German online car dealer Auto1 raises 2021 targets on strong demand

BERLIN, Nov 17 (Reuters) – German online used car seller Auto1 (AG1G.DE) raised its full-year revenue and earnings targets on Wednesday after reporting record third-quarter results thanks to strong demand, sending its shares sharply higher.

The Berlin-based company is benefiting from the increasing digitalisation in the used car trade with its platform “wirkaufendeinauto.de” and also its focus on growth in sales to private customers through its Autohero unit.

Auto1 said it now expects its 2021 revenues to come in at 4.5 billion-4.6 billion euros ($5.09 billion-$5.20 billion) compared with its previous guidance range of 4.0 billion to 4.4 billion euros.

“Our higher outlook also reflects that we are selling more higher-value cars, which is directly attributable to the success of Autohero,” finance chief Markus Boser said.

 Shares in Auto1 were up 5.5% by 0945 GMT.

The company said its third-quarter revenue rose 64% to 1.26 billion euros, the company’s highest quarterly sales since its stock exchange listing in February.

($1 = 0.8842 euros)

Reporting by Nadine Schimroszik. Writing by Zuzanna Szymanska. Editing by Jane Merriman
Source : Reuters