FLEET sales reached a record high in September following a record August, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' new car sales figures. Fleets bought a record 76,383 vehicles last month (September 1996: 63,887) as both fleet and retail sales soared to September levels not seen since 1988 and 1989. Total new car sales last month were 160,739 - 16.4% up on September last year (138,059) - and believed to be the third best September on record.

Industry experts believe the strength of the August market - in which fleets sales rocketed to an all-time monthly record of 196,955 - carried over to September with many manufacturers catching up with orders they were unable to meet in August. In addition retail sales were boosted by building society windfalls.

Fleet sales this year are 6.2% up on the first nine months of last year at 816,661 (1996: 768,708) and the total market year-to-date is 7.2% up year-on-year at 1,777,062 (1996: 1,657,234). The UK's top five fleet manufacturers all reported massive increases in fleet sales, with Ford up 31.9% at 18,508, Vauxhall up 18.5% (13,879), Peugeot up 49.1% (6,762), Rover up 15.2% (6,163), Renault up 31.3% (5,911). Elsewhere Daewoo soared into ninth spot in the fleet sales charts with a 219.1% year-on-year sales rise to 1,908 units.

Top 10 best-selling fleet manufacturers in September were: Ford 18,508, Vauxhall 13,879, Peugeot 6,762, Rover 6,163, Renault 5,911, Volkswagen 3,137, Nissan 2,991, Fiat 2,875, Daewoo 1,908, Toyota 1,886. Top 10 best-selling fleet models in September were: Ford Mondeo 7,628, Ford Escort 6,054, Vauxhall Vectra 5,402, Vauxhall Astra 4,343, Peugeot 306 3,010, Ford Fiesta 2,738, Vauxhall Corsa 2,542, Renault Megane 2,235, Peugeot 406 2,215, Rover 400 2,190.