Oklahoma Auto Exchange and Big Valley Auto Auction in Texas have joined ServNet, announced Ryan Clark, the group’s president.
The two independent auctions command key locations in the Southwest: Big Valley Auto Auction in Donna, Texas; and Oklahoma Auto Exchange in Oklahoma City, Okla.
“ServNet is happy to announce the addition of Oklahoma Auto Exchange and Big Valley Auto Auction to our roster of the country’s premier independent auctions,” said Clark. “Both these auctions have established themselves as key forces in their market areas, offering top-quality auction services in outstanding auction facilities. We have long admired both of these family-owned and operated business for their dedication to the industry and their culture of customer service. Both auctions will be great assets to ServNet, and we are pleased to include them in the ServNet family.”
Big Valley Auto Auction is owned by the father/daughter team of Bernard Watson and Lisa Franz, who founded the facility in 2008 to serve Texas’s Rio Grande Valley. The operation has grown to include new and used car dealers from throughout the region, along with fleet/lease and repo accounts. In 2023, the auction was named Exeter’s Auction of Excellence. Situated on 30 acres, Big Valley Auto Auction runs over 500 vehicles on four lanes every Thursday at 9:30 am, with both in-lane and online selling. The facility includes detail and reconditioning facilities, and full transportation services.
“We are both honored and excited to count ourselves among the ServNet Auctions,” said Franz, who serves as the auction’s General Manager. “We admire the other auctions in the group and know them to be the best in the country. We are eager to learn from them, as well as to contribute our understanding of the market and our sense of hospitality and customer service.”
Oklahoma Auto Exchange is a multi-generational family business owned by Mike Clopton and his son, Kyle Clopton. Established in 2004, Oklahoma Auto Exchange offers over 650 vehicles from new and used car dealers and commercial accounts every Wednesday on four auction lanes. The facility is unique to the region in that it is completely enclosed to protect vehicles and customers from Oklahoma’s unpredictable weather. The physical footprint includes 125,000 square feet of indoor storage and auction space, situated on 18 acres of land. The auction has a six-bay detail and reconditioning shop, offers light mechanical services and in-house transportation, and includes a 2,500 square foot dealers’ lounge.
“We’ve known ServNet to be the Gold Standard of independent auctions, and we’re thrilled to join their ranks,” said Kyle Clopton, the auction’s general manager. “It’s an exciting move for us to grow our business in relationship with the other ServNet auctions owners, who are among the most respected and knowledgeable people in the industry.”