Press Release
September 26th, 2011
New online safety recall system to launch in 2012
The BVRLA is partnering with technology company Ebbon-Dacs to provide the fleet industry with a free online vehicle safety recall notification system in 2012.
Although the UK has a good record of handling vehicle safety recalls, fleet owners are facing rising costs in administering and managing the range of paper and digital notifications they receive from motor manufacturers.
"Our members own and operate more than two-and-a-half million vehicles and finding a cost-effective, easy-to-use solution that the whole industry can adopt has been one of the association's long-term goals", said BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis.
The new recall system is the result of close work between the BVRLA, its members, Ebbon-Dacs, motor manufacturers and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
Alastair Peoples, VOSA Chief Executive said:
"Britain has some of the safest roads in the world and the recall system contributes to this. It's really encouraging to see manufacturers and the fleet industry working together to improve the effectiveness of the safety recall process."
His views were echoed by Simon Oliphant, chief executive of Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions and chairman of the BVRLA Leasing and Fleet Management Committee: "This is a great example of the industry working together for the greater good – improving safety and duty of care while eliminating a mountain of paperwork and associated costs."
The aim of the BVRLA was to encourage development of a service which would be free to access by members and manufacturers, who would benefit from the reduced financial and administrative burden of notifying fleet owners.
How it works
Ebbon-Dacs' web-based system will provide a single location for all manufacturers to list their safety recall notifications. BVRLA members or their appointed agents can retrieve the information by inputting their own fleet data so that it can be compared. A report is then produced, showing all vehicles that are subject to a new recall notification and highlighting those with outstanding recalls. The new system also has the potential to cover non-safety recalls and customers will have the option to purchase a product for notifying drivers.
"As a long term supplier to the vehicle leasing industry, we feel privileged to be chosen for this critical safety initiative on behalf of the BVRLA, its members and the automotive manufacturers," said Robert Pilkington, managing director at Ebbon-Dacs.
"We believe that introducing this new 'standard' will help simplify the whole process - leading to greater efficiency and faster safety recall handling in future."
Support and commitment from members and manufacturers is vital to ensure the information is kept up to date.
It is hoped that fleet owners and motor manufacturers will be able to test the service during its pilot stage in May 2012 and it is expected that it will be widely accessible from August 2012.
Ends
Notes to Editors
Last year 958,869 vehicles were subject to a vehicle safety recall notification in the UK. The vast majority of these notifications came within three years of the vehicle's first registration.
About the BVRLA
The BVRLA is the UK trade body for companies engaged in the leasing and rental of cars and commercial vehicles. Its members provide short-term rental, contract hire and fleet management services to corporate users and consumers. They operate a combined fleet of around 2.5 million cars, vans and trucks, buying nearly half of all new vehicles sold in the UK. Through its members and their customers, the BVRLA represents the interests of more than two million business car drivers and the millions of people who use a rental vehicle each year. As well as lobbying the government on key issues affecting the sector, the BVRLA regulates its members through a mandatory code of conduct. www.bvrla.co.uk <http://www.bvrla.co.uk/>
About Ebbon-Dacs
Ebbon-Dacs is a technology company based in Oxford. Ebbon-Dacs develops and provides Business Process Automation solutions to a wide range of automotive business enterprises. Ebbon-Dacs are leaders in hosted solutions for the automotive industry and have a comprehensive range of supply chain and customer centric solutions. Ebbon-Dacs' flagship solution is Leaselink, Europe's leading eProcurement system.
Contact information:
Andrew Wilson
Sales director
Ebbon-Dacs
Tel: 01865 866810
Mob: 07976 337637
Email: andy.wilson@ebbon-dacs.com