FLEETS are set to benefit from a £12 million investment by Daewoo aimed at enhancing its aftersales programme which has been struggling in the face of rocketing sales. The company's ongoing assessment of customer service, comprising of test driver feedback programmes, mystery shopping and its own customer satisfaction programme set alarm bells ringing and led to calls for urgent action.

The latest JD Power survey of drivers' opinions of their P-reg cars and manufacturer customer service contributed to the decision. The survey found dealers failing to provide the standard of care befitting the 'revolutionary' customer care package of long warranties, guarantees, breakdown cover and low charges.

Customers' overall satisfaction rating for Daewoo also slipped steadily in the three years Daewoo had been assessed. Patrick Farrell, director of sales operations, said: 'With sales growth of 39% in 1998 over 1997 we have outgrown our current network at a faster pace than we could acquire new sites. Extra measures clearly needed to be put in place, representing an investment of £12 million this year.'