With the latest figures showing sales of new cars to fleets fell by 20.5% last year, the BVRLA has suggested that carmakers will go on the offensive to get more fleets to buy new cars this year.

Just under 980,700 new cars were registered to businesses (which operate fleets of under 25 cars) and rental and lease companies last year compared to 1,109,963 in 2008.

As a result, the share of new cars that were registered to businesses and fleets last year fell to 44.2%.

In 2008 the share was 52.1%.

This is the first time new fleet car registrations have fallen below 50% in 16 years.

Last year, many businesses put off renewing their fleet vehicles, prefering instead to run their existing vehicles for longer before replacing them, which had a negative impact on registrations.

In addition, the sharp decline in fleet market share was made worse because of the growth in sales of cars to private motorists as a result of the scrappage scheme.

This effect will diminish as the scheme comes to an end at the end of next month.

"The 2009 market of 1,994,999 new car registrations was significantly above early expectations and reflects the positive impact of the scrappage scheme, due to end in February," explained Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

Everitt called on fleets to take up the slack as the effects of the scrappage wane.

"Sustaining the progress made in the latter part of 2009 will require stronger demand from fleet and business buyers, alongside the greater availability and affordability of credit and finance," he said.

The BVRLA said Everitt's calls would be backed up by a charm offensive from carmakers looking to woo its members to buy more fleet cars.

Fleet News reported last week that it is likely that new car sales to business fleets and lease and rental companies will rise this year.

BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis, said: "Carmakers will be relying on fleet buyers to pick up some of the slack.

"Any rebound in business sales will be especially welcome as these vehicles tend to be higher-spec, more executive models that are more profitable for manufacturers.

“We expect fleet car sales to pass the million mark in 2010, providing a vital shot in the arm for manufacturers.

“Without the taxpayer-funded scrappage scheme to support them, retail sales are set to slump dramatically this year so it is not surprising that carmakers are already launching a charm offensive on their fleet customers in an attempt to regain share in the vital business market.”
 

Fleet registrations for December declined 3.6% compared to December 2008, with a total of 60,885 vehicles.

Overall, registrations for the year were just shy of 2million,