Manheim Auctions

Manheim, Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automobile auction
Founded	1945 (1945)
Founder	Arthur F. Walters, Ben Mellinger, Jake Ruhl, Paul H. Stern, Robert Schreiber
Headquarters	Atlanta , United States
Area served	International
Products	Vehicle wholesale auctions, financing, title management, vehicle repair solutions
Parent	Cox Automotive (Cox Enterprises)

Manheim, Inc. operates as an automobile auction firm and functions as a subsidiary of Cox Automotive, which is itself a part of the privately owned Cox Enterprises, Inc., based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company focuses primarily on vehicle wholesale transactions and offers additional services including financing options, title management, and vehicle repair solutions.

Origins

Established in 1945 by five founders—Arthur F. Walters, Ben Mellinger, Jake Ruhl, Paul H. Stern, and Robert Schreiber—Manheim Auto Auction began its operations in a dilapidated building near Manheim, Pennsylvania. The very first auction featured three vehicles, one of which was sold directly to the public. By 1947, the company transitioned to serving exclusively dealers and had become the largest auto exchange by 1959.

By 1966, Manheim dominated the international market in terms of volume, conducting auctions at a rate of 45 cars per hour or roughly 700 vehicles every Friday evening across its 16 auction lanes. The company bolstered its market position and expanded through key acquisitions such as the National Auto Dealers Exchange located in Bordentown, New Jersey (1965), and Fredericksburg Auto Exchange in Virginia (1967).

Integration into Cox Enterprises

In 1968, Cox Enterprises entered the automotive auction sector by purchasing Manheim Auto Auction in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Under Cox’s stewardship, Manheim broadened its portfolio to include reconditioning services, vehicle recovery, and transportation for dealerships and wholesalers. Toward the end of the 20th century, Manheim incorporated information technology advancements to facilitate online vehicle sales. Additionally, Cox owns a 98% stake in Auto Trader, a prominent global provider of automotive consumer information available both online and in print.

Significant acquisitions

In 2006, Manheim acquired Akinvest Inc., a Canadian enterprise specializing in international automobile valuation and export services. Founded by Andrei Kouznetsov, Akinvest developed an efficient system enabling foreign dealers to coordinate vehicle shipments to nearby ports. By 2005, operating under the name Exporttrader, it had become a leading exporter of used cars from North America and collaborated with major remarketing companies including Copart, IAA, ADESA, Carfax, and Manheim.

Akinvest’s strength was rooted in sophisticated software development and automated web platforms that managed large databases. The firm negotiated export agreements with both Canadian and U.S. governments and provided consultancy to international law enforcement agencies and marketing organizations regarding irregularities in automotive trade. It gained recognition from outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and was invited to speak at various global industry events. By 2008, Akinvest employed approximately 70 staff members across offices in Toronto, Moscow, and Finland. It served as the parent company for Freightmar International and ExportTrader.com.

Beginning in January 2009, Manheim commenced a phased acquisition of Akinvest/Export Trader, eventually rebranding it as WES Exporttrader. The full acquisition was completed by late 2014. In April 2015, Manheim shut down WES Exporttrader’s Canadian operations and consolidated activities in Atlanta under the name "Global Trader." However, due to financial challenges, Manheim Global Export was divested by March 2016 and subsequently filed for bankruptcy.