History of AutoTrader.com

What have we been doing since 1997? Check out the history of AutoTrader.com!

 Click and drag the arrows below to
navigate through our history by year.
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
1997
  • AUG - Chip Perry becomes President and CEO
    Chip Perry becomes President and CEO and the company’s first employee. Prior to joining AutoTrader.com, Chip was Vice President of Corporate Development for the Times Mirror Company and Vice President of New Business Development for the Los Angeles Times.
    AUG - Chip Perry becomes President and CEO
    August 1, 1997
1998
  • FEB - One thousand dealers
    One thousand dealers sign up at the National Automotive Dealers Association annual convention.
    FEB - One thousand dealers
    February 1, 1998
  • MAR - Lycos and Yahoo!
    AutoConnect signs distribution deal with Lycos and Yahoo!.
    MAR - Lycos and Yahoo!
    March 1, 1998
  • JUN - 400,000 visitors
    AutoConnect reaches 400,000 visitors and 1 million page views per month.
    JUN - 400,000 visitors
    June 1, 1998
1999
  • JUN - AutoConnect and Trader Online merge
    AutoConnect and Trader Online merge to create AutoTrader.com, forming the largest online used car Internet site.
    JUN - AutoConnect and Trader Online merge
    June 1, 1999
  • JUL - Partnership with AOL
    AutoTrader.com announces its first partnership with AOL.
    JUL - Partnership with AOL
    July 1, 1999
  • JUL - Sell Your Car
    AutoTrader.com launches Sell Your Car functionality.
    JUL - Sell Your Car
    July 21, 1999
2000
  • JAN - AutoTrader.com launches multi-million dollar...
    AutoTrader.com launches multi-million dollar nationwide advertising and branding campaign to launch during the Super Bowl. An estimated 135 million viewers are watching.
    JAN - AutoTrader.com launches multi-million dollar...
    January 1, 2000
  • MAY - FSBO Sell Your Car
    AutoTrader.com launches FSBO Sell Your Car on the consumer site.
    MAY - FSBO Sell Your Car
    May 1, 2000
  • NOV - J.D. Power and Associates
    J.D. Power and Associates ranks AutoTrader.com as Leading Internet Destination for Used Car Shoppers.
    NOV - J.D. Power and Associates
    November 15, 2000
2001
  • FEB - AutoTrader.com launches New Car
    AutoTrader.com launches New Car, fulfilling an unmet consumer need to find both new and used cars in one location on the Internet.
    FEB - AutoTrader.com launches New Car
    February 1, 2001
  • JUN - Certified Pre-Owned Program
    AutoTrader.com launches its Certified Pre-Owned Program.
    JUN - Certified Pre-Owned Program
    June 1, 2001
2002
  • JAN - Partnership with St. Jude
    AutoTrader.com begins long-term partnership with St. Jude by sponsoring its first golf fundraising event. Millions of dollars have been raised to date.
    JAN - Partnership with St. Jude
    January 1, 2002
  • FEB - 2,000,000 vehicle listings
    The consumer site reaches 2,000,000 vehicle listings.
    FEB - 2,000,000 vehicle listings
    February 1, 2002
  • OCT - Body Style
    AutoTrader.com launches Browse by Body Style functionality.
    OCT - Body Style
    October 1, 2002
2003
  • JAN - Partnership with Univision
    AutoTrader.com announces partnership with Univision.
    JAN - Partnership with Univision
    January 15, 2003
  • AUG - Monday Night Football
    AutoTrader.com announces its new Monday Night Football advertising and marketing campaign.
    AUG - Monday Night Football
    August 1, 2003
  • SEP - 10,000th paying dealer
    AutoTrader.com signs its 10,000th paying dealer customer.
    SEP - 10,000th paying dealer
    September 1, 2003
2004
  • MAR - 2.5 million vehicle listings
    AutoTrader.com reaches 2.5 million vehicle listings.
    MAR - 2.5 million vehicle listings
    March 1, 2004
2005
  • SEP - Edmunds and NADA Guides
    AutoTrader.com announces new partnerships with both Edmunds and NADA Guides.
    SEP - Edmunds and NADA Guides
    September 1, 2005
2006
  • JAN - International auto shows
    AutoTrader.com kicks off premier presence at international auto shows throughout the United States.
    JAN - International auto shows
    January 1, 2006
  • MAY - Major League Baseball teams
    AutoTrader.com announces its partnership with Major League Baseball teams.
    MAY - Major League Baseball teams
    May 1, 2006
  • JUN - MyAutoTrader
    MyAutoTrader launches, allowing consumers more control over their car-shopping experiences on the consumer site. It now has more than 1 million registered users.
    JUN - MyAutoTrader
    June 15, 2006
  • OCT - National Basketball Association
    AutoTrader.com becomes Official Marketing Partner of the National Basketball Association.
    OCT - National Basketball Association
    October 1, 2006
2007
  • JAN - Armada
    AutoTrader.com kicks off its new marketing campaign with “Armada" ad.
    JAN - Armada
    January 1, 2007
  • SEP - AutoTrader.com has highest overall satisfaction
    For the first time, AutoTrader.com has highest overall satisfaction among both used and new-vehicle services in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2007 Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services Study. It’s the fourth year in a row AutoTrader.com has ranked highest in the used-vehicle services category.
    SEP - AutoTrader.com has highest overall satisfaction
    September 1, 2007
  • OCT - First annual scholarship
    AutoTrader.com awards its first annual scholarship to a Northwood University automotive management program student.
    OCT - First annual scholarship
    October 1, 2007
  • OCT - Partnership with the NBA extended
    AutoTrader.com announces extension of its marketing partnership with the NBA, including serving as the presenting partner of the “NBA on TNT Tip-Off” show and the 2008 “Drive to the Finals” playoff promotion with NBA.com.
    OCT - Partnership with the NBA extended
    October 15, 2007
  • NOV - MSN Autos and Kelly Blue Book
    AutoTrader.com announces its partnerships with both MSN Autos and Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com.
    NOV - MSN Autos and Kelly Blue Book
    November 1, 2007
2008
  • FEB - What We Do Works
    AutoTrader.com launches “What We Do Works” – a new advertising campaign aimed at dealers, car manufacturers and trade associations.
    FEB - What We Do Works
    February 1, 2008
  • FEB - AutoMercado
    AutoMercado joins the AutoTrader.com family.
    FEB - AutoMercado
    February 1, 2008
  • FEB - Drive to a New Start
    AutoTrader.com announces “Drive to a New Start” campaign and partnership with Baseball Hall-of-Famer Goose Gossage.
    FEB - Drive to a New Start
    March 1, 2008
  • MAY - Big Guy campaign
    AutoTrader.com launches its “Big Guy” new car campaign that includes a new TV spot, radio spots, outdoor signage, home page promotion and dealer communications.
    MAY - Big Guy campaign
    May 1, 2008
  • MAY - Private Seller tool
    AutoTrader.com introduces more robust Private Seller tool to provide consumers with even more enhancements including Premium listings and Spotlight ads.
    MAY - Private Seller tool
    May 15, 2008
  • MAY - 10 years in business celebration
    AutoTrader.com, The Ultimate Automotive Marketplace, celebrates 10 years in business.
    MAY - 10 years in business celebration
    May 28, 2008
  • OCT - AutoTrader.com sponsors NBA Outdoor Game.
    AutoTrader.com sponsors the first National Basketball Association Outdoor Game.
    OCT - AutoTrader.com sponsors NBA Outdoor Game.
    October 1, 2008
2009
  • JAN - AutoTrader.com launches expanded Media Plan
    AutoTrader.com launches expanded Media Plan to include BCS game, NFL playoff games, Daytona 500, MTV Movie Awards, etc.
    JAN - AutoTrader.com launches expanded Media Plan
    January 1, 2009
  • JAN - AutoTrader Classics joins AutoTrader.com
    Formerly Collector Car, AutoTrader Classics joins AutoTrader.com family, with a new brand and redesigned website. AutoTrader Classics was later relaunched as the premiere destination for fans of classic cards and trucks, with an all-new user interface and improved functionality and consumer features.
    JAN - AutoTrader Classics joins AutoTrader.com
    January 15, 2009
  • JAN - We Work for You
    ATC launches its "We Work for You" dealer advertising campaign. The campaign was received extremely effective among dealers who said the ads did an effective job communicating the partnership between AutoTrader.com and its dealers.
    JAN - We Work for You
    January 28, 2009
  • JAN - Drive to a New Start
    AutoTrader.com’s “Drive to a New Start” finale culminated in a Tahoe being auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson Auction for more than $100,000.
    JAN - Drive to a New Start
    January 28, 2009
  • FEB - AutoTrader Latino launched
    AutoTrader.com officially launches AutoTrader Latino as a new brand and name.
    FEB - AutoTrader Latino launched
    February 1, 2009
  • MAR - 16 million unique visitors
    AutoTrader.com consumer site reached 16 million unique visitors, marking the first time in company history in a single month.
    MAR - 16 million unique visitors
    March 15, 2009
  • APR - Launched AutoTrader.com Access
    Launched AutoTrader.com Access, an ad network that gives our advertisers, through lifestyle and behavioral targeted campaigns, the opportunity to reach millions of consumers across a portfolio of sites through one media buy.
    APR - Launched AutoTrader.com Access
    April 1, 2009
  • MAY - New consumer site homepage
    AutoTrader.com launches its new consumer site homepage. The new design makes finding vehicles for sale and navigating to other popular features of the site easier than ever.
    MAY - New consumer site homepage
    May 1, 2009
  • SEP - Mike Winn promoted to Vice President
    Mike Winn promoted to Vice President of Customer Operations
    SEP - Mike Winn promoted to Vice President
    September 15, 2009
  • OCT - Phillies and Yankees, in the World Series
    AutoTrader.com’s two Major League Baseball sponsorship teams, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, make it to the World Series.
    OCT - Phillies and Yankees, in the World Series
    October 1, 2009
  • SEP - Most Useful Automotive Site
    For the sixth consecutive year AutoTrader.com was awarded the “Most Useful Automotive Site” by J.D. Power and Associates.
    SEP - Most Useful Automotive Site
    November 15, 2009
2010
  • APR - New Mobile Platform
    AutoTrader.com adds a new mobile platform that provides access to AutoTrader.com’s popular “Find a Car” and “Find a Dealer” shopping features and to AutoTrader.com’s “My AutoTrader” function, which allows users to store and quickly retrieve and reference past vehicle searches.
    APR - New Mobile Platform
    April 6, 2010
  • MAY - Providence Equity Partners
    Providence Equity Partners acquires a 25 percent equity stake in AutoTrader.com.
    MAY - Providence Equity Partners
    May 6, 2010
  • MAY - Heart & Mind campaign
    AutoTrader.com launches new multi-media ‘Heart & Mind’ campaign.
    MAY - Heart & Mind campaign
    May 6, 2010
  • MAY - ‘Lost Weekend’ Campaign
    AutoTrader Classics Launches 'Lost Weekend.' The first ever National Television Ad Campaign for AutoTrader Classics.
    MAY - ‘Lost Weekend’ Campaign
    May 15, 2010
  • MAY - Traffic Milestone
    AutoTrader.com reaches traffic milestone with more than one million unique visitors in one day.
    MAY - Traffic Milestone
    May 30, 2010
  • JUN - AutoTrader Classics Milestone
    AutoTrader Classics achieves new single day traffic with 46,330 unique visitors.
    JUN - AutoTrader Classics Milestone
    June 15, 2010
  • JUN - Online Marketing Handbook Launch
    AutoTrader.com launches the Online Marketing Handbook, a new free resource for dealers designed to help them improve their web-based marketing efforts.
    JUN - Online Marketing Handbook Launch
    June 15, 2010
  • AUG - PR with Courtney Hansen
    AutoTrader.com launches PR multi-month, multi-media campaign with auto expert and television personality Courtney Hansen to educate female car buyers on how AutoTrader.com can help them become more certain and comfortable in the car buying process.
    AUG - PR with Courtney Hansen
    August 1, 2010