Kelley Blue Book

History

The company began as the Kelley Kar Company founded by Les Kelley in 1918. Kelley started the company with three Model T Fords. 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. 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.

In 1995, Kelley Blue Book created its company website, which contained tips and pricing information from its hardcopy guide.

In December 2010, Kelley Blue Book was purchased by AutoTrader.com. After its acquisition, the company operated as a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com, Inc.

In 2013, the company formed an alliance with Bitauto Holdings Ltd. to expand into China.

Sponsorship

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.

Services

The company reports market value prices for new and used automobiles of all types, as well as motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft. 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. For new automobiles, Kelley Blue Book also provides information about a car's MSRP and dealer invoice price. For used cars, Kelley Blue Book provides typical listing price, certified pre-owned price, trade-in value and private party value. Kelley Blue Book also offers expert and consumer vehicle reviews and ratings, and 5-year cost to own information for new cars.

Recognition

In 2012–2014, Harris Poll recognized Kelley Blue Book as the Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year. In addition, the company received a WebAward in the automotive category of Outstanding Website for two consecutive years.

References

References

1. Christopher Seward. (5 August 2014). "New presidents named for AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book". AJC.com.
2. Fred Meier. (21 August 2014). "Cox creates wholesale, retail auto sales giant". USA Today.
3. "Kelley Blue Book Profile".
4. (October 26, 2010). "Autotrader.com Buys Kelley Blue Book". Wall Street Journal.
5. Hirsch, J.. (September 22, 2011). "Kelley blue book warns of impostor website". Los Angeles Times.
6. (October 28, 1996). "Kelley Blue Book Tests the World Wide Web as a Distribution Source". New York Times.
7. Jeff Glucker. (May 26, 2011). "Kelley Blue Book has a new look". Auto.
8. (December 11, 2001). "Used-car innovator invented the 'blue book'". The Globe and Mail.
9. Robert Duffer. (May 21, 2013). "Fuel-efficient vehicles fill out best family cars list for 2013". Chicago Tribune.
10. Kristen Schott. (26 October 2010). "AutoTrader.com buys Kelley Blue Book". OC Metro.
11. Shira Ovide. (October 26, 2010). "Kelley Blue Book Sold at Near-Mint Condition". Wall Street Journal.
12. Li, S.. (October 27, 2010). "AutoTrader plans to buy kelley blue book; terms of the deal, which requires regulatory approval, are not disclosed". LA Times.
13. Clough, Richard. (November 9, 2013). "Kelley Blue Book to expand into China". [[The Orange County Register]].
14. (13 February 2014). "First-time NASCAR sponsor joins Earnhardt's No. 88". NASCAR.com.
15. (13 February 2014). "Kelley Blue Book to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr.". Hendrick Motorsports.
16. Kirsti Correa. (March 1, 2012). "Irvine-based Kelley Blue Book partners with Cyclechex to offer used-motorcycle information". OC Metro.
17. (15 October 2013). "KBB Launches Price Advisor Tool". F&I Magazine.
18. (15 October 2013). "Kelley Blue Book Debuts New Car Pricing Tool". Socal Tech.
19. (June 24, 2002). "Kelley adds certification to its used-vehicle listings". Automotive News.
20. (19 February 2013). "KBB Report: Fair Purchase Price Data Shows Vehicle Segments Worth Buying Used". Business Fleet.
21. (20 May 2014). "KBB Rolls Out Range-Based Pricing for Used Values". Auto Remarketing.
22. Jonathan Welsh. (30 July 2012). "Kelley Blue Book Launches First Consumer TV Ads (Video)". The Wall Street Journal.
23. Mackenna Waterhouse. (31 July 2012). "Kelley Blue Book launches national television ad campaign". OC Metro.
24. "2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings". Harris Interactive.
25. (12 June 2014). "KBB.com Earns Brand of the Year Three Years Running". Yahoo! Finance.
26. Kara Vaporean. (October 3, 2012). "Kelley Blue Book wins WebAward for second consecutive year". OC Metro.