ATLANTA – Like the over-the-top hats and seersucker suits at this year’s “Run for the Roses,” innovation will rule the day at Manheim Louisville’s 37th annual Kentucky Derby Event Sale on May 4. For the first time ever, the auction is partnering with Manheim Pennsylvania to host a Highline Digital Block™ sale during this year’s event. This pioneering digital experience, intended to help drive sellers’ transaction velocity, will allow buyers to view and bid on more than 200 luxury high-value vehicles via Simulcast from the comfort of the auction’s derby-themed lanes.
“With the addition of the Highline Digital Block sale, we’re blending time-honored tradition with modern innovation to offer our commercial clients and online buyers a unique opportunity to participate virtually in our Derby event,” said Chuck Werner, general manager of Manheim Louisville. “Just as a horse needs a good jockey-trainer combination to win a race, we know that our buyers and sellers will parlay this digital innovation into business success.”
During the Highline Digital Block sale, buyers will gather in a derby-themed lounge-like space set up in one of the auction lanes where a live auctioneer calls the vehicles and takes bids as they show up on the big screen. Similar to the way a daily racing form helps bettors handicap a horse race, enhanced imaging and a complete condition report on each vehicle will help buyers attending in-lane and online via Simulcast improve their odds of picking a winner.
“Akin to what sets the Kentucky Derby apart from other horse races, our innovative Digital Block sale format offers a unique atmosphere where in-lane and online buyers alike can experience exclusive access to high-quality inventory from a variety of commercial consignors,” added Werner.
In addition to the Digital Block sale, the Derby event will feature a traditional in-lane sale with more than 1,500 vehicles from commercial consignors such as Honda of America, The Hertz Corporation, Santander Consumer USA, ARI and Wheels, Inc. crossing the auction block. Attendees will bid on vehicles in derby-themed lanes and be treated to $25,000 in giveaways and prizes throughout the day, including a chance to win tickets to the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6.
“Our team is excited to partner with Manheim Louisville and be a part of this annual event,” said Joey Hughes, vice president and general manager of Manheim Pennsylvania. “I’m not much of a handicapper, but I’d wager everyone attending this year’s Kentucky Derby sale, whether in the lanes or online, walks away feeling like a winner.”
Vehicles will be loaded into the starting gate for Manheim Louisville’s Kentucky Derby Event Sale beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET on May 4. The celebration continues later in the day with post time of the simulcast Highline Digital Block Sale at 2 p.m. ET.
About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim® is North America’s leading provider of vehicle remarketing services, connecting buyers and sellers to the largest wholesale used vehicle marketplace and most extensive auction network. Through 127 traditional and mobile auction sites and diverse digital channels, the company helps dealer and commercial clients achieve business results by providing innovative end-to-end inventory solutions. Approximately 18,000 employees enable Manheim to register about 8 million used vehicles per year, facilitate transactions representing nearly $57 billion in value and generate annual revenues of $3 billion. Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim North America is a Cox Automotive™ brand. For more information, visit http://press.manheim.com.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, vAuto®, Xtime® and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises’ other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.
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