Autotrader.com, Inc. is an online marketplace founded in 1997, which functions as an online marketplace for car purchasers and sellers. 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. The firm is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been featured in The New York Times, Businessweek, and ABC News. Since 2018, the company has also been operating in Australia. Autotrader.com is owned by the Cox Automotive subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The company is led by Sanford Schwartz.
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. In the two years following, Cox Automotive worked with buyers and sellers through various avenues and identified a gap in the market. This eventually led to the launch of the Autotrader.com.au website in October 2018, alongside the Australian arm of Kelley Blue Book. In May 2020, eBay Classifieds group acquired Cox Media, which is the subsidiary of Cox Automotive that runs Autotrader. 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.' 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; while sellers would benefit from having better-informed and more confident buyers. CEO Shaun Cornelius stated that the website is "cutting out legwork for dealers as they receive leads from buyers who are more primed and ready to purchase." 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.
Products and Website
Autotrader.com offers services that help consumers buy cars, sell cars, or research car purchases. For those looking to buy a car, the site offers listings of new and used vehicles for sale from dealers and private sellers. It can search for cars through many categories: make and model, price range, style, drive type, engine type, color, mileage and number of doors. Those looking to sell a car to a dealer can ask for offers from their local area. After taking their car to the dealer to verify its condition, the owner may then sell the car to the dealer for the offered price, either as cash or trade-in value. For sellers who list a car for sale directly to a private buyer, the site offers options with various levels of service including a level where the firm's representatives handle many of the details, including writing the ad, taking photos, and pre-screening potential buyers. 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 iPadapps. The firm owns and operates AutoTraderClassics.com, an online marketplace of classic, antique, and specialty automobiles, as well as DealsonWheels.com, an online marketplace for motorcycles, RVs, trucks, and vehicles under $10,000.
Recognition
Autotrader has 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.
