Inspection and Reconditioning Site Will Service Expanding National Distribution
By Terry Troy
Online auto retailer Carvana continues to build its operations in Northeast Ohio with a new 200,000 square-foot facility that will be located in Lorain County. The company has committed $23 million to the facility and will hire 400 new associates who will inspect and recondition vehicles for distribution to its growing online customer base. The new location will generate an additional $13 million payroll for the county.
According to the company and JobsOhio, the new location is strategically positioned to have access to 60 percent of U.S. and Canadian populations within a day’s drive, including multiple markets in the Midwest, Great Lakes and Eastern regions.
“Carvana has been growing extremely rapidly over the last several years, and we are working to bring The New Way to Buy a Car® to even more customers all the time,” said Brian Boyd, Carvana’s VP of inventory strategy. “As part of our efforts to scale the business, we’re looking forward to working with Lorain County, Elyria Township, and the cities of Elyria and Lorain to open a vehicle inspection and reconditioning center, and becoming a member of the community.”
Known for its easy, transparent online car buying experience, Carvana allows customers to shop more than 15,000 vehicles on Carvana.com, finance, purchase, then select as-soon-as-next-day touchless home delivery or Car Vending Machine pickup. Carvana vehicles are inspected, reconditioned and photographed in 360-degrees at its inspection centers, like the one planned in Lorain County, so customers get a detailed, high-definition virtual tour of every vehicle. Additionally, every vehicle comes with a 7-day return policy, so the customer can live with their vehicle for a week and ensure it fits their life.
“The collaboration and commitment of our cross-organization team ensured that Carvana decision-makers understood the value and advantages of this location,” said Jerry Good, economic development coordinator at the Lorain County Community Development Department. “Lorain County offers easy access to markets, a supportive business environment and a powerful talent pool.”
The economic development team supporting Carvana in its site selection process was spearheaded by several entities in Lorain County – including the Lorain County Board of Commissioners and County Prosecutors, Elyria Township, and the cities of Elyria and Lorain – which have been working together for months to help make the project possible.
“The addition of Carvana’s new facility reinforces Northeast Ohio’s pivotal role in the future of technology and retail,” said Bill Koehler, CEO of Team NEO. “The unprecedented collaboration by Lorain County economic development organizations, with regional support from Team NEO, was critical in bringing this forward-thinking company to our region. We look forward to working with Carvana leadership to help the company flourish.”
“Along with our partners at the Development Services Agency, we welcome the collaborative effort in Lorain that attracted Carvana to Northeast Ohio,” said J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio “Carvana continues to grow throughout Ohio, and its Lorain investment is further evidence of Ohio’s economic recovery.”