As Manheim—Cox Automotive’s flagship wholesale brand—celebrates its 80th anniversary, the company has acquired full ownership of Alliance Inspection Management (AiM), a recognized leader in vehicle inspection services and Manheim’s long-time wholesale inspection partner. Cox has held a 50% stake in AiM for nearly a decade and, as part of the deal, acquired the remaining 50% stake from Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp.

“This is another powerful step in our journey toward reimagining how buyers and sellers connect in today’s wholesale automotive marketplace,” said Cox President of Inventory Solutions Grace Huang. “By fully integrating AiM’s talent and technology into the Manheim Marketplace, we’re making it easier than ever for clients to transact confidently—whether in lane, online, on-site or off-site.”

What the Acquisition Means for Manheim Clients:

• Expanded Off-site Presence: The acquisition significantly boosts Manheim’s off-site capabilities, putting more boots on the ground and extending reach well beyond its traditional locations and reach today. It will not only expand Manheim’s capacity to serve clients better than ever before but will also create new opportunities for growth and efficiency.

• Industry-Leading Off-Lease Inspections: For commercial clients, the move puts Manheim in a strong industry position for off-lease inspections. Leveraging its advanced Next Inspect solution, Manheim will offer clients tech-driven off-lease inspection solutions at much greater scale—delivering greater accuracy, efficiency and confidence throughout the process.

• More Support for Dealers: Manheim will now have approximately 300 additional team members visiting dealers across the country—aimed at helping drive faster, more effective wholesale vehicle transactions from their lots.

With the acquisition, approximately 700 AiM employees have officially become part of the Cox Automotive family. Their added expertise will be instrumental in the ongoing evolution of condition reporting at Manheim, with the intent of elevating the seller experience across the country and delivering buyers even more consistency, quality and confidence. 

“We’re building the marketplace of the future—one that’s smarter, more connected and more convenient for everyone,” said Joe Kichler, senior vice president of digital and supply chain at Cox Automotive. “Strengthening our workforce and integrating new technologies means clients can expect even greater consistency, reliability and transparency—cornerstones of the Manheim and Cox Automotive legacy. We welcome all our new team members as we take this exciting next step together.”

The timing of the announcement closely follows Cox's acquisition of Bel Air and Tallahassee auto auctions, which closed in August.