FIAT Auto UK fleet sales are surging ahead of target, despite a 50% cut in the group's field sales force, claims fleet operations manager Jeff Fielding. 'We made a substantial change in the way we approach the fleet market at the start of this year and the benefits are starting feed though. Instead of having 10 people operating on a marketing basis, we now use five area sales managers.

'These are people who really understand the product and the wider issues of operating vehicles. I think customers appreciate that - and it shows because ultimately, we all prefer to do business with people we feel confident about,' said Fielding.