Our mission is to be America's most influential and authoritative source of automotive information. Edmunds properties include Edmunds.com®, Edmunds' Inside LineSM, Edmunds' CarSpaceSM, Edmunds' AutoObserver®, Edmunds' GreenCarAdvisor, edmundsDaily, Long-Term Road Tests, Straightline and Karl on Cars.
Edmunds Inc. was founded in 1966 for the purpose of publishing new and used automotive pricing guides to assist automobile buyers. We are a privately held company headquartered in Santa Monica, California and we maintain a satellite office near Detroit. (Click to see our office photo gallery and video tour.)
In 1994, before the World Wide Web became mainstream, our new car pricing data was first posted on the Internet through a "gopher site" that was known as "The Electronic Newsstand." This was the first time consumer automotive information had been provided through the Internet.
In early 1995, we launched www.edmunds.com, which was the first automotive information Web site. Edmunds.com predated the advent of automobile manufacturer Web sites and all other online automotive destinations.
In 1996, we launched our Forums (previously known as Town Hall), the most established automotive message boards, where thousands of individuals meet to discuss all things automotive.
In January 1998, we became the first automotive Web site to deliver its content to outer space. Russian cosmonauts aboard the Mir spacecraft asked NASA to send them interesting automotive leisure reading, and NASA looked to us for help. In response, we transferred our Edmunds.com content to a CD-ROM and delivered it to NASA, which in turn delivered it to the spacecraft. USA Today reported this event in its January 12, 1998 edition.
In 2000, we became the first source of vehicle information for users of wireless Web-enabled devices, delivering prices, summary reviews, a dealer locator service and other information via cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
One of our proudest achievements was the introduction of the Edmunds.com True Market Value® (TMV®) pricing tools, which launched in the fall of 2000. These tools consist of the Edmunds.com TMV® New Vehicle Calculator (which provides the estimated average price consumers are currently paying dealers for new vehicles), the Edmunds.com TMV® Used Vehicle Appraiser (which provides the estimated average price consumers are currently paying dealers for used vehicles, the price consumers are getting from dealers for their trade-ins, and the price consumers are paying each other in private party transactions), the Edmunds.com TMV® Finance Rate Estimator (which provides consumers with both national and local average loan rates currently being offered by lenders for vehicles), and the Edmunds.com TMV® Predicted Price Trends (which indicates probable price increases and decreases in the transaction prices of each new vehicle in the market).
In 2001 and 2002, we introduced an assortment of additional content, including the most useful and sophisticated set of automotive financial calculators available on the Internet; our unique True Cost to Own® data which is the only way to compare what new cars will truly cost over the full term of ownership; our Consumer Ratings and Reviews, which now contains hundreds of thousands of car ratings and commentaries by our visitors; and Future Vehicles, our sneak peak at upcoming models.
In January 2005, we launched Edmunds' Inside Line, the ultimate online destination for the car enthusiast. Inside Line uses online technology to its fullest potential, presenting hot cars and trucks as they were meant to be seen — in motion. This new venture was responsible for a considerable expansion of our editorial team and our broadband capabilities. Over the course of time, blogs and podcasts also became part of the Inside Line experience. Inside Line has more monthly visitors than any car enthusiast magazine has subscribers.
Throughout 2005 we also began publishing site content developed to serve targeted audiences: our Women and Family Car Guide and Young Driver's Guide present articles specifically aimed at empowering and educating those automotive consumers, while our Green Car Guide gives tips on saving gasoline, shopping for a fuel efficient vehicle and related subjects that help readers understand and minimize the environmental impact of their automotive choices.
In 2006 we launched Edmunds' CarSpace.com, an automotive lifestyle social networking site where members can create personalized automotive pages, link with friends and post photos, videos, blog entries and other self-generated content of interest to other car buffs. CarSpace.com is also home to Edmunds' Forums, the oldest and most established automotive community.
In 2007 we launched Edmunds' AutoObserver which delivers insightful must-read commentary on the automotive industry using Edmunds' own industry data, consumer Forums and other unique resources combined with traditional reporting to provide a fresh take on news stories and industry buzz. Later that year, we launched Edmunds' GreenCarAdvisor, a blog dedicated to providing news and commentary on environmental trends and technologies in the automotive world. GreenCarAdvisor covers hybrid, electric and diesel cars, new technologies and alternative fuels, battery developments and key political and economic issues of relevance. That year we also introduced Dealer Ratings and Reviews, where our site visitors can celebrate positive sales and service experiences and warn about negative ones.
In 2008 we introduced an interactive feature called Edmunds' Answers that makes it possible for consumers to post specific automotive questions and get helpful answers from the community of car experts and enthusiasts who frequent our sites. During that summer, we launched Edmunds' Gas-Guzzler Trade-In Calculator, an interactive tool that helps consumers determine the pay-back period and fuel savings from trading-in a fuel-thirsty vehicle for a more fuel-efficient one. Then, just after the SEMA show, we introduced Edmunds' Car Audio & Electronics Center, a resource for consumers seeking all the latest information on iPod connectivity, phone integration and mobile electronics.
In early 2009, we began to display on Edmunds.com actual new car inventory available on franchise new car dealer lots so that shoppers can find out which dealers have the exact vehicle they want to buy. We also supplemented our acclaimed "Confessions" series (Confessions of a Car Salesman; Confessions of an Auto Finance Manager; Confessions of a Car Thief) with a new entry: Confessions of a Parking Valet.
We never stop updating our Web sites' look and feel, improving their navigation and supplementing our original pricing information with vast amounts of other automotive data, vehicle reviews, feature articles, photos, videos and community services. You can follow Edmunds.com on Twitter.
March 2009
