06 August 2012

The pre-reg discussion within the industry, triggered by Vertu Motors’ stock exchange statement, continues this week with another tip-off.

It seems pre-registered or nearly-new BMWs are like Olympic gold medals or buses, you wait ages and then several come along at once.

Last week we were tipped-off that Sytner.co.uk is displaying more than 300 BMW 3-series with less than 20 miles showing.

Now we’re being told that BMW will be requiring each dealer to take a set number of ex-Olympic cars when they’re de-fleeted over the coming weeks and months. Well over half of the 4,000-strong Olympic fleet will be 3- and 5-series models.

In fact, my sources tell me the full 4,000 fleet breaks down like this:

• 1,550 320ed
• 800 assorted Citroen vans and MPVs
• 700 520ed
• 300 318d Touring
• 200 Mini Countryman
• 450 Other BMWs such as X3, X5 and some EVs

Even if the disposal of these cars is carried out over a few months, it’s still going to hurt values and slow sales of new cars as retail buyers opt for nearly-new.

On Monday morning the July sales figures will be revealed. Auto Retail Network members we’ve spoken to say it’s a typical July, in other words; fairly quiet, and tracking inline with last year.

The question we’ll be asking the SMMT, when the figures are out, is how many of the new cars registered have found ‘real’ owners.

Tristan Young
Editorial Director
Auto Retail Network
 

Tags: Blog, BMW, forced registration, nearly new, pre-registration, sales