SKODA is bringing its fleet sales operation up to speed in a bid to get the marque established in the corporate sector prior to the launch of the important Octavia next spring. The company has appointed specialist fleet sales managers Adrian Millar and Derek Fallows to look after the north and south of the country respectively.

Their responsibilities include servicing national fleet accounts as well as supporting individual Skoda dealers in their pursuit of corporate business. The current sales push centres on the Felicia range of diesel and petrol hatchbacks, estates, pick-ups and cube vans, but will extend to include the Octavia next year. Due to arrive in the UK during the second quarter of 1998, the Passat-based Octavia saloon will be joined by an estate version by summer.

Fallows said: 'We regard 1997 very much as a platform-building year when we will try to establish ourselves in niche markets. We are very interested in doing business with the utilities and other high-profile fleets. This year is about establishing the fleet operations department and getting the systems right then getting out and about with the dealers and customers. We don't anticipate doing a lot of user-chooser business this year, but that will change next year with the arrival of the Octavia.'