Carro has strengthened its international footprint with the acquisition of Australian used car platform CarPlace. The move marks a significant milestone in Carro’s growth strategy, providing the company with an immediate presence in three of Australia’s four largest automotive markets.

CarPlace, a prominent player in Australia’s used vehicle sector, is operated by Autoleague, one of the country’s largest automotive groups. As part of the transaction, Autoleague will remain involved in the business as a strategic shareholder of CarPlace and will also become a strategic investor in Carro, creating a partnership aimed at driving long-term growth in the Australian market.

The acquisition is expected to enhance the used car buying and selling experience for both dealers and consumers by combining Carro’s technology-driven ecosystem with CarPlace’s established market presence. Carro plans to introduce its proprietary digital solutions across various aspects of the automotive retail journey, including vehicle inspections, inventory management, asset tracking, lead generation, customer engagement, lifecycle management and dealer network operations.

According to Carro Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Aaron Tan, Australia represents a key growth opportunity due to its sizeable used vehicle market and increasing adoption of electric vehicles. With annual used car sales consistently reaching approximately 2.3 million units, the company believes there is strong potential to modernise the sector through greater transparency, convenience and technology-led services powered by artificial intelligence.

Beyond retail operations, Carro also intends to expand its wholesale business in Australia. The acquisition positions the company as one of the few automotive players in the Asia Pacific region capable of supporting the import corridor between Japan and Australia. Leveraging its established presence in Japan, Carro aims to offer Australian buyers and dealers access to a wider range of popular pre-owned and new Japanese vehicles.

Tan highlighted the importance of building strong partnerships with local dealerships, noting that collaboration has been a cornerstone of Carro’s success in other markets. The company intends to work closely with Australian dealers to support their growth while introducing new opportunities through its wholesale and technology capabilities.

Autoleague Managing Director and CEO Dan Kawai welcomed the partnership, describing it as an exciting opportunity to work alongside a company that has demonstrated strong technological expertise, operational efficiency and a commitment to transparency. He expressed confidence in Carro’s ambition to become a major force in Australia’s automotive sector and reaffirmed Autoleague’s commitment to supporting the company’s expansion plans.