E Automotive Inc. and its EBlock dealer-to-dealer digital auction subsidiary have purchased another independent auto auction and continue to grow in the Southern U.S.

As part of its U.S. expansion strategy, the Toronto-based company announced Wednesday it has acquired Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction.

“The acquisition of Louisiana's 1st Choice is another example of us executing our land-meets-technology strategy. This acquisition supports the launch of the EBlock platform in the U.S. Southeast market which we announced earlier this year,” E INC. president and chief executive officer Jason McClenahan said in a news release.

 “The addition of physical auctions to our digital dealer-to-dealer platform is a natural extension of our commitment to supporting the evolving needs of our dealer partners,” McClenahan said. “By connecting physical auctions and digital auctions, we are creating a network of logistics hubs that will improve our ability to serve our customers and give them the flexibility to do business where and how they prefer it.”

EBlock announced in February it had expanded to the Southeast, making its plaform available to dealers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The same month, the company announced it had acquired FastLane Auto Exchange, an independent auction in Michigan. 

As for the latest acquistion, McClenahan said:  “Louisiana's 1st Choice is a dealer-focused business with an experienced, forward-thinking team that is excited about the digital evolution in the automotive wholesale industry. LAFCAA's Gulf Coast location enables EBlock to expand its digital dealer-to-dealer marketplace in the southern United States.”

The 34-acre auction, which is located 60 miles north of New Orleans in Hammond, La., was founded in 2002.

EBlock plans on integrating the auction’s facilities, team and customer base into its own U.S. marketplace.

John Poteet is LAFCAA’s managing partner.

“EBlock and Louisiana’s 1st Choice share a focus on delivering excellence – whether that is for the customers we serve, the people we employ, or the solutions we invest in,” John Poteet said in a news release. “We’ve always seen EBlock as a leader in empowering physical auctions to embrace digital efficiencies to meet our customers where they are and how they want to do business. We are excited to join the EBlock team and continue to build on the momentum.”