Vauxhall is trialling a driver training scheme aimed at reducing fleet fuel bills, the first manufacturer-run scheme of its kind.
Operated from and by the Millbrook vehicle testing ground, which is owned by Vauxhall parent GM, the ‘Driving ECO2nomy’ scheme will use black-box technology to assess a driver’s skill and then, after eco-driving training, show the fuel saving possibility.
The scheme will sit alongside Vauxhall’s growing range of low-emission Ecoflex vehicles.
Talking to BusinessCar, Dick Ellam, GM fleet’s head of special vehicle operations, said: “We’re in the early stages of assessing the system.”
Commenting on how the programme sits with Ecoflex, Ellam said: “There are lots of routes to lowering emissions.”
He added that the firm was currently working with fleet managers to make sure the eco training sticks with drivers after the courses are finished.
Meanwhile, Driver training expert DriveTech has recently signed a deal to run separate Vauxhall-branded courses for fleet customers.
DriveTech managing director, Jim Kirkwood, said: “We are greatly looking forward to offering our expertise alongside the GM UK fleet team. Driving down road risk and related fleet running costs should be of great concern to anybody responsible for vehicle fleets, irrespective of whether the vehicles are company funded or not. With our wide range of FleetSafe products and services we are confident of being able to demonstrate quantifiable benefits to GM UK fleet customers, in whatever commercial sector they operate.”
As part of its partnership, DriveTech will be buying up to 250 Corsas over the next 18 months for its newly launched ‘Advantage’ learner driver training programme.