DETROIT -

Rocket Auto has been involved in vehicle retailing and financing for the past four years.

On Tuesday, the division of Rocket Companies introduced a new website with a primary focus on providing what Rocket Auto contends will be a simple and transparent vehicle-buying experience, leveraging the company’s experience in the mortgage space.

The Rocket Auto marketplace at RocketAuto.com currently hosts more than 35,000 used cars, trucks and SUVs from more than 300 dealers nationwide. Additional inventory partners are expected to join the marketplace through the remainder of 2021, according to a news release, boosting choice and vehicle availability.

Rocket Companies’ mission is centered around always putting the client first and ensuring simplicity and certainty are core to every transaction. Rocket Auto applied this same philosophy to its tech-enabled process for vehicle purchases.

“Buying a car is one of the largest purchases anyone makes in their life, but the process can be intimidating and overwhelming. Rocket Auto is reimagining this experience by building a marketplace with massive inventory and tools specifically engineered to make it stress free,” Rocket Auto chief executive officer Victor You said in the news release.

“We have used Rocket Companies’ decades of experience bringing simplicity to the mortgage space through Rocket Mortgage and married it with our learnings from years supporting sales for Vroom, to demystify the car-buying experience and help our clients select the right car and get on the road quickly,” You continued.

Rocket Auto’s marketplace format is designed to give buyers the ability to view various makes and models, at every price point, from a diverse network of dealers.

In the coming months, Rocket Auto said it will also be the only marketplace to provide buyers the ability to self-service, handling the entire process from beginning to end regardless of what dealer the vehicle comes from.

Rocket Auto expects to add new-vehicle sales and leasing to its used-vehicle inventory in 2022.

“Rocket Companies interacts with millions of Americans every year through our mortgage, real estate and personal lending businesses. More than 90% of those clients choose to come back to us time and again because of the experience we provide,” said Jay Farner, vice chairman and CEO of Rocket Companies.

“With Rocket Auto, we are growing our car sales platform so those who know us and trust us have a place to purchase their next car within the Rocket ecosystem — using the technology and best-in-class client service they are used to,” Farner continued.

Rocket Auto reiterated that it has supported vehicles sales since 2017, honing the skills needed to sell vehicles nationwide from a centralized location.

In that time, Rocket Auto insisted that it has demonstrated the strength of its platform through tremendous growth. In the second quarter of this year, the company facilitated the sale of 15,600 vehicles, up more than 143%, as compared to the same quarter last year.

In total, Rocket Auto expects to more than double its vehicles sales in 2021, compared to the gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2020. 

Currently, buyers can view the inventory from Rocket Auto’s partner dealers and express their interest in purchasing a vehicle. A virtual garage also gives marketplace visitors an opportunity to select vehicles from the expansive inventory that are of interest, ‘park’ them to view later and compare to others.

The company’s Rocket Cloud Force of advisors are highly trained to then guide clients through the marketplace website as buyers search, secure financing and set up delivery of their dream car. Once they find their next car, Rocket Auto can provide an instant cash offer to facilitate the trade-in of the client’s current vehicle.

“The Rocket Auto platform is the perfect way for dealers to connect with buyers,” the company said. “Dealers have the opportunity to display their inventory in front of the 14 million+ Americans who have a relationship with Rocket Mortgage, Rocket Homes or Rocket Loans.

“Plus, clients are three times more likely to buy a car after a mortgage inquiry, and 50% more likely to purchase a vehicle after refinancing — as reported by TransUnion research,” the company continued.

“Most importantly, Rocket Auto assists clients, even those just in the consideration phase, so dealers have structured deals not just leads,” the company went on to say.