ORLANDO – With the demand for used cars in high gear and no plans to slow down, Manheim has invested nearly $5 million in a new state-of-the-art, 80,000-square-foot body shop and reconditioning center at its Manheim Orlando location.
“The vision for our new reconditioning facility is to meet not only the growing needs of today’s dealerships, but also tomorrow’s mobility and fleet providers,” said Alan Lang, division vice president, Manheim. “This investment represents Manheim’s continuing commitment to help clients and manufacturers navigate this complex and exciting segment of the automotive industry.”
Manheim’s reconditioning offerings provide everything needed to prepare vehicles for retail or wholesale sales, including a comprehensive inspection, mechanical and body reconditioning, paint, detail, merchandising, imaging and more. Replacing the former 22,000 square foot reconditioning center, the new building spans 80,000 square feet and features two 140-foot long paint booths that can accommodate up to seven vehicles at a time, LED lighting and more. With a team of highly-trained technicians who can perform minor and major component repairs, the new reconditioning center enables the location to service 160 cars per day, more than triple its previous capacity.
The conveniences and flexibility generated by Manheim’s reconditioning offerings enable dealers to improve efficiency, speed, capacity and margins. It can even help reduce costs, by avoiding transport to/from multiple locations and enhance the vehicle’s value.
On any given Tuesday at Manheim’s operating facility in Ocoee, Fla., approximately 5,500-7,000 vehicles are offered for sale in under four hours in a fast and furious 25-lane auction. The other days of the week, thousands more cars are inspected and reconditioned for sale.
Manheim’s newest reconditioning center is an extension of Manheim Orlando, a 268-acre wholesale auction operating location. With 436 full- and part-time employees, Manheim Orlando is a driving force for the Central Florida region. The company also invests in the community in other ways.
“Our team members are always enthusiastic about partnering with organizations that make a difference for our Central Florida neighbors,” added Butch Herdegen, general manager at Manheim Orlando. “We support a diverse number of interests, including American Red Cross, The American Cancer Society , BRAKES Teenage Defensive Driving Course, Bryce York Memorial Fund, City Of Ocoee Founders Day, Ducks Unlimited, Embracing Hope Event Sponsor, Esther Single Mother’s Outreach, New Hope for Kids, The Russell Home for Atypical Children, Semper Fidelis America and Sunshine State Superkids.”
Sustainability initiatives also are a component of Manheim Orlando’s corporate citizenship. The installation of indoor and outdoor LED lighting at the facility is saving 951 tons of carbon annually (the equivalent of more than two million miles driven by the average passenger vehicle), and its team members recycle an average of 262 tons of waste each year.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new reconditioning center took place on April 9, hosted by the Manheim Orlando leadership team. Guests included employees, clients, local business leaders and elected officials. The event included a rare behind-the-scenes tour to learn all that’s involved in getting a used vehicle ready to re-enter the marketplace. Attendees also heard from Manheim leadership about trends in the auto industry and other investments and initiatives the company is making to help dealers and manufacturers cut costs, save time and focus on growing their business.
About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim® is North America's leading provider of end-to-end wholesale solutions that help dealer and commercial clients increase profits in their used vehicle operations. Through its physical, mobile and digital sales network, Manheim offers services for inventory management, buying and selling, floor planning, logistics, assurance and reconditioning. With its omni-channel approach, Manheim Marketplace enables wholesale vehicle clients more efficient ways to connect and transact business how and when they want. Approximately 17,000 team members help Manheim offer 7 million used vehicles annually, facilitating transactions representing nearly $61 billion in value. Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim North America is a Cox Automotive™ brand. For more information, visit http://press.manheim.com.
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