FLEETS look set to be offered stockpiled Rover 25, 45 and 75 models at cut-price as Rover's new owner, Alchemy Partners, begins to radically transform the company. Five months' worth of stock will be offered to fleets - probably at knockdown prices.

Once sold,'new' Rover - which will be known as the MG Car Company - is unlikely to be a competitor in the volume fleet market. Jon Moulton, managing partner of the venture capital firm, said that with production at Longbridge to be slashed by more than 50% to under 100,000 vehicles a year, the company was more likely to bid for user-chooser and small fleet business.

Amid sale turmoil, some fleet players have taken drastic action with Interleasing stopping buying 1,000 Rovers a year amid claims of a 15% collapse in residual values. Moulton said: 'It is up to us to generate confidence. We understand the issue of residual values.'