Vauxhall Meriva Starts On The Awards Path
Published: 14th May 2003
It has been singled out for the editor’s award in the 2003 Fleet World Honours.
Fleet World editor Ross Durkin said: "Meriva will be an important car for Vauxhall in the UK and there is little doubt that its brilliant packaging and high levels of comfort will attract buyers in their thousands. Equally importantly, it signals the creation of another niche by Vauxhall in a market where the volume manufacturers have for so long been missing out."
Meriva, whose versatility is based around the FlexSpace seating system with seats that move backwards, forwards and sideways, goes on sale on 2 June.
Vauxhall also received the fleet journal’s 2003 Environmental Award.
The company pioneered the development of clean, efficient LPG engines for use in fleet cars, and is now reaping the benefit of its investment, as the acknowledged market leader in this field.
Vauxhall is steadily extending its range of gas-powered cars and also has a strong line-up of gas-powered vans, including Astra, Zafira and Vectra and Combo and Astravans. Dualfuel versions of the Corsa and Corsavan will shortly appear on Britain’s roads.
Former IBM Fleet Manager George Emmerson, a member of the judging panel, commented: "Vauxhall took something of a gamble with its development of gas-powered cars and I am glad to see that it has paid off. From an environmental point of view, the company has clearly demonstrated its commitment to providing fleets with a clean alternative to traditional petrol and diesel engines at a cost that makes them financially viable."
The awards were presented at a special ceremony held in London
on 14 May.
