Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors wants to add up to 30 dealers to the 90-strong network as it seeks to boost UK sales with the YRV and other new models. Andy Edmiston, DVD managing director, said: “We are positive about the future and are looking to fill the open points with quality dealers.

“We have a number of dealers used to selling old product, but need those capable of selling new products that will create a new image for Daihatsu.”

Mr Edmiston blamed an over-emphasis on fleet business by former importer Inchcape for Daihatsu's poor profitability. “Inchcape believed the future was fleet, which accounted for a large proportion of sales,” he said. “But it put Daihatsu UK into a loss-making position.

“Eighty per cent of our sales drop this year was due to the fact that we stopped doing fleet business.” DVD plans to stabilise sales to the end of the year, predicted to reach 6,000. Next year, it expects to sell around 9,000 units.