All fleet sales at Manheim’s seven-acre Coventry centre are to end after the auction giant confirmed that it is moving the fleet sales operation to a massive new site at Bruntingthorpe.

Manheim’s move to Bruntingthorpe, which has a capacity to hold 20,000 vehicles, ousted Wilsons Auctions, which had only been operating from the midlands site since March 2009.

The Northern Ireland-based auction company stressed it is committed to its English operations.

“Wilsons Auction has a number of exciting developments planned for 2010,” said Peter Johnston, Wilsons’ group operations director.

“We look forward to announcing the details of our plans soon.”

Manheim’s decision to take over the 30,000sq.ft site, which has facilities including a mechanical and bodywork repair centre, means it now has a major remarketing and auction centre in the east midlands.

As a result, it feared there would be competition between the new site and Coventry if Coventry continued to sell the 25,000 fleet vehicles it auctions each year.

Some staff at Coventry will move to the new site, but Manheim has confirmed none will be laid off.

“With the launch of the new auction programme at Bruntingthorpe, it is our intention to move the current fleet sales programme at Manheim Auctions Coventry across to the new super-centre,” a Manheim spokesman told Fleet News.

“This will…avoid any possibility of competing auction sales.”

Manheim said it intends to expand the auction programme at Bruntingthorpe, which it now has the option to remain at for 10 years, throughout 2010.

It said there are no plans to close the Coventry facility.

“Our strategy of opening a new major auction centre in the Midlands could clearly not be achieved by using the Coventry site, due to space restrictions,” said the spokesman.

“Nevertheless, with the diverse range of products Manheim currently offers, we now have the opportunity to consider how we may best use the facility, in line with our plans to further develop our specialist remarketing services and continue to maintain our presence in this very convenient location.”