Seat has renewed the Centrica fleet deal that became the firm’s biggest when it was signed in 2010.

The deal with the British utility company is for 600 cars, with first deliveries due in the third quarter of this year. The 2010 deal was for 500 Leon Ecomotives.

“They loved the old Leon and have gone with the new one,” Seat’s UK boss Neil Williamson told BusinessCar. ‘The ST [estate] has made a big difference and is 50% of the orders.”

Seat fleet boss Peter McDonald, revealed that the Centrica deal allows the firm’s technicians to choose between the Leon or Nissan’s electric Leaf, with Hitachi acting as fleet management and funding provider. 

Williamson is also expecting a big volume boost when Seat gets its new SUV in 2016, which will be built alongside the next-generation Skoda Yeti at the Czech manufacturer’s plant.

“When you look at what the Qashqai did for Nissan, it’s really hard to plan the volumes,” said Williamson.

“The segment is either going to slow down as the competition gets too aggressive, or undermine the other segments as it continues to grow.”

Williamson did say, though, that he doesn’t predict any cannibilisation of the current Leon’s sales from the firm’s new SUV.