Manheim to host world’s largest commercial vehicle auction

Manheim Auctions has announced that the launch programme of Europe’s first 4-lane auction facility at its centre in Colchester will include the largest ever commercial vehicle auction. The new 4-lane sale room will be officially opened on Tuesday 6th November 2007 with the commercial vehicle mega-auction the following day on Wednesday 7th November, where 700 vehicles from some of the UK’s leading fleets, leasing companies and motor manufacturers will be on sale.

Manheim Auctions Sales Director for Commercial Vehicles, Alex Wright said, “Commercial vehicle buyers often travel great distances to attend auctions and purchase stock. Our new 4-lane development will offer these customers more vehicles under one roof on the same day than ever before, which will maximise their time and productivity. We are also broadcasting the sale on the internet via Manheim Live! for those trade buyers who are unable to physically attend but still want to bid for and buy for stock remotely from their offices. ”

The Colchester auction centre is already the largest in Europe at 52 acres, and the addition of the new 4-lane development will increase its throughput capacity to over 170,000 vehicles per year. Not only will vendors be able to sell their vehicles in a shorter space of time, but improved facilities for buyers will mean a more efficient auction process. PCs positioned on every rostrum will enable buyer’s questions to be answered without them needing to leave the auction hall and buyer reports will be created and invoices printed instantly.

John Bailey, CEO, Manheim, UK and Europe, commented: “We are committed to providing the highest levels of customer service for both the vendors and buyers who attend our auctions, and the new Colchester 4-lane development is no exception. We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to do business. As for Colchester, there isn’t another auction centre like it in Europe, and we’ve streamlined the auction process to ensure that the customer experience is second to none.”