Clicars

Clicars operates as a digital dealership for reconditioned cars in Spain, founded in 2016 by Pablo Fernández and Carlos Rivera. The founders brought complementary expertise to the venture; Fernández, a Harvard Business School graduate, previously worked at Boston Consulting Group and Banco Santander, while Rivera had over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry with companies like Renault and Philips Automotive, in addition to consulting at Boston Consulting Group. Their goal was to transform the traditionally complex and distrusted process of buying a used car into a simple and transparent digital experience.

The company's business model is centered on acquiring, reconditioning, and selling cars online, supplemented by a growing physical presence. Clicars purchases used vehicles directly from consumers and other sources, specializing in cars with low mileage and no history of severe accidents. Each vehicle undergoes a detailed 230-point inspection and reconditioning process at its facility in Madrid, which has expanded to 90,000 square meters. This process ensures quality and allows the company to offer what it terms "good-as-new" cars at a lower price point than new vehicles. Revenue is primarily generated from the sale of these cars, with additional income from commissions and other services.

The customer proposition is built on convenience and trust. Clients can browse a large inventory online, purchase a car digitally, and have it delivered to their home within 48 hours. A key feature is the 15-day or 1,000-kilometer money-back guarantee, which was the longest in the market. While the business began as a purely online platform, it has since adopted a phygital strategy, opening physical centers in cities like Zaragoza and Valencia to complement its online sales. In 2017, just a year after its launch, Clicars formed a strategic alliance with Aramis Group, a European leader in online car sales backed by Stellantis. This partnership evolved, and in May 2022, Aramis Group fully acquired Clicars, although the Spanish brand maintains its operational independence. Following the acquisition, Fernández and Rivera transitioned out of their CEO roles.

Keywords: online car retailer, reconditioned cars, used vehicle marketplace, automotive e-commerce, digital dealership, Pablo Fernández, Carlos Rivera, Aramis Group, Stellantis, vehicle reconditioning, Spanish automotive market, phygital model, direct-to-consumer auto sales, used car certification, online vehicle sales, automotive fintech, car financing, Madrid startup, European car market, vehicle home delivery