For nearly a century, Kelley Blue Book has been synonymous with trust and accuracy in the automotive industry. While many recognize the name for its iconic Blue Book® value, particularly when considering new vehicles, the foundation of this esteemed company lies deeply rooted in the used car market. Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2006, Kelley Blue Book has journeyed from a humble pocket-sized guide for auto professionals to the leading online destination for car buyers and sellers, kbb.com, attracting over 10 million unique monthly visitors.
When navigating the complexities of buying or selling a vehicle, especially a used car, Kelley Blue Book stands out as a crucial resource. People instinctively turn to the “Blue Book” to understand the value of their trade-in or the worth of a used car they are interested in purchasing. But the story behind this trusted brand, particularly its impact on used car valuations, is a rich and fascinating narrative.
“For 80 years Kelley Blue Book has been The Trusted Resource® for both consumers and the industry,” stated Stephen Henson, then executive vice president of marketing and consumer business at Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. This enduring trust stems from their commitment to providing both buyers and sellers with the confidence they need in every vehicle transaction, especially within the often intricate used car market.
The Origins of Kelley Blue Book and Used Car Values
The Kelley Blue Book story began in 1926 with Les Kelley, a perceptive Los Angeles car dealer. He initiated a simple yet revolutionary practice: creating a list detailing used vehicles and the prices he was willing to pay for them. This list quickly became invaluable, as other dealers and banks recognized Kelley’s assessments as a reliable reflection of actual market values. They started requesting his list for their own operations, and Les Kelley realized the significant business potential he had unearthed. This marked the birth of the Kelley Blue Book Official Guide®, named “Blue Book” after the Social Register, signifying the valuable information contained within its pages.
Les Kelley expanded both his dealership and publishing ventures. His brother Buster joined him to manage the dealership, and together, they became known for pioneering sales and marketing techniques, notably being the first dealership nationwide to advertise on television. Both the car dealership and the Kelley Blue Book publication prospered from the mid-1920s through the 1960s. In 1962, Les Kelley made a pivotal decision to exit the car sales business and concentrate solely on publishing the increasingly influential Blue Book guides.
Expanding Beyond Used Cars – New Car Pricing and Consumer Focus
The 1960s witnessed Kelley Blue Book’s natural progression beyond traditional used car valuations. The company broadened its scope to include a variety of publications covering both new and used vehicle information. A significant milestone was reached in 1966 when Kelley Blue Book launched the nation’s first New Car Price Manual, marking its entry into new car pricing transparency. Kelley Blue Book was also innovative in refining used car valuations by being the first to factor in mileage, enhancing the accuracy and relevance of their guides.
For the subsequent three decades, Kelley Blue Book functioned primarily as an industry publication, producing numerous new and used vehicle value guides tailored for the automotive and finance sectors. This changed in 1993 with the release of the first consumer edition of the guide, making their expert valuations directly accessible to the public.
The launch of kbb.com in 1995 acted as a major catalyst, propelling Kelley Blue Book into a new era of consumer engagement. Initially offering only new vehicle pricing online, the site quickly expanded to include comprehensive information on both new and used vehicles, provided free of charge. This move was designed to empower both consumers and dealers in facilitating informed and transparent automotive transactions. By 2006, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com had risen to become the number one automotive information website on the internet. For eight consecutive years, kbb.com has been recognized as the most visited automotive website by J.D. Power and Associates, with research indicating that approximately one in three vehicle buyers consult kbb.com during their purchase process.
Kelley Blue Book Today: Your Go-To for Used Car Information
Beyond the immense growth of kbb.com, Kelley Blue Book’s dealer services division continues to develop and market innovative tools for automotive dealerships. The 2004 acquisition of CDMdata Inc. further strengthened their offerings, enabling dealers to efficiently capture vehicle images, add detailed descriptions, and upload them online for car shoppers. Kelley Blue Book also encompasses diverse and thriving business segments, including marketing research, content syndication partnerships, and advertising opportunities for dealers and auto manufacturers on kbb.com.
Today, headquartered in Southern California, Kelley Blue Book maintains its trajectory of rapid growth and success across both consumer and industry sectors. It has become an indispensable component of the car buying and selling journey for both consumers and dealers. By offering detailed pricing information, including dealer invoice price, MSRP, and New Car Blue Book transaction values, along with in-depth vehicle reviews, safety ratings, expert advice, dealer connections, and comparison tools, all readily available on kbb.com, Kelley Blue Book remains the trusted resource for all things automotive, especially used cars.
For deeper insights into Kelley Blue Book, visit www.kbb.com. For a complete historical timeline of Kelley Blue Book, explore www.kbb.com/history.
About Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)
Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, has been dedicated to equipping vehicle buyers and sellers with the essential new and used vehicle information needed to confidently achieve their goals. The company’s leading website, kbb.com, delivers the most current pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book® Value, revealing actual new car transaction prices. Kelley Blue Book also disseminates vehicle pricing and values through various products and services, such as software solutions and the renowned Blue Book® Official Guide. Kbb.com is consistently ranked as the top automotive information site by Nielsen//NetRatings and has been the most visited auto site according to J.D. Power and Associates for eight years running. Kbb.com’s reach extends to a vast audience of in-market vehicle shoppers, with nearly one in every three American car buyers utilizing kbb.com for their research.
