MANHEIM Auctions will be focusing on building its physical auction presence throughout Europe over the next year and is certain this will remain the cornerstone of vehicle disposal for fleets. Despite the growth of alternative ways of selling vehicles, John Bailey, chief executive of parent group Manheim Europe, says the road of fleet customers returning from alternative ventures back down the path to auction is well-trodden.

With 18 auction centres in the UK, the firm will spend the next year concentrating on European expansion - it has moved into Europe with a further two centres in France - although Bailey says if the right opportunity for a purchase arises, he may take it, as traditional auctions are still a firm favourite for customers. The firm has a throughput of 500,000 vehicles that it expects to grow by 20% next year.

He said: 'With residual value falls, people have been looking for alternative ways to sell cars. We recognise there are alternatives other than physical auctions. 'However, invariably fleets come back to us. At the end of the day, why would a car dealer pay more to buy direct than by simply coming to us and having a larger selection of vehicles to choose from? In this difficult market, people always come back to the auctions.'