Toyota GB is not anticipating any downturn in fleet sales as a result of its global recall, despite a Fleet News poll which revealed that 17.5% of respondents have or are considering removing the its cars from their options lists.

The company is pressing ahead with vehicle modifications to the 180,000 cars recalling for problems with sticking accelerators, of which 33,000 are with fleets.

It is fixing around 1,500 cars a day, although it has capacity to handle 6,000 via is dealer network, many of whom are open from 8am until 8pm, plus weekends.

So far around 25,000 cars have been modified. Toyota originally set a 30-day timescale to complete the work and says it remains on schedule to meet its March 10 target.

“We have spoken to fleets and worked out how to be as efficient as possible to get their cars modified and back on the road. For some we are sending out mobile technicians,” says Mark Roden, Toyota Fleet general manager.

“The fleet team has also been visiting or calling key accounts and contract hire and leasing companies. They know about how recalls work and they have experienced them with other manufacturers. They are very supportive of us – they feel it has been blown out of proportion.”

Roden does not expect any negative impact on fleet sales. “There has been no adjustment in our residual values so we don’t have any real concern,” he said.

And he dismissed a recent claim from one solicitor that fleets could be culpable if they allow their drivers to continue using their recalled Toyotas for work.

“They are safe to drive and the insurers say they are still insured to drive so there is no reason why people can’t continue driving them,” he said. “Of the eight million cars recalled in Europe, only 26 have reported incidents and none resulted in an accident.”