Carvana to hire 350 for its OKC Center
Facility under construction in southwest area of city
Carvana, the online used-car dealer, plans to hire 350 people to work at its $40 million inspection and reconditioning center under construction in southwest Oklahoma City.
The Arizona-based company received approval Thursday to participate in the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program for those employed at its new reconditioning center. The 196,141-square-foot facility, on 100 acres at 5500 S. Rockwell Ave., will be part of Carvana’s national logistics network.
Details of the performance-based incentive package were not revealed.
The state’s Quality Jobs Program provides a type of reimbursement for companies’ payroll expenses. The program does this by providing quarterly cash payments, worth up to 5% of new payrolls, for up to 10 years.
The program is considered one of Oklahoma’s oldest and most successful incentive programs, and has transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to participating companies since it was launched. A 2017 report
The company received approval Thursday to participate in the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program, but details of the performance-based incentive package were not revealed.
from the Department of Commerce showed 780 companies have enrolled since the program began, creating a payroll of over $22.3 billion.
Companies must meet an average wage threshold, and $2.5 million in new annual payrolls within three years to qualify. Participating companies must offer basic health insurance to employees, and in some cases, qualifying companies must also attain 75% outof-state sales.
The Quality Jobs Program is one of several state incentive programs designed to attract businesses to Oklahoma.
“We are excited to welcome Carvana to Oklahoma and continue to grow the state’s logistics sector,” said Scott Mueller, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development. “Oklahoma’s strategic logistical advantage, expansive transportation infrastructure and skilled workforce make our state a premier location for companies like Carvana.”
Carvana has 10 inspection and reconditioning centers going up this year and next in a $500 million expansion. The company uses these type of centers to inspect, recondition and photograph vehicles in 360 degrees, according to the Commerce Department.
The business has seen substantial growth in recent years, according to Brian Boyd, vice president of inventory strategy.
The Oklahoma Commerce Department described Carvana, founded in 1212, as one of the fastest-growing auto retailers in the country and one of the youngest companies to make the Fortune 500.
The company is designed to sell cars online. Customers can shop more than 45,000 vehicles on the Carvana website, and after financing and purchasing, they can select delivery options, or a new vehicle can be picked up at one of the Carvana Car Vending Machines, like the one at 1800 W Memorial Road, which opened in 2019.
“We are excited to welcome Carvana to Oklahoma City,” said Roy H. Williams, president & CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “Carvana is a company that prides itself on innovation, which makes them a great fit for our community. They are also growing rapidly and we are thrilled they recognized Oklahoma City as a place that can help them continue that growth.”