Octopus Electric Vehicles (Octopus EV), the UK’s largest EV only leasing business, has signed with Dealer Auction, the UK’s leading digital remarketing platform, to create an digital marketplace for its used electric vehicles (EVs).
Dealer Auction will provide a bespoke storefront and closed network experience for Octopus’ trade EV sales, which will feature both vans and cars from brands such as BMW, Audi, Tesla and Polestar.
The deal is a boost for the UK’s fast-growing used market for electric cars, which grew by 57% in Q3 of 20241.
Dealer Auction has also seen significant growth in its electric buyer base in recent years to over 1,300 active buyers. In 2024 it saw a 65% increase in alternative fuelled and EV sales across its platform, with recent successes launching Novuna and Onto’s EV stock. These active buyers were key in Octopus EV’s decision to partner with Dealer Auction, in addition to several recommendations.
Sinead Readman, Director of Fleet Operations at Octopus Electric Vehicles said: “The leasing market for EVs is booming in the UK and we’re now seeing those cars enter the second-hand market, which is a great thing for drivers. Dealer Auction is the ideal partner for launching our new digital marketplace. Its established network of EV buyers gave us confidence that we will be getting our high-quality vehicles in front of the right people.”
Dave Pretty, Head of OEM & Fleet at Dealer Auction said: “Selling electric vehicles is a new, unique challenge for the automotive sector. We’ve invested a lot of time to finding the right solution for marketing these vehicles and attracting the right buyers. This coupled with the added control we give fleets to decide how they sell, whether it’s through ‘buy it now’ options or timed auction, makes us the partner of choice for trade EV sales in the UK. We are proud that this has been recognised by an established brand such as Octopus and we look forward to working closely with the team to achieve new levels of efficiency, ease and profit.”
Octopus EV sales launch on the Dealer Auction platform on 10 February 2025. The first sale will see 50 hand-picked vehicles available to purchase.
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Notes to editors
1 SMMT, Pre-loved EVs soar to record levels as used car market goes green, November 2024
About Octopus EV
Octopus Electric Vehicles, part of the Octopus Energy Group, was launched in 2018 to make it easy for drivers to make that switch to clean, electric transport. With over 85 electric cars now available from 28 different brands, Octopus Electric Vehicles’ team provides everything drivers need to take the road in a new EV.
Offering an all-in-one service, Octopus lease the cars, install charge points, provide specialist EV energy tariffs, and offer access to over 900,000 public charge points across Europe via Octopus Electroverse – all with a 5* rating on Trustpilot.
Octopus Electric Vehicles also specialises in salary sacrifice schemes – an employee benefit that makes driving a brand new electric car cheaper than the petrol or diesel equivalent through tax savings. Placing customer experience first, Octopus Electric Vehicles has designed the scheme to be simple for an employer to set up and run, and support them at every step. Drivers typically save between 30-40% every month on the cost of their EV; and at zero-cost for an employer to set up, it’s great for their team, their hiring and retention, and for their sustainability goals.
More information can be found at www.octopusev.com
About Dealer Auction
Dealer Auction is the UK’s leading digital remarketing platform. We give buyers and sellers more choice, better insight and greater margins. Dealer Auction is an independent company, created through a joint venture between Cox Automotive and Auto Trader. For more information, visit www.dealerauction.co.uk.
