ATLANTA – Manheim and OVE.com have been named recipients of the Auto Dealer Monthly 2009 Dealers’ Choice Awards. Manheim received the Diamond Award, the highest honor, in the traditional auction category, and OVE.com received the Platinum Award for online auctions in the purchasing inventory category.

“It takes outstanding products and services, support, and value to earn one of these awards,” said Harlene Doane, editor of Auto Dealer Monthly. “Manheim and OVE.com should be very proud to be recognized by the dealers they serve in this manner.”

Manheim was the recipient of the Platinum Award in the traditional auction category of the Auto Dealer Monthly 2008 Dealers’ Choice Awards. This is the second consecutive year that OVE.com has received the Platinum Award in the purchasing inventory category of the Dealers’ Choice Awards.

“There is no higher honor than being recognized by the people who matter most and who know your marketplace the best – your customers,” said Sue Boehlke, senior vice president of Enterprise Solutions for Manheim. “Manheim strives to lead the industry in its selection of quality inventory, backed by the personal service and attention that dealers know and trust, and it’s the best compliment when our customers take notice.”

This is the fifth year Auto Dealer Monthly has recognized the most highly regarded vendors, suppliers and finance companies in the retail automotive industry, as voted on by dealers and dealership personnel. The survey provided dealers and their employees the ability to offer their collective selection of the top providers to the retail auto industry.

“Being recognized by our dealer customers as a valued auction provider – whether in-lane or online – is one of the highest compliments we can receive,” said Nick Peluso, senior vice president, customer management for Manheim. “Our team gets great satisfaction when they are able to identify the right solution that delivers the right result to our customers, it’s what motivates us every day.”

Overall, 55 awards were given out to 45 companies, all chosen by dealers and dealership personnel. Nearly 15,000 votes were cast in 20 distinctive categories of products and services. Ratings were gathered on the performance of the product or service, the customer support and service provided, and the overall value compared to cost to the dealership.

The complete list of winners, as well as any provider or finance company that rated higher than the group average score in any category, can be found at www.AutoDealerMonthly.com/2009DCA_winners.pdf. The entire feature on the 2009 Dealers’ Choice Awards is in the April 2009 issue of Auto Dealer Monthly magazine, which can be found at http://autodealermonthly.epubxpress.com/?site=3.