Almost 100 cars sold at first ever LeasePlan auction in Switzerland

In a first for Switzerland, the local LeasePlan subsidiary held a live auction of end-of-lease vehicles on 6 November. Close to 100 vehicles went under the hammer at the Galliker Car Center in Nebikon.  

LeasePlan, Switzerland's market leader in full-service leasing, invited 120 national and international car dealers to Nebikon, between Luzern and Basel, to bid on a total of 99 vehicles, in a variety of segments, from LCVs to premium and sports cars. The participants, who included both franchise and second-hand dealers, had the opportunity to personally inspect the vehicles before the auction. 

The event was a success: 95 vehicles were sold, with Wolfgang E. Reinhold, Senior VP Car Remarketing, Operations & Procurement at LeasePlan International wielding the auction hammer. Doubtlessly, Mr. Reinhold's long auctioneering experience and somewhat caustic manner contributed to the event's success. 

“We are the first leasing company ever in Switzerland to offer a cars at a live auction, a fact that was well received by the dealers present – for most of whom this was the first live auction too”, said Michel Ballistreri, Operations Director at LeasePlan Switzerland. The positive feedback has LeasePlan evaluating whether to repeat the live auction next year – as an addition to its weekly online auctions.