Andy Dunsdon, Kia’s new rental and leasing manager, says he is determined its dealer network benefits from the aftersales business generated by its fleet offensive.

“We’re considering ways in which its ‘Care-3’ service package, currently restricted to retail buyers, can be integrated into fleet deals,” he said.

Over the past five years Kia has increased its share of rental/fleet business as a proportion of total sales from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

Its performance in these segments for the first half of this year were reported to be best ever at 13,000 and Dunsdon expects the full year to end at 24,000 plus.

“Even more encouraging is the fact that we’re doing more corporate business, with the cee'd range proving especially popular because of its low operating costs,” said Dunsdon.

“Sportage has also performed strongly. It’s become a serious user chooser contender among those who want practicality with Lifestyle mobility.”

Kia is half-way through a three-year deal to supply more than 90 cee’ds to weighing machine supplier Avery Berkel for its service engineers.

More recent customers include the Anglian home improvements group, property maintenance company Peverel and Hampshire-based Draper Tools.

The company has also secured a place for the first time on the procurement list for public sector vehicles.

Dunsdon is unfazed by the probable impact on central and local government fleets of public spending cuts. “Public bodies ranging from local authorities to the NHS account for more than 100,000 vehicles and our model range is ideally placed for pool car opportunities,” he said.

Along with vehicle sourcing, on the rental front, Dunsdon reports “positive feedback” from both suppliers and users. “Rental is important because it promotes awareness of the brand – it’s a test drive for prospective customers,” he said.

Dunsdon (49) spent three years as a regional business manager in Kia’s fleet department before his promotion to the newly created role of national rental and leasing manager.