OneSwoop, the online car retailer, will this month announce a supply deal with one of the leading UK dealer groups.

The deal with the so far unnamed group, will see OneSwoop source cars direct from the UK for the first time since it began trading in March last year and the deal has been made in order to overcome one of the shortfalls in pan-European sourcing, excessive lead times.

Andy Carroll, OneSwoop's operations director, told AM-online today that manufacturers are still putting obstacles in the way to slow down the import of customers cars from its 100 European dealers – despite such action being condemned by the EC - and that the deal would prove a way of getting around the problem.

He said: “By the end of August we will announce a deal with one of the UK's major dealer groups to become one of our car suppliers. The group has a nationwide coverage and can supply 90% of the brands we offer. The deal will reduce our lead times considerably from the current average of four months.

“The advantage to the dealer group will be increased sales volumes. Manufacturers are getting more and more volume-focussed and this will enable it to increase its business in one hit.”

Mr Carroll would not discuss actual or predicted sales figures – but said OneSwoop was selling “hundreds” of cars a month overall.