MITSUBISHI Motors is to offer cut-price, late registration used cars for sale to private buyers in a new bid to fight off competition from grey and parallel importers. The official UK importer is planning a series of special sales at auction sites around Britain, each staffed by local Mitsubishi dealership personnel, to help establish or maintain direct dealer-customer relationships.

Up to 300 cars will be available at each, all low mileage and manufacturer warranted. Trade-ins of all makes will be accepted and buyers will be offered finance packages on-site if required. Denis Murphy, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: 'These are not auctions. They are off-site selling events for used cars which will save the customer thousands of pounds and provide them with a high quality vehicle. We will give customers what they want, which, as we all know, is lower purchase prices.'

Exactly what discounts buyers will be offered has not been revealed, but Mitsubishi is up against unofficial car import companies claiming savings of up to £5,000 compared to UK official list prices. The first sales are to be held at Mansfield on March 24, 25 and 26, in Bristol on March 31 and in Leeds on April, 7, 8 and 9. Further dates and venues will be announced by the end of May.