A new online marketing initiative that, since mid-September, has offered Toyota centres a ‘risk free solution to managing used stock’ will be rolled out to other franchised dealer networks early in 2005.

Centre2Centre, developed by Vehicle Remarketing Solutions (VRS) and its sister company Portfolio allows used car managers to buy and sell stock without having to worry about descriptions or chase up payment. VRS managing director Mike Pilkington says: “A third of all Toyota centres transacting with us in the first month shows there is an appetite for this kind of service.”

Toyota’s sister brand Lexus is expected to take up Centre2- Centre next. The system adopts the Portfolio vehicle descriptions already in use by several major brands including the VW Group, BMW and Peugeot. It works on a local intranet basis allowing dealers to browse the stock held by other franchised dealers in the same network.

For a fee of approximately £100 to both buyer and seller, VRS will collect the vehicle from the seller, inspect it, and deliver the car to the buyer.

Funds are only released when the buyer is satisfied. The car will be delivered within four working days.