DAIHATSU has signed on American Richard Sweatt to the post of business sales manager as the company moves to be a bigger player in the small commercial vehicle market.

Sweatt, 34, moved over from his job as a Daihatsu salesman with Lincoln firm ALX where he achieved some fame by selling a 4x4 Fourtrak complete with £5,000 worth of accessories. As well as running a fleet of demonstrators and providing dealer support, Sweatt has already set up a deal involving 20 Hijets and talks are going on that could mean another deal for 450 units spread over four years.