SAN JOSE, Calif. — eBay Motors has completed its acquisition of WHI Solutions (WHI), a provider of software and digital catalog solutions for auto parts distributors and retailers. The partnership is expected to make it easier for dealers and consumers to sell, source and purchase a wide variety of auto parts on eBay Motors.
eBay Motors now has the foundation to expand its catalog from auto replacement parts to specialty equipment, racing performance and vintage parts. For dealers and parts distributors, the deal means listing inventory online will be easier due to listing fields that automatically populate with a description, image and vehicle application data.
Auto parts are the last frontier of goods to come online. In 2011, only 11.8 percent of all purchases occurred online — roughly half of all purchases in 2009, according to eBay Motors.
eBay sellers alone increase global parts and accessory sales last year by 20 percent, with more than 24 million parts being made available on eBay Motors at any given time. In the first quarter of this year, worldwide gross merchandise volume for parts and accessories on the site was approximately $1.8 billion.
According to eBay Motors officials, WHI offices will remain in New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles, with the company’s employees, technology and client base expected to be integrated into online marketplace’s operations.
