PROTON is hoping to take tentative steps into the fringes of the company car market by targeting its new GTi at small fleets. The company hopes that the car's low running costs will make it a credible option for leasing companies and fleets running on a budget.

Proton's commercial director, Darren Payne, said: 'We still have to overcome the perception of our brand but we hope the GTi will challenge that. We will be working on the fringes of the fleet industry as we don't have the range to be a major player.' Proton will also be looking at the user-chooser market with the GTi, hoping that these customers will be more conscious of running costs.

Payne added: 'From now until March we have targeted selling 600 GTis and we will be very happy if we can get 150 to 200 models into the fleet market. This would be a significant upward movement in our penetration - we have to build awareness with fleet managers.' The Proton GTi costs £14,499 on-the-road and comes with free servicing for three years or 27,000 miles, as well as a year's free insurance.