Singapore-based online automotive marketplace Carro has acquired CarPlace, an Australian used car platform, marking the company’s entry into the Australian market and giving it a physical presence across three of the country’s four largest states.
CarPlace is operated by Autoleague, one of Australia’s larger automotive dealer groups. As part of the deal, Autoleague retains a stake in CarPlace and joins Carro as a strategic investor and partner.
The acquisition gives Carro showroom operations in Western Australia and Queensland, along with wholesale operations based in Victoria. CarPlace currently runs sites in Perth and Brisbane, with a more recent Melbourne presence, and offers customers click-and-collect, home delivery, trade-ins, a seven-day return guarantee, and a three-month warranty on every vehicle.
Technology and dealer network
Carro says it plans to deploy proprietary technology across the CarPlace business, covering vehicle inspections, inventory tracking, asset management, leads management, and customer lifecycle management, among other areas.
In a statement, Carro co-founder and chief executive Aaron Tan said the company sees Australia as a significant opportunity. “Australia is one of the largest used car markets in Asia Pacific, with a consistent annual sales volume of 2.3 million used cars and fast-growing EV penetration,” Tan said. “We believe the market is ripe for a platform like Carro to transform the used car landscape and deliver a better, convenient, more transparent customer experience that is powered by technology and AI.”
The 2.3 million annual used car sales figure is attributed to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).
Carro also says it intends to grow its wholesale operations in Australia, positioning itself to serve the Japan-Australia vehicle import corridor. The company has an existing presence in Japan, which it says will support the supply of both pre-owned and new Japanese models to the Australian market.
“Carro has a track record of partnering with local dealers to support their growth, and we welcome ‘win-win’ partnerships in Australia,” Tan said. “We’re confident in our strong Wholesales capabilities, thanks to our presence in Japan which puts us in a very strong position to bring in popular Pre-Owned and Brand New Japanese models that Australians have grown to trust and love.”
Autoleague’s role
Autoleague managing director and chief executive Dan Kawai described the arrangement as a strong fit for both parties. “We’ve seen Carro’s technology infrastructure, streamlined operations and unwavering commitment to transparency within the industry, and we’re confident in their goal to become a leading player in Australia and the top choice for customers,” Kawai said in a statement. “We’re supportive of Carro’s ambitions in Australia and are committed to working closely together to achieve that.”
About Carro
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Singapore, Carro describes itself as a leading online automotive marketplace across the Asia Pacific region, excluding mainland China and India. The company says it has raised over S$700 million from investors including SoftBank Vision Fund and several sovereign funds, and employs more than 4,500 people across the region. With the CarPlace acquisition, Carro says it is now present in eight markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, and Australia.
The company’s broader group includes automotive financing, fleet management, refurbishment and after-sales services, and digital marketing operations across Asia Pacific.
For more information, visit www.carro.co.
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