FLEET car buyers could soon be able to buy Mazda cars as part of Ford group's fleet offering, following moves by the Japanese manufacturer to buy the Mazda distribution business in the UK. Mazda has reached an agreement to buy the distribution business from MCL Group (a company owned 60% by Itochu Corporation and 40% by Inchcape).

Jan Brentebraten, president of Mazda Motor Europe, said: 'Through investments in our distribution network and our products and marketing actions, we are confident we can develop the Mazda brand and increase our volume and share over the next five years.' He added that Mazda had established a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Mazda Motors UK, that would reduce cost, improve efficiency and maximise synergies with other Mazda operations.

The move also paves the way for Mazda to work more closely with Ford, which owns a 33.4% share in the firm. Ford has established strong relationships with sister companies Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover to provide fleets with a complete range of vehicles, and there is a strong prospect that Mazda will join the portfolio.