Manheim

Manheim is an American automobile auction and vehicle remarketing company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1945 as a single auction site in Manheim, Pennsylvania, it grew into the leading wholesale marketplace for used vehicles in the United States and today operates more than 100 locations worldwide as a subsidiary of Cox Automotive, part of the privately held Cox Enterprises group^[1][2].

Its primary business is wholesaling vehicles — selling used cars on behalf of dealers, fleets, and rental companies to other dealers through physical and digital auctions. Around that core it provides inspection, reconditioning, dealer financing, transportation, title management, and marshalling services^[1][2].

What It Does

Manheim operates auction marketplaces where wholesale used-vehicle transactions are executed between professional buyers and sellers. Since 1947 its sales have been restricted to licensed dealers, although some locations still hold public auction events^[1][2].

The company describes itself as the world's leading provider of used-vehicle services, with a location network that handles vehicles at every stage between off-the-road and resale^[1].

Services

Beyond the auction itself, Manheim locations provide reconditioning, mechanical and cosmetic inspections, dealer financing, vehicle transportation, title management, and marshalling — the staging and movement of vehicles within large auction facilities^[1].

Wikipedia's company profile likewise lists financing, title work, and repairs among the services offered alongside wholesale sales^[2].

Data And Benchmarks

Because its auctions clear wholesale transactions at scale, Manheim's marketplace generates transaction-level records of used-vehicle prices, condition, and demand that industry participants follow as measures of wholesale vehicle values^[1].

History

The company was formed in 1945 by five partners in a decrepit building on seven acres just south of Manheim, Pennsylvania, as Manheim Auto Auction; its first sale offered three cars and sold one to the general public^[2].

It became a dealer-only enterprise in 1947 and by 1959 had grown into the largest auto exchange in the United States; by 1966 it was the world's volume leader in auto auctions^[2]. Cox Enterprises entered the auction business in 1968 by purchasing the Manheim Auto Auction, and under Cox ownership the business expanded into reconditioning, recovery, and auto hauling for dealerships and wholesalers, later adding online sales capabilities^[2].

Scale

The official website cites more than 100 locations worldwide^[1], while Wikipedia's infobox lists 145 locations and Atlanta, Georgia headquarters under parent Cox Automotive^[2].