Autobell Carwash

Autobell Car Wash is a regional, family-owned operator that focuses on full-service conveyor washes and interior cleaning for everyday drivers across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Customers typically stay in or near their vehicle while a staffed team handles exterior washing, interior vacuuming, glass and dashboard cleaning, with optional higher-level services for a more detailed clean. The business leans on multi-visit plans, unlimited wash memberships, and seasonal promotions to keep traffic consistent throughout the year.

The company was founded in 1969 by Charles Howard Sr. in Charlotte, North Carolina. From a single neighborhood wash, Autobell spent the following decades adding locations through a mix of new construction and acquisitions. As those sites accumulated, the brand evolved from a local family operation into what corporate and third-party sources describe as the largest family-owned full-service car wash operator in the United States. Reaching more than 80 locations across several states stands out as a key milestone, supported by a Charlotte-based home office that centralizes training, operations, and support for the field.

As of March 2024, Autobell operates 87 locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland, with a concentration in major metros such as Charlotte, Raleigh–Durham, Atlanta suburbs, and Hampton Roads. Over roughly the last five years, the company has focused on deepening its presence within this regional footprint rather than spreading into distant new territories. That period has seen continued infill growth in core markets, selective entry into new trade areas within its existing states, and the steady rollout of its membership programs, which help stabilize volume and revenue at the site level.

Autobell’s sites typically follow a repeatable tunnel format with consistent equipment, signage, and branding, which simplifies opening in new trade areas and allows customers to recognize the brand quickly along busy corridors. The model depends on professionally staffed locations rather than unattended or purely automated drive-through formats. Teams on site manage both the exterior wash and the interior service line, which in turn requires thoughtful site planning for stacking, circulation, and access at each property.

Growth today is selective but ongoing. The company is pursuing a mix of new ground-up builds and acquisitions on high-traffic arterial roads in and around its existing markets. Priority growth areas include North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, and select neighboring Southeast markets. New projects are typically corporate-developed, supported by an internal real estate and construction group that oversees site selection, entitlement, and build-out. This approach allows Autobell to move efficiently on qualified parcels and maintain control over design and operations.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Autobell brings a long operating history, family ownership, and a recognizable regional brand that can add consistent daily traffic to retail corridors. Its full-service model generally occupies a larger footprint than express exterior-only washes, with activity focused on the tunnel, stacking lanes, and limited on-site parking rather than common-area parking fields. The company’s emphasis on staffed service, membership-driven repeat use, and infill expansion in growing Southeast metros positions it as a stable, service-oriented user for ground leases, build-to-suits, and select acquisitions within its established geography.