Nurture Group centralises conversions at new Mediafleet hub in Witney

Plus: new car market posts best September since 2017 as BEV share still lags ZEV Mandate target · 15 stories · 06 Oct 2026

Conversion specialists consolidated operations this week, while new car and van registrations rose despite BEV uptake still trailing ZEV Mandate targets. Diesel prices hit a record high, prompting fresh calls to scrap fuel duty increases, and electric charging and model launches continued across heavy goods, consumer and logistics fleets.

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Nurture Group is using the new Mediafleet Supplier Hub in Witney to prepare vehicles for operational deployment, according to Fleet News. The centralised approach brings multiple specialist suppliers to the vehicle at one location, rather than moving the vehicle between different conversion facilities.

Nurture Group, which provides grounds maintenance, pest control, winter gritting and landscape construction services, manages a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles, including commercial vehicles and company cars.

Mo Iqbal, group fleet project manager at Nurture Group, said the fact that all vehicles remain in one location for the duration of conversion, with his choice of individual suppliers coming to the hub to carry out their work, is unique. He said the model gives much better visibility of progress, creates a smoother workflow, and makes managing the whole programme considerably easier.

The model also gives Nurture Group the freedom to use the specialist suppliers it considers right for each element of a vehicle's preparation, rather than being restricted to the capabilities or preferred supply chain of a single converter.

Iqbal said Nurture Group vehicles receive racking, telematics, tow bars, security plates, locks, floormats and seat covers at the hub, with branding always provided by Mediafleet. Depending on specification, he said, a vehicle can pass through as many as five different conversion specialists during its preparation, all working from the same location.

Barnaby Smith, managing director at Mediafleet, said customers shouldn't have to choose between specialist expertise and a simple conversion process, and that the Supplier Hub allows them to choose the suppliers and technologies they want while Mediafleet coordinates the suppliers and manages the vehicle programme on behalf of the end user.

The hub also provides a single location from which to monitor progress, with work completed, outstanding activities, technical issues and planned completion dates all trackable as a vehicle moves through its conversion programme.

Adrian Marsh, from Pioneer Vehicle Solutions, said the Mediafleet Supplier Park is purpose-built and well organised, giving a controlled environment even with other suppliers working alongside, with vehicles always available and moving freely through the hub so work can proceed without unnecessary delays.

Mediafleet says that with conversion activities coordinated around the vehicle, there is less waiting between stages and faster turnaround, enabling more vehicles to be completed, and with faster service deployment in the same period.

(Source: Fleet News)

Preliminary SMMT data shows registrations up over 12% and a record monthly BEV volume, but year-to-date electric share of 26.2% remains well short of 2026's 33% ZEV Mandate target, as SMMT backs the government's mandate review.

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Preliminary new car registration data published by SMMT shows the UK recorded its best 'new plate September' performance since 2017, with registrations up over 12% year-on-year.

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SMMT figures show 49,704 vans, pickups and 4x4s joined UK roads last month, the sixth straight monthly rise, while battery electric van registrations reached a record 4,832 units - still less than half the 24% share required under the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.

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The UK new light commercial vehicle market rose 4.8% in September 2026 to 49,704 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth and the highest monthly volume of the year.

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Humax EV Charging is bringing its MX Pro 22kW charger to the UK for commercial and fleet applications, Van Fleet World reports. The charger combines faster deployment, scalable infrastructure, intelligent vehicle authentication and open charge point management system (CPMS) integration, aimed at fleet, depot and workplace charging.

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AA analysis of government fuel finder data found 2,577 of around 8,000 listed stations pricing diesel at £2 a litre or more, prompting AA president Edmund King to call for the planned duty rise to be scrapped and a further 5p cut from duty, funded by extra VAT revenue from higher pump prices.

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A third of filling stations in the UK are now charging more than £2 per litre for diesel, according to AA analysis of government fuel finder data reported by Bodyshop Magazine.

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PetrolPrices data shows the average UK diesel pump price has broken through £2 per litre for the first time, with the retailer tracker pointing to Middle East supply disruption and urging ministers to rethink scheduled 2027 fuel duty increases.

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The average UK diesel price has reached 200.01p per litre, a new record high, according to PetrolPrices data covering 8,089 stations, marking the first time the national average has passed the £2 per litre threshold.

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The self-funded promotion on 1 October 2026 coincides with a new 0% VAT rate on domestic electricity, while public charging remains taxed at the standard 20% rate.

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GRIDSERVE cut the price of its UK public EV charging network by 20% for one day only on 1 October 2026, giving drivers what it called a real-world demonstration of what lower taxation on public charging could mean for the cost of driving electric.

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ChargeUK says three in four of the models cannot even rapid charge, helping explain why plug-in hybrids are plugged in far less than car sellers claim and official emissions figures assume.

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None of the UK's top 20 best-selling plug-in hybrid models sold in 2026 can ultra-rapid charge, and three in four cannot rapid charge either, according to analysis published by ChargeUK, the EV charging industry association, on 28 September 2026.

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Smart Europe has released technical and safety details of the smart #2 ahead of its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show on 12 October 2026, confirming the city car will use a new generation of its Tridion safety cell, called Tridion Cell Evo, as part of its body structure.

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The custom-liveried 6x2 units, prepared by MAN Truck & Bus Bellshill, will each cover around 150,000km a year hauling customer goods across the UK.

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Malcolm Logistics, part of the Malcolm Group, has taken delivery of two new MAN TGX Individual LionS tractor units, registered L007 WHM and M19 WHM, MAN Truck & Bus has announced.

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The compact electric hatchback becomes the second Hyundai model to qualify for the full £3,750 grant, with a claimed range of up to 308 miles across 42kWh and 61kWh battery options.

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Hyundai has opened UK ordering for the all-new IONIQ 3 compact electric car, with prices starting at £18,495 after the £3,750 Electric Car Grant, according to Electric Cars Report.

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The milestone M3, finished in a special Fire Orange paint, was built at BMW Group Plant Munich, which BMW has now confirmed will build the first fully-electric M3 as part of the site's switch to all-electric production from 2027.

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BMW M has marked production of its one-millionth vehicle, a BMW M3 finished in BMW Individual Fire Orange III special paintwork and built at BMW Group Plant Munich. The car was presented by Peter Weber, head of BMW Group Plant Munich, to Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, during an official ceremony.

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The UK economy grew 0.5% between April and June 2026, but Logistics UK says Transportation & Storage sector figures tell a more subdued story, with operators still facing challenging trading conditions.

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Logistics UK has welcomed new GDP figures showing the UK economy grew by 0.5% between April and June 2026, with the services sector expanding 0.6%, but said Transportation & Storage sector figures painted a more subdued picture reflecting pressures faced by logistics operators during the period, according to Materials Handling World.

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SMMT's preliminary figures show a tenth consecutive month of growth, with fleet buyers taking over half the market, though year-to-date electric car share still trails the ZEV mandate target.

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UK new car registrations rose 12.1% to 350,518 units in September 2026, the strongest September since 2017 and a tenth consecutive month of growth, according to preliminary figures published by the SMMT.

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Maxus vehicles now make up around 70% of Tesco's electric home delivery fleet as the retailer works towards a fully electric operation by 2030.

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Tesco has taken delivery of its 2,000th electric home delivery vehicle, a Maxus eDELIVER 9 supplied by Harris Maxus UK, Transport Engineer reports, as the retailer continues working towards operating a fully electric home delivery fleet by 2030.

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