Press Releases

ATLANTA – Feb. 6, 2025 – Cox Automotive is launching a first-of-its-kind certification program designed to help ensure that its Manheim auction locations can safely and effectively handle used EVs as these vehicles increasingly flow back into the automotive ecosystem. The Manheim Location EV Certification Program is a comprehensive initiative that combines the company’s deep expertise in EV batteries with Manheim’s 80 years of leadership in the used vehicle space, setting a new industry standard for managing and servicing used EVs at scale.

Developed and administered by Cox Automotive’s world-class EV Battery Solutions team, the Program offers three distinct levels of certification, each reflecting progressively advanced capabilities that will give clients confidence in Manheim and Cox Automotive’s unmatched ability to handle all aspects of EV service and management:

1. The base level focuses on foundational practices such as battery health monitoring, safe EV charging procedures and fire safety training.
2. The mid-level adds further competencies in short-term battery storage and logistics, including specialized Hazmat shipping and forklift training.
3. At the highest level, certified sites are equipped to conduct complete battery pack swaps and manage complex EV battery logistics, which all require advanced training and specialized high-voltage equipment.

The Program’s certification standards will continuously evolve to reflect the latest EV technologies and advancements. Manheim plans to certify the vast majority of its physical locations by the end of 2025.

“For more than a decade, Cox Automotive has remained bullish on the future of EVs,” said Grace Huang, president, Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions. “While others have been debating if EVs are here to stay, we’ve spent the last 10+ years heavily investing across our 70+ auction locations to create scalable, repeatable solutions that solve the industry’s evolving EV challenges.”

Manheim is already seeing an influx of used EVs into its marketplace. In fact, approximately 106,000 used EVs were sold through Manheim in 2024 versus ~51,000 in 2023, a 108% increase. Auction sales are just one way used EVs find their way to Manheim lots. Today, Manheim’s 6,500+ acres of secure space across the U.S. also offer clients extended capabilities for new and used EVs, including sequencing, maintaining and storing vehicles, as well as battery transportation optimization.

“Managing used EVs at scale requires a dynamic shift in operations, which is why we have invested more than $500 million in Manheim’s physical infrastructure, capabilities and people,” said Alan Lang, senior vice president of Physical Services and Auctions. “We established this certification program as a way to formalize and measure our own efforts—as well as lead the industry in transitioning to a more electrified future.”

About Cox Automotive     
Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has 29,000+ employees on five continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, vAuto®, Dealertrack®, NextGear Capital™, CentralDispatch® and FleetNet America®. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately owned, Atlanta-based company with $22 billion in annual revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.  

Media Contact:
Julie Jackson, Cox Automotive | 404.558.7837 | julie.jackson@coxautoinc.com