Arriva hopes to offload surplus part-exchange vehicles at weekly auctions across the UK after joining forces with Manheim Auctions.

The auctions, which began in May, will be held at four locations - Middlesbrough, Bristol, Northampton, Mansfield. Keith Richardson, Arriva Motor Retailing Group used vehicle manager, said: “Significant numbers of used cars are processed through our dealerships every year, some of which are surplus to our requirements. The regular Manheim auctions offer us an ideal opportunity for the remarketing of these vehicles.”

A spokeswoman said the four launch auctions, held over a two-week period, sold 85% of the vehicles entered. Arriva expects to auction between 8,000-10,000 vehicles a year from a “complete selection of all ages and all sizes of car, both part-exchange and overage stock”.

The 38-outlet Arriva group will monitor and review the auction events and has not ruled out increasing the sales locations if part-exchange volumes rise.