Vroom (NASDAQ:VRM) is a digital technology and eCommerce portal serving the used and after-market car industry. The company operates as a used automotive retailer in the United States and sets itself apart with the idea car buying should be easy, fun, and affordable. The company was formerly known as Auto America, Inc. and changed its name to Vroom, Inc. in July 2015. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in New York, New York. The company is led by Tom Shortt and Robert R. Krakowiak who are CEO and CFO respectively and Co-President together.
Vroom, Inc. operates an end-to-end eCommerce platform for buying, selling, transporting, reconditioning, pricing, financing, registering, and delivering vehicles. The company is capitalizing on both the fractured nature of the used car market and the early adoption of eCommerce by the used car market. In regard to the opportunity, the used car market is the single largest consumer market in the US with over $840 billion in annual sales in 2021, and eCommerce penetration is very low at only 0.9% compared to over 15% for all retail combined. Vroom boasted 3% of the market share in used cars in the Q1 period of 2022.
The company uses data science and AI to predict pricing trends as well as other metrics within the industry. Buyers can search, compare, choose, purchase, finance, and have delivered the car of their liking while sellers are connected with an immense liquidity pool. Vroom powers its service by buying cars directly from the seller, giving top dollar, and then passing on the value to consumers after a vigorous inspection and reconditioning process.
Its mission is to “help people find their drive”. The three pillars of the experience are High-Quality Cars that have undergone numerous inspections; Buying Made Easy with no haggling and no hassles, the price you see is the price you pay; and delivery, vehicles are delivered directly to the consumer proving a seamless and 100% online experience with no dealerships involved.
Vroom, Inc can also finance vehicles. The company has partnerships with Chase, Santander, and Ally in order to provide the highest-quality financing options available. Once purchased, consumers have 7 days to decide if they want to keep it and there is a limited warranty as well.
On the back end of the business, the company is focused as much on unit economics, operating costs, and liquidity as it is on the customer experience. The drivers of success in this area are a well-oiled consumer platform and delivery system, scalability, and available financing which go hand in hand with the customer experience.
