WHITESTOWN, Ind. (Sept. 30, 2015) – Vroom, an online pre-owned car retailer, announced plans today to locate its new reconditioning and fulfillment center here, creating up to 220 new jobs by 2020.
“Indiana stands out across the country as an automotive leader,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Whether it’s our state’s auto assembly facilities, their hundreds of Hoosier suppliers or innovative companies like Vroom, cars and trucks across the United States keep finding their way through Indiana. That’s just another reason why Indiana really is the crossroads of America.”
The New York-City based company will invest $13.5 million to construct and equip a 501,120-square-foot facility in Whitestown, housing to up to 2,500 cars at a time that will be refurbished on site. With construction beginning immediately, the company anticipates the facility will be operational in December and provide 24-hour delivery of cars to 50 million people within a 300-mile radius. Vroom, which currently employs 140 people in New York and at its Dallas fulfillment facility, plans to begin hiring for automotive repair and logistics positions within the next month.
“We’re looking forward to expanding our reconditioning and fulfillment operations, and we think the Indianapolis area is the perfect place for us to have a presence, right at the crossroads of America,” said Allon Bloch, chief executive officer of Vroom. “This new location will improve our customers’ car buying experience even further, as we work toward the goal of reducing our national delivery timeline to just 24 hours.”
Vroom enables customers to purchase, finance and sell refurbished, pre-owned vehicles online. With its new Indiana facility, it plans to meet growing demand for the company’s reconditioned vehicles, in addition to expanding its one-day delivery area.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Vroom Indianapolis, LLC up to $3,310,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The town of Whitestown will consider additional incentives at the request of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation.
“The town of Whitestown welcomes such a unique business concept with open arms,” said Eric Miller, president of the Whitestown Town Council. “Whitestown strives to attract a different kind of company and Vroom brings a new, timely business model that we’re excited to be a part of. Vroom will be a great addition to Whitestown’s growing e-commerce cluster that we are developing, which already includes Amazon.”
Technology-focused businesses continue to select Indiana for their growing operations. Vroom joins growing companies like Appirio, Emarsys, Geofeedia, Rook Security and GyanSys that are finding the skilled workforce and business environment they need to help their tech firms thrive, with the industry paying an average salary of more than $72,000 annually in Indiana.