Mitsubishi importer Colt Car Company is to make a U-turn from the traditional fleet market as part of moves to head back to profitable trading. It will make a progressive retreat from daily rental business under plans aimed at changing the way the company operates in the corporate sector. Instead, smaller fleets and user-choosers are being targeted in a new drive to channel every business sale through the company's dealer network.

'In future, we will meet the needs of the fleet customer by going into partnership with our dealers - and I believe they will have greater success in the sector as a result,' said acting managing director Denis Murphy. The plan, being detailed to Colt's 120-strong network this week, ends the importer's practice of conducting fleet negotiations directly with company car buyers.

Murphy said: 'From now on, I want every fleet sale to go through the dealer. He is the man on the spot and the best-placed person to have direct contact with the customer.' Murphy wants the new system to be fully operational by September, when Mitsubishi launches second-generation versions of the Carisma, its top-selling model in Britain.