Cárbula
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Automotive, E-commerce |
| Founded 📆 | 2018 |
| Founders 👔 | Martín Salassa, Nicolás Ochoa |
Area served 🗺️ | Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay |
| Products 📟 | Used car buying and selling platform |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | carbula |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Cárbula is a Latin American technology platform specializing in the buying and selling of used vehicles. Founded in 2018 in Mendoza, Argentina, the company operates primarily in Chile, where it is headquartered in Las Condes, Santiago.[1] The platform connects private car sellers with buyers, managing the entire transaction process, including vehicle valuation, inspection, publication, and paperwork.[2]
History
Cárbula was founded in 2018 by Martín Salassa and Nicolás Ochoa, who had previously worked together at a car dealership in Mendoza, Argentina. Through that experience they identified systemic inefficiencies in the private used car sales process for both buyers and sellers.[3]
In 2019, Cárbula was selected by Start-Up Chile, one of Latin America's most prominent startup accelerators, receiving funding of US$30,000 to develop its business model in Santiago, Chile.[1] The company was also backed in its early stages by an Argentine accelerator, which provided an initial US$25,000.[1]
By the end of 2020, Cárbula reported monthly growth of approximately 40%, a trend partly attributed to accelerated adoption of online services during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The company projected revenue of US$600,000 for 2021 and began exploring expansion into Mexico.[1]
Business model
Cárbula operates as an intermediary between private sellers and buyers of used vehicles, offering two main service modalities: direct purchase of the vehicle from the seller, or consignment, in which Cárbula manages the sale on the seller's behalf while the owner retains use of the car.[2]
Upon receiving a vehicle, the company performs a valuation using an artificial intelligence engine that analyzes real-time market data as well as data from the preceding 180 days, with geographic weighting.[1] The vehicle is then listed on Cárbula's own platform and on partner portals including MercadoLibre, ChileAutos, and Yapo.cl.[1] This multi-platform approach, which the company refers to as "dual posting," is intended to maximize exposure while not requiring exclusivity from the seller.[3]
Cárbula states that 90% of listed vehicles are sold within 30 days.[2] The company handles all transaction paperwork, including vehicle transfer, through digital processes. Vehicle transfers are conducted via Autofact, and mechanical and mileage verification is carried out in partnership with Autored.[4]
Funding and investors
Cárbula has received backing from multiple institutional investors and public development agencies across Latin America, including:
- Corfo (Chile's state economic development agency)
- Start-Up Chile
- Seedstars International
- UTEC Ventures
- ANII (Uruguay's National Research and Innovation Agency)
- Embarca.tech
- Grupo Kauffman
- Güil Ventures[5]
Operations
Cárbula is headquartered at Av. Manquehue Norte 882, oficina 8, in the Las Condes district of Santiago, Chile. The company operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00.
The platform has reported over 3,000 vehicles sold since its founding.[4] It also offers complementary services including vehicle financing and trade-in options (part exchange), subject to appraisal.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Startup que acelera venta de autos usados con inteligencia artificial llegará a México". Diario Financiero. 2021. Retrieved 2024. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Plataforma utiliza estrategia tecnológica para vender autos usados en corto plazo". El Dinamo. October 23, 2020. Retrieved 2024. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Desarrollo mendocino: la plataforma de compra venta de autos que desafía a los clasificados webs y a las agencias". InfoMendoza. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Cárbula – Vende tu auto de forma segura". Cárbula. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "Cárbula – LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help)
External links
Category:Companies established in 2018 Category:Online marketplaces
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