NISSAN is exercising maximum control over its new Primera, which went on sale last week, in order to deliver optimum running costs for fleets.

The company will not put any of the cars into daily rental this year ensuring very few Primeras hit the used market within 12 months, thereby protecting residuals.

Brian Carolin, Nissan managing director, said: 'We have decided we will not do any daily rental with the new Primera this year. We are managing the life cycle of this product which is absolutely critical in the fleet industry in terms of wholelife costs and residual values.'

Early fleet demand for the car has been high, with corporate clients requesting more than 800 demonstrator test drives and Carolin insisted the company was not suffering by the absence of a hatchback version until the summer.