Holdcroft Mazda in Stoke-on-Trent and RRG Mazda in Salford have become the fifth and sixth franchised dealers to join Mazda's Fleet Specialist dealer network.

The manufacturer says it is ‘keen to embrace other dealers who have the desire and infrastructure to join this exclusive group’.

Until now, four strategically located centres - Arnold Clark in Stirling, JCT600 in Bradford, Norton Way in Letchworth and Johnsons in Oxford - handled 65% of all Mazda's contract hire and end user fleet business.

Mazda’s head of fleet, Steve Tomlinson, said: “With orders for the award-winning Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV ramping up, Mazda needs greater infrastructure to ensure corporate customer satisfaction is met.

“It means vehicles can be delivered more swiftly to customers and, importantly, reduces the carbon footprint relating to deliveries.”

Mazda has also reshuffled its team with Chris Stableford promoted to national fleet sales manager and Jonathan Reynolds becoming national contract hire development manager.