MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Chrysler Financial recently announced its 2009 Platinum Pentastar Award Winners to honor the Canadian auctions that had the top performances this past year in its Canadian Auction Scorecard program, which was introduced in early 2008.

The winners were determined based on which auctions — divided into Tier I and Tier II facilities — had the highest scores in the following core remarketing activities: pre-sale, sale, post-sale and value retention.

Taking the top spot among Tier I auctions and winning the Platinum Pentastar was Manheim Toronto, followed by ADESA Halifax and ADESA Calgary. Among Tier II auctions, Manheim Montreal earned the Platinum Pentastar.

ADESA Quebec and Manheim Oshawa were No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

"As you know, 2009 proved to be a very challenging year for both Chrysler Canada and Chrysler Financial. However, the Vehicle Remarketing Team celebrated one of our most successful years ever," Don Wallace, national vehicle remarketing manager for Chrysler Financial, wrote in a letter to the company's Canadian auction partners.

"Together with your help, we managed to take advantage of the unique Canadian used-vehicle market through operational excellence in every core vehicle remarketing activity," he continued.

"On behalf of Chrysler Canada, Chrysler Financial and the entire Vehicle Remarketing Team in the field and in our Canadian offices, we would like to congratulate this year's annual Platinum Pentastar Award recipients for their outstanding performance and support in 2009, as well as the second- and third-place auctions in each tier deserving of honorable mention," Wallace added.

He went on to explain that, through this program, the year-to-date and monthly results of local auctions and all facilities supporting Chrysler Canada and Chrysler Financial Vehicle Remarketing are shared each month.

Wallace said this feedback and participating auctions willingness to adjust and improve accordingly has helped Chrysler Financial achieve a 34-percent reduction in overall off-lease vehicle cycle time, even though the Canadian portfolio has grown substantially.

"We continue to solicit your feedback and have therefore planed some modifications to both the metrics and auction tier parameters, to further enhance the scorecard as an effective communication and reward tool for 2010," he shared.

"We will present these changes to your teams soon as we look forward to a great year in 2010 as partners," Wallace concluded.