An innovative mobile auction unit unveiled by Manheim at The Commercial Vehicle Show in 2015 has directly assisted the sale of more than £1 million-worth of vans.

Manheim claims that the award-winning facility, which uses mobile technology to create a physical and online auction environment in any location, provides a significant benefit for vendors pushing their assets into the wholesale market, with hundreds of buyers can attend in person, or join live via the Simulcast bidding platform.

Based on a Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate 4x4 double-cab pick-up, it features a unique rostrum structure in the load bay, a waterproof public address system, TV screen and webcam.

The mobile auction unit is driven to the remote auction venue and along with Manheim’s team of commercial vehicle experts.

It has been set up on the banks of the River Thames to host the UK’s first offsite outdoor vehicle auction for Citroën UK, which achieved a 100% conversion rate on more than 220 vehicles.

The mobile facility also hosted an auction at Hitachi Capital’s HQ in Trowbridge for a selection of premium commercial vehicles, which achieved a 96% conversion rate and an average selling price performance of 113% against guide.

A Manheim spokesman said: “In 2015, Manheim sold 18% more vans than in 2014, and observed year-on-year volume increases of nearly 20% at the start of 2016.

“With these pressures, vendors are not only looking towards physical auction centres to help achieve their remarketing objectives, but also to online sales channels that are unconstrained by location and time slots.”

More than 500 buyers have used its on-board technology to remotely join commercial vehicle auctions, which have accepted more than 1,000 bids in total.

The growth in online commercial vehicle sales is increasing, with a record one in three units sold through Manheim’s online sales channels in 2015 overall, and that figure reaching 49% in February 2016.