Volkswagen Scoops Top Accolade at Car Dealer Used Car Awards

MILTON KEYNES, UK -- December 2, 2014: Volkswagen scooped the top manufacturer award at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards, sponsored by Black Horse. The brand won the Best Manufacturer Scheme of the Year for its Das WeltAuto programme, and was highly commended for its used car website. The Golf was Used Car of the Year runner up. In the dealer categories, Wrexham Volkswagen won Used Car Sales Team of the Year, while Wrexham’s Jane Hargreaves was named Used Car Dealer Principal of the Year. The awards were presented at a ceremony held in London last night.

Collecting the award on behalf of Volkswagen was Ian Plummer, Volkswagen UK’s Head of Sales Operations, who said: ‘Das WeltAuto is now an established used car ‘brand’ for Volkswagen and stands for used cars customers can trust – guaranteed. Buying a car with the Das WeltAuto seal of approval is designed to give customers the same exceptional level of experience as a new car customer, with complete confidence and peace of mind.’

Standard elements of all Das WeltAuto approved cars include 142 pre-sale checks, a minimum 12 month warranty, 30 day/1000 mile 'No Quibble' Exchange Policy, minimum 12 months roadside assistance for the UK and Europe, independent vehicle history and mileage tests, service history checks and seven days free Volkswagen insurance.

New options introduced this year include used car finance and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) offers, used car events and integration of the used car programme into Volkswagen’s Blended Retailing Strategy. Used car PCP offers are driving record numbers of buyers to purchase a used car on finance; now over 50 per cent of Volkswagen’s used vehicles finance sales are on PCP. With every used car PCP, customers also receive three years free servicing for their car, guaranteeing peace of mind and the highest quality Volkswagen workmanship.

Commenting on the win, James Baggott, Managing Director of Blackball Media and publishers of Car Dealer magazine, said: Our winner grabs the top spot thanks to a comprehensive used car package. Volkswagen offers one of the most thorough used car checks in the business, has a brilliantly simple online search facility and a great selection of models to choose from.’

Volkswagen was also Highly Commended as runner up in the Manufacturer Used Car Website of the Year category. The Das WeltAuto website – Volkswagen Used Cars – is now more comprehensive and easy to use than ever, incorporating a fully responsive (for all devices) used car locator with a ‘make an offer’ function. Searching for a car is easy and when customers have found one that suits, they are given contact details and a map for the Retailer, full information on the car, its features and tech spec, a reminder of all the standard Das WeltAuto features and guarantees plus the facility to generate a finance quote and understand what their monthly payments would be. The website is now a genuine one-stop-shop for used car sales and enquiries.

Part exchange is also often a key part of used car purchasing and to that end, Volkswagen has incorporated a new tool in association with BCA onto its sales staff’s iPads which are used throughout the digital showroom experience.

Plummer adds: ‘Most customers start their journey to a used car purchase on the sofa at home so we knew we needed to integrate more seamlessly the online experience with the showroom reality. I’m proud that Car Dealer magazine has recognised our website and scheme and am sure this endorsement will encourage more customers to explore the benefits of buying a used Volkswagen from one of our Das WeltAuto Retailers.’