SIXT Leasing is expecting its fleet size to break the 1,000 barrier this month following a spate of new signings. The German firm, which launched in Britain this year, formalised deals with 17 new companies covering several hundred vehicles at the Fleet Motor Show and invited firms along to meet each other.

Kevin Finn, managing director of Sixt Leasing, said: 'Because we are new, people like to come along and see the backing the firm has and also that there are other customers coming on board. By June, our fleet size is expected to be more than 1,000 cars and by the end of the year we expect that to have grown to 5,000. We are taking on new staff every month to cope with the increasing amount of work.'