Cox Automotive has taken full ownership of Alliance Inspection Management (AiM), a vehicle inspection services company and Manheim’s long-time wholesale inspection partner, the companies announced Sept. 8.

Cox Automotive has held a 50% stake in AiM for nearly a decade and, as part of this deal, bought the remaining 50% stake from Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp.

“By fully integrating AiM’s talent and technology into the Manheim Marketplace, we’re taking another powerful step in our journey toward reimagining how buyers and sellers connect in today’s wholesale automotive marketplace by making it easier to transact in lane, online, onsite or offsite,” said Grace Huang, president of Inventory Solutions at Cox Automotive, in a Sept. 8 news release.

About 700 AiM employees are now working under Cox Automotive.

The acquisition brings the following changes for Manheim clients:

• Expanded offsite presence: Manheim gains more offsite capabilities, with more workers extending a reach beyond traditional locations. This will help create new opportunities for growth and efficiency.

• Off-lease inspections: For commercial clients, this move boost off-lease inspection services. Leveraging its advanced Next Inspect solution, Manheim will offer clients tech-driven off-lease inspection solutions on a wider scale, aiming to provide greater accuracy, efficiency and confidence during the process.

• Dealer support: Manheim will now use about 300 additional team members to visit dealers nationwide, which helps them drive faster, more effective wholesale vehicle transactions from their lots.