CarGurus is hosting a virtual auction at its Navigate 2020 conference, to raise money for automotive industry charity Ben.

The virtual auction gives members of the automotive industry the chance to bid on a range of items such as gifts, memorabilia, luxury goods and experiences, with all proceeds going to Ben.

For those unable to bid, the auction page also accepts donations.

Navigate 2020 is taking place virtually between October 26 and 27 and is free-to-attend.

Wendy Harris, vice president of European sales at CarGurus (pictured), said: “Navigate is the perfect platform to raise awareness of the incredibly important services that Ben offers everyone in the automotive industry. We’re thrilled to be working alongside them to bring attention to the challenges of mental health and wellbeing. We hope that the auction generates some much needed funds at this important time.”

Established earlier this year, the partnership between CarGurus and Ben aims to increase awareness of mental health and wellbeing in the automotive industry. Fundraising is an important element of the partnership, as now more than ever people working in the automotive industry need Ben’s help and support, yet charity donations are less common due to the economic downturn.

Matt Wigginton, fundraising director at Ben, said: “Automotive people need our help now more than ever before. The impact of Covid-19 has meant that we have seen a marked increase in the number of people seeking our support, especially for mental health issues and money worries.

“However, this increased support comes at a time when our income has fallen as a result of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the finances of companies and individuals in our industry. Our services are entirely funded by the industry, so fundraising initiatives like this are vital and mean we can continue supporting those going through life’s toughest challenges.”

More than 1,000 dealers globally have already signed up to attend CarGurus Navigate 2020, which is designed to help educate automotive professionals on how to adapt to the rapidly changing automotive retail landscape.

The conference will feature expert speakers from both technology and automotive sectors, including a UK keynote on “Building resilience and leadership in extraordinary times” from Sir Clive Woodward and a panel discussion on “Car dealers and an uncertain future”.