Aston Barclay is expanding its current online sales schedule with a new weekly digital auction sale programme hosted by live auctioneers.

The weekly digital auction sale programme extends Aston Barclay’s current online sales schedule

The business has already sold over 1,000 used cars online during the first seven weeks of the lockdown period.

The new programme, which starts on Monday 18 May, will be complemented by over 500 cars being offered for sale online 24/7 on a bid-and-buy basis.

The expanded measures have been introduced based on the results of a major buyer survey, which predicts a healthy demand for used cars once dealers get back to work full time.

Carried out following the Prime Minister’s updated lockdown guidance on 10 May, the research found 52% of buyers said they are expecting a strong demand for used cars as soon as dealers open for business, with four out of every five (80%) expecting to buy up to 30 used cars during the next month. These statistics match closely buyers’ pre-pandemic buying patterns.

More than half (59%) said they would be buying stock in the £5-15,000 price bracket, while buyers also predict SUVs will retain their popularity in the market.

Nearly half (44.9%) of dealers said they will be buying stock online once the market gets back to normal.

The new Aston Barclay programme will fully comply with social distancing rules; no physical buyers will be allowed on site to inspect or bid on stock. Even when social distancing is relaxed, the plan is to only allow a restricted number of physical buyers attending each sale to maximise on site safety.

Following auctions, buyers will be able to visit its six centres to collect and pay for bought vehicles in strictly controlled, pre-arranged slots, keeping auctions contact-free.

Neil Hodson, Aston Barclay’s group chief executive, said: “Every part of our recent business review focuses on what the new future will look like to enforce the safety of our colleagues, buyers and vendors. Combine that with the results from the buyer survey where the industry is predicting a healthy used car market in place from the off, we believe we are in a good place and ready to play our role in supporting the industry as it returns to work.”