The WORLD’S largest car auction sees a staggering 20,000 vehicles exchange hands every week. USS Tokyo, located in Kimagase, Noda City, north of Tokyo, welcomes petrolheads worldwide to its 130-acre site, trading everything from Porsches to kei cars. Every Thursday, for 13 intense hours, the auction floor buzzes with activity. Spread over two enormous halls housing 3,000 sales desks, the action unfolds simultaneously across 16 lanes, with each sale concluded in under 30 seconds. Dealers navigate this whirlwind of transactions with a simple button-press system, with a winner emerging a mere three seconds after the final bid. Surprisingly, this sprawling site was originally intended to be an 18-hole golf course, and its sheer size requires the use of bicycles and even buses for participants to inspect the vast array of vehicles. From high-end models like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Ferraris to unique Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars and kei cars, there truly is something for everyone. According to a recent report by Car Dealer Magazine, most cars, including well-known European brands, show up in pristine condition. Indeed, even decade-old vehicles appear factory-fresh - a testament to the meticulous care Japanese owners lavish on their cars. USS Tokyo employs an ingenious grading system, meticulously assessing each vehicle and flagging even minor imperfections to guarantee high quality. Run by the USS group, Japan’s largest auction house operator, with 18 locations nationwide, USS Tokyo is their largest. In 2023 alone, USS Tokyo listed nearly 750,000 vehicles and sold almost half a million. The company also plays a pivotal role in Japan’s used car market. Furthermore, USS pioneered the adoption of computerised auction systems and satellite-based television auctions, revolutionising used car distribution in Japan. International buyers can also participate through online platforms, facilitating vehicle imports worldwide.