A BOLD new bid to capture a bigger share of the corporate market is to be launched by Seat. The revitalised Spanish company will set up a dealer-based fleet programme next month with the aim of doubling the number of vehicles it sells to British businesses over the next three years.

Ten of the car firm's 129 outlets are to pilot the initiative, which has been developed over the last 12 months. It will give financial and administrative backing to help them offer a better service to local fleet operators. By the end of 1997, a total of 30 dealerships should be operating the programme in most big conurbations, Seat UK national fleet manager Tony Green said.

The move - seen as vital to Seat's ambitions to achieve total sales of 30,000 in 1998 - will help dealers concentrate effort on independent businesses operating in their local catchment areas. Currently, 38% of Seat sales go to fleet buyers, giving the company a 0.5% fleet market share.