Kelley Blue Book

The company began as the Kelley Kar Company founded by Les Kelley in 1918.{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/kelley-blue-book-has-a-new-look/|title=Kelley Blue Book has a new look|publisher=Auto|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=May 26, 2011|author=Jeff Glucker}} Kelley started the company with three Model T Fords.{{cite news|title=Used-car innovator invented the 'blue book'|date=December 11, 2001|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}} His younger brother, Buster, worked with Kelley as a lot boy. By using data collected from the dealership, Kelley published the company's first Blue Book in 1926, which became a standard guide in automotive trade in determining car value.{{cite news|url=http://cars.chicagotribune.com/fuel-efficient/news/chi-the-top-ranked-fuel-efficient-family-cars-for-2013-20130521|title=Fuel-efficient vehicles fill out best family cars list for 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=May 21, 2013|author=Robert Duffer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224023012/http://cars.chicagotribune.com/fuel-efficient/news/chi-the-top-ranked-fuel-efficient-family-cars-for-2013-20130521|archive-date=February 24, 2014|url-status=dead}} Kelley Blue Book was formed in 1926, and the Kelley family continued its dealership business in Southern California for several decades. By the 1960s, the company moved from a car dealership to a specialty publisher and focused on the production of its automobile price guide. Kelley Blue Book guide became the first publication to use mileage to determine a car's value.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

In 1995, Kelley Blue Book created its company website, which contained tips and pricing information from its hardcopy guide.{{cite web | url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-autotradercom_kbb_purchase_10262010.aspx | access-date=30 July 2014 | title= AutoTrader.com buys Kelley Blue Book | author = Kristen Schott | work = OC Metro | date = 26 October 2010}}

In December 2010, Kelley Blue Book was purchased by AutoTrader.com.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/10/26/kelley-blue-book-sold-at-near-mint-condition/|title=Kelley Blue Book Sold at Near-Mint Condition|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=October 26, 2010|author=Shira Ovide}} After its acquisition, the company operated as a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com, Inc.{{cite news|title=AutoTrader plans to buy kelley blue book; terms of the deal, which requires regulatory approval, are not disclosed|newspaper=LA Times|date=October 27, 2010|author=Li, S.}}

In 2013, the company formed an alliance with Bitauto Holdings Ltd. to expand into China.{{cite news|last=Clough|first=Richard|title=Kelley Blue Book to expand into China|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=November 9, 2013|page=Business 1}}

In 2014, Kelley Blue Book signed a two-year agreement with Hendrick Motorsports to be a primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet SS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.{{cite web | url = http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/2/13/dale-earnhardt-jr-sponsor-hendrick-motorsports-kelley-blue-book.html | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = First-time NASCAR sponsor joins Earnhardt's No. 88| work = NASCAR.com | date = 13 February 2014 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/article/2014/02/13/Kelley-Blue-Book-to-sponsor-Dale-Earnhardt-Jr | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = Kelley Blue Book to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. | work = Hendrick Motorsports | date = 13 February 2014}}

File:Kelley Blue Book Official Guide. Best Resale Value.jpg

The company reports market value prices for new and used automobiles of all types, as well as motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-KBB-Cyclechex-new-Motorcycle-History-Reports-3-1-12.aspx|title=Irvine-based Kelley Blue Book partners with Cyclechex to offer used-motorcycle information|publisher=OC Metro|access-date=September 24, 2013|author=Kirsti Correa|date=March 1, 2012}} For both new and used automobiles, Kelley Blue Book provides a fair market range and fair purchase price, based on actual transactions of what others are paying for a vehicle and adjusted regularly as market conditions change.{{cite web | url = http://www.fi-magazine.com/news/story/2013/10/kbb-launches-price-advisor-tool.aspx | access-date=30 July 2014 | title = KBB Launches Price Advisor Tool | work = F&I Magazine | date = 15 October 2013 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.socaltech.com/kelley_blue_book_debuts_new_car_pricing_tool/s-0051902.html | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = Kelley Blue Book Debuts New Car Pricing Tool | work = Socal Tech | date = 15 October 2013}} For new automobiles, Kelley Blue Book also provides information about a car's MSRP and dealer invoice price.{{cite news|title=Kelley adds certification to its used-vehicle listings|newspaper=Automotive News|date=June 24, 2002}} For used cars, Kelley Blue Book provides typical listing price, certified pre-owned price, trade-in value and private party value.{{cite web | url = http://www.businessfleet.com/channel/vehicle-research/news/story/2013/02/kbb-report-fair-purchase-price-data-shows-vehicle-segments-worth-buying-new.aspx | title = KBB Report: Fair Purchase Price Data Shows Vehicle Segments Worth Buying Used | work = Business Fleet | date = 19 February 2013 }}{{ cite web | url = http://www.autoremarketing.com/technology/kbb-rolls-out-range-based-pricing-used-values | title = KBB Rolls Out Range-Based Pricing for Used Values | work = Auto Remarketing|date= 20 May 2014}} Kelley Blue Book also offers expert and consumer vehicle reviews and ratings, and 5-year cost to own information for new cars.{{cite web | url = https://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/07/30/kelley-blue-book-launches-first-consumer-tv-ads-video/ | access-date=30 July 2014 | title = Kelley Blue Book Launches First Consumer TV Ads (Video) | author=Jonathan Welsh|work = The Wall Street Journal | date = 30 July 2012 }}{{ cite web| url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-launches-TV-ads-07-31-2012.aspx | access-date=30 July 2014 | title=Kelley Blue Book launches national television ad campaign | author=Mackenna Waterhouse|work = OC Metro | date = 31 July 2012}}

In 2012–2014, Harris Poll recognized Kelley Blue Book as the Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/EquiTrendRankings.aspx#Automotive|title=2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings|publisher=Harris Interactive|access-date=September 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005104620/http://www.harrisinteractive.com/insights/EquiTrendRankings.aspx#Automotive|archive-date=October 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{ cite web | url = https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brand-equity-many-luxury-full-090000459.html | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = KBB.com Earns Brand of the Year Three Years Running | work = Yahoo! Finance | date = 12 June 2014}} In addition, the company received a WebAward in the automotive category of Outstanding Website for two consecutive years.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-wins-WebAward-second-consecutive-year-10-03-2012.aspx|title=Kelley Blue Book wins WebAward for second consecutive year|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=October 3, 2012|author=Kara Vaporean|publisher=OC Metro|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225725/http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-wins-WebAward-second-consecutive-year-10-03-2012.aspx|url-status=dead}}

• TrueCar

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• [https://www.kbb.com/ Official website]

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Category:Companies based in Irvine, California

Category:Automobile magazines published in the United States

Category:Cox Enterprises

Category:1926 establishments in California