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Types of Auto Auctions

There are many auto auctions in Japan. Some are bigger than others, but you can easily categorize them into four types:

Independent Company Auctions

  • Many and are generally on the smaller side.
  • Might show between a couple of hundred and over 10,000 cars a month.
  • Examples would be NDAA, SAA (Sapporo AA), and the larger Zip.
  • Either sell everything, or they specialize.
    • For example, Zip sells a lot of imported cars (non-JDM) and TUS specializes in motorcycles.

Manufacture/Dealer/Rental Auctions

  • Set up by major dealers and/or manufactures to sell off used cars from different places.
    • For example, Toyota dealers can sell off trade-in cars at a TAA auction site.
    • Rental companies, such as ORIX, will have auctions to sell off their old vehicles.
  • Other examples would be SUAA (Subaru), SAA (Suzuki AA), HAA (Honda AA), and NAA (Nissan).

Auction Groups

  • Control large shares of the market.
  • Organized as either as a union of independent auction, a single company, or subsidiaries under one company.
  • The main AA groups are: JU Group, USS Group, and ARAI (also called AAA - Arai Auto Auction) Group.

Online/Satellite Auctions

  • Operate solely, or at least mainly, by internet or TV Satellite.
  • Some have their own stock, and some auction on the behalf of other auction companies.
  • Examples are AUCNET, ASNET, GAO!, and HERO (also called Hiro).