

To ensure the presentation covers the key questions you may have, VOSA is inviting the industry to ask questions before the event to make sure all topics are covered in the seminar. Email vosaquestions@drive08.co.uk.

VOSA is also running a stand at the show, so if you would like any help and guidance on safely and legally operating a limousine you can find them in the exhibition hall over both days.

A UNIQUE BUSINESS WORKSHOP

The publication has recognised a large majority of chauffeurs and operators within the industry have previously worked within the taxi and private hire industry. Therefore, we have gathered business advisors which really matter not only to those thinking of entering the industry, but those already working within it.

The Chauffeur magazine is determined to make sure every visitor leaves Drive ’08 with important knowledge of the business, and even have important questions answered by the experts on hand.

In our exclusive business workshop, the services exhibiting are The Public Carriage Office, VOSA, The National Limousine and Chauffeur Association, GoSkills, the GMB Union and the Institute of Professional Drivers and Chauffeurs.

All these companies will be helping to make sure you visit to the show is a beneficial as possible and will be on hand to answer questions on a one-to-one basis. They will also be hosting seminars as part of the extensive programme free to all visitors.
The Public Carriage Office (PCO) is part of Transport for London (TfL) and is responsible for licensing London’s taxi and private hire services. The PCO will have an information stand and will be answering queries on how to become a licensed private hire operator, driver or vehicle owner in London,

As part of its commitment to improve services for all and promote licensed private hire services in London, the PCO will be publicising ‘ABWISECABWISE’ which is a mobile text service designed to help get people home as safely as possible late at night by improving access to 24-hour licensed private hire operators who offer minicab services .
The PCO will also be promoting ‘Findaride’ – the online search facility which enables visitors to look for details of licensed private hire operators by area and type of service offered.

VOSA TO SUPPORT SEMINAR PROGRAMME AND TALK TO INDUSTRY

VOSA will also be on hand, as the top officials from the agency will be on hand to advise new business and current operators on the rules and regulations within the industry. VOSA will also be taking part in our seminar which concentrates on the law and how it affects you. Don’t miss this first industry opportunity to talk to the agency which wants to listen to the industry at the same time.
More action outside the hall…

MORE ACTION OUTSIDE THE HALL..

We all know that being a chauffeur has important safety implications, and the driver needs to have basic security knowledge to make the journey as safe as possible.

Chauffeur Drive ’08 has teamed up with DriveSkills who will be giving visitors the opportunity to experience the protection side of the industry first hand. The company along with its professionally trained security and protection officers, will be displaying a variety of security moves in their vehicles and you can be a part of it.

Come and talk to the professionals behind DriverSkills, see their booth, demonstration and even join in with its seminar entitled ‘Basic security techniques and advanced driver training’, you never what you could learn.

EUROPE'S LARGEST PRE-OWNED SHOWROOM

More than one hundred pre-owned limousines are expected to be on display outside the venue at Chauffeur Drive ’08. Sponsored by American Car Finance, the LimoMart Live area will show some of the biggest bargains to be had with anything from a classic shape Lincoln Towncar to a stunning stretch Hummer with all the glitz.

FILL-UP YOUR BOOT

This is the ideal opportunity for you to open your boot and fill it with limousine spares as Chauffeur Drive ’08 also plays host to the industries biggest parts suppliers.

Limospares.com, LBZ Limo Spares and H2 Parts will all be stocking up with the vital parts you need as a limo operator for you to stock up on. Our venue is designed so there is a little way to your vehicle, allowing you to take advantage of stocking up and save on courier charges.

Why not contact these companies now if you are looking to buy in bulk and pick-up at the show? Also, this will give you are brilliant opportunity to meet the people behind these companies and let them know your requirements.

PUBLIC CARRIAGE OFFICE SUPPORTS DRIVE'08

The Public Carriage office which manages the licensing of the city's cabs, private hire drivers, chauffeurs and limo operators has backed Chauffeur Drive ’08 with the aim of promoting its work.

Experts from the agency will be on hand to answer questions from the industry and from those looking to enter it. The Public Carriage Office will be making its staff available in our exclusive start-up workshop for new business and those wishing to ask questions about licensing.

This is a trade first so make sure you take up this opportunity to put a face to the licensing authorities and get your questions answered.

CHAUFFEURS TO SEE AND DRIVE THE NEW JAGUAR XF AT DRIVE ‘08

Jaguar has announced it will be making the new Jaguar XF available to drive to the chauffeuring industry at Drive ’08 in April.

Available to order now, the stunning new XF will make its industry debut at Chauffeur Drive ’08 and will be available to test as Jaguar has announce it is willing to gather the views and opinions of the industry on its newest arrival.

The £33,900 OTR price secures the 2.7-litre V6 diesel or the 3.0-litre V6 petrol. A choice of 4.2-litre V8 models – one of them with a supercharged engine – is also available, with prices from £44,500. All XFs feature a sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission that includes a unique, all-new JaguarDrive Selector – an industry first rotary shift interface – and the Jaguar Sequential Shift™ System with steering-wheel mounted paddles for one-touch manual control.

UK Managing Director Geoff Cousins said: “We are very excited the new XF is now in the public domain and we are confident it will be a great success for our dealers in the UK. The new Jaguar XF combines the emotional appeal of a contemporary, modern Jaguar with all the rational appeal of a spacious five-seater sports saloon with high levels of standard equipment, innovative functional features and competitive pricing. The other excellent news for customers is of course the residual values that experts are quoting for XF.”

Industry-leading residual value experts CAP and EurotaxGlass’s have both put the XF under the microscope and both will be quoting residual value after 36 months / 36,000 miles of 50% of original value* for the 2.7-litre diesel Luxury model. These figures from both experts mean the XF 2.7-litre diesel Luxury is best-in-class against rivals BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Audi. CAP has concluded that the nearest rival, the BMW 525d SE will retain 45.3% of its original value over the same period.

Martin Ward, Manufacturer Relationship Manager for CAP Motor Research said: “The new Jaguar XF has not only caught up with its nearest competitors, but has now overtaken them. Jaguar has proved that a well built, well specified and well priced car that has fantastic styling can break the mould, and should be a success the world over.”

With a top speed of 143 mph, the XF 2.7-litre diesel can reach 0-60 in 7.7 seconds and has a combined CO2 of 199 g/km, meaning it falls within UK Tax Band ‘F’. At this level it would not be subject to the proposed high level London congestion charges.

The new Jaguar XF, which fuses the style and performance of a sports car with the refinement, space and sophistication of a luxury saloon, has a generous array of equipment across the range. There are three levels of specification:

The ‘Luxury’ specification is the starting point for XF ownership and is available to order with the 2.7-litre diesel or the 3.0-litre petrol engines. Highlights include 8x8 way adjustable leather trimmed seats, 7” colour Touch-screen display, Navigation system, Bluetooth® Telephone Connectivity, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, Rear parking aid, interior mood lighting, heated exterior mirrors with electric adjustment, 17” alloy wheels, Automatic Climate Control and Cruise Control with Automatic Speed Limiter.

NEW VENUE ANNOUNCED FOR DRIVE '08