The brand has increased its Fleet Specialist Dealer network by 50%, with Holdcroft Mazda in Stoke-on-Trent and RRG Mazda in Salford, Greater Manchester becoming the fifth and sixth franchise dealers to join the scheme.

Until now, four strategically located Mazda fleet centres – Arnold Clark in Stirling, JCT600 in Bradford, Norton Way in Letchworth and Johnsons in Oxford – handled approximately 65% of all Mazda's contract hire and end-user fleet business. By adding a further two dealerships Mazda says it’s better equipped to provide the excellent levels of service demanded by today’s fleets, irrespective of size.

The brand added that it is keen to include other dealers who have the desire and infrastructure to the Fleet Specialist Dealer network.

In addition, the carmaker is restructuring and expanding its corporate sales team.

Chris Stableford has been promoted to the newly created post of national fleet sales manager and now heads up Mazda's fleet sales team. He was previously national contract hire manager.

In a further move, Jonathan Reynolds has moved from a retail role in Mazda to fulfil the new role of national contract hire development manager with responsibility for leasing company relations and fleet specialist dealers.

Finally, Mazda has also expanded its regional corporate sales manager team with two new appointments to ensure maximum coverage and support is available for existing end-user fleet customers and to develop new business opportunities.

Commenting on the reasons behind the changes, Mazda head of fleet Steve Tomlinson said: ‘We are receiving and ever-increasing the number of inquiries from businesses that want to add Mazda to their company car choice lists.

‘This is naturally leading to an increase in orders, particularly for the all-new Mazda6 and the Mazda CX-5, both of which feature our breakthrough emissions-busting SKYACTIV technology.’

A key benefit of using the Fleet Specialist Dealers is that they are able to meet corporate demand typically within 10-14 days of orders being placed, should this be required, thanks to the brand's "fleet vehicle sold order pot" programme. This compares favourably with some other manufacturers who are quoting significant lead times on their key fleet models.

Tomlinson said: ‘Involving a fifth and sixth dealer in our Fleet Specialist Dealer Network gives Mazda an even better geographical spread in terms of customer proximity.

‘That in turn means that vehicles can be delivered more swiftly to customers and, importantly, reduces the carbon footprint relating to deliveries. Additionally, it means a further increase in Mazda's fleet capability.

‘With orders for the award-winning Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV ramping up, Mazda needs greater infrastructure among dealers to ensure corporate customer satisfaction is met.’