Manheim has now established its Simulcast online auction system at all 11 sites in the UK and is promising to bring further initiatives to the country from the US.

Up to 8% of Manheim’s used car stock is now sold via Simulcast, which allows retailers to remotely bid for cars as they move through the auction hall.

The company predicts this share will rise over the next few years – it plans to have 80% of all its auctions on Simulcast within a couple of years, currently less than 10% – but dismisses any suggestion that it will eventually replace the physical auction.

“This summer we will launch version three of Simulcast which allows the buyer to buy at four auctions simultaneously,” says Martin Potter, Manheim Auctions corporate sales director. Presently the system only allows retailers to bid at one auction.