SAAB’S record-breaking sales run in the UK is continuing, with news that the Swedish manufacturer has already reached its all-time yearly sales record with three months of 2005 still to go.

So far, Saab has sold more than 20,500 cars in the UK this year, exceeding its best yearly total of 20,294 set in 2004. The firm now expects its total sales in 2005 to hit the 27,000 mark.

The strong performance is the direct result of a closer working link with Vauxhall, also part of the General Motors empire. Vauxhall has lent Saab its fleet expertise, resulting in a huge leap in fleet sales, up about 121% compared with last year.

Saab Great Britain’s managing director, Jonathan Nash, said: ‘I’m delighted to have smashed our previous sales record so soon.

‘The final quarter of 2005 looks particularly exciting with the arrival of the 9-3 SportWagon, plus the new 2.8-litre V6 Aero performance models and the revised 9-5 range which arrives in November.’