IF you’re a 
security firm, there’s no point in keeping the assets safe of other companies – and playing fast and loose with your own assets.
In the case of Panther Security, a Colchester based security firm serving the East Anglia region, the assets in question were their company cars. And the rising cost of fuel to the business.
A visit to local SEAT dealer Miller and Middleton persuaded managing director Shaun Dexter that economical Ecomotive SEAT models were the answer.
Shaun has now added a pair of SEAT Ibiza ST E Ecomotives to the 13-strong fleet operated by its field-based team of engineers and installation specialists and also ordered a larger Altea E Ecomotive, too. And to ensure some security on the company’s fuel costs, Shaun plans to add further more fuel efficient business cars to the company car fleet in the future.
Shaun explains his thinking: ”We really believe that switching to greener vehicles such as these SEAT models is the way to go, and the benefits are clear for all to see.
”Firstly, as a business, higher mile-per-gallon figures mean we’ll see a dramatic reduction in fuel costs. That in itself is a major consideration given that the price of fuel is so volatile and keeps rising.
”But our engineers will also benefit as the amount of tax they pay for having a company vehicle will fall significantly as a result of lower CO2 emissions.
”Then there’s the benefit to our reputation of being seen to care about the environment and taking proactive steps to reduce our carbon footprint.
”We looked around before deciding what vehicles to go for but SEAT won hands down for us.
”Both the Ibiza ST and Altea are great sized cars which drive really well and are packed with all the extras you’d expect these days. Best of all, there’s no trade-off in terms of performance or comfort to achieve the added economy or lower emissions.
”We were also really impressed with the service we received from Miller and Middleton and the leasing deal and aftersales care package they’ve put together for us.”
The SEAT Ibiza ST E Ecomotive with fuel-saving stop-start technology offers Panther Security engineers a capacious 430-litre load space (138 litres more than the Ibiza 5dr), capable of transporting impressive amounts of equipment or product.
But at the car’s heart – and Shaun’s decision-making – is the 75PS 1.2 TDI engine offering 80.7 mpg on the combined cycle. For the drivers, company car tax is comfortably in the 13% benefit in kind bracket thanks to 92 g/km CO2 emissions, and more importantly stays that way for the 2012 and 2013 tax years, as well as being exempt both from road tax and the London Congestion Charge.
It also offers Shaun’s company reduced National Insurance payments on the benefit in kind.
Meanwhile, the larger Altea E Ecomotive is powered by 1.6 TDI 105 PS turbodiesel engine offering 62.8 mpg on the combined cycle and emissions of just 119 g/km CO2, representing a company car tax benefit in kind of 13% in this 2011/12 tax year, rising to 17% in 2012/13, and 18% the year after.
It looks like Shaun’s company cars will be safe and sound – and Shaun can rest secure in the knowledge his company’s business car fuel costs will be kept to a minimum, while his engineers are out on the road providing businesses with security services in the East Anglian region.
For more details on Panther Security, visit their website: www.panthersecurity.co.uk.
