FLEET diesel sales developed an unpredictability in 1997 with volumes down year-on-year in two of the four months and up in the other two months - including last month. The April total was 18,016 - up 2.02% from 17,659 last year - but fleet diesel sales in the year-to-date were down 2.81% at 74,286 (1996: 76,437) out of total diesel sales of 124,851 (1996: 130,209).

The total diesel market last month was 29,153 (1996: 29,992) with fleets taking a 61.8% share of the sector. Peugeot took number one spot in the fleet diesel market with sales of 4,693 (April 1996: 4,713), followed by Ford which saw fleet diesel sales rise 6.17% to 3,510 and Vauxhall on 3,209 (April 1996: 3,081). The Peugeot 306 was the best-seller with the Ford Mondeo second and the Peugeot 406 third.