Fleets will recoup higher prices for automatics come resale time, says Autorola
The firm’s analysis shows that typically a new car fitted with an automatic gearbox can cost around £2,000 to £3,000 more than its manual equivalent. However average sale prices of automatics sold by Autorola online stood at £11,674 in 2015, whereas prices of manuals sold averaged £8,320, with the price differential of around £3,000 being retained throughout the year.
It added that one in five cars sold through Autorola’s online portal in 2015 was an automatic.
“Demand for automatics was consistently high throughout 2015 and supply relatively low compared with manuals which is why prices have been so strong,” commented Jon Mitchell, Autorola UK’s sales director.
“Typically on average an automatic is in stock three fewer days on the Autorola online sales platform than a manual which reinforces their current popularity in the trade and ultimately with motorists,” he added.