My company is doing this. After 22 years, 10 in my present job, I've had to go for a competence-based interview (which I believe I've failed!!!) as there are suddenly only 9 jobs for 28 of us. Those who get made an offer (of their old job back) will have to accept new contracts which, amongst other things, allow the company to temporarily lay us off (on £21 a day minimum wage) at a week's notice, or put you on a three or four day week for an indefinite period, or whatever they want... They are completely de-risking being an employer, and are using their staff like agency staff. ACAS have advised that if they've been through the proper consultation process, which they have, then there is little more can be done.

While I'll probably struggle to find another job at the moment, and that will hurt, I'm almost pleased that I won't be part of that company going forward.

I agree that they can't force it, as it is a change to the contract of employment, that has to be agreed by both parties.

I think the twats behind this know, and have budgetted for some unfair dismissal.  Now is the best time to cheat employees (e.g take half their pensions away), as what can you do in practice other than leave, and thats good news for the twats who are probably looking to thin down on the sly.

Your only hope is if everybody says no, but does anyone want to work under those conditions.  Or let the wife have the car and use hers

There must be some logic behind this, like some of the employees are continually bunking off.  When I first came across these things, they were used to shorten multi drop off routes, and one of the test vans was found to disappear to a park every lunchtime for a bit of the other.  They realised what else they might discover, and gave up with the idea - largely due to the cost

Good luck

If the car is leased by an individual without compensation in any way from the employer (apart from a contribution towards agreed fuel costs) then the car is effectively the property of the individual and not the employer. The employer has no right whatsoever to fit [or make conditional to future and continued employment of said individual employee] and item of equipment whatsoever.
I would advise your friend to check his contract and seek legal advice very soon.