Inchcape has announced a link between Direct, its dealer group remarketing division, and online subsidiary Autobytel to sell ex-fleet, leasing and rental cars via the internet.

The Autobytel-Inchcape Trade Sales service - available through the www.autobytel.co.uk website - will step up the pressure on rival remarketing companies by speeding up the route to market compared to traditional sales channels.

Inchcape hopes the service will encourage more fleets and rental companies to use its remarketing business. Simon Everett, Inchcape Direct operations director, said: “We have proved that there is a strong demand for these vehicles. We view the internet as an ideal channel to remarket our cars directly to the consumer and have seen sales to date achieve an average in excess of Cap clean value - this is something no other channel has been able to deliver.”

Trade Sales' vehicles will be sold fully reconditioned with a service and maintenance history, mileage verification, clean title checks, 12-month MoT, three-month warranty and money-back guarantees.

Kevin Turnbull, Autobytel chairman, said: “This service puts consumers in the driving seat by giving them direct access to this previously inaccessible choice of high quality ex-fleet cars at competitive prices.”

  • Ecom Auto Auctions has signed more than 200 dealers within two months of launching its b2b online vehicle auction business. It claims the site - www.ecomautoauctions.com - contains “thousands” of ex-fleet and leasing used cars. Managing director Tony Brand said: “Dealers can purchase cars from anywhere in the UK, whereas traditional auctions, are ring-fenced.”