Company Facts

Fact Sheet

Investors:

AutoTrader.com’s investors include Cox Enterprises, Inc. and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Overview:

AutoTrader.com (www.autotrader.com), created in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta, GA, is the Internet's leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location more than 3 million vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners, which provide the largest selection of vehicles attracting more than 13 million qualified buyers each month. Through innovative merchandising products such as multiple photos and comprehensive search functionality, AutoTrader.com unites buyer and seller online -- dramatically improving the way people research, locate and advertise vehicles.

Profitability:

The company is profitable with consistent year-over-year growth. Current revenue exceeds $100 million.

Services:

Consumers (buyers and sellers)
Today, more than half of auto shoppers research online before making the actual purchase. AutoTrader.com is designed to give them more control over the entire process by providing detailed information to make an informed buying decision. With the largest inventory of vehicles from dealers and private sellers – more than 3 million – AutoTrader.com shoppers can locate the car that best meets their needs, whether they are searching around the block or across the country.

One stop at AutoTrader.com lets shoppers research the richest vehicle information including buying and selling tips, car reviews, vehicle pricing and safety information, finance, insurance and warranty programs, as well as tools for comparing vehicles side by side. Consumers can also list a used vehicle on AutoTrader.com, making it available to the largest online audience of car buyers.

Trade (sellers and advertisers)
Advertising on AutoTrader.com lets dealers and manufacturers reach the largest and most qualified source of car buyers online – more than 13 million qualified monthly buyers to the site. AutoTrader.com dealers are provided with cost-effective, targeted advertising tools and services and tracking technology to help maximize the sales potential of each online lead.

Dealers can manage their own listings online to make sure their latest inventory is always featured, along with the most current photos and accurate information – whether it’s one vehicle listing or a full-page color ad of the entire dealership inventory. AutoTrader.com stays out of the middle of the transaction and drives qualified shoppers to dealerships to make the purchase.

Milestones:

• October 2007 AutoTrader.com was rated most useful automotive site among used-car buyers who visited the site in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Used Autoshopper.com study, for the fourth consecutive year.
• September 2007 AutoTrader.com has highest overall satisfaction among both new and used-vehicle services in J.D. Power and Associates' 2007 Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services Study, marking the first time one company has simultaneously rated highest in both the new vehicle and used vehicle segments.
• August 2007 AutoTrader.com's total audience grew 22.6% from previous year with more than 14.6 million unique visitors.
• June 2007 AutoTrader.com and MSN Autos form strategic relationship, making AutoTrader.com the exclusive provider of new, used and certified pre-owned vehicle listings on MSN Autos.
• May 2007 Launch of AutoTrader.com's Credit Center, a groundbreaking feature designed to drive in-market, credit-challenged car shoppers to AutoTrader.com dealer customers who offer special-financing and "Buy Here Pay Here" services.
• September 2006 AutoTrader.com ranks highest for Overall Satisfaction among Used-Lead online buying services (OBS) for the third consecutive year, based on results from the J.D. Power and Associates' 2006 Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services Study. AutoTrader.com also ranks second highest for Overall Satisfaction among new-vehicle lead providers.
• September 2006 Cox Enterprises, Inc. announced its new operating division, Cox Auto Trader, consisting of: AutoTrader.com, Auto Trader Publishing and Auto Mart.
• July 2006  AutoTrader.com launches My AutoTrader.com, a feature that gives consumers more control over their car shopping experience by allowing them to save vehicles and searches to their personal "My AutoTrader.com" space.
• January 2005 AutoTrader.com reaches more than 11 million qualified buyers each month.
• November 2004 AutoTrader.com has highest overall satisfaction among used vehicle sites in J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services Study.
• May 2004 Study shows that AutoTrader.com facilitates more than $50 billion in annual sales, 14% of the entire U.S. market.
• October 2003 AutoTrader.com signs 10,000th paying dealer customer.
• October 2002 AutoTrader.com launches Browse By Body Style functionality.
• June 2002 AutoTrader.com reaches profitability.
• July 2001 FordDirect selects AutoTrader.com to power its Used Vehicle Search Platform. FordDirect dealers now have the capability to expand their online inventories to include all of their used cars and trucks available for retail sale and widen their audience reach.
• June 2001 AutoTrader.com launches its Certified Vehicle Program, partnering with Toyota, Lexus and Honda. Consumers now have the option to search exclusively from a database of thousands of quality certified vehicles from top OEMs listed on the site. Additional manufacturers continue to join the program.
• February 2001 AutoTrader.com announces the expansion of its online classifieds business to include new vehicle listings, fulfilling an unmet consumer need to find all types of automobiles - new and used - in one popular destination.
• January 2000 AutoTrader.com announces a multi-million dollar nationwide advertising and branding campaign to launch during the Super Bowl. On Sunday, January 30, 2000 , an estimated 135 million viewers saw the 30-second commercial. Website expanded to 20 webservers to handle spike in traffic.
• July 1999 AutoTrader.com launches Sell Your Car (For Sale By Owner) functionality.
• July 1999 AutoConnect and Auto Trader Online announce a merger of their Web sites, forming the largest used car Internet company on the Web - AutoTrader.com. Combined inventory from both sites will feature 1.5 million used cars and a reach of 2.5 million visitors.
• February 1998 AutoConnect.com marks huge success at 1998 NADA - signing more than 1,000 dealers to list inventories with the classified 'matchmaker' website under development.
• October 1997 AutoTrader.com founded by Manheim Auctions and ADP Dealer Services under the name AutoConnect.com.