Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book is an Irvine, California-based vehicle valuation and automotive research company that is recognized by both consumers and the automotive industry.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The company is owned by the Cox Automotive subsidiary of Cox Enterprises.

Kelley Blue Book Co.
TypeSubsidiary of Cox Automotive
IndustryInformation services, E-commerce software, Automotive
Founded1918 (1918) (as The Kelley Kar Company)
1926 (1926) (as Kelley Blue Book)
FounderLes Kelley
HeadquartersIrvine, California, U.S.
Key people
Les Kelley, Founder
Buster Kelley
Steve Lind, President[1]
ParentCox Automotive[2] (Cox Enterprises)
Websitehttps://www.kbb.com

History

The company began as the Kelley Kar Company founded by Les Kelley in 1918.[5][8][10] Kelley started the company with three Model T Fords.[11] His younger brother, Buster, worked with Kelley as a lot boy.[11] 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.[8][9][11] Kelley Blue Book was formed in 1926, and the Kelley family continued its dealership business in Southern California for several decades.[5][8][11] By the 1960s, the company moved from a car dealership to a specialty publisher and focused on the production of its automobile price guide.[8] 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.[12]

In December 2010, Kelley Blue Book was purchased by AutoTrader.com.[5][6][13] After its acquisition, the company operated as a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com, Inc.[14]

In 2013, the company formed an alliance with Bitauto Holdings Ltd. to expand into China.[15]

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.[16][17]

Services

The company reports market value prices for new and used automobiles of all types, as well as motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft.[18] 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.[19][20] For new automobiles, Kelley Blue Book also provides information about a car's MSRP and dealer invoice price.[21] For used cars, Kelley Blue Book provides typical listing price, certified pre-owned price, trade-in value and private party value.[22][23] Kelley Blue Book also offers expert and consumer vehicle reviews and ratings, and 5-Year Cost to Own information for new cars.[24][25]

Recognition

In 2012-2014, Harris Poll recognized Kelley Blue Book as the Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year.[26][27] In addition, the company received a WebAward in the automotive category of Outstanding Website for two consecutive years.[28]

References
  1. Christopher Seward (5 August 2014). "New presidents named for AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book". AJC.com. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  2. Fred Meier (21 August 2014). "Cox creates wholesale, retail auto sales giant". USA Today. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  3. Sabah Karimi (10 September 2014). "7 Things You Must Do Before Buying a Used Car". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. "KBB: Chevrolet Impala tops comfortable cars list". Florida Times-Union. 22 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  5. "Kelley Blue Book Profile". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  6. "Autotrader.com Buys Kelley Blue Book". Wall Street Journal. October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  7. Hirsch, J. (September 22, 2011). "Kelley blue book warns of impostor website". Los Angeles Times.
  8. "Kelley Blue Book Tests the World Wide Web as a Distribution Source". New York Times. October 28, 1996.
  9. Robert Duffer (May 21, 2013). "Fuel-efficient vehicles fill out best family cars list for 2013". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  10. Jeff Glucker (May 26, 2011). "Kelley Blue Book has a new look". Auto. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  11. "Used-car innovator invented the 'blue book'". The Globe and Mail. December 11, 2001.
  12. Kristen Schott (26 October 2010). "AutoTrader.com buys Kelley Blue Book". OC Metro. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  13. Shira Ovide (October 26, 2010). "Kelley Blue Book Sold at Near-Mint Condition". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  14. 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.
  15. Clough, Richard (November 9, 2013). "Kelley Blue Book to expand into China". The Orange County Register. p. Business 1.
  16. "First-time NASCAR sponsor joins Earnhardt's No. 88". NASCAR.com. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  17. "Kelley Blue Book to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr". Hendrick Motorsports. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  18. Kirsti Correa (March 1, 2012). "Irvine-based Kelley Blue Book partners with Cyclechex to offer used-motorcycle information". OC Metro. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  19. "KBB Launches Price Advisor Tool". F&I Magazine. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  20. "Kelley Blue Book Debuts New Car Pricing Tool". Socal Tech. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  21. "Kelley adds certification to its used-vehicle listings". Automotive News. June 24, 2002.
  22. "KBB Report: Fair Purchase Price Data Shows Vehicle Segments Worth Buying Used". Business Fleet. 19 February 2013.
  23. "KBB Rolls Out Range-Based Pricing for Used Values". Auto Remarketing. 20 May 2014.
  24. Jonathan Welsh (30 July 2012). "Kelley Blue Book Launches First Consumer TV Ads (Video)". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  25. Mackenna Waterhouse (31 July 2012). "Kelley Blue Book launches national television ad campaign". OC Metro. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  26. "2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings". Harris Interactive. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  27. "KBB.com Earns Brand of the Year Three Years Running". Yahoo! Finance. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  28. Kara Vaporean (October 3, 2012). "Kelley Blue Book wins WebAward for second consecutive year". OC Metro. Retrieved September 24, 2013.


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