<p> Fleet operators are playing a leading role in a campaign to drive Seat to a fifth consecutive year of record sales in Britain.</p> <p> And they are central to plans for growth that are expected to win the Spanish brand a three per cent share of the UK new car market over the next five years.</p> <p> “Our business is currently running at 19% up year on year against a 10% lift in the market and I’m sure we will be achieving 47,000 registrations this year to take our share to 2.1%," Seat UK director Neil Williamson told Fleet News.</p> <p> “But I think we are good enough to be at the three per cent level. It’s a milestone I believe we can reach well inside five years as we introduce more new product.”<br /> <br /> Speaking at the launch of the SC three-door version of the new Leon hatchback, he predicted that fleets would soon be accounting for more than 80% of sales of the third Leon model, the ST estate, which will be unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show.</p> <p> "We came out of the recession well and have built consistently since 2008, but the success of the Leon has accelerated the process," added Williamson. "However, estate cars are making a comeback and I’m expecting big things with the ST.</p> <p> "We’ve already had discussions about the car with fleet suppliers and operators and they have told us they see a place for it in their ranges. They like the Leon hatchback but have made it clear that the ST fits their requirements with a design that provides tons of practicality in terms of space and packaging.</p> <p> “Seat is now recognised as a brand of high tech products with design flair and we are exploiting that. My intention is for us to continue being a problem to Ford, Vauxhall and the French brands and carry on our growth by winning still more conquest business to reach 60,000 annual volume.”<br /> <br /> The new Leon ST (Sport Tourer)has a 587-litre boot, and with the rear seats folded flat its load capacity extends to 1,470 litres.</p> <p> And with the debut of the Leon ST, Seat is expanding the extensive line-up of hi-tech options already available with the model, introducing adaptive cruise control (ACC), adaptive chassis control (DCC) damper adjustment, and Progressive Steering.<br /> <br /> <strong>Authors: Maurice Glover and Simon Harris</strong></p>

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