BUDGET Rent-a-Car has signed a pan-European deal with GM Daewoo Europe to supply 1,000 cars. The manufacturer will supply Matiz, Kalos and Tacuma models to Budget's daily rental fleet between now and the end of the year.

The majority, about 700 cars, will be operated in the UK, while Austria and Switzerland each get 150 vehicles.

Michael Graham, managing director of Zodiac Europe, operator of the Budget brand in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said: 'As we continue to grow our business, we look forward to developing a long-term partnership with GM Daewoo Europe and to promoting the Daewoo brand within our rental fleet.'

Ian Hull, manager of fleet, remarketing and used cars at GM Daewoo Europe, said: 'This is the first fleet deal we have signed with Budget and it is an important one in widening Daewoo brand representation in the daily rental market. This deal will allow more potential customers to test drive Daewoo cars in a non-sales pressure environment.

'We were particularly excited to have extended the initial UK fleet deal into a pan-European one and are already in discussions about 2005 and beyond.'