GERMANY is becoming an increasingly lucrative market for companies offering pan-European fleet services, with its company car market set to break the four million barrier this year. An anticipated improvement in economic conditions will provide a boost for the massive company car fleet in Germany, which is the largest in Europe at about 3.9 million vehicles, according to a report from Datamonitor.

In recent years, Germany has suffered from sluggish growth as its economy shouldered the burden of reunification between the former East and West German states. But the report - 'The German Fleet Sector 1998' - says the country's economy has recovered sufficiently to create more jobs and a corresponding increase in the company car fleet.

However, there will not be a boom in growth as the market is relatively mature and consumer uncertainty is likely to hold back increases in demand, the report says, with steady fleet growth to 4.2 million by 2003.

Research suggests there are 1.15 million cars in fleets of 10 cars and more, with most fleets having more than 100 vehicles.