Direct sales bid by Peugeot fleet

A Peugeot fleet task-force will call potential customers direct, rather than taking business through dealers in a strategy to double sales to small and medium-size fleets by 2003.

The corporate sales team, led by contract hire specialist Damian Watson, will target businesses with fewer than 100 cars. Potential customers will be identified by a dedicated call centre, with the corporate team providing advice on fleet management issues such as financing options and product. Vehicle supply and servicing will remain a dealer function.

Peugeot aims to sell 20,000 vehicles a year through the taskforce, to give it a 10% share of the small and medium sized business market. It already claims 10% of the large fleet market against an 8% share of total car sales.