E-commerce auto retailer plans to build a facility in Lorain County
Fast-growing online auto retailer Carvana is preparing to add to its operations by building a 200,000-square-foot facility in Lorain County. The company expects to invest $23 million and hire 400 new employees, representing an estimated $13 million payroll.
“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 plans to build an inspection, reconditioning and distribution facility that is strategically positioned within the company’s national logistics network to help service their growing customer base. 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 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 this project possible. Ohio Development Services Agency, Ohio Department of Transportation Jobs & Commerce, JobsOhio and Team NEO provided assistance as well.
“The addition of Carvana’s new facility reinforces Northeast Ohio’s pivotal role in the future of technology and retail,” added Team NEO CEO Bill Koehler. “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 JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “Carvana continues to grow throughout Ohio, and its Lorain investment is further evidence of Ohio’s economic recovery.”
About Carvana
Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana’s (NYSE: CVNA) mission is to change the way people buy cars. By removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service, Carvana offers consumers an intuitive and convenient online car buying and financing platform. Carvana.com enables consumers to quickly and easily shop more than 15,000 vehicles, finance, trade-in or sell their current vehicle to Carvana, sign contracts, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day delivery or pickup at one of Carvana’s patented, automated Car Vending Machines.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization accelerating business growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Ohio. As the designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we align and amplify local economic development efforts in Northeast Ohio’s 18-county region; we conduct research and data analysis to inform local conversations and influence solutions; we market Northeast Ohio as a region; and we work to increase access to jobs, education and training for the region’s 4.3 million people. For more information, visit teamneo.org.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio though Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast Economic Development,One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.