The Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) has welcomed three new members this month as the trade body continues to expand.

McCarthy Cars, Click Dealer and AA Cars have joined the VRA, which represents businesses that handle, sell, inspect, transport or manage more than 1.5 million used vehicles every year.

VRA chair Sam Watkins said: “About two years ago, we embarked on a programme of revitalising the VRA to make it more relevant than ever to the current needs of the remarketing sector.

“That meant looking at everything from the contents of our meetings to our web site to our annual seminar to the support that we provide to members. As a result, we have changed our approach in almost every area.”

Watkins says that approach is now paying off. “Our meeting attendances have increased dramatically and now attract around 40 different businesses while we are seeing a steady stream of new members coming on-board,” he said.

“In the second half of this year, we’ll be unveiling details about our 2019 seminar as well as an exciting new initiative that we believe is a first for the remarketing sector and will have definite benefits for our members and others. It’s an exciting time.”

The Annual General Meeting of the VRA takes place at BCA Birmingham on July 10. Among the speakers will be David Bailey, professor of business economics at the Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.

He will be speaking about how Brexit is affecting the motor industry, as well as looking at the likely implications of a variety of future scenarios.

Mike Jones, chairman of automotive business specialist ASE Global, will also examine the state of the new and used car and van markets so far in 2019, and look at how they are set to develop over the remainder of the year and into 2020.

Watkins said: “AGMs can often be quite dry and unexciting affairs that are dominated by procedural matters and we decided that this year, we would try and add a new dimension by including sessions from some very high-quality speakers.

“We are very, very pleased to have both Dave and Mike on board for the event. The areas on which they are experts are of direct and crucial relevance to VRA members, and we are sure that they will prompt interesting and lively debate.”

 

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