ATLANTA -

Manheim and AiM have formed a strategic alliance that includes an investment in developing inspection technologies, the two companies announced Friday.

The alliance aims to “create greater consistency in the inspection process,” they said in the announcement, as well as “provide products, services and best practices that will effectively and efficiently support both wholesale and retail activities.”

The announcement also notes that AiM will continue its independent operations.

“I’m excited that Manheim will be a part of expanding our capabilities and reach,” said Jim Yates, AiM president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to taking advantage of Manheim’s leadership and expertise in this area to address the industry’s vehicle information challenges.

“Our goals are to work toward a more flexible and consistent inspection process that will result in a common condition report, which we hope will become the gold standard of quality,” he continued.

Shane O’Dell, senior vice president of Manheim Wholesale Services, added:  “Manheim is committed to investing in areas that improve the buying and selling experience for customers, and based on their feedback, improving the quality and consistency of vehicle inspections standards is at the top of our list.

“Working with AiM, we believe we can accelerate this effort and deliver more effective products, services and solutions to customers and the industry,” O’Dell said. |

The companies called the alliance a “natural fit,” given the respective projects each are doing independently in the vehicle information arena: AiM’s MarketConnect multiplatform solution, which is said to be “driving positive change toward more effective remarketing practices for the industry,” and Manheim’s AutoGrade vehicle ratings system, which the company has made available to the remarketing industry.

An increasingly online wholesale marketplace underscores the importance of accurate and consistent vehicle information to both buyers who aim to get the most value and sellers who want a quick turn time.

“With Manheim’s help, and the support of others in the industry, we can get a better understanding of the cradle‐to-grave lifetime brand value of cars,” Yates said. “We can better assess normal brand and model depreciation, condition and damage, as well as the impact of multiple transactions on a vehicle’s value, and we want to empower customers with that information.”