Issues in vehicle logistics and storage will be under discussion at the next member meeting of the Vehicle Remarketing Association.
Taking place at Cox Automotive, Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, on Thursday 14 May, it will debate the impact of portside facilities operating at capacity and a subsequent shortage of space inland.
Tom Marley, director of digital wholesale at Cox Automotive Europe, will provide an oversight of the situation, followed by an expert panel featuring James Hopkins, managing director at DMN Logistics and Simon Jackson, managing director at Vehicle Quality Services.
The event will also include an extensive interview with VRA legal counsel Jonathan Butler, partner at Geldards, on the implications of the recently announced Financial Conduct Authority motor finance redress scheme.
There will also be a section on how motor manufacturers are handling over-the-air vehicle updates and support for older car and van apps, featuring Mark Fretwell, CEO of One Auto API.
Finally, Rupert Pontin, head of insight and communications at Brego, will present on the latest developments in the new and used vehicle sectors.
Philip Nothard, chair at the VRA, said, “Logistics and storage are a growing issue for our members. Facilities across the country often operate at capacity, and the conflict in Iran further reduces the availability of portside space.
“Being able to move vehicles around in a timely manner and securely store them when needed are central to remarketing activity, so these emerging issues are a key topic for discussion and we’re pleased to be able to include some of the sector’s leading voices to take part in our discussion.
“We’ll also be examining the all-important FCA redress scheme and tackling another topic rising up the remarketing agenda – how manufacturer OTA updates and app support are affecting vehicle capabilities over time.”
The May meeting is the third of five for VRA members in 2026, in addition to the organisation’s Automotive Summit, planned for November.
Philip added: “Our most recent VRA member meeting, in March, was our best-attended ever. There is a genuine sense of momentum behind the organisation and its activities, and these events provide a vibrant, collegiate forum for discussion of essential remarketing issues.”
