Glyn Hopkin has become the latest AM100 dealer group to begin sales of used cars online and processed its first sale within 11 hours of launching the service.

The car dealer in the south east of England has adopted the NetDirector Auto-e platform, provided by GForces.

Other dealers already using the system since its launch in early 2019 include RRG, Vantage Motor Group and Chorley Group.

E-commerce is being added steadily to many dealers' services now, although some manufacturer brands such as Peugeot, BMW and Volvo operate their own e-commerce stream for new car customers.

Competition for used car e-commerce is growing. A rival system by Rockar is being used by Harwoods Group, while Vertu Motors began trading on its own platform in 2017 and Peter Vardy has backed Silver Bullet.

At Glyn Hopkin, managing director Fraser Cohen said his team has identified e-commerce as being an essential component of its future business operations.

“We know that there is demand out there from consumers wishing to fully transact online, and are confident that digital sales will play a key role in offering them a seamless buying journey both inside the dealership and from their homes," said Cohen.

"The GForces platform is a comprehensive solution that has the flexibility to evolve with our company and complement our offline offering.”

GForces will provide ongoing support as the online car sales platform is deployed fully across the 50+ dealerships in Glyn Hopkin group, with the platform managed by staff at the dealer group's head office in Romford.

Paul Stokes, head of online retailing at GForces, said: “Selling vehicles from within a dealer’s native web environment is exactly what consumers are demanding, and exactly what NetDirector® Auto-e delivers.

"The race really is now on between retailers to bring the right solution to market for them and their customers.”