Carvana proceeds with $25M Chesterfield facility

After putting its plans in neutral, online used car retailer Carvana announced Tuesday that it plans to break ground this quarter on a $25 million, 191,000-square-foot vehicle inspection and reconditioning facility in Chesterfield County.

The project could bring more than 400 jobs to the county, economic development officials said in the announcement.

Carvana first announced the project in December 2019. It marked a win for Virginia, which competed against North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee f0r the facility. But Carvana put the project on hold during the pandemic.

Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Holland hailed Carvana as a “strong addition” to the county’s corporate roster.

“Carvana’s new facility in Chesterfield County will provide access to strategic logistics connections,” he said in a statement released Tuesday, “along with a well-trained, business-ready labor force to support Carvana’s continued development.”

The site will be located north of Ruffin Mill Road, between Interstate 95 and Woods Edge Road. The company expects to complete construction by spring 2022.

Carvana allows customers to buy and sell used cars online, and promotes a seven-day return policy and touchless delivery. Part of the process includes Carvana inspecting, reconditioning and photographing cars at inspection centers such as the one planned for Chesterfield.

Carvana also is known for its massive vending machines, which allow customers to pick up their purchases from towering structures that use robotics to deliver the cars.

Carvana sold 244,111 units in 2020, reporting $5.59 billion in revenue — a year-over-year increase of 42%. The number of vehicles it purchased directly from customers was up 95% in 2020, the company reported.