Toronto-based Clutch, an online used car retailer, has resumed its expansion in Western Canada by opening a new 30,500-square-foot facility in Richmond, British Columbia. This move marks Clutch’s return to the region over two years after halting operations west of Ontario. CEO Dan Park described the expansion as a significant milestone for the company.
The Richmond hub, which began operations in June, will serve as Clutch’s operational headquarters for Western Canada, supporting logistics, inspection, reconditioning, and vehicle drop-off services across British Columbia. Clutch employs 510 people, with eight employees in BC, and the company plans to hire up to 1,000 additional staff nationwide over the next two years. In BC, Clutch aims to start selling vehicles by 2026 after resuming vehicle purchases earlier this year.
Clutch, founded in 2016, simplifies vehicle transactions by buying used vehicles directly from consumers, reconditioning them, and selling them through its digital platform. Clutch has faced challenges but has achieved significant growth, purchasing more than $3 million in vehicles daily and surpassing $1 billion CAD in total cars purchased. The company recovered from previous setbacks with a $50-million Series D round, increasing its valuation and supporting further expansion.
To strengthen its operations, Clutch has opened a flagship facility in Mississauga, Ontario, and appointed Anshul Ruparell as CFO. Despite US tariff hikes, Clutch’s business remains largely unaffected, as it primarily operates within Canada. The company acknowledges the potential market entry of Amazon into online car sales as validation of their business model, highlighting Clutch’s control over its inventory as a unique advantage.