A NEW company is set to launch a foray in the remarketing arena and is aiming for a large slice of the 1.4 million cars disposed of every year by vehicle manufacturers.

Many of these cars are classed as demonstrators, company cars provided to their own employees and those supplied to the press for test purposes.

The new company, called First Fleet, has been created by automotive logistics supplier AutoLogic.

Executives say the new company was a natural extension to the AutoLogic business, which already has long-standing relationships with vehicle manufacturers, rental companies and contract hire and leasing companies.

The launch of First Fleet marks the return to the fleet industry of Gerry Lynch, who heads it as managing director.

He has previously held senior positions with ADT/BCA Auctions, Eurofleet and more recently Inchcape Automotive, which he left in 2004.

Lynch said: ‘Currently, the vehicle remarketing supplier sector is extremely fragmented with some companies focusing on logistics and some on vehicle remarketing, while some have recently also moved in to refurbishment.’

Lynch said that by bringing together related services, First Fleet covers in-life vehicle management, new and used vehicle inspections, vehicle refurbishment and the physical and electronic remarketing of end-of-contract vehicles.

He added: ‘Our research tells us that customers want one company which can provide a wholly integrated portfolio of management and data services that cover the complete lifecycle of their vehicles.

‘AutoLogic is one of the few companies with the scope, range of skills and technological know-how to provide that cradle-to-grave service.

‘My role is to bring together the people and skills to simplify the way we provide these services to customers and capitalise on the data that shows exactly what has happened during the lifecycle of each vehicle.’

Lynch said the company had no plans to create its own auction centres and would instead use those offered by other major remarketing firms.