{{Short description|American vehicle valuation company}} {{Redirect|KBB}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. | logo = Kelley Blue Book Logo.png | logo_size = 140px | type = Subsidiary of Cox Automotive | founded = {{start date and age|1918}} (as '''The Kelley Kar Company''')<br>{{start date and age|1926}} (as '''Kelley Blue Book''') | founder = Les Kelley | location = Irvine, California, U.S. | key_people = Les Kelley, Founder<br>Buster Kelley<br>Steve Lind, President<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.ajc.com/news/business/new-presidents-named-for-autotrader-kelley-blue-bo/ngt8L/ | title = New presidents named for AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book | newspaper = AJC.com | date = 5 August 2014 | access-date = 21 September 2014 | author = Christopher Seward}}</ref> | industry = Information services, E-commerce software, Automotive | parent = Cox Automotive<ref>{{cite news | title = Cox creates wholesale, retail auto sales giant | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/08/21/cox-automotive-enterprises-manheim-autotrader-kbb/14379373/ | newspaper = USA Today | date = 21 August 2014 | access-date = 21 September 2014 | author = Fred Meier}}</ref> | homepage = {{URL|https://www.kbb.com/|kbb.com}} }}
'''Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc.''' ('''KBB''') is an American vehicle valuation and automotive research company.<ref name="Bloomberg Businessweek">{{cite magazine|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4843555|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122040012/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4843555|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 22, 2007|title=Kelley Blue Book Profile|magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Wall Street Journal">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304248704575574683608871098|title=Autotrader.com Buys Kelley Blue Book|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=October 26, 2010}}</ref><ref name="LA Times">{{cite news|title=Kelley blue book warns of impostor website|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 22, 2011|author=Hirsch, J.}}</ref><ref name="New York Times">{{cite news|title=Kelley Blue Book Tests the World Wide Web as a Distribution Source|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 28, 1996}}</ref> Based in Irvine, California, the company is owned by the Cox Automotive subsidiary of Cox Enterprises.
==History== The company began as the Kelley Kar Company founded by Les Kelley in 1918.<ref name="Bloomberg Businessweek"/><ref name="New York Times"/><ref name="Auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/kelley-blue-book-has-a-new-look/|title=Kelley Blue Book has a new look|publisher=Auto|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=May 26, 2011|author=Jeff Glucker}}</ref> Kelley started the company with three Model T Fords.<ref name="Globe and Mail">{{cite news|title=Used-car innovator invented the 'blue book'|date=December 11, 2001|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> His younger brother, Buster, worked with Kelley as a lot boy.<ref name="Globe and Mail"/> By using data collected from the dealership, Kelley published the company's first Blue Book in 1926, which became a standard guide in automotive trade in determining car value.<ref name="New York Times"/><ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite news|url=http://cars.chicagotribune.com/fuel-efficient/news/chi-the-top-ranked-fuel-efficient-family-cars-for-2013-20130521|title=Fuel-efficient vehicles fill out best family cars list for 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=May 21, 2013|author=Robert Duffer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224023012/http://cars.chicagotribune.com/fuel-efficient/news/chi-the-top-ranked-fuel-efficient-family-cars-for-2013-20130521|archive-date=February 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Globe and Mail"/> Kelley Blue Book was formed in 1926, and the Kelley family continued its dealership business in Southern California for several decades.<ref name="Bloomberg Businessweek"/><ref name="New York Times"/><ref name="Globe and Mail"/> By the 1960s, the company moved from a car dealership to a specialty publisher and focused on the production of its automobile price guide.<ref name="New York Times"/> Kelley Blue Book guide became the first publication to use mileage to determine a car's value.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
In 1995, Kelley Blue Book created its company website, which contained tips and pricing information from its hardcopy guide.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-autotradercom_kbb_purchase_10262010.aspx | access-date=30 July 2014 | title=AutoTrader.com buys Kelley Blue Book | author=Kristen Schott | work=OC Metro | date=26 October 2010 | archive-date=August 9, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809133845/http://www.ocmetro.com/t-autotradercom_kbb_purchase_10262010.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In December 2010, Kelley Blue Book was purchased by AutoTrader.com.<ref name="Bloomberg Businessweek"/><ref name="Wall Street Journal"/><ref name="Wall Street Journal 2">{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/10/26/kelley-blue-book-sold-at-near-mint-condition/|title=Kelley Blue Book Sold at Near-Mint Condition|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=October 26, 2010|author=Shira Ovide}}</ref> After its acquisition, the company operated as a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com, Inc.<ref name="LA Times 2">{{cite news|title=AutoTrader plans to buy kelley blue book; terms of the deal, which requires regulatory approval, are not disclosed|newspaper=LA Times|date=October 27, 2010|author=Li, S.}}</ref>
In 2013, the company formed an alliance with Bitauto Holdings Ltd. to expand into China.<ref>{{cite news|last=Clough|first=Richard|title=Kelley Blue Book to expand into China|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=November 9, 2013|page=Business 1}}</ref>
==Sponsorship== In 2014, Kelley Blue Book signed a two-year agreement with Hendrick Motorsports to be a primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet SS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/2/13/dale-earnhardt-jr-sponsor-hendrick-motorsports-kelley-blue-book.html | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = First-time NASCAR sponsor joins Earnhardt's No. 88| work = NASCAR.com | date = 13 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/article/2014/02/13/Kelley-Blue-Book-to-sponsor-Dale-Earnhardt-Jr | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = Kelley Blue Book to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. | work = Hendrick Motorsports | date = 13 February 2014}}</ref>
==Services== thumb|right|alt=Kelley Blue Book Official Guide. Best Resale Value|Kelley Blue Book Official Guide. Best Resale Value The company reports market value prices for new and used automobiles of all types, as well as motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft.<ref name="OC Metro">{{cite web|url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-KBB-Cyclechex-new-Motorcycle-History-Reports-3-1-12.aspx|title=Irvine-based Kelley Blue Book partners with Cyclechex to offer used-motorcycle information|publisher=OC Metro|access-date=September 24, 2013|author=Kirsti Correa|date=March 1, 2012|archive-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929003902/http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-KBB-Cyclechex-new-Motorcycle-History-Reports-3-1-12.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> For both new and used automobiles, Kelley Blue Book provides a ''fair market range'' and ''fair purchase price'', based on actual transactions of what others are paying for a vehicle and adjusted regularly as market conditions change.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fi-magazine.com/news/story/2013/10/kbb-launches-price-advisor-tool.aspx | access-date=30 July 2014 | title = KBB Launches Price Advisor Tool | work = F&I Magazine | date = 15 October 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.socaltech.com/kelley_blue_book_debuts_new_car_pricing_tool/s-0051902.html | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = Kelley Blue Book Debuts New Car Pricing Tool | work = Socal Tech | date = 15 October 2013}}</ref> For new automobiles, Kelley Blue Book also provides information about a car's MSRP and dealer invoice price.<ref name="Automotive News">{{cite news|title=Kelley adds certification to its used-vehicle listings|newspaper=Automotive News|date=June 24, 2002}}</ref> For used cars, Kelley Blue Book provides typical listing price, certified pre-owned price, trade-in value and private party value.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.businessfleet.com/channel/vehicle-research/news/story/2013/02/kbb-report-fair-purchase-price-data-shows-vehicle-segments-worth-buying-new.aspx | title = KBB Report: Fair Purchase Price Data Shows Vehicle Segments Worth Buying Used | work = Business Fleet | date = 19 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.autoremarketing.com/technology/kbb-rolls-out-range-based-pricing-used-values | title = KBB Rolls Out Range-Based Pricing for Used Values | work = Auto Remarketing|date= 20 May 2014}}</ref> Kelley Blue Book also offers expert and consumer vehicle reviews and ratings, and ''5-year cost to own'' information for new cars.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/07/30/kelley-blue-book-launches-first-consumer-tv-ads-video/ | access-date=30 July 2014 | title = Kelley Blue Book Launches First Consumer TV Ads (Video) | author=Jonathan Welsh|work = The Wall Street Journal | date = 30 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-launches-TV-ads-07-31-2012.aspx | access-date=30 July 2014 | title=Kelley Blue Book launches national television ad campaign | author=Mackenna Waterhouse | work=OC Metro | date=31 July 2012 | archive-date=August 9, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809131756/http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-launches-TV-ads-07-31-2012.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Recognition== In 2012–2014, Harris Poll recognized Kelley Blue Book as the Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year.<ref name="Harris Interactive">{{cite web|url=http://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/EquiTrendRankings.aspx#Automotive|title=2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings|publisher=Harris Interactive|access-date=September 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005104620/http://www.harrisinteractive.com/insights/EquiTrendRankings.aspx#Automotive|archive-date=October 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url = https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brand-equity-many-luxury-full-090000459.html | access-date = 30 July 2014 | title = KBB.com Earns Brand of the Year Three Years Running | work = Yahoo! Finance | date = 12 June 2014}}</ref> In addition, the company received a WebAward in the automotive category of Outstanding Website for two consecutive years.<ref name="OC Metro 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-wins-WebAward-second-consecutive-year-10-03-2012.aspx|title=Kelley Blue Book wins WebAward for second consecutive year|access-date=September 24, 2013|date=October 3, 2012|author=Kara Vaporean|publisher=OC Metro|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225725/http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Kelley-Blue-Book-wins-WebAward-second-consecutive-year-10-03-2012.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==See also== *TrueCar
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * [https://www.kbb.com/ Official website]
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Category:Companies based in Irvine, California Category:Automobile magazines published in the United States Category:Cox Enterprises Category:1926 establishments in California