FRANKLIN, Tenn. -

Celebrating the rollout of El Paso Independent Auto Auction — which will host its first-ever sale tomorrow — the ServNet Auction Group has hit a new milestone for the number of facilities in its network.

Thanks to the additions of EPI and Sparkling City Auto Auction of San Antonio — which hosted its inaugural sale in November — ServNet’s membership has reached 25 auction members.

EPI was initially scheduled to hold its first sale Jan. 25, but this was pushed back, a spokesperson for ServNet confirmed to Auto Remarketing.

This expansion is one of several examples of ServNet growth that officials shared as the auction group said it is “poised” for more achievements in 2011.

“Despite a challenging year in the automotive industry, ServNet Auctions are strong and growing,” stated Pierre Pons, chief executive officer of ServNet.

“Our auctions posted gains in sales volume over their totals in 2009, a particularly significant achievement in light of the fact that 2009 saw record sales at many locations,” he continued.

“Two of our owners expanded into new markets, opening all-new facilities, and a number of other auctions initiated expansion projects,” Pons further noted. “Well-run and well-capitalized, ServNet Auctions are poised to record continued success in 2011.”

Renovations

Continuing on, a few ServNet members have enjoyed renovated facilities recently. BSCAmerica’s Bel Air Auto Auction launched a new full-service mechanic shop late last year. Meanwhile, there was a $100,000 renovation made to Carolina Auto Auction’s mechanic shop in which eight full-sized, automated bay doors and four lifts were installed.
 
KCI Auto Auction in Kansas City, Mo., plans to unveil a new 12,000-foot reconditioning center next month. Also included in the center are detail and mechanical shops. Additionally, KCI brought in more parting and a test track to the auction.

Accounts Added

Moving along, Pons noted that four ServNet facilities became General Motors/GMAC auction partners last year. With the additions, close to half of ServNet’s members are GM/GMAC partners.
 
Officials noted that there are 42 GM Sponsored Auctions in the U.S. where GM and GMAC come together to remarket vehicles via closed and open sales.

Seventeen of these facilities are independent facilities, and out of that crowd, 10 are members of ServNet.

Also, two other ServNet facilities hold GMAC standalone sales (DAA Northwest, Dealers Auto Auction of Alaska).

"ServNet auctions consistently rank among the top-performing auctions for General Motors and GMAC,” Pons pointed out. “First-rate facilities and exemplary customer service set ServNet auctions apart as leaders in their regions and mark them as strategic partners in GM and GMAC’s remarketing efforts.”

In other moves, ServNet member Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction was appointed by Ford to be the automaker’s exclusive auction partner in Northern California, officials noted.

Brasher’s now has a weekly Ford Credit sale plus holds Mazda Motors of America and Ford factory sales on a bi-weekly basis. Also, Brasher’s features a monthly Volvo sale.

"With a long and very successful relationship with Ford, we are very pleased to announce that Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction is the only place to find vehicles from Ford Motor Co. and Ford Credit in Northern California,” pointed out auction owner John Brasher.

“Our customers are equally excited to stay close to home and buy Fords at Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction — the auction with more Ford awards than any other,” he continued.

Pons added: “Looking forward to 2011, ServNet Auctions are poised to continue leading the industry as some of the longest-running and most successful facilities in the country. ServNet auction owners are no strangers to the ups and downs of the market, and have been able to adjust to the challenges of the current economic climate.

“With an eye to best serving their customers, ServNet auctions continue to add efficiencies to their processes and streamline remarketing operations for both dealer and institutional accounts,” he noted.

Auctions Embrace Innovation
 

Finally, Pons shared that the group has also enjoyed much achievement because it has “embraced innovative, cutting-edge technology to expand their markets beyond the auction floor.”
 
In fact, he noted that all members showed growth in Web activity last year.
 
“ServNet auctions have the flexibility and vision to make available to individual customers the exact channel that best represents the vehicles being offered for sale: Auction Pipeline, OVE, Smart Auction and OPENLANE,” Pons stated.
 
"Institutional accounts in particular, in order to streamline their own operations, are looking for consistency in technology and a single line of communication covering auctions from coast to coast,” he continued. “ServNet auctions are able to provide both: with Auction Pipeline, and a centralized administrative staff based in Franklin, Tenn."
 
Pons added: “ServNet auctions continue to move forward, building their market share, developing new opportunities for buyers and sellers, improving procedures and offering innovative auctions tools to help their customers successfully remarket their vehicles.”