Insights managing director ATC

Automotive Trade Center: Revolutionizing the Car Sales Market with Transparency, Innovation, and Trust

Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Akiner van Schaik, the Managing Director of Automotive Trade Center (ATC), a subsidiary of VWE Automotive. ATC plays a leading role in vehicle remarketing and provides dealers worldwide with a platform to trade cars quickly, transparently, and risk-free. In this interview, we gained valuable insights into the origins of ATC, their mission and vision, and how the company is shaping the future of the automotive market through technology and data.

The Origins of VWE Automotive (VWE): From Family Business to Industry Leader Automotive Tech Company

To truly understand the power and potential of Automotive Trade Center, we need to look at its roots. ATC is a subsidiary of VWE, a prominent automotive data and services provider in the Netherlands that has been operating for over 30 years. The company was founded as a small family business by the previous owner in a charming coastal town in Noord-Holland. Over time, VWE grew from a modest car retailer to a major player in the industry.

The founder’s experience highlighted a key observation: B2B car companies  from whole Europe were traveling to the Netherlands to buy cars. Why? Because Dutch cars are known for their high quality and excellent maintenance, supported by the annual MOT (vehicle inspection) that ensures the cars are in top shape. In addition, the Netherlands’ flat roads make for an ideal environment for cars to remain in great condition. Lastly, the fact that cars could be purchased luxury tax-free made it a very attractive proposition for international B2B buyers.

Seeing the potential in this, VWE began importing and exporting cars, and soon became a major presence at the Utrecht car market, one of the largest events in the Netherlands back in the day. At its peak, the market would sell around 1,000 cars in just a single morning, with foreign traders taking up entire highways on the way there. Later on, VWE moved operations   from Utrecht to Beverwijk.

Fast forward 30 years, and VWE has grown into a modern, tech-driven company with four main platforms. VWE provides data-driven services to over 11,000 car dealers, offering platforms for managing inventory, vehicle inspections, and maintenance schedules, all built using RDW data—the Dutch government’s automotive registry.

The Four Pillars of VWE

1. Mijn VWE: The most important of VWE’s business units, Mijn VWE is a Saas and provides access to RDW services, enabling car dealers to manage their vehicle stock, advertising, track maintenance, and obtain detailed car histories.
2. FINNIK: FINNIK is a popular consumer app that helps users access detailed information about Dutch cars using license plates. The app has over 1 million users in the Netherlands and generates more than 40 million reports annually, making it a leader in the Netherlands.
3. Data Solutions and Insights: VWE collects and processes vast amounts of automotive data, both from its own platforms and from external sources. This data is then offered to corporates, automotive holdings and dealers and leasing agencies.
4. VWE Remarketing: This unit focuses on large-scale car sales and X-border activities such as import and export solutions and is responsible for the creation and operation of Automotive Trade Center, one of the fastest growing auction companies is Europe.

With a team of approximately 200 employees across the Netherlands, Germany, and France, VWE’s vision is clear: data, software, and tech for the automotive industry.

Automotive Trade Center: Fast, Transparent, and Risk-Free Vehicle Trading

At the heart of VWE Remarketing lies Automotive Trade Center (ATC). Their mission is simple but crucial: to make vehicle trading fast, transparent, and risk-free. This approach is especially important when it comes to international trade, where buyers may be thousands of kilometers away. ATC ensures that when you purchase a car, it’s thoroughly inspected and all details are transparently displayed on the platform.

Working with trusted inspection partners like Macadam, Decra, and their own in-house Car inspection company, ATC ensures that every vehicle is thoroughly checked before being listed for sale. This approach helps to build trust with buyers, knowing that the cars listed on the platform have undergone stringent inspections.

ATC’s platform hosts a wide range of vehicles, from retail cars to a significant number of lease vehicles—around 4,000 to 5,000 at any given time. The platform offers full transparency, with detailed inspection reports and pricing information to help dealers make informed decisions.

Pricing Transparency and Loyalty Benefits

One of the key aspects of ATC’s platform is its transparent pricing model. Unlike many competitors, ATC ensures that the price you see is the price you pay. There are no hidden fees or unexpected costs. The company charges a country fee and a buyer fee, both of which are clearly outlined during the bidding process.

For regular buyers, ATC offers a tiered loyalty program based on the volume of cars purchased each month. Depending on the number of vehicles bought, dealers can earn loyalty bonuses of up to €20 per car. This system ensures that loyal clients are rewarded for their continued business.

Handling Claims and Exceptional Customer Service

In the event that a car doesn’t meet expectations, ATC has a clear claims policy to handle such situations. If a vehicle arrives later than expected or has issues that weren’t disclosed in the listing, dealers have up to 48 hours to submit a claim. However, the company stresses the importance of adhering to these timelines, as they are key to maintaining fairness and transparency.

“We always handle claims case by case,” explained Akiner. “If there’s a significant delay, we often offer a gesture, such as a discount, to make things right.” While the company is flexible with its customers, they also have policies in place to prevent misuse of the claims system.

ATC’s customer service team, including account managers who speak multiple languages, provides full support throughout the process, from bidding to post-purchase follow-up. This personalized service ensures that clients can resolve any issues efficiently and receive the best possible guidance.

A Personal Approach to Business

For high-volume clients, ATC believes in the importance of personal relationships. Akiner shared, “If you’re a client buying 500-600 cars per year, we think it’s important to meet face-to-face at least once a year.” The company offers clients the chance to visit their offices in the Netherlands, Germany, or France for personal meetings, which helps build stronger relationships and trust.

The Future of Vehicle Remarketing

Looking ahead, ATC is focused on further integrating technology into its services. The company is exploring the possibility of offering API connections for large-scale clients and AI based solutions for to innovate its platform to meet the evolving needs of the automotive industry.

Conclusion

Automotive Trade Center is leading the way in transforming vehicle remarketing with its transparent, tech-driven platform that ensures speed, reliability, and customer satisfaction. By focusing on data, thorough inspections, and personalized service, ATC has become a trusted partner for dealers across Europe. Their approach to making car trading fast, transparent, and risk-free is setting a new standard in the industry.