Edmund's, the Web's Automotive Information Leader, Officially Transitions Name to Edmunds.com
13 September 1999
Edmund's, the Web's Automotive Information Leader, Officially Transitions Name to Edmunds.com
LOS ANGELES--Sept. 13, 1999--Commitment to Its Present Day Focus - Consumers Online
Edmunds.com, the Web's leading third party automotive resource, today officially announced a corporate identity change from Edmund's Publication Corporation to Edmunds.com and unveiled a new logo on its Web site located at http://www.edmunds.com.
Since its inception in 1966, Edmunds.com's focus has remained on providing consumers comprehensive, unbiased information surrounding cars and trucks. Historically, consumers have used print publications to garner this knowledge, and Edmunds.com still provides it in this format, shipping nearly 125,000 volumes of its pricing and review books per quarter.
Today, more than 40% of all new car purchases and a third of all used car purchases are influenced by the Web(1). It serves as the consumer's ultimate resource in the automotive arena, and likewise Edmunds.com has concentrated all of its energies on expanding the availability and usefulness of its Web site to millions of individuals who are logging on in search of the unbiased truth about cars and trucks. Edmunds.com has transitioned its identity, furthering its commitment to consumers online.
"Throughout our 33-year history, we've never seen a more effective way to empower consumers with free, unbiased automotive information than through the Internet, and it is our mission to provide as much of this information to as many consumers who are purchasing, selling or owning a vehicle as possible. More than 1.3 million unique visitors per month visit Edmunds.com, representing 32 times the amount of our print readership. Therefore, our change of corporate identity illustrates our tangible commitment to making ourselves accessible in new, powerful ways through http://www.edmunds.com," said Peter Steinlauf, president and CEO, Edmunds.com.
The Edmunds.com logo was created by Santa Monica, California-based Greg Thomas Associates and went live at the Edmunds.com site today. It depicts the new name in concert with a sedan and is accompanied by a new tagline - Consumer Driven. Plans for incorporating other makes of vehicles into the identity are in the works (e.g., a sports car and a truck-like vehicle). For GTA, a longtime brand builder in the offline world, it represents a first foray into brand creation online.
"Greg Thomas immediately grasped our mission and worked with us to create a clean, simple logo that enables consumers to understand exactly who we are and what we do." Avi Steinlauf, director of marketing, Edmunds.com. "As with the information we provide at the site, we intend to make our look and feel straightforward and easily understood. The new logo is intended for our most important constituency - consumers who are in need of automotive information and community."
About Gregory Thomas Associates
Gregory Thomas Associates (GTA) is based in Santa Monica, Calif. Formed 18 years ago, GTA is an internationally recognized authority on branding, design and marketing communications. The firm has developed global corporate identity programs for The Gas Company, Litton Industries, Logicon, the National Tourism Boards of Australia and New Zealand, Quantas, and CBS Television Network.
As brand management experts, the firm has worked with many internationally recognized brands, including Baskin-Robbins and Kahlua International, divisions of Allied Domecq and Master Halco. The firm has won numerous national and international design awards, including the New York Type Directors Club, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and the Tokyo Type Directors Club.
About Edmunds.com
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Edmunds.com is the Internet's pioneer and leader in providing a free, third party clearinghouse of automotive information. Through its Web presence at http://www.edmunds.com, Edmunds.com empowers, educates and engages visitors by respecting them and providing them with straightforward, truthful information on key aspects of buying, selling and owning a vehicle.
Users are provided automobile pricing data, extensive automobile reviews, consumer information, safety updates, incentive and rebate news, expert analysis of developments in the automotive world and the Town Hall, an interactive community of more than 250,000 participants. Edmunds.com has been honored as one of Yahoo! Internet Life's 50 Most Incredibly Useful Sites and among Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites for Entrepreneurs.
(1) Source: J.D. Power and Associates