Carvana, a leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, plans to invest more than $40 million to construct a distribution and fulfillment center in Bessemer, creating more than 450 jobs in Alabama.
The announcement was made in a release Tuesday by Governor Kay Ivey.
“We have been working hard to position Alabama as a prime destination for fast-growing growing e-commerce companies needing a first-class infrastructure network for their distribution operations,” Ivey stated.
“We are thrilled that Carvana has selected Bessemer for its newest state-of-the-art distribution hub and look forward to building a partnership with this innovative company,” she added.
The company is the fastest-growing auto retailer in the United States. Carvana plans to open the Jefferson County facility to strengthen its logistics network in the Southeast, which is integral to addressing the nationwide demand the online auto retailer is seeing for its sales method — “The New Way to Buy a Car.”
Carvana’s planned hub will handle fulfillment activities for Alabama and surrounding states. Additionally, it will coordinate with similar facilities as the company moves inventory across the nation. The center will also house inspection, maintenance and photography functions critical to delivering the customer experience Carvana has become known for.
“Though Carvana is relatively young, its technology-focused model has powered rapid growth and made the company a growing force in the auto retailing industry,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“I know that Carvana’s new, state-of-the-art facility in Bessemer will help the company continue to grow and sustain its rapid momentum,” he advised.
The planned facility is slated to be constructed on a privately-owned site in Bessemer, a former industrial center about 18 miles southwest of Birmingham.
The project is expected to create more than 450 jobs with an average annual salary exceeding $35,000.
You can read more about the company and reactions about the announcement here, via the Alabama Department of Commerce.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
