"We want to strengthen our position as an integrated remarketing company by continuing to hold physical auctions while increasing the frequency of online sales. "

BCA is boosting its selling capacity by building a 20-acre auction facility close to the M6 at Perry Barr, Birmingham. It is due for completion by autumn 2010. An existing site in the city will stay open.

It has also bought JTK Auto-motive, an inspections and logistics company. 

Jon Olsen, BCA CEO, said adding JTK and the new site were part of the group’s blueprint for the future. “They will provide market-leading capacity,” he said.

A BCA spokesman said: “We want to strengthen our position as an integrated remarketing company by continuing to hold physical auctions while increasing the frequency of online sales. 

“Dealers sell cars through our auctions, but we regard them mainly as buyers and this investment will increase their choice
of stock.”

The purchase of JTK, whose clients include Citroën, Fiat/Alfa-Romeo, BMW Group and Toyota Financial Services, will boost online services.

BCA has not revealed the scale of the investment in its expansion and the acquisition of JTK Automotive. The new facility will run physical auctions while also acting as a hub for BCA’s internet links to dealers.

Around 200 jobs will be created at the new Birmingham site which will link in with BCA’s e-commerce platforms and provide defleet, inspection, preparation, refurbishment, logistical services and digital imaging for online remarketing applications.

AM magazine provides regular insight into manufacturer networks and dealer groups - to sign up for your magazine please click on the following link to subscribe:

AM also provides a monthly electronic magazine called AMe - this provides the latest analysis of new car sales figures each month and more news - to subscribe to this ezine please click the following link:

You must be logged in - click here to login