Auto Trader
Encyclopedia
Auto Trader is an automotive sales website and classified magazine located in the United Kingdom, owned by Trader Media Group
, itself a joint venture between Guardian Media Group
(50.1%) and Apax Partners
(49.9%). It specialises in new and second hand automotive sales, including cars sold by private sellers and trade dealers.
in 1975, who went on to take over Reading Football Club
in 1991. The 'Auto Trader Concept' was founded in America. John Madejski brought this idea back from the USA, and set up Hurst Publishing with Paul Gibbons
in 1977.
The first Auto Trader to be established was Hurst's Thames Valley Trader in 1977. This was followed by the publication of a second title, Southern Auto Trader, which launched in 1981. Guardian Media Group approached Hurst, with intentions of launching similar titles in the North of England, rather than competing head to head. Gradually, a group of classified advertising titles evolved that were either wholly owned by Hurst or by Guardian Media Group, or jointly owned by the two organisations. In July 1998, the two partners in Hurst sold part of their business to the specialist European venture capitalists BC Partners
, who approached Guardian Media Group and proposed a merger to form a new company. Trader Media Group was launched in May 2000.
Magazines are published by regions such as Croydon
or Sutton
. In Kuwait, the magazine is published monthly by the Al Watan Group.
In September 2009 Auto Trader overhauled their website. Some of the changes received a negative response from consumers and so since then the website has been undergoing a programme of continuous improvement, becoming more straight forward and focussing on tools for buying and selling cars rather than on editorial content. Auto Trader has used their own consumer feedback on the site to shape the changes they made.
Auto Trader developed their mobile offering further in March 2010 when they released an app making it easier for users to search for cars on their iPhone or iPod touch.
Trader Media Group
Trader Media Group is a British-based publishing company, specialising in classified display advertising. It is owned by Guardian Media Group and Apax Partners ....
, itself a joint venture between Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
(50.1%) and Apax Partners
Apax Partners
Apax Partners LLP is a global private equity and venture capital firm, headquartered in London. The company also operates out of eight other offices in New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Tel-Aviv, Madrid, Stockholm, Milan and Munich. The firm, including its various predecessors, have raised...
(49.9%). It specialises in new and second hand automotive sales, including cars sold by private sellers and trade dealers.
Background
The founder of Auto Trader in the United Kingdom was John MadejskiJohn Madejski
Sir John Robert Madejski OBE DL is an English businessman, with commercial interests, spanning property, broadcast media, hotels, restaurants, publishing and football...
in 1975, who went on to take over Reading Football Club
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in 1991. The 'Auto Trader Concept' was founded in America. John Madejski brought this idea back from the USA, and set up Hurst Publishing with Paul Gibbons
Paul Gibbons (businessman)
Paul Gibbons is an English businessman, who co-owns Leaderboard Golf Ltd with his wife Jennifer.Gibbons co-founded the magazine Auto Trader and it’s parent company Hurst Publishing alongside John Madejski. He has appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List in recent years.-Life and career:Gibbons was...
in 1977.
The first Auto Trader to be established was Hurst's Thames Valley Trader in 1977. This was followed by the publication of a second title, Southern Auto Trader, which launched in 1981. Guardian Media Group approached Hurst, with intentions of launching similar titles in the North of England, rather than competing head to head. Gradually, a group of classified advertising titles evolved that were either wholly owned by Hurst or by Guardian Media Group, or jointly owned by the two organisations. In July 1998, the two partners in Hurst sold part of their business to the specialist European venture capitalists BC Partners
BC Partners
BC Partners is a private equity firm specialising in buyouts and acquisitions financing in Europe and the United States. The firm invests across all industries...
, who approached Guardian Media Group and proposed a merger to form a new company. Trader Media Group was launched in May 2000.
Magazines are published by regions such as Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
or Sutton
Sutton, London
Sutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
. In Kuwait, the magazine is published monthly by the Al Watan Group.
Website
Autotrader.co.uk was launched in 1996 allowing users to buy or sell a car online. The site allows users to search for cars and other motor vehicles using their postcode. Autotrader.co.uk the UK's busiest automotive web site which attracts some 10.3 million unique users per month.In September 2009 Auto Trader overhauled their website. Some of the changes received a negative response from consumers and so since then the website has been undergoing a programme of continuous improvement, becoming more straight forward and focussing on tools for buying and selling cars rather than on editorial content. Auto Trader has used their own consumer feedback on the site to shape the changes they made.
Mobile
Auto Trader has had a mobile (WAP) site since 2002. In July 2008 Auto Trader launched a .mobi site and in July 2009 they launched separate versions for differing handset capability levels.Auto Trader developed their mobile offering further in March 2010 when they released an app making it easier for users to search for cars on their iPhone or iPod touch.