
Greater Rockford Auto Auction, an independent auto auction in Illinois, is proud to celebrate 51 years in the auction business at the GRAA’lapalooza Anniversary Sale. The two-day event will take place June 24-25. GRAA is thrilled to announce the 2025 GRAA’lapalooza headliner will be American alternative rock band, Gin Blossoms. The band rose to prominence following the 1992 release of their first major label debut album, “New Miserable Experience,” and the first single released from that album, “Hey Jealousy” became a Top 25 hit and went gold. In recent years the Gin Blossoms have shared the stage with Collective Soul, Barenaked Ladies, and Hootie & The Blowfish. Gin Blossoms will take the stage on Tuesday, June 24th with other hits like “Allison Road,” “Until I Fall Away,” “Follow You Down,” and more.
“We are honored to celebrate 51 years at a GRAA’lapalooza event that is bigger and better than ever,” says Chad Anderson, GRAA General Manager. “We are excited to welcome Gin Blossoms to the GRAA’lapalooza stage Tuesday night.”
The event will kick off at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24th with 200+ vehicles running. Following the sale there will be food and drinks provided by local food trucks. Gin Blossoms will take the GRAA’lapalooza stage at 7 p.m. The celebration will not stop there, Wednesday, June 25th GRAA will welcome customers back for the main auction event with over 1,000 vehicles running from Fleet/ Lease and Dealer consignors. Following the sale guests will have the chance to win big as $10,000 in prizes are given away.
Black Book, provider of used vehicle valuations and residual value forecast solutions, released its Used Vehicle Retention Index for February 2025.The seasonally adjusted Index increased 0.1% (0.1 points) to 146.4 from January 2025 (146.3), which is 2.7% below where it was at the same time in 2024.
“February began with significant uncertainty regarding the potential tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, but an extension to March provided some relief,” stated Laura Wehunt, vice president of data & analytics. “Auction activity in February was robust, with a conversion rate averaging 59% and most segments experiencing less than typical depreciation for this time of year. As the month ended, the first indications of spring appeared, with a few segments showing early springtime increases in values.”
The Black Book Used Vehicle Retention Index is calculated using Black Book’s published Wholesale Average value on two- to six-year-old used vehicles, as a percent of original typically equipped MSRP. It is weighted based on registration volume and adjusted for seasonality, vehicle age, mileage, and condition. The Index offers an accurate, representative, and unbiased view of the strength of today’s used vehicle market values.
AutoNation, one of the largest auto retailers in the U.S., announced the grand opening of AutoNation USA stores in Denton and Houston, the company’s seventh and eighth pre-owned vehicle retail stores in Texas, bringing the total number to 26 nationwide.
Statewide, AutoNation USA now operates three stores in the greater Houston area, two in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and one each in Austin, Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
Bringing 35 new jobs to the area and encompassing 18,306 square feet, AutoNation USA Denton joins AutoNation USA Plano in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, along with more than a dozen new vehicle dealerships including Audi, BMW, Ford, Porsche, MINI, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM.
In Houston, the new 18,426-square-foot AutoNation USA Gulf Freeway store brings more than 36 jobs to the area and joins AutoNation USA stores in Houston and Katy, along with a dozen new vehicle dealerships, including BMW, Ford, Toyota, MINI, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz.
In celebration of the stores’ grand openings, AutoNation honored the Texas chapter of the American Cancer Society as its DRV PNK partner. DRV PNK is AutoNation’s largest social impact investment and is the cornerstone of the company’s philanthropic strategy to support cancer-related causes.
RB Global Inc., a global marketplace for insights, services and transaction solutions for commercial assets and vehicles, announced that Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers sold 16,000+ equipment items, trucks and vehicles at its Feb. 17-21 premier global auction event in Orlando, Fla, generating over $250 million in gross transaction value (GTV).
The premier global auction event attracted 19,000+ people from 75+ countries, with approximately 88% of the equipment selling to U.S. buyers, including 23% purchased by Floridians. The remaining 12% of the equipment was purchased by international buyers from as far away as Australia, Singapore and Israel.
Featured equipment sold during the auction includes:
“I want to offer a huge thank you to our customers participating onsite and online for providing the largest selection of equipment available for sale at one time and making this year’s premier global auction in Orlando a major success,” said Jeff Jeter, chief revenue officer at RB Global. “With 16,000+ equipment items sold between our Orlando lot and through our Virtual Sales Option featuring IronClad Assurance, we continue to grow our global buyer base and provide valuable returns to our sellers.”
Fredrick “Frankie” Lingle has been selected as a recipient of the Ron Hope Memorial Scholarship for the Auction Academy, in addition to Abigail Balk from Greater Rockford Auto Auction. Lingle will participate in Class 9 of the Academy, and Balk will participate in Class 10. Lingle is currently the Fleet Manager at Greensboro Auto Auction (GAA).
Lingle has been in the auction industry for 10 years, all at Greensboro Auto Auction. He started as a photographer, taking thousands of pictures for the weekly sales. He then began helping with accounting and worked his way up to become an Account Coordinator, Assistant Fleet Manager, and then Fleet Manager.
“We congratulate Fredrick on receiving the Ron Hope Scholarship,” said Houston Gordon, general manager of Greensboro Auto Auction. “His dedication, hard work, and commitment to GAA over the past 10 years has truly made a difference. We are very thankful to see Fredrick be able to partake in the Auction Academy program. Auction Academy is something truly special within our industry, so my advice to Fredrick is to take it all in, ask a lot of questions, and enjoy.”
NAAA established the scholarship last year to honor the legacy of Ron Hope, who worked in the auto auction industry for over 50 years and founded CARS Recon Inc. Hope was passionate about NAAA and its mission to give back to its members. Throughout his entire career, he was an advocate for NAAA and was a strong supporter of Auction Academy.
Cockroaches. That’s how the NAAA Cybersecurity Task Force describes the criminals who digitally target dealers and consumers. The NAAA’s Cybersecurity Essentials for Auctions shared some examples of real-life incidents to spread awareness of cybercrime and fraud and how to protect yourself.
Once the criminals have access to an entities’ system, they act like cockroaches who won’t go away. Once detected, they often pop up again with a variation of their name or fraudulent dealer license until they are caught again, and they tend to be organized crime syndicates that are difficult to be linked and tracked by investigators.
In one recent example, a bad actor convinced a dealer to be added to his account. Once this happens, the bad actor has access to all payment information and can buy vehicles on the unsuspecting dealer’s behalf. In this instance, 45 vehicles were purchased in a matter of days with some having a value as high as $50,000.
Fraud can also happen with transport as well. In this same case where 45 vehicles were stolen, a fraudulent transporter with forged credentials showed up with a “follower” car that didn’t have license plates and looked suspicious. Fraud can also happen when pickup documentation is manipulated.
The industry has responded to this through training and changing processes, but it is always important to keep in mind that the thieves try to be one step ahead.
As a reminder, the NAAA Cybersecurity Task Force put together a Cybersecurity Essentials for Auctions document to share fundamental steps our members can take to protect against cybercrime.
The Task Force will continue to share information on a regular basis, and they encourage everyone to register for NAAA’s 2025 Spring Remarketing Exchange (SRE), which will be held April 22-24 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel. They plan on holding a session specifically focused on cybersecurity that will provide valuable takeaways for members in attendance. You won’t want to miss that interactive session. Register for the SRE by clicking here.
Carvana Co. announced plans for an auction and reconditioning ‘Megasite’ integration in Indianapolis. This effort will bring Carvana’s Inspection and Reconditioning Center (IRC) capabilities to the existing ADESA Indianapolis wholesale auction site, while maintaining digital and in-lane auction operations. The integrated site will expand Carvana’s overall production capacity and enrich its offerings for both retail and wholesale customers in the Indianapolis area.
Located in Plainfield, Ind., ADESA Indianapolis covers more than 100 acres with almost 12,000 parking spaces, offering substantial infrastructure to accommodate Carvana’s inspection and reconditioning activities alongside existing wholesale auction operations. Carvana has already started hiring new associates at this facility and expects the integration of IRC capabilities to create approximately 200 new local jobs over time.
“The Indianapolis area has served as ADESA’s headquarters for more than thirty years, and we are proud to deepen our operational presence and team in this market by integrating Carvana IRC capabilities with our existing wholesale auction,” said Mike Caggiano, ADESA’s executive vice president of operations. “The Megasite integration leverages Carvana and ADESA’s combined infrastructure to improve our offering for local retail and wholesale customers while also creating many new entry level and skilled jobs in the community.”
Introducing Carvana IRC capabilities to ADESA Indianapolis increases Carvana’s total reconditioning capacity, improving selection for all customers nationwide. Creating a new pool of retail inventory in the Indianapolis area also makes Carvana’s delivery network more efficient while providing local customers access to more vehicles with as-soon-as same-day delivery times. Wholesale customers will benefit from even more robust auction operations, now complemented by on-site reconditioning services.
United Auto Credit Corporation named Carolina Auto Auction as the recipient of its 2024 Auction of the Year award. This honor is given to the auction that demonstrates superior performance, exceptional service, and a strong commitment to supporting United Auto Credit’s remarketing efforts. Carolina Auto Auction has been a loyal partner for many years, and this well-deserved recognition reflects their outstanding performance and dedication.
UACC scores auctions throughout the year based on sale conversion, retention, and operational efficiency. The auction with the highest average score earns the Auction of the Year title, and Carolina Auto Auction’s standout performance made them the clear winner.
“Carolina Auto Auction has been a trusted and valued partner, consistently delivering exceptional results through their professionalism, efficiency, and customer-first approach,” said Scott Mousaw, vice president of servicing operations at United Auto Credit. “Their team’s ability to adapt, innovate, and maintain the highest standards has played a critical role in our success. We are proud to recognize their dedication and look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Vann Humphrey, general manager of Carolina Auto Auction, expressed appreciation for the recognition. “This award is a reflection of the commitment and passion our entire team brings every day,” said Humphrey. “We deeply value our partnership with United Auto Credit and remain dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to our consignors and buyers. Being recognized for the first time is an incredible honor, and we look forward to building on this success.”
ADESA announced plans for the continued expansion and development of its new, proprietary online auction product, ADESA Clear. ADESA, which is owned by online auto retailer Carvana, developed and began testing Clear in late 2023, leveraging both ADESA’s extensive wholesale auto expertise and Carvana’s deep technology and digital merchandising capabilities. In 2025, ADESA expects to expand Clear, adding more selection, new features, and broader geographic reach. Clear is one of many new digital tools Carvana and ADESA are developing to enhance the online and in-lane wholesale customer experience.
“After a strong 2024, ADESA remains focused on what has always made us successful – helping our wholesale customers buy and sell cars as efficiently and profitably as possible,” said Mike Caggiano, executive vice president of operations at ADESA. “As the market evolves, digital services like ADESA Clear, our new online auction product, play an increasingly important role alongside our traditional in-lane infrastructure. With Clear and other new offerings, we are proud to combine ADESA and Carvana capabilities to drive even better outcomes for our customers.”
ADESA Clear offers access to a wide and growing selection of high-quality inventory offered across multiple online sales per week from ADESA and Carvana locations in the Washington D.C., Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Jacksonville, New Jersey, Orlando, Raleigh, Sarasota, Tampa, Phoenix, and Los Angeles metro areas.
In 2025, ADESA will increase the selection of vehicles available on Clear, expand the Clear offering to vehicles sold from more locations across the Carvana-ADESA network, and launch new tools and features to support customers across both its digital and in-lane auction platforms.
Manheim is kicking off its 80th anniversary with the promotion of a number of veteran leaders who will help drive the company into the future.
Joey Hughes, who served at the helm of the world’s largest automotive wholesale auction and Manheim’s flagship location, Manheim Pennsylvania, since 2016, has been named regional vice president for Manheim’s East Region. In this role, Hughes will call upon his steadfast leadership skills to drive operational excellence, increase profitability and help deliver the industry’s most connected client experience across more than two dozen Manheim locations.
Manheim also promoted seven additional leaders—all with exceptional skills in cultivating relationships, leading through change, driving performance and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to client success:
Emily Decker has been named general manager of the Manheim Pennsylvania Market Center, which includes Manheim Pennsylvania and Manheim Keystone.
Toni Hanshaw has been named general manager of the Manheim Orlando Market Center, which includes Manheim Orlando and Manheim Central Florida.
Butch Herdegen has been named general manager of the Manheim Atlanta Market Center, which includes Manheim Atlanta, Manheim Georgia, Manheim Birmingham, Rome Auto Auction and 4-Star Auto Auction.
Jennifer Knoke general manager of the Manheim Minnesota Market Center, which includes Manheim Minneapolis and Manheim Northstar Minnesota.
Gus Jones has been named general manager of the Manheim Arizona Market Center, which includes Manheim Phoenix and Manheim Tucson.
Dave Crockford has been named general manager of Manheim Milwaukee.
Lisa Kahoano has been named general manager of Manheim Hawaii.
“Throughout Manheim’s 80-year history, the strength of our leadership has been the driving force behind our success and that of our clients,” said Alan Lang, senior vice president, Physical Services and Auctions at Cox Automotive. “These newly promoted leaders are known for their ability to rally their teams through periods of significant change while maintaining a relentless focus on meeting our clients’ evolving needs.”
NAAA is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 World Automobile Auctioneers Championship at Manheim Phoenix, April 24-25, 2025. The WAAC is the premier competition in the auto auctioneer industry. Since 1989, top auctioneers and ringmen from around the world have competed in the event which celebrates the very best of auto auctioneering. For more information on this year’s event and to register, click https://naaa.eventsair.com/2025naaa-waac/registration.
Barrett-Jackson and General Motors have teamed up to sell the first retail production 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 VIN 001 during the Scottsdale Auction, January 18-26, 2025, at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Offering the most power ever from a factory Corvette, the 2025 ZR1 will be auctioned on Saturday, January 25, at approximately 5:30pm with 100 percent of the hammer price from the sale benefiting the American Red Cross in support of hurricane relief.
“General Motors is going full throttle with their new 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “With its awe-inspiring 1,064 horsepower pushing it to a top speed of 233 mph, it’s both the fastest factory production Corvette ever built and a symbol of GM’s incredible generosity. We had the honor of selling several first production Corvettes in the past, including the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 VIN 001 70th Anniversary Edition that sold for $3.7 million at the 2022 Scottsdale Auction for the charity Operation Homefront – the second-highest charity sale in our history. We’re grateful that GM entrusted us for what we expect to be another historic charity moment for Barrett-Jackson and GM this January.”
Powered by a twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plane crank V8 engine dubbed the LT7, the 2025 Corvette ZR1 boasts the most power ever offered in a factory Corvette, and the most powerful V8 ever produced in America from an auto manufacturer. The ZR1’s LT7 engine starts with the same architecture as the Z06’s LT6, the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever, and takes it to the next level with twin turbochargers - the first time ever for a factory Corvette. The result is 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, a top speed of 233 mph and a 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds making it the fastest and quickest Corvette ever.
“Our team is incredibly proud to be making automotive performance history again with the introduction of the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1,” said Amy Masica, Chevrolet marketing director. “The 2025 Corvette is the pinnacle of American engineering and design that’s heightened by its mind-bending performance straight from the factory. It’s only fitting the first retail production of the 2025 ZR1 will join other historic VIN 001 Corvettes sold at Barrett-Jackson to benefit charity.”
The winning bidder will receive the first retail production 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 VIN 001, configured to their factory spec preference. To date, Barrett-Jackson has helped raise more than $156 million for charities and non-profit organizations across the country.
Dealers Auto Auction Group announced the appointment of Josh Combs as vice president of national sales. With an extensive background in automotive sales, operations, and business development, Combs brings a wealth of expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s continued growth and success.
Combs has held several leadership roles throughout his career, including positions at PAR North America, ADESA, and High Tech Locksmiths.
Combs believes in the power of mentorship and giving back to others. He approaches his day with a “Pay It Forward” mentality to honor the support he’s received throughout his professional journey. His guiding philosophy, “Be for others what so many have been for me,” highlights his dedication to developing talent and his commitment to helping others succeed. By investing in those around him, Josh fosters a culture of growth, generosity, and mutual success.
David Diedrich, CCO of Dealers Auto Auction, commented “We couldn’t be more pleased to have Josh Comb’s join our organization, he is the best qualified candidate we could have possibly hired.”
Combs holds a B.S. in marketing and leadership studies from Ball State University and further refined his strategic capabilities through the Harvard Business School Online program.
David Andrews, CEO of Dealers Auto Auction Group, commented, “We are excited to welcome Josh Combs to our team. His leadership experience, strategic vision, and deep understanding of the automotive industry will be invaluable as we continue to expand our operations. We are confident that Josh will help us reach new levels of success and deliver even greater value to our customers.”
The Auction Academy is scheduling a special event this spring to celebrate its latest graduates from the auto auction educational program.
The Academy will hold its Class 8 Graduation Gala in San Diego on March 19 at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel & Marina.
The event will be held in conjunction with the Conference of Automotive Remarketing.