CarsDirect
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| Founded | 1998 |
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| Headquarters | El Segundo, California |
| Parent | Internet Brands |
| Slogan | America's #1 Way to Buy Cars Online |
| Website | CarsDirect.com |
| Advertising | Yes |
CarsDirect is an American online automotive research portal and car buying service based in El Segundo, California that allows consumers to research, price, purchase, insure and finance a vehicle online. The company also provides lead generation and referral services to auto dealers.
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[edit] History
CarsDirect was founded in 1998, launched from the business incubator Idealab. It was the first company to sell vehicles online directly to consumers, rather than referring consumers to brick-and-mortar dealers as all other online car buying services did at the time.[1][2][3] In 2000, Roger Penske invested in the company and joined the Board of Directors.[4]
In 2004, the firm began to expand into other "big ticket" consumer categories such as home mortgage and real estate with the acquisition of web properties including BestRate.com and LoanApp.com.[5] Reflecting its diversification, the company changed its name to Internet Brands in 2005, and the company was restructured into several divisions focused on vertical markets. The automotive operations now function as part of the automotive division of Internet Brands.[6]
[edit] Site Usage
CarsDirect's research portal provides access to vehicle specifications, reviews, safety information, and vehicle pricing information, including available manufacturer rebates and incentives.
The site offers three car buying options: buying a new car online directly through the company, being matched with a screened new car dealer, or locating and purchasing a used vehicle through the site.[7][8]
[edit] Recognitions and Awards
- Auto Dealer Monthly magazine awarded CarsDirect the "Diamond Award for New Car Leads" in 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2005.[9][10][11][12]
- PC World named CarsDirect a top 7 site for "buying or selling anything" in 2008.[13]
- PC Magazine selected CarsDirect as a "Top 100 Classic Website" in 2003 and 2002.[14]
- Time Magazine voted the site one of the "50 Best" in the world in 2002.[15]
- Yahoo! Internet Life awarded CarsDirect a "Gold Star Site Honor for Excellence" in the category of "Buying a Car Online" in 2002 and 2001.[16]
[edit] References
- ^ CBS News (1999-09-06). "Buy Your Next Car Online?". http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/09/06/archive/main61340.shtml.
- ^ BusinessWeek. "CarsDirect: That's One Slick Showroom". http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1999/b3648159.arc.htm.
- ^ Free Encyclopedia of Ecommerce. "Carsdirect.Com - Successful Test Led To National May 1999 Launch". http://ecommerce.hostip.info/pages/181/Carsdirect-Com-SUCCESSFUL-TEST-LED-NATIONAL-MAY-1999-LAUNCH.html.
- ^ The Car Connection. "CarsDirect, Penske, UAG in Dot-Com Alliance". http://www.thecarconnection.com/article/1001567_carsdirect-penske-uag-in-dot-com-alliance.
- ^ Internet Brands. "CarsDirect acquires premier website properties from online mortgage pioneer Myers Internet Inc.". http://investors.internetbrands.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=274185.
- ^ Internet Brands. "CarsDirect selects Internet Brands, Inc. as its new parent company name". http://investors.internetbrands.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=274201.
- ^ CarsDirect. "The Company". http://www.carsdirect.com/the_company.
- ^ Internet Brands. "CarsDirect launches redesigned used car channel as importance of used vehicle sales climbs". http://investors.internetbrands.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=274190.
- ^ Auto Dealer Monthly. "Dealers' Choice Awards 2010". http://www.autodealermonthly.com/images/DCA_AWARDS_2010.jpg.
- ^ Auto Dealer Monthly. "Dealers' Choice Awards 2009". http://www.autodealermonthly.com/2009DCA_winners.pdf.
- ^ Internet Brands. "CarsDirect receives Diamond Dealers' Choice Award from Auto Dealer Monthly". http://investors.internetbrands.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=274195.
- ^ Internet Brands. "CarsDirect wins 2005 Dealers' Choice Award". http://investors.internetbrands.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=274195.
- ^ PC World. "7 sites for buying, selling, and renting almost anything". http://www.pcworld.com/article/151425/7_sites_for_buying_selling_and_renting_almost_anything.html. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ The Auto Channel. "CarsDirect.com Named a Top 100 Classic Website By PC Magazine". http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2003/03/24/158033.html.
- ^ Time Magazine (2002-01-04). "TIME Tech: 50 Best Websites". http://www.time.com/time/2002/tech/best/. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
- ^ CarsDirect. "Awards". http://www.carsdirect.com/the_company/awards.
