Accident management operator Accident Exchange has launched a six-month marketing initiative underpinning a drive to push more business back into the BMW GB approved repairer network.

The company says 43% of the manufacturer’s network currently uses its accident management service.

The new arrangement hinges on an incentive which could see up to half of BMW’s dealer bosses visiting the World Cup Finals in Germany in 2006.

Strong take-up will help Accident Exchange market its credit hire and accident management services to more BMW retailers.

The company says that as the only franchise-branded, non-investment solution of its kind, it can guarantee participating dealers a 30% increase in revenue.

BMW’s other approved providers are Swift Rent a Car and London & Bristol.

Steve Evans, chief executive of Accident Exchange Group, says: “We expect to derive enormous longer term value from this agreement, as from experience we know the importance of manufacturer endorsements. We look forward to working with all of our new partners.”

Negotiations between the two companies took around seven weeks, and says Accident Exchange, the World Cup promotion is already proving popular.

Evans reports that after only three days of the initiative going live, half of the BMW network had already signed-up. The scheme has now been extended to dealers in Jersey, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

A spokesman for BMW says: “The real benefits from our perspective are sales, and the retention of customers within the network. Swift Rent a Car and Bristol & London also run their own incentives.”