Auction Companies Stop Selling Toyotas; Rental Fleets Park Cars

DETROIT - The largest used-vehicle auto auction association in the United States today recommended that its member auctions temporarily stop selling Toyota cars and trucks that are being recalled because of sticking accelerator pedals, reported Automotive News.

In addition, several major car-rental companies temporarily have removed the vehicles from their fleets, as fallout from the massive recall spreads.

“The safety of our customers and employees is our utmost priority, and in that regard, the suspension should continue until the issues have been resolved,” the National Auto Auction Association said in a statement. Manheim, the nation's largest auction company, said it is complying with the recommendation of NAAA and immediately halted sales of the recalled Toyota vehicles at its 81 auction sites in the United States and Canada and on its OVE.com electronic sales channel.

Auction company ADESA Inc. said it, too, has halted sales of recalled vehicles. ADESA is the second-largest auction company in the United States, with about one-fifth of the market.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. instructed its franchised dealers on Tuesday not to deliver the affected cars to customers.

On Tuesday, Toyota said it would halt sales and temporarily suspend production of 2.3 million U.S. vehicles recalled last week for sticking accelerator pedals.