HONDA is celebrating its most successful year in the UK, with record sales for the seventh successive year and has launched the millennium with a new structure designed to increase business, particularly in the fleet sector. Total new car sales increased 6.3% year-on-year last year to top 65,000 units with fleet sales topping 25,000 units - 28% up on 1998's fleet business.

Honda has a 3% share in the UK car market, but an 11% share in the upper medium sector and head of corporate sales Nicholas Phillips says the restructuring will speed-up internal decision-making which will benefit fleets and lead to the manufacturer capturing a larger slice of the total new car market. Under the restructuring, Ken Keir remains managing director of Honda (UK). But its three main division - cars, motorcycles and power equipment - have been brought closer together with the appointment of general managers.

Mark Davies, formerly head of car sales, becomes general manager, car division; Mike Vallence, formerly general manager, power equipment becomes general manager, motorcycle division; and Martin Sanders, formerly head of marketing, car division, becomes general manager, power equipment division. Steve Martindale moves from customer service, car division, to head the unit's sales operation with responsibility for dealer performance, and Stephen Hollings moves from corporate sales to take overall responsibility for the division's marketing.