RECORD fleet sales are expected to be revealed as August new sales crashed through the half million barrier. Most commentators were predicting a total August market of between 515,000 and 520,000 vehicles, with both fleet and retail sales soaring. Some industry watchers have forecast an August market as high as 530,000 units.

The previous August record of just over 500,000 was set in the boom year of 1989 when fleet sales formed a much smaller proportion of overall sales, and with a total market of well over half a million, company car registrations could well beat last year's high of 178,000.

National Franchised Dealers Association director Alan Pulham said: 'Everything I hear and everything I see tells me this is going to be a record August. There's the odd suggestion of shortage of supply, but apart from that I have heard nothing negative.'

Vauxhall marketing director Declan O'Mahony attributed booming sales to a combination of factors such as building society windfalls, resurgent consumer confidence and the strong Pound focusing the car-makers' marketing activities on the UK.