Avis have their sights set on targetting the vehicle rental market in China

Car Hire group Avis Europe have unveiled their expansion plans for China. The car rental outfit is currently the second largest in Europe but has its sights set on targeting the Chinese market in order to capitalise on the growing car rental business in Asia.

It’s also been suggested that the economic downturn is partly responsible for Avis’s decision to concentrate their efforts on the Chinese market. With the car hire industry at a standstill in Europe, expanding into Asia will enable the company to continue growing at a healthy rate.

Avis plans to increase their number of rental outlets across the country dramatically over the coming years. They’ve set a target of increasing the number of car hire centres from their current number of 25 too 100 within the space of two years.

Car hire company Avis Europe works in conjunction with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp in China at present. Although the vehicle rental market in China is relatively small at the moment, Avis hope that by preparing their business now for expansion in the country, they’ll be perfectly placed to take advantage of the car hire market when it picks up.

Groom from Northamptonshire puts out plea for Rolls Royce wedding car after being diagnosed with terminal cancer

A couple from Northampton have put out a plea for a Rolls Royce wedding car for their big day. The pair, who were childhood sweethearts, have decided to tie the knot after the groom was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

However with limited funds for the wedding, the couple are hoping that a wedding car hire service in the local area may be able to provide them with a vehicle free of charge to complete their big day.

Horace Prescott and Dawn Barrett met as teenagers living in London. However they lost contact after Dawn’s family moved away. As luck would have it, the pair met up again years later and rekindled their romance, they’ve now been together for the past 10 years.

Mr Prescott was diagnosed with bowel and bladder cancer 3 years ago. He underwent major surgery to remove the growth. However the couple were told a few weeks ago that the cancer had returned, and there was little the medical teams could do at this point.

After receiving the bad news, Mr Prescott wasted no time in getting down on one knee and asking the love of his life to marry him. Ms Barrett agreed, and they swung into action to get the wedding plans in place.

The wedding is due to take place on Saturday and Ms Barrett is calling for anyone who maybe able to provide them with a Rolls Royce wedding car to get in touch. The bride says she wants desperately to give her husband-to-be “something back for all he’s given me” and knows it would make his day to have to ride to the ceremony in the back of a Rolls Royce.

The electric powered Citroen model will be available to hire in London from Sixt-rent-a-car

Sixt-rent-a-car’s electric car hire scheme is due to launch in London today. The Fulham/ Chelsea branch of the car hire firm will be the first of the Sixt outlets to offer the zero emissions cars for hire.

Sixt will introduce a range of Ev’ie Citroen models as part of their drive to lower carbon emission and to offer customers a green travel option. The Ev’ie from Citroen boasts some impressive green credentials which will no doubt be a big attraction for those customers who are eager to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Citroen Ev’ie  is the ideal choice for travel around the city of London as it gives off zero emissions therefore it is exempt from the central London congestion charge, and has designated car parking spots dotted around the city. The Citroen Ev’ie is the Citroen C1’s green sister. Like the C1 the Ev’ie is a 5 door vehicle with room onboard for 4 passengers.

Hiring an electric car in London can often work out a lot cheaper than hiring your usual fuel powered vehicle. For a start the fuel and running costs are significantly lower; an electric car can be re-charged from as a little as 95p from a domestic power point, and that 95p could potentially keep your car running all day.

However the Ev’ie has its limits. The green machine has a range of 75 miles and a top speed of 60mph, but for city driving, it’s still a very viable option.

To get a closer look at the electric hire cars available at Sixt-rent-a-car, head down to their Fulham/ Chelsea showroom where the cars are currently on display.

Naomi Campbell's chaffeur claims she gave him a black eye

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is currently in hiding after her limo chauffeur accused her of slapping and punching him yesterday.

Naomi’s chauffeur alleges that the 39-year-old model attacked him whilst he was driving through the streets of New York yesterday afternoon. The London born supermodel was travelling in the back of the black Cadillac Escalade limo when she became angry and hit out at the chauffeur.

The chauffeur then pulled the limo off the road and called the police. It was at this point that Ms Campbell escaped from the vehicle and made off on foot.

It is not known exactly what triggered the violent outburst, although there are claims that the model flew into a rage as she believes that the driver, who was previously employed by her boyfriend Vlad Doronin, helped cover up Doronin’s indiscretions whilst in his employment.

A spokesperson for Ms Campbell says: “Naomi will cooperate voluntarily, and there is more to this story than meets the eye.”

The chauffeur is not pressing charges so it’s unlikely that the case will be taken any further. However the supermodel has form when it comes to violent episodes. Three years ago she pleaded guilty to assaulting her maid, and also admitted abusive behaviour towards the police at Heathrow Airport after she lost her temper when she discovered her luggage had been lost.

Tess and Vernon step out together for the first time since the sex text news broke

Vernon Kay and Tess Daly appeared together in public yesterday for the first time since the sex text scandal broke. The married couple hosted an awards event in aid of The Prince’s Trust, both Vernon and Tess are ambassadors for the charity.

On stage at the Celebrate Success Awards the celebrity couple held it together giving a polished and professional performance. However the strain was evident as they left the event, with 35-year-old Family Fortune’s host choosing to hang back behind his wife with a sheepish look on his face. Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess on the other hand, faced the glare of the cameras with a smile on her face.

The northern Radio 1 presenter apologised publically during his Saturday radio show for his recent indiscretions. A newspaper revealed last month that the father of two had exchanged explicit text messages with as many as 5 different women. 35-year-old Vernon said he was sorry for his behaviour and admitted he had “let down a lot of people down.”

The awards were attended by a whole host of well known faces including the Prince of Wales, comedian Michael McIntyre, and Michael Caine. The ceremony was held in honour of the young people who have overcome adverse circumstances in order to turn their lives around.

During the Celebrate Success Awards there was no mention of the controversy surrounding Vernon Kay.

Avril and soon-to-be ex husband Deryck share a limo in London

Speculation is mounting that singer Avril Lavinge may be getting her marriage back on track with husband of three years, Deryck Whibley after the pair were snapped sharing a limo ride last week.

The estranged couple both attended the after show party for the premiere of the new Tim Burton movie, Alice in Wonderland. Avril sings the title song for the film, Alice (underground), which was produced by her ex Whibley.

Since announcing their split last October the couple have been living separate lives with Avril being linked to a number of eligible bachelors such as The Hill’s star Brody Jenner, and oil heir Brandon Davis.

However their late night limo ride last Thursday may signal a reunion between the divorcing duo. They were snapped by photographers leaving the event in the early hours, they then travelled to the same London hotel.

Despite sharing a limo, the pair didn’t sit next to each other, instead preferring to take up opposite ends of the chauffeur driven limousine. Avril and Deryck have known each other for over 6 years and at the time of their break-up, the Skater Boy singer said they would remain friends. So instead of a rekindled romance, this may be a case of an amicable split.

Vehicle rentals on the rise this Easter

Car hire experts are warning tourists travelling this Easter to book in advance as early signs show that there is an increased demand for rental vehicles across Europe. Some of the most popular destinations where car hire is already heavily booked include Tenerife, Faro, Rome, and Alicante.

It is believed that Easter will be a very busy holiday period as many people chose to stay at home over the festive period due to toll the holiday season had taken on their finances. With the country struggling out of recession, money was still tight for many. As we seem to be turning the corner, more holidaymakers are expected to come out over Easter than before.

Bookings for car hire in Europe are already on the rise, and with that, so are the prices. It has been estimated that vehicle rental rates are 13% higher this Easter break when compared to the same period last year.

The economic climate has also had a marked effect on the car hire industry and is partly responsible for the rise we are now witnessing in hire prices. As the banks are less willing to lend to businesses following the credit crunch, car hire owners have been unable to secure finance to invest in new vehicles for their fleet. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of vehicles available, yet there has been no let up in the demand for hire vehicles.

So if you are planning a getaway this Easter, make sure you think ahead and book your car hire early in order to make the most of any special offers, and to ensure you secure yourself a vehicle.

Hummerzine limousine hire proving very popular in 2010

Limo Broker is doing big business on hummer limo hire this year after introducing some knock-out discounted deals throughout the UK. The limo giant has noted a surge in bookings for its COIF certified limos which have the capacity to carry up to 18 passengers making them the perfect choice of limousine for school prom dates.

Visit this link to view and book Hummer Limos.

As one of the UK’s leading providers of chauffeur driven hummer limo hire, Limo Broker has a huge fleet of vehicles to choose from so there’s something to suit every occasion. Hummer limos are been booked for a number of wedding dates this summer as they are perfect for transporting wedding attendants such as bridesmaids, flower girls, page boys and ushers.

One of the biggest attractions with the hummer limo is the massive array of onboard features. The deluxe hummers boast some jaw-dropping gadgets including neon lighted dance floors, state of the art sound systems with DVD players and plasma screens, plus karaoke with in-built smoke machines, cocktail bars and even a VIP area; it’s wonder the hummer limo is the UK’s most popular choice of limousine.

Thanks to the unbeatable deals on offer at Limo Broker, the world’s most exciting limos are now available at a price which is affordable to all. Due to the unique way that Limo Broker works, they are able to offer customers consistently competitive prices by comparing the hire rates of a wide range of different companies until they find the very lowest.

Regardless of where you live in the UK, Limo Broker can offer you a cheap deal on hummer limo for your special occasion. Call Limo Broker now, or become a friend on Facebook and be the first to hear about special offers and last-minute cancellation deals.

The Queen had to get a lift from the police after her limo broke down

Her Majesty the Queen was forced to hitch a lift yesterday after her Bentley limousine broke down whilst she was out and about on official visits in the London.

The exquisite Bentley had been a gift to the Queen from the manufacturers to mark her Golden Jubilee back in 2002. However the fine limousine wouldn’t start after the Queen emerged from the Gherkin building whilst on a royal visit.

Approximately 1,000 people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Monarch as she emerged from the London landmark. Luckily the 83-year-old’s blushes were saved by the police who were on hand to offer the Queen a lift to her next engagement, leaving the Bentley limo to be taken away by the mechanics.

The Queen had 4 engagements in the capital on Wednesday so there was no time to spare when the Bentley broke down. The Monarch was then chauffeured off to her next visit at Tower Bridge in the back of a police 4×4 Range Rover.

Earlier in the day, the Queen had paid a visit to Aldgate tube stop where she was given a guided tour of the station. Perhaps she would have been better off sticking to the tube and leaving the limo at home?!

Limo chauffeur from Kent has his license suspended

A limo operator from Broadstairs in Kent has had his license suspended after he was found to have transported a group of 15 women in a limo which was licensed to carry just 8 passengers.

The incident occurred last December when a group of ladies booked limo hire to take them on a pre-Christmas shopping trip to Harrods in London.

The group originally booked 2 limos for their chauffeur driven shopping trip, but on the day, only 1 arrived. The chauffeur then offered to transport the whole group of 15 women to London and back in the one limo which is designed to carry 8 people.

The women were said to have been squashed into the limo, with several having to sit on the floor of the limousine, whilst the others were forced to sit cramped together on the little seating there was.

The authorities were alerted to the dangerous practices of the limo provider by a tip off from a member of the public. 41-year-old David Crow was identified as the chauffeur of the limo on the day in question.

Only last July Mr Crow was granted a private hire driver’s licence and only a matter of weeks later, he was given a 1 year operator’s licence. Both of these licenses have now been suspended following the incident in December.