MAZDA sold a record number of fleet cars last month and plans to boost its presence in the market further with the launch of the new Mazda3.

The new 3 is the culmination of a major redevelopment of the Mazda brand, which started with the Fleet News Award-winning Mazda6, followed by the Mazda2 and RX-8.

Last month, the company sold 1,000 cars to the fleet market, the first time its fleet sales have reached four figures in a month.

The volume has been achieved without great exposure to the daily rental market, as the firm has set sales limits, starting at 700 last year and growing to 1,500 this year. While fleet accounts for about 25% of Mazda 323 sales, the new Mazda3 is likely to sell half its volume to fleet buyers, helped by the good impression made by the Mazda6.