Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Adesa-AFC Parent Acquires Stratim

KAR Auction Services acquires mobility and fleet management software company Stratim, expanding the company's presence in on-demand carsharing and ride-hailing services.

by Staff
February 9, 2018
Adesa-AFC Parent Acquires Stratim

Stratim co-founder Sean Behr, who spoke at the 2017 Fleet Forward Conference, assumes the role of Stratim's president.

2 min to read


KAR Auction Services, Inc. a global vehicle remarketing and technology solutions provider, announced the acquisition of mobility and fleet management software company Stratim. KAR owns Adesa auctions and Automotive Finance Corp. (AFC).

Stratim co-founder Sean Behr, who spoke at the 2017 Fleet Forward Conference, assumes the role of Stratim's president.


The addition of Stratim supplements KAR’s broad portfolio of wholesale used vehicle physical, online and digital auction marketplaces and ancillary service providers. The acquisition also expands the company’s presence into the rapidly growing market of on-demand car and ride sharing services, urban commute providers and autonomous vehicles, the company said in a statement.

“As the automotive industry continues to transform, we’re making meaningful investments in technology, data and analytics to meet the evolving needs of our customers and expand market opportunities,” said Jim Hallett, chairman and CEO of KAR. “Stratim’s first-of-its kind mobility management solution is already supporting the fleets of some of our commercial customers, and this is a natural extension of those relationships. We look forward to delivering integrated products and services through Stratim and fortifying our presence in the mobility space.”

San Francisco-based Stratim was founded in 2016 by a team of technology innovators from Google, eBay and Trulia with experience building platform and infrastructure technology. Stratim’s software utilizes real-time data and predictive analytics to digitize fleet management and help mobility service providers streamline operations.

Fleet owners can onboard, manage, service, dispatch and pay all their current vendors through Stratim’s automated vendor management platform. Stratim operates in more than 25 North American cities and has processed service transactions for many of the nation’s leading mobility service providers and automotive manufacturers.

“Stratim enables automotive companies to succeed in the new age of use-based transportation,” said Sean Behr, Stratim founder and president. “KAR shares our entrepreneurial spirit and has the resources to fuel our continued growth and expansion. We’re thrilled to join the KAR family and deliver technology and innovation that power our customers’ fleets.”

Stratim will maintain its current headquarters in San Francisco, and will be part of KAR’s digital services group. Sean Behr assumes the role of Stratim’s president.

“KAR is continuously scanning the automotive eco-system to identify solutions that modernize processes and enhance the customer experience,” said Don Gottwald, chief operating officer and chief strategy officer at KAR. “Integrating Stratim’s fleet management technology into KAR’s platform will give our customers a cost-effective, end-to-end, data-driven solution for better managing fleet vehicle service and optimizing logistics.”

More Rental Operations

Collage of cleaning car interior
Rental Operations•November 5, 2026

How Better Cleaning Processes Improve Rental Fleet Efficiency

A consistent approach to vehicle cleaning helps rental operators reduce turnaround delays and return vehicles to service without compromising cleanliness.

Read More →
Paperwork sits in front of a black Lamborghini
Rental Operations•November 1, 2026

Clean on Paper: Red Flags in Exotic Car Rental Verification

A suspicious $45,000 Lamborghini booking reveals the strengths and limitations of renter verification, from forged insurance documents to coverage gaps and unauthorized drivers. (Part 2 of 3)

Read More →
display of Turo's FSD homepage
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 28, 2026

Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals

The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two identical rental cars, two different prices
Rental Operations•Cover Story•October 26, 2026

How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules

As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.

Read More →
a laptop shows different connectivity paths for car rental supply
Rental Operations•October 23, 2026

Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars

As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.

Read More →
thumbnail of title and photo of Joel Price and Chris Brown
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 20, 2026

How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?

With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
thumbnail what does it take to succeed in b2b rentals
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?

The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.

Read More →
Photo of Ana Laborde and world map
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings

With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.

Read More →
Rental car agent shows woman her choice of rental car
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 7, 2026

Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study

While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals

Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.

Read More →
Ad Loading...