Rover is calling on fleets to 'buy British, buy quality' in a new drive to win back its place as one of the leading fleet suppliers in the country.

New fleet sales director Angus Grey said his 'door is open' to any fleets which wants to talk to him and asked corporate car-buyers not to make assumptions about the manufacturer. Rover has announced price cuts of 10% to tempt retail buyers in anticipation of the Government's Supply of New Cars Order 2000, published last week, but price cuts for fleets have yet to be considered.

Gray said: 'We won't be shy in pointing out that this is a British company. In the past, we have gone down this route before and the product was not up to it, but now we can say to customers they can buy quality by buying British.'

Rover is hoping to rekindle demand amid a new surge of national pride following fears Rover would be shut as BMW struggled to find a buyer. Last month, Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers called for a review into whether his and other Government departments should be more patriotic in their car choices.

Rover chairman John Towers said: 'We can offer BMW quality at affordable prices. We are one of the least expensive manufacturers in the market. We are lean, mean and agile and if there is an opportunity to do business and make money, we will take it.'