Speaking in Austria at the fleet launch of the new Leon X-PERIENCE, SEAT head of international fleet sales, Giuseppe Tommaso told International Fleet World that the company’s sales to fleets in 2014 were up a massive 30%, with sales of Leon up 55% in the same period.

The new Leon X-PERIENCE offers a four-wheel drive platform with a wide range of powertrains and is designed to appeal to a wide range of company car drivers – especially user-choosers. And it is this “positive momentum” that has allowed SEAT’s fleet sales team to increase its share of “true fleet” sales from 1.9% in 2013 to a forecast 2.3% in 2014.

With a sales strategy underpinned by aggressive fleet marketing, development of key account relationships and a new fleet dealer programme, SEAT has used its Ibiza and Leon models to get a foot in the door of some major household name fleets. These include a deal for up to 2,000 units with the Italian police.

According to Mr Tommaso, the new fleet dealer programme has been particularly successful. Over 160 dealers are already enrolled in Germany, France, UK, Belgium, Spain and Italy, accounting collectively for over 9,000 units in 2014. And with a further six countries coming on board soon the momentum already gained seems set to gather pace.