FLEET sales ended 1998 on a high as availability improved on cars which had been in short supply and manufacturers pushed to meet year end targets. A total of 51,726 new fleet cars were registered in December, representing 53.7% of the month's 96,346-strong new car market, and 13.8% up on 1997's figure of 45,543.

Vauxhall topped the sales chart with 8,399 registrations (1997: 6,392), 31.4% up year-on-year and building on a strong performance in the final months when new Astra became readily available. The Vectra was the month's best-selling fleet car with 2,991 registrations, while sales of the Astra were 62.1% up on December 1997 at 2,746, enough to secure second place in the league table.

Renault pipped Peugeot for third place in the manufacturers' fleet league table, beating its December 1997 performance by 112.9% to take its month's fleet registrations up to 5,014. But Peugeot will be reassured that it's new 206 is selling well (3,128 registrations and the month's sixth best fleet and retail seller) without apparently cannibalising 106 or 306 sales.

Volkswagen was the other notable climber, improving on its December 1997 fleet sales performance by 126.5% to take its total to 4,228, an 8% market share and fifth place in the table, with three of the month's best-selling company cars in the Golf, Passat and Polo.

Top 10 best-selling fleet manufacturers in December were: Vauxhall 8,399, Ford 8,086, Renault 5,014, Peugeot 4,882, Volkswagen 4,228, Nissan 4,155, Fiat 2,771, Rover 2,440, Toyota 2,091, Daewoo 1,657.

Top 10 best-selling fleet models in December were: Vauxhall Vectra 2,991, Vauxhall Astra 2,746, Ford Mondeo 2,160, Renault Megane 2,056, Nissan Almera 2,020, Peugeot 406 1,942, Ford Fiesta 1,926, Peugeot 306 1,877, Vauxhall Corsa 1,656, VW Golf 1,612.