PHOENIX -

Manheim announced Thursday that its five-year, $10 million-plus investment in four Arizona businesses this year has already brought several enhancements to its physical auction and digital channels in the region.

Altogether, Manheim operations in Arizona have touched a combined 8.9 million vehicles annually and cover more than 230 acres.

Manheim said the significant investment the company has made in its technology platforms helped move over eight million vehicles last year.

The Manheim Phoenix auction site will benefit from the largest share of the company’s five-year investment in the region, the company said.

“Manheim is committed to investing in Arizona to support our clients, our communities and our industry,” Manheim Phoenix general manager JD Daniels said in a news release. “Our teams work hard to deliver solutions that help dealers do business more effectively, while creating the best client experience.”

In addition to adding a new 26-acre lot with the capacity to hold additional 4,000 more vehicles, approximately $4 million has enabled the auction to also upgrade street access to allow easier entry. Manheim said planned investments include a $3 million expansion of a nearby thoroughfare to ease inbound and outbound traffic at the site.

This summer, Manheim said its Ready Logistics and Central Dispatch operations will relocate to Phoenix from the city of Gilbert to occupy two floors in the Sky Harbor Towers building.

The change provides space that doubles that of the businesses’ current square footage and room for anticipated growth and new hires, according to the company.

“Using technology innovations, Manheim Logistics is helping to evolve this industry sector and delivering tremendous value to our clients,” said Jim Williams, senior vice president of logistics for Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions. “Our move to expanded and upgraded facilities in Phoenix is just one more way we are investing to meet dealer, community and industry needs.”

Additionally, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Manheim has also invested in Arizona to support the recent completion of a watershed restoration project along the state’s Verde River to install a modernized drip irrigation system.

The watershed’s new irrigation system is expected to save 15 million gallons of water annually, improve water quality and enhance water flow toward important reservoirs, according to Manheim.