Peugeot is to add 10 new people to its fleet team – a 30% increase – as it aims to improve its service to corporate customers.

Four new people will be added to the business sales team linked into dealers, while five additional back office staff will work with 100-plus vehicle fleets.

Additionally, an extra member of staff will be drafted in to deal with companies operating international fleets.

The additions follow on from the appointment of Bob Wright as wholelife cost manager, tasked with improving dialogue with residual value influencers and the industry.

Peugeot will also increase its internal demonstrator fleet by 60% to get more cars into 100-plus vehicle fleets, and in conjunction will ramp-up the professionalism of the demo handover experience.

“We need to get better about launching cars and talking to the RV influencers,” said Phil Robson, director of fleet and used vehicle operations at Peugeot.

“The challenge is not convincing someone how good the product is, it’s about getting people to reconsider the Peugeot brand.”

The focus on brand perception is especially important heading into 2010, when Peugeot will launch a series of niche models which sit in sectors where the manufacturer has not previously been.

Three new models will be launched next year: the 5008 MPV in January, the sporty RCZ coupe in April and the iOn in the summer – the latter a rebadged Mitsubishi iMiev electric vehicle.

2011 will see the world’s first diesel/electric hybrid launched in the 3008 crossover vehicle – likely to be dubbed Hybrid 4, while a ‘mid-to-large car replacement’ is also due.

Although the RCZ is predicted to account for only around 2,500 registrations next year (with around half being bought with company money), Robson says it will have ‘a major impact’ on the brand.

“People will see it and say ‘wow’.

"The RCZ will help people re-appraise Peugeot,” said Robson.

“We are talking to the leasing companies to get them to buy into the change at Peugeot.

“We need to get to the situation where people see a Peugeot and say to themselves ‘I want it, can I afford it’.

“It’s about changing the apathy. 2010 is about accelerating the change in people’s perception and getting them to drive a Peugeot.”