NAMPA, Idaho and DALLAS -

A giveaway of a new 2018 Tesla Model 3 AWD was one of the highlights of an 18th-anniversary celebration and sale on March 13 for Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho.

In other auction news, Copart added 44 acres to its Chicago South facility, located at 89 E. Sauk Trail, Chicago Heights, Ill. As a result of the expansion, the facility is now 80 acres, which the company says will help with market growth.

Regarding the Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho news, hundreds of dealers attended the event, and Kendall Superstore of Nampa, Idaho won the Tesla. Buyers and sellers who participated in a DAA Idaho promotional lane were eligible for the prize. The anniversary sale featured more than 600 units, including additional free in-lane perks, food and festivities.

By adding two double blocks, Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho doubled its capacity last year. The expansion allows all four lanes to run four streams of vehicles simultaneously. The sale, located just west of Boise, runs about 500 units each Wednesday, with weekly participation from more than 250 dealers in addition to more who attend online.

An annual mid-summer classic car auction with nearly 100 vehicles is another DAA Idaho event. In 2017, the sale attracted national attention as the auction ran more than 65 classic vehicles from an Idaho farmer’s collection and more than 100 total vehicles with a 96-percent sales rate. The national TV program Strange Inheritance featured the auction prominently in covering the event.

Country entertainers Aaron Tippin, Restless Heart, and Ira Dean performed at last year’s concert. Tracy Byrd will perform on the evening of July 30 for this year’s sale, which will take place July 31.

“Giving away a brand-new Tesla was certainly fun and created a lot of excitement for months at the auction,” DAA Idaho owner and general manager Russ Smith said in a news release. “Our staff did a tremendous job handling the large number of dealers and consignors and putting this anniversary sale together.”

Auction Management Solutions president Tom Stewart congratulated the entire DAA Idaho team on the anniversary event. DAA Idaho is also a member of AMS Auction Network created by AMS, an automotive consulting firm with a network of 23 independent auto auctions across the U.S.

“This auction is firing on all cylinders,” Stewart said. “They are getting attention from consignors and dealers throughout the western United States. The Tesla was one of the most impressive ‘giveaways’ I’ve seen in my career and generated a lot of attention.”

Regarding the Copart Chicago South news, the company’s chief executive officer Jay Adair said in a news release, “This expansion is a great win for our business and helps grow our footprint in the region to meet buyer and seller needs.”

Auctions are held every Friday at noon central time at the location. Eligible buyers can bid on current inventory using its proprietary online auction platform, VB3 or at kiosks at the location during normal business hours.

“I am thrilled that we will be able to meet our client needs with the expansion of this yard,” Copart Chicago South general manager Don Winn said.