Fleet Auction Group agrees sale of 22-acre site to Motability

Motability Operations has acquired Fleet Auction Group’s 22-acre facility on the Stephenson Industrial Estate, in Coalville.

The site will be developed to house a vehicle conditioning centre, doubling the company’s existing capacity for the assessment, imaging and refurbishment of vehicles.

It will be operated by IT Fleet, one of the company’s existing vehicle refurbishment partners, with up to 25,000 vehicles refurbished on site each year for sale through the remarketing arm of the business, Mfldirect.

The investment, says Motability, marks an ongoing commitment to a five-year vision, with customers sitting right at the heart of Mfldirect’s plans to become the easiest-to use supplier of wholesale vehicles at scale.

It follows the company’s recent launch of a new online marketplace, designed to revolutionise the customer buying experience.

Damian Oton, managing director of fleet at Motability Operations, said: “Condition management is an essential part of the remarketing supply chain, and we recognise the importance of this to our customers.

“Investing in our own refurbishment capabilities allows us to enhance the overall value of our offering for our customers through our personal commitment to quality of service much earlier in the process. And, by ensuring confidence in supply, we can give our customers greater accessibility to the cars they need to keep pace in a busy and challenging marketplace.”

The Fleet Auction Group has worked with Motability over the past 20 years, providing logistics and remarketing services, and in association with IT Fleet, comprehensive refurbishment services. 

Andrew Timmis, managing director at IT Fleet, said: “We’re delighted to be building on our existing strong partnership with Motability Operations by developing a central dedicated refurbishment site at Coalville.

“IT Fleet have over 21 years of experience in vehicle logistics, refurbishment and vehicle management systems allowing for a complete operational fulfilment process to be utilised by Motability Operations.  

“We are very much looking forward to using that experience to grow a customer-focussed leading vehicle solution, that is both an integral part of the future refurbishment plans for Mfldirect and demonstrates their ongoing commitment to supplying quality vehicles and service to their customers.”

Fleet Auction Group will continue to operate from the Coalville site, while awaiting the completion of a new multi-million-pound centre, currently under construction in Leicestershire and due for completion in October 2022. 

Fleet Auction Group’s chairman Martin Betts said: “Bringing Motability Operations to Coalville, to create a state-of-the-art vehicle conditioning centre, will leave a lasting legacy and be a positive contribution to the regeneration of the local area.”