Automotive, a nationwide auction chain headquartered in Nashville, has deployed Voxware’s Mobile Voice Pak (MVP) at a number of its 28 auctions. Before cars are consigned for auction, ADT personnel must formally receive and inspect the cars as they are placed into ADT inventory. Voxware’s MVP allows ADT personnel, via voice input, to enter information faster. The data can be stored or transferred via fax or e-mail.

PADE Holds First Internet Auction with Online Ringman

YORK, PA — Online bidders from Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania on May 26, 1999 took part in the first live Internet sale using Online Ringman software. The auction took place at Pennsylvania Auto Dealers’ Exchange (PADE). More than 200 fleet vehicles from RSA, First Union and GE Capital Fleet Services were offered at the sale. Seven people logged in to the auction, five placed bids, and two bought vehicles. PADE held another auction on June 23, 1999. This time 15 people logged in, with RSA, First Union and GE Capital Fleet Services sending 300 vehicles to the block.

Cascade Auto Auction Expands For VCI/Audi Sale

PORTLAND, OR – Brasher’s Cascade Auto Auction completed a major shop expansion as part of its preparations for its first Volkswagen Credit/Audi Financial sale in June 1999. According to General Manager Jerry Hinton, the shop expansion has tripled the facility’s capacity in the body and paint shop and doubled the capacity in the mechanical shop. The auction expects 175 to 200 VCI/Audi units per month.

GM Ties Used-Car Store To Internet

DETROIT – General Motors is preparing to test-market the nation’s first factory-branded, Internet-based, used-vehicle store. The goal of GM DriverSite is to generate business for GM and its dealers that they otherwise would not have attracted. GM DriverSite will be a combination website and store in a strip mall in Houston. Consumers will be able to browse GM’s off-lease used-vehicle inventory online and actually view the vehicles at the store.

AutoNation Lets Drivers Buy Vehicles Online

DEARBORN, MI – AutoNation launched an Internet site at AutoNationDirect.com that lets people buy vehicles from the company’s network of more than 400 new- and used-car dealerships. AutoNation will sell $750 million in vehicles on the Internet this year and forecasts online sales to grow to $3 billion in 2001.

New Programs for Fleet Lease Remarketing

MARIETTA, GA — Fleet Lease Remarketing Services has set up a secure website for its clients, who can now see the status of any vehicles they’ve assigned Fleet Lease Remarketing Services to buy, said Vice President of Remarketing Brian Garner. Fleet Lease Remarketing has also started doing Internet auctions for commercial businesses and municipalities. Fleet Lease Remarketing will put a company’s vehicles on a private website for the client, and dealers can view the vehicles and make bids online.

Auction Breaks Company Records for Sales

SPOKANE, WA – Dealers Auto Auction of Spokane’s Big Sky Sale posted consignments of nearly 2,800 vehicles, and sales of 1,594 units, both records for a single sale at the facility. The consignment included 600 fleet and lease vehicles, and a record 2,200 dealer consignments. Of the total vehicles offered for sale, approximately 1,300 were trucks, including 4x4s and sport/utility vehicles. The Big Sky Sale marked the conclusion of an expansion project that added a new test track and 10 acres of paved parking.

US Bancorp Signs With Auto Auction Services Corp.

WILMETTE, IL – US Bancorp has launched an Internet communications program using Auto Auction Services Corp.’s (AASC) website, www.aascend.com. US Bancorp sells repossessions and off-lease units through auto auctions across the U.S. AASC’s website has been developed to speed the flow of communication between consignor and auction via a non-proprietary Internet platform. AASC’s inventory management system, which is accessed through the website, provides an auction consignor with electronic condition reports with digital photos, the capacity to track vehicles through the various stages of liquidation, and the ability to submit repair authorizations and set floor prices online.

PAR Offers Canadian Importation, Changes Name

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Professional Auto Remarketing has changed its name to PAR North America, a move that coincides with its newest product offering: full service Canadian importation. PAR North America’s most recent endeavor, the Canadian import division, offers its clients all aspects of vehicle importation services, including Canadian or U.S. marshaling sites, transportation, registration to title transfer, registered import services, and U.S. remarketing. PAR North America is a subsidiary of Adesa Corp.

Yahoo! Autos to FeatureAutobytel.com Vehicles

IRVINE, CA — Autobytel.com, a provider of automotive e-commerce and services, has entered into an agreement with Yahoo! Inc. to offer thousands of certified pre-owned vehicles for sale through Yahoo! Autos (http://autos.yahoo. com), a comprehensive, free roadmap for researching, buying, selling and finding information on maintaining new and used cars in one central place on the Web. Through the agreement, Yahoo! Autos shoppers will have easy access to Autobytel.com’s digital images of the actual pre-owned vehicles as they appear, taking the guesswork out of used-car shopping. Each car or truck will pass a 135-point certification program and will be backed by a three-month/3,000 mile limited warranty, a 72-hour money-back return policy and a nationwide travel repair program.

Adesa Canada Moves Headquarters To Toronto

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — Adesa’s Canadian corporate offices have been relocated to Mississauga, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. Adesa Canada is currently housed within Adesa Ottawa’s auction facility. Adesa currently owns 20 percent of Impact Salvage Auctions, which will increase to 100-percent ownership through 2001. "There is a tremendous amount of synergy between the two companies," says Brian Warner, president & CEO for Adesa Canada. Impact Salvage Auctions operates 11 auctions across Canada, providing remarketing services to insurance companies and corporate accounts with damaged vehicles. Adesa Canada, a subsidiary of Adesa Corp., provides wholesale vehicle remarketing and related services, including Adesa wholesale auctions, Impact Salvage Auctions, Bytown Transport and Professional Auto Remarketing.

Southern States Auction Holds ADT Certified Sale

NASHVILLE, TN —- Southern States Vehicle Auction on June 16, 1999 auctioned 110 vehicles through ADT Certified, a 100-percent sale. Racecar driver Bobby Allison was on hand for the event and drove the first car through the auction lane. ADT Certified is ADT Automotive’s brand of certified used vehicles. Since its April 13, 1999 debut at Arena Auto Auction, the program has had three 100-percent sales of certified vehicles.

Manheim Buys Dentmaster Holdings in UK

LONDON – Manheim Auctions has acquired the UK-based paintless dent removal company Dentmaster Holdings through its own paintless dent removal company, Dent Wizard International of St. Louis. Manheim bought controlling interest in Dent Wizard in October 1998.

Market Conditions

Summer Market Stays Strong with No Seasonal Adjustment

By Mike Antich The used-vehicle market continues to be strong with no summertime seasonal adjustments in prices being experienced for most fleet vehicles. "The seasonal adjustments that you would expect to see in mid-June and July did not occur," said Scott Webber, used-car manager for AMI Leasing in Worcester, MA. "Vehicles are bringing in the same money as they were in the prior 90 days." Likewise, used-vehicle dealers are reporting that first quarter retail sales have been stronger than anticipated, although financing is more difficult to obtain for C and D paper customers, the typical buyers of out-of-service fleet vehicles. Nonetheless, the wholesale market remains strong throughout the country, with the strongest regional markets being in the Northwest and Northeast. Two key reasons for the robust used-vehicle market are the vibrant national economy and high consumer confidence, said Webber. "I foresee current market conditions continuing right up to the point that the 2000-model-year vehicles start rolling out; then we’ll see adjustments in prices." The best returns against original cost are with full-size SUVs, eight-passenger minivans, any type of cargo van (with or without miles), and diesel-powered light-duty trucks. "There is a terrific resale market for diesel trucks," said Webber. "As companies keep trucks longer because of their high acquisition cost, they are buying diesels to get longer service lives from these trucks." Webber foresees the fall used-vehicle market continuing to be strong, "so long as the leading economic factors don’t change." To maximize resale values, AMI is focusing its telemarketing efforts on increasing driver sales and selling to courtesy dealers who are storing off-lease vehicles on their lots while they await transport to auctions.