The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance has issued an open letter to the industry designed to “advocate for the establishment of a cross bidding multi-platform online remarketing solution,” a position the alliance says 20 of 23 responding IARA consignors supported in a recent survey of its U.S. consignor members.

The IARA lists 13 consignor member it says have added their names to the letter as supporters of the initiative.

The alliance noted that seven additional ones “expressed their strong support for the cross bidding multi-platform system but could not add their name to this letter due to internal company policy.”

IARA indicates that three of its consignor members “responded saying they did not actively support this initiative.” 

Eleven surveyed members did not respond. 

The letter, which was authored by the IARA Standards Committee, states: “Led by our consignor members and our Standards Committee we remain devoted to the creation of a central interface that allows consignors to offer vehicles on various online sites at the same time with continuous bidding across all venues.

“This not only creates efficiency for the consignor, but allows buyers to source a larger selection of vehicles in one consolidated location. Web-based purchasing has become increasingly popular in the remarketing space, and the committee believes that a cross bidding multi-platform site is a certain, and necessary, remarketing solutions tool for consignors and buyers across the nation,” it continues.

“Consignors have the need for a centralized interface to facilitate online sales activities across their chosen auction platforms. This increases efficiency for consignors when selling their inventory, while also helping drive standardization among condition reporting language, vehicle grading systems, photography standards and auction times,” the letter adds. “In addition to market consistency, the central interface will create a competitive bidding environment and improve sales results by ensuring that a vehicle is being exposed to the highest number of buyers possible — more eyes on more cars.”

The entire letter can be read here.