RENAULT has announced plans to target small business fleets this year.

The manufacturer believes in excess of 1.5 million businesses in the UK are running fleets of up to five vehicles.

It will use a new internet-based service, operating under the Renault Business Service banner, to help target this sector through more interaction aimed at smaller fleets.

The company is also making service a priority and plans to improve its warranty scheme to all fleet customers.

Currently, courtesy cars in the event of a breakdown are offered by the AA on behalf of Renault, but the manufacturer's fleet and LCV director Keith Hawes believes the manufacturer itself should sort this out from the outset.

It is currently in talks with a handful of daily rental companies about the supply of replacement cars.

'It is something we are studying at the moment,' Hawes said. 'We want to be able to offer a like-for-like replacement car. Everyone makes cars that go wrong occasionally. People don't get upset about that, it's how you deal with it that counts.'

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