Auto Trader Group (company)

In 1976 John Madejski brought the idea of 'Auto Trader' back from America, during the period of 1977 - 81 both Thames Valley Trader and Southern Trader were launched.

In 1983, GMG and Hurst Publishing agreed to develop similar products together rather than go into a head to head circulation war, and in 1988 all titles were branded Auto Trader.

TMG continued to expand, and in 1995 lanuched Auto Trader in both Northern and Southern Ireland. In 1994-96 David Owen Smith Launched Top Marques, followed by other National Titles such as Bike Trader and Truck Trader.

In May 2000, the Auto Trader Division of the Guardian Media Group and the Venture capital firm BC Partners closed a deal to unite Auto Trader (previously co-owned) under one over-arching company, Trader Media Group (TMG).

TMG's 72 titles, which have a combined circulation of more than one million copies per week, include the well known motoring titles Auto Trader, Bike Trader, Truck Trader and Top Marques, as well as the UK's biggest circulating freeads title AdTrader.

TMG also owns the UK's busiest automotive web site, www.autotrader.co.uk, the general classified site www.adtrader.co.uk and interactive services on Digital TV and mobile phones.

Classic American, mostly an editorial publication on American motors past and present, was purchased in 1999, and is now published by Trader Media National.

At the end of August 2000 TMG acquired TNT, the market-leading publisher of free titles for independent travellers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 2005 TNT launched a new Publication Fusion offering information to the independant traveller from Eastern Europe.

Also in the portfolio is Marine Trader Media, which includes the leading publication in the UK and Europe for buying and selling water craft, Boats and Yachts for Sale and its sister publication Buy a Boat (for under £20,000).

In 2003 BC Partners entered into conversations with Guardian media group resulting in GMG having full ownership of TMG.

In 2005 the Organisation appointed Jerry Fowden as its new Cheif Executive Officer.

In 2005 TMG acquired carzone.ie in Ireland.

TMG also has publications in Italy and the Netherlands.