The message coming out of the 2012 Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) held March 14-15 was overwhelmingly upbeat. The two-day conference, which attracted almost 700 attendees, is held in conjunction with the National Auto Auciton Association (NAAA) Spring Business Meeting and the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) Roundtable.

You can view a gallery of photos from the event here.

The vehicle resale market will retain its strength with the historic high resale values continuing for at least another year, perhaps longer — while new-vehicle sales and resulting trade-ins play catch-up.

NAAA Economist Ira Silver predicted that new-vehicle sales will return to near pre-recession levels this year, helping to bolster resale inventories.

Practical sessions covering Chrysler and KIA’s U.S. market strategies, financing, emerging trends in fleet remarketing, and how consignors can help dealers in the wholesale market were underscored by two inspirational keynotes. NFL great and ESPN commentator Herm Edwards spoke about the qualities of leadership — trust, vision, communication passion, change, humility, and legacy. And, Tammy Darvish of DARCARS Automotive Group and the author of Outraged…How Detroit and the Wall Street Car Czars Killed the American Dream related how the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies affected “Main Street” automotive dealers and how she and others fought back to regain their “American dream.” Her speech ended in a CAR first — a standing ovation by the full room.

Bobit Business Media awards were presented to Dan Kennedy of GM as the 2012 Consignor of the Year (see profile on page 52). NAAA President Charlotte Pyle of Mountain State Auto Auction and Capital City Auto Auction (both in West Virginia) received the 2012 Remarketer of the Year award. Dave Alfonso, national auction sales manager for KIA Motors America; Lynn Weaver, general manager for Harrisburg Auto Auction; and Ken Osborn, general manager for ADESA Dallas, received the NAAA Warren Young, Sr., Fellows award. In addition, Southern Auto Auction President Larry Tribble were recognized on the occasion of the auction’s 65th anniversary.

Prior to the CAR conference, IARA held its winter roundtable. Highlights included a keynote speech by Manheim President Sandy Schwartz and the Alliance’s unique member roundtables, which covered a number of issues from condition reports to the use of social media to remarketing vehicles. Several new recipients of the certified automotive remarketer (CAR) certification were announced, bringing the total to 25 with another 42 in the process of testing.

CAR 2013 will be held March 3-5, 2013, in Las Vegas.