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).