Carvana to add reconditioning capabilities at Seattle site
An omnichannel platform for buying and selling used cars is expanding production capacity and inventory in Seattle.
Carvana Co. is bringing inspection and reconditioning center (IRC) capabilities to its existing ADESA wholesale auction location in Seattle. The company will maintain digital and in-lane auction operations on site.
This move is intended to increase Carvana’s national reconditioning capacity as well as enhance its inventory pool for both retail and wholesale customers in the greater Seattle area.
Carvana has been announcing plans to expand the auction and reconditioning capabilities of existing ADESA centers around the country. Recent examples include Nashville, Colorado Springs, Phoenix (where company headquarters are located) and Manville, N.J.
Located in Auburn, Wash., the 40-acre ADESA Seattle site with 4,000 parking spaces has served wholesale customers for more than four decades. In connection with this move, Carvana has already begun hiring in the area and expects to create approximately 100 new jobs across entry-level and skilled roles in inspection, reconditioning, and fulfillment over time.
"Adding IRC capabilities at ADESA Seattle deepens our presence in the region, bringing more selection and faster delivery options to local retail customers and more robust auction services to our wholesale partners," said Brian Boyd, senior VP of inventory at Carvana. "We’re proud to strengthen our customer offering and continue growing our team in the Pacific Northwest."
The Seattle site will also adopt Carvana’s proprietary CARLI software, which is designed to enable efficiency, scalability and consistency across its IRC network.
How Carvana’s e-commerce model works
All vehicles in Carvana’s national inventory come with a seven-day return policy as opposed to a traditional test drive. According to Carvana, this ensures customers have the right amount of time to determine if the vehicle fits their needs.
Customers can also sell their current vehicle to Carvana and receive an offer in as little as five minutes, without having to purchase a vehicle. To sell a vehicle, customers enter their vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate number on Carvana.com, answer a few questions, and then Carvana can pick up the vehicle and pay them as soon as the next day.
The e-tailer offers same-and next-day delivery of vehicles. In addition, in select markets Carvana offers "car vending machines" which enable customers to select and purchase a vehicle from its site and schedule a time for pick up.
[READ MORE: Carvana expands ‘car vending machine’ format in California]
Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana provides as-soon-as-next-day delivery to automotive shoppers in over 300 U.S. markets.
