A US–based organisation has signalled its intention to form an association in the UK to represent the interests of the remarketing industry.

The International Automotive Remarketers’ Alliance (IARA), a not-for-profit organisation of professional vehicle remarketers, has said if there is enough interest from firms, it will establish a branch in the UK.

It states its aim is to ‘assist, educate and share knowledge with one another and our industry partners, so that each member may be empowered to achieve the fullest efficiency and most continued improvement attainable in the commerce of selling vehicles through the marketplace.

Founded in 2001, in the US, the IARA has set out to standardise issues in the industry such as benchmarking, condition reports, condition repairs, and the vehicle valuation process.

It has also developed an online remarketing orientation course, while representing members at legislative level. The IARA believes there is a gap in the market for an association representing all remarketing firms under one industry-wide umbrella in the UK.

It thinks that although associations such as the British Rental and Vehicle Leasing Association and Society of Motor Auctions do sterling work representing their sectors, there is still scope for an organisation to bring all elements of the industry together, and that the UK market could learn from best practice in the US.

For more details, visit www.iaraonline.org.