The National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) and International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) will work together on safety, standards, and education related to electric vehicles tailored to the remarketing industry, the trade organizations announced Sept. 27.

During the IARA Summer Roundtable in Chicago Aug. 22-24, the decision was made to begin the collaboration and further discuss the upcoming details at the 2023 NAAA World Remarketing Convention Sept. 25-28, where NAAA and IARA jointly held several educational sessions.

IARA sponored three general sessions at the NAAA Convention:

• Key Insights into the EV Market and Commercial EV Sales

• EV Management: Safety and Best Practices for Auctions and Remarketers

• Consignor Trends, Sentiment and Remarketing Outlook

Each session provided valuable insights on a diverse set of EV topics including the current state of the industry, EV sales trends, and evolving best practices related to the safe handling and effective remarketing of EVs at the auctions.

NAAA’s Auction Standards and Safety and Security Committees have begun studying issues related to EVs and tapping into the knowledge and expertise of its members, and IARA’s EV committee is focused on educating its membership on a range of EV topics such as battery safety and improving the consistency of the remarketing processes to maintain fair market wholesale values.

As part of IARA’s certification and education it is continuing to develop more online information for EVs, and its EV committee has engaged industry experts such as Recurrent and most recently Call2Recycle, a non-profit organization focused on safe handling of EV batteries and recycling options.

“The combined resources of our two organizations can deliver actionable advice and meaningful standards to all our stakeholders as EVs begin to enter the wholesale remarketing bloodstream," IARA executive director Mark Coleman said in a news release.

NAAA executive director Paul Lips added, “NAAA’s Auction Standards and Safety and Security Committees along with the IARA have done a great job taking the lead on EV issues on behalf of our members. With the NAAA and IARA working together, the future offers many opportunities for the benefit of the entire industry on a topic top of mind for all members.”