SUBARU says it has seen a dramatic growth against the odds in its business and fleet sales operation in the last two years. Despite import restrictions, the company said at the British International Motor Show that sales' figures were more than double those of three years ago, with just under half going to fleets.

Subaru enjoys its niche-appeal and believes it is providing a high calibre alternative for the employee looking for something beyond the traditional. Harvey France, national fleet sales' manager, said: 'The percentage of our total volume going to business and fleet sales has grown dramatically over the last couple of years.'

Overall Subaru sales have grown from 4,700 to up to 11,000 in the last three years and of that about 40% goes to business and fleet users, with the cars proving most popular with small businesses and the larger user-chooser fleets.