Northern California auto dealers are meeting in a new, high-tech venue for weekly United Vehicle Auction events: the UVA Center at ADESA Brasher’s in Sacramento.

In a news release announcing this week’s grand opening, John Brasher, general manager at ADESA Brasher’s, described it as a “high-octane event” that set a new standard for weekly auctions.  

“We ran 223 vehicles in two virtual auction lanes and fielded bids from a standing-room-only crowd,” he said. “The dealers participating in the sale in the UVA Center were joined by online bidders from all over the West.

“Since its launch in 2007, UVA has changed the way new-car dealers buy and sell vehicles, and our new UVA Center has taken the sale experience to a whole new level, in an environment that combines ease, comfort and very latest in technology,” Brasher continued.

UVA recorded the sale of 5,900 vehicles last year, and is on track to sell 7,200 this year.

In other auction news, KCI Kansas City recently hosted a U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) sale that featured 25 high-end, exotic vehicles. Registered dealers and members of the general public selected from a variety of vehicles including a Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, a Ferrari 430 Scuderia, a Ford GT, a Mosler MT900S, a McLaren 12C and 12 Ducati motorcycles.

“Our KCI team worked tirelessly to conduct one of the best auction events I have ever been involved with,” Doug Doll, KCI Kansas City’s general manager, said in a news release. “In short order, they accurately processed several thousand new registrations. Bidders from 30 states joined us, and the media attention here in Kansas City was incredible.”

Competition was intense, with more than 725 in-lane and online bidders vying for 25 vehicles. In the end, 22 sold, with a 2006 Ford GT fetching the highest price at $285,000.

Flynn Jensen Co. partners with KCI to service this USMS contract.