VAUXHALL is to exhibit at the 1998 Fleet Motor Show which will be held at Donington Park in the spring. The Luton-based company said it would attend next year's show, providing an opportunity for fleet chiefs to see and drive the new Astra which will go on sale in the UK just before the show opens.

Last week organiser EMAP Automotive confirmed the show would be moving from Silverstone to Donington Park. Following a series of presentations in London, expectations were high that Vauxhall, which did not attend last year's Fleet Motor Show, would attend next year's event.

Vauxhall fleet director Mike Bonner said: 'We took a deliberate policy decision not to be involved for the first time last year and this was primarily because at that time we had demonstrated all of our model line-up and a great majority of fleet decision makers were aware of our products and services.

'However, next year we will be launching a replacement for the current Astra and the timing for the launch is likely to be close to the Fleet Motor Show. It makes sense to show the new car where it can be best evaluated by thousands of fleet managers and fleet decision makers.'