What Manheim Express Europe does

Manheim Express Europe is a digital B2B auction platform for the professional used car trade, operated by Cox Automotive Remarketing GmbH from its European headquarters in Koblenz, Germany. The platform was launched in spring 2020 under Managing Director Sebastian Fuchs and serves exclusively verified business customers, including independent used car dealers, franchised dealers, fleet and leasing companies, and international used car exporters. Across the channel, transactions are conducted via dynamic auctions, sealed-bid auctions, and buy-it-now formats, with a free 7-day trial and on-site dealer training supporting onboarding.

The technology stack is built on Cox Automotive's global infrastructure and integrates a self-serve web platform with the DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand) dealer management interface, enabling seamless data flow for existing DAT customers. Differentiated features include AI-powered image-based damage detection, voice search, integrated retail and wholesale price indicators, a digital renegotiation tool for failed auctions, drag-and-drop listing creation, and QR-coded digital handover with automated pickup confirmation. A qualified in-house Trade Desk Team provides post-auction consultation, and the company offers both a full-service model (Manheim Express Plus) and a mediation-only model (Vermittlungsmodell). Following the 2021 acquisition of competing platform pkwNOW and the completion of platform migration by end of 2022, the combined entity now operates under a unified technology stack.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based fees: in Germany, tiered auction fees of €29 to €229 per vehicle based on hammer price, a €49 logistics fee, daily stand fees of €6 from day 8, and premium contract processing fees up to 2.4% for high-value vehicles; in Europe, a 3.2% cross-border fee with a €200 minimum plus transport fees individually set with a €180 minimum. Go-to-market combines product-led growth via the 7-day free trial, inside sales through the Trade Desk Team for higher-volume accounts, DAT-driven channel distribution, and white-label integration with carsale24 for OEM direct-sales channels. The company has cumulatively sold more than 10,000 cars in Germany since launch and operates across the EU, with website localization extending to Russian.

Name

Manheim Express Europe

Legal name

Cox Automotive Remarketing GmbH

Website

https://manheim-express.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manheim Express Europe is a digital B2B auction platform operated by Cox Automotive Remarketing GmbH in Koblenz, Germany, enabling professional used car dealers, franchised dealers, fleet operators, and exporters to buy and sell vehicles via dynamic, sealed-bid, and buy-it-now auctions with integrated logistics and AI-based damage detection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Online Used Vehicle Auction Marketplace

NAICS

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

Keywords

• B2B used car auctions
• Vehicle remarketing platform
• Digital car auction
• Automotive dealer marketplace
• Cross-border vehicle export

Headquarters

HQ city

Koblenz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Auction Fees (Germany): Tiered transaction fees charged to the seller upon successful auction, based on the gross hammer price of the vehicle. Fees range from €29 to €229 depending on price category.
2. Auction Fees (Europe): 3.2% of gross surcharge price with a minimum of €200, charged for cross-border European transactions including document dispatch.
3. Premium / Contract Processing Fee: Fee charged for premium contract processing on certain vehicles, either a flat €100, 2.2% of hammer price (minimum €220), or 2.4% for vehicles priced €40,000 or above.
4. Stand Fee: Daily storage fee of €6 per day starting from the 8th day after purchase until vehicle collection, charged to the buyer.
5. Logistics Fee: A fixed €49 logistics fee applied per transaction for German market operations.
6. Transportation Fees: Individually determined transport fees per vehicle with a minimum of €180, for logistics services offered through the platform's own transport booking solution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Manheim Express is a fully digital B2B auction marketplace that enables professional automotive dealers to buy and sell used vehicles online through dynamic auctions, sealed-bid auctions, and Buy-It-Now formats. The platform adds value through AI-powered damage detection, voice-based inventory search, integrated transport booking, digital renegotiation, and a Trade Desk Team for post-auction support. Access is restricted to verified B2B dealers, with no private consumer participation allowed.

Product overview

Manheim Express operates as a unified digital auction platform for B2B used car trade with modular service layers. The core platform enables vehicle auctions through multiple formats (dynamic, sealed-bid, Buy-It-Now), supplemented by value-added services including Manheim Express PLUS (full-service model), the Vermittlungsmodell (mediation-only model), Trade Desk Team support, EU Export services, and integrated transport booking. The platform integrates AI-powered damage detection and voice search, connects with DAT for vehicle pricing data, and serves exclusively professional automotive dealers across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manheim Express Plus: Full-service model where Manheim Express handles the entire process from payment to vehicle pickup and complaint management.
• Manheim Express Vermittlungsmodell

Products and services

• Manheim Express Digital Auction Platform
• Manheim Express PLUS
• Manheim Express Vermittlungsmodell (Mediation Model)
• Trade Desk Team Service
• EU Export Service
• Integrated Transport Booking Solution

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 cars sold in Germany since launching in 2020.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• carsale24coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2023Manheim Express and carsale24 entered a partnership to jointly offer a white-label digital trade-in and remarketing solution for vehicle manufacturers in the German market. The combined offering integrates Manheim Express's B2B auction inventory and remarketing capabilities with carsale24's consumer trade-in valuation and advertising platform. Vehicle manufacturers benefit from higher online conversion rates and additional ROI from the trade-in process, while consumers stay within the manufacturer's customer journey. Both companies share inventory of privately owned vehicles to increase buying power on their respective platforms.
• DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand)coreTechnology or IntegrationManheim Express offers a free DAT interface setup for existing DAT customers, enabling seamless integration between dealer management systems and the Manheim Express auction platform. Non-DAT customers can also access the DAT interface by contacting Manheim Express directly.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Reezocar: European online B2B used-car platform focused on dealer-to-dealer vehicle sourcing across multiple EU countries. Comparable in cross-border B2B used-car trading and professional-only access model.
• AutoProff: Danish-headquartered digital B2B used-car auction platform expanding across Europe. Comparable digital-first B2B auction model and dealer-only access, with growing cross-border European footprint competing for the same professional dealer audience.
• Cars & Bids: US-based enthusiast-focused B2C/B2B online used-car auction platform. Less direct in market and audience, but comparable as a digital-only auction model for used vehicles, illustrating the broader category of online used-car auction platforms.
• Carwow: Originally a consumer-to-dealer lead generation platform, Carwow has expanded into dealer-to-dealer inventory trading (Carwow Market). Overlaps with Manheim Express in helping dealers source used inventory through digital channels.

Direct peers

• AUTO1 Group: Berlin-based operator of AUTO1.com (B2B used-car marketplace) and Autohero (retail). AUTO1.com is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Manheim Express in European B2B used-car auctions, serving professional dealers with a digital inventory platform and similar cross-border reach.
• Mobility Trader: European B2B used-vehicle trading marketplace connecting professional dealers and fleet operators across borders. Directly comparable in B2B focus, cross-border EU trading, and dealer-liquidity proposition.

Broad incumbents

• BCA Marketplace: Europe's largest B2B vehicle remarketing company operating physical and digital auctions. Overlaps with Manheim Express in serving fleet operators, leasing companies, and dealers disposing of used vehicles across multiple European markets, with a much larger incumbent footprint.
• AutoScout24: Large pan-European online automotive marketplace with a major presence in Germany. While primarily consumer-facing, its dealer inventory tools and remarketing services overlap with the B2B dealer liquidity Manheim Express targets, and it competes for the same dealer relationships.
• Mobile.de: Germany's leading automotive marketplace (owned by Adevinta). While predominantly consumer-facing, it is a primary destination where German professional dealers list inventory, making it a competitive substitute for the dealer-listing side of Manheim Express's marketplace.

Regional players

• Tradex: German B2B used-car trading platform serving professional dealers. Closely comparable in product (digital B2B used-car auctions) and customer base (German professional dealers), and competes head-to-head with Manheim Express in the German market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRKJajJPvJv-ao7Tk7qra5Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/manheimexpresseurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manheim-express
• Instagraminstagram.com/manheim.express

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manheim Express Europe