Autotrader.com#History
{{short description|Online marketplace for car shoppers and sellers}}
{{About|the American website||Auto Trader (disambiguation){{!}}Auto Trader}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Autotrader
| logo = Autotrader logo.svg
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = E-commerce software
| foundation = {{start date and age|1997}}
| location = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| key_people = Stephen Rowley (CEO)
| products = Digital automotive marketplace, pre-packaged software
| num_employees = 859
| owner =
| parent = Cox Automotive
| area_served = United States
Australia
| homepage = {{flat list|
- [https://www.autotrader.com Autotrader.com]
- [https://www.autotrader.com.au/ Autotrader.com.au]
}}
}}
Autotrader.com, Inc. is an American online marketplace for car buyers and sellers, founded in 1997. It aggregates new, used, and certified second-hand cars from dealers and private sellers. The site also provides users with automotive reviews, shopping advice, and comparison tools for car financing and insurance information.{{cite web|title=Home page|url=http://www.autotrader.com|work=Autotrader.com|access-date=18 June 2013}} The firm is based in Atlanta, Georgia.{{cite web|title=Company Overview of Autotrader Group, Inc.|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=92642|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622221755/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=92642|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 22, 2009|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=18 June 2013}} Since 2018 it has also been operating in Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/us-giant-cox-automotive-launches-autotrader-in-australia-553843|title=US giant Cox Automotive launches Autotrader in Australia|last=Wallbank|first=Paul|date=2018-11-28|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}} Autotrader.com is owned by the Cox Automotive subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. It was originally a magazine, started by entrepreneur Stuart Arnold.
History
Autotrader.com was founded in 1997.{{cite web|title=Autotrader.com Helps Car Shoppers Go Green |url=http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22022938/autotradercom-helps-car-shoppers-go-green |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624182021/http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22022938/autotradercom-helps-car-shoppers-go-green |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2013 |work=ABC News |access-date=18 June 2013 }} It was derived from Auto Trader magazine, first published by Stu Arnold in 1973.{{Cite web |last=A.I.M. Group |first= |date=Sep 27, 2017 |title=Original founder of Auto Trader magazines dies in Florida at 82 |url=https://aimgroup.com/2017/09/27/original-founder-auto-trader-magazines-dies-florida-82-2/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=aimgroup.com/ |language=en-US}} Freelance photographers would travel to the address of a customer to photograph their vehicle.{{Cite web |last=Resler |first=Vanessa |date=May 5, 2021 |title=Before We All Had Digital Cameras, I Was a Photographer for Auto Trader Magazine |url=https://vanessaresler.medium.com/before-we-all-had-digital-cameras-i-was-a-photographer-for-auto-trader-magazine-9ba07e43cce}}
Arnold sold the business in 1988 to Cox Enterprises, an Atlanta-based media chain.{{Cite web |last=A.I.M. Group |first= |title=Original founder of Auto Trader magazines dies in Florida at 82 |url=https://aimgroup.com/2017/09/27/original-founder-auto-trader-magazines-dies-florida-82-2/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=aimgroup.com/ |language=en-US}} In 2010, Providence Equity Partners purchased a 25% interest, becoming a minority owner in the company.{{cite web|last=Kershner|first=Jeff|title=Autotrader.com is Sold to Providence Equity Partners|url=http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotrader-sold-providence-equity-partners/|work=Dealer Refresh|access-date=18 June 2013}} Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor.
In 2010, a tool was added to the website to get an instant trade-in offer.{{cite news|last=Meece|first=Mickey|title=Used-Car Dealers Have a Deal for You. No Kidding.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/automobiles/used-car-dealers-have-a-deal-for-you-no-kidding.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=13 October 2011 |access-date=18 June 2013}}
In August 2016, Cox Automotive bought out News Corp Australia's 55% stake in CarsGuide.com.au, forming the new automotive venture, Cox Automotive Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bandt.com.au/media/news-corp-sells-stake-carsguide-forms-part-new-automotive-venture|title=News Corp Sells Stake In CarsGuide As Merger Sees It Become Part Of Cox Automotive|date=2016-08-09|website=B&T|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/us-auto-conglomerate-to-take-over-carsguide.html|title=US AUTO CONGLOMERATE TO TAKE OVER CARSGUIDE|last=Perkins|first=James|website=Business News Australia|access-date=2019-01-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/business/media-and-marketing/news-corp-to-exit-carsguide-20160809-gqo315|title=News Corp to exit CarsGuide|date=2016-08-08|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}} This eventually led to the launch of the Autotrader.com.au website in October 2018, alongside the Australian arm of Kelley Blue Book.{{Cite web |last=Wallbank |first=Paul |date=2018-11-28 |title=US giant Cox Automotive launches Autotrader in Australia |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/us-giant-cox-automotive-launches-autotrader-in-australia-553843 |access-date=2019-01-04 |website=Mumbrella |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://premium.goauto.com.au/kelley-blue-book-launches-in-australia/|title=Kelley Blue Book launches in Australia|date=2018-10-01|website=GoAutoNews Premium|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-04}} In May 2020, eBay Classifieds group acquired Cox Media, which is the subsidiary of Cox Automotive that runs Autotrader.{{cite web|title=EBay Classifieds acquires Cox Australia|url=https://aimgroup.com/2020/06/02/gumtree-australia-gets-green-light-to-acquire-autotrader-carsguide-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609114600/https://aimgroup.com/2020/06/02/gumtree-australia-gets-green-light-to-acquire-autotrader-carsguide-2/ |archive-date=2020-06-09 }}
Products and website
Autotrader.com offers services that help consumers buy cars, sell cars, or research car purchases. For buyers, the site offers listings of new and used vehicles for sale from dealers and private sellers.{{cite web|last=Paglia|first=Ralph|title=AutoTrader Acquires VinSolutions – An Auto Industry Insider's Perspective|url=http://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profiles/blogs/autotrader-acquires|work=Automotive Digital Marketing|access-date=18 June 2013}} It can search for cars through categories: make and model, price range, style, drive type (automatic or manual), engine type, color (exterior and interior), mileage and number of doors.
Those wishing to sell to a dealer can ask for offers from their local area.{{cite web|last=Craig |first=Ted |title=Autotrader.com Buys vAuto |url=http://www.usedcarnews.com/home/dealers/1557-autotradercom-buys-vauto |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624181909/http://www.usedcarnews.com/home/dealers/1557-autotradercom-buys-vauto |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2013 |work=Used Car News |access-date=18 June 2013 }} After taking their car to the dealer to verify its condition, the owner may then sell for the offered price, either as cash or trade-in value. Sellers may purchase an ad package with a description, and upload up to 30 photos.
The firm has an editorial team that reviews new and used cars and provides tips and advice via videos, articles, and social media content. The firm offers its products and services online and on its iPhone, Android, Windows 8, and iPad apps.
The firm owns and operates AutoTraderClassics.com, an online marketplace of classic, antique, and specialty automobiles.
= Australian branch =
The Australian branch operates slightly differently due to the specifics of the Australian market. The website styles itself as the 'automotive marketplace where everyone wins.'{{Cite web|url=https://www.autotrader.com.au/about|title=Autotrader|website=Autotrader|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}} It suggests that it benefits buyers by providing them with dealer reviews, which allow buyers to review their experiences with sellers, as well as the Price Advisor provided through Kelley Blue Book;{{Cite web|url=https://premium.goauto.com.au/home-grown-autotrader-launches/|title=Home-grown Autotrader launches|date=2018-11-29|website=GoAutoNews Premium|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-04}} while sellers would benefit from having better-informed and more confident buyers.
The website aggregates new, demonstrator and second-hand cars. For buyers, the company provides access to support and guidance, to allow them to make a more educated purchasing decision. They also provide transparent information about the dealer of the car, including the location, the name, a photo of the sales manager, their dealership rating and buyer reviews.
In August 2022, The Market Herald agreed to acquire Gumtree, CarsGuide and Autotrader, a deal completed on 31 August 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/the-market-herald-bags-gumtree-carsguide-and-autotrader-for--87-million.html|title=The Market Herald bags Gumtree, Carsguide and Autotrader|website=Business News Australia}}
Recognition
Autotrader earned the 2010 Most Useful Automotive Site, from J.D. Power and Associates, the 2012 Information Week 500 Award, and the 2013 Dealers' Choice Diamond Awards for both New and Used Vehicle Internet Leads.{{cite web|title=Awards and Honors|url=http://press.autotrader.com/index.php?s=25959|work=Autotrader.com|access-date=18 June 2013}}{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Richard S.|title=Kelley Blue Book Sold to Autotrader.com|url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/kelley-blue-book-sold-to-autotrader-com|work=The New York Times|access-date=18 June 2013}}
See also
References
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