FLEET sales have broken through the one million barrier and with just this month's sales figures to go the 1998 fleet market will top last year's record 1,018,491. November fleet sales of 79,953 were 0.97% up on November 1997 sales of 79,183 taking fleet sales for 1998 to date to 1,004,090 - 3.2% ahead of 1997's 11-month total of 972,948.

With December's fleet sales figures likely to be between 40,000 and 50,000 units this year's fleet figures will be at an all-time high. The continuing rise in fleet sales - last month's figures offset a 1.1% decline in the retail sector which contributed to virtually static total new car sales for November of 152,314 - brightens an economically gloomy outlook.

Ford topped the November fleet sales figures with 18,284 units - 2.69% below November last year - with Vauxhall selling 14,498 vehicles into the sector - 0.2% up on November last year - and in the Astra had the best selling fleet car. However, combined Ford Escort and Ford Focus registrations would put the 'blue oval' ahead of its chief rival. Rover's well documented decline continued with a 45.29% year-on-year fall to 5,358 vehicles (November 1997: 9,794), while Renault's 20.74% year-on-year sales rise to 7,456 units took the manufacturer ahead of its French rival Peugeot, which saw fleet sales drop 6.23% to 6,128.

Top 10 best-selling fleet manufacturers in November were: Ford 18,284, Vauxhall 14,498, Renault 7,456, Peugeot 6,128, Rover 5,039, Volkswagen 4,482, Nissan 3,323, Fiat 3,288, Toyota 3,058, Citroen 1,903.

Fleet NewsNet has been unable to publish its usual comprehensive fleet sales figures due to delays in the availability of the statistics.