AIXAM-MEGA Ltd acquired the assets of NICE after it went into administration in November and has confirmed that the terms of ownership for existing customers will remain unaffected, with warranties remaining intact.

Following the closure of the NICE showroom in West London, AIXAM-MEGA Ltd will operate NICE as a direct sales arm for the London area. A servicing facility and small admin office will continue in Ladbroke Grove, whilst all other administrative tasks will be performed from AIXAM-MEGA Ltd’s headquarters in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Well established owners

AIXAM-MEGA Ltd is the UK subsidiary of the French AIXAM-MEGA company, which makes and distributes a range of innovative light weight vehicles worldwide. Outside London, the MEGA branded e-City car and Multitruckranges, as well as AIXAM branded small lightweight passenger vehicles, are sold and serviced via a network of specialist dealers and aftercare outlets.

Lawrence Holland, general manager of AIXAM-MEGA Ltd, said: “We are fully committed to developing the market for ultra-light electric private and commercial vehicles across the UK, and regard NICE as an important part of our growing sales network.

“We have retained the key aspects of the NICE car operation, enabling us to make the transfer of business as seamless as possible. MEGA drivers should be reassured that, from their perspective, it is now ‘business as normal’ at NICE Car”.

“If the UK is to keep moving the environmental agenda forward in the face of the economic downturn, we need to encourage businesses, public sector bodies and individuals to consider a move to electric vehicles for repetitive short hop transport. These cars are ideal for commuting and as pool cars for any urban firm providing a local service, such as estate agents, solicitors, barristers, and so on. As well as their obvious benefits in terms of lowering CO2 emissions, they can also considerably reduce the cost of motoring while improving life in densely populated areas both in terms of noise and air quality.

“We will be talking to local and central government as well as business users to see how we can promote further growth in infrastructure as well as broader acceptance of the benefits of these cars”.

Following this summer’s Motor Show the company is seeing its two and four seat Mega City electric vehicles being used in increasing numbers by city centre-based businesses as pool cars, to cut their fuel cost per mile to around 1.5p, compared with around 20p for a standard saloon car.

And Lawrence says there is plenty that every business can do to cut their fuel costs, reduce their carbon emissions, and improve efficiency – whatever vehicles they drive.

“Virtually every business can dramatically reduce the number of miles its employees need to do for work, and they will enjoy cost savings and improved productivity if they do so,” he said.

“One of the easiest things to do is to reduce the number of face-to-face meetings that need to be held. Conference calls and video conferencing can replace quite a number of gatherings – people usually just need time to get used to a different way of doing things.

“They will probably find that the meeting is more business-like and more decisions get made, in a shorter time-frame. Because of the amount of time that can be saved, clients will often be very supportive of the new way of doing things.”

Aixam Mega also suggests diary pooling, so that team members can plan to share some journeys. This will help to reduce the number of vehicles the business uses, cut the amount of ‘dead time’ spent by employees on the road, reduce parking charges and ease congestion and on-the-road carbon and particulate emissions.

Efficient route planning using sat-nav technology can also identify the shortest or least congested routes to help people move around far more efficiently.

“These are all simple, effective ways in which businesses can start to reduce their motoring costs straight away,” said Lawrence Holland.

“These ideas apply equally well to many delivery businesses, which can make major savings through better organisation, by optimising loads and effective route planning.”

Aixam Mega manufactures the Mega City ultra-light electric private vehicle, and the Mega Multitrucks range of ultra-light electric commercial vehicles.

Chargeable from any standard electric socket, the vehicles are exempt from Road Tax and the London Congestion Charge. They are also eligible for free or reduced price parking in some urban locations.

For more information visit www.mega-electric.co.uk