ATLANTA -
It’s now official: AutoTrader.com has acquired vAuto, both companies confirmed. vAuto is now an AutoTrader.com subsidiary.
According to the initial mid-September announcement of the deal, vAuto’s management team and its Oak Brook, Ill., headquarters will be kept, as will its research and development in Austin, Texas.
Moreover, it was revealed at the time that founder Dale Pollak and president Keith Jezek would stay put, as well.
“AutoTrader.com is acquiring vAuto to further help dealers enhance their performance on the Internet by combining the power of AutoTrader.com’s 15 million unique visitor audience and 1,000-plus person consultative sales and service team with vAuto’s industry leading software tools for used-vehicle pricing and inventory optimization,” AutoTrader.com president and chief executive officer Chip Perry said at the time the deal was announced.
Offering his perspective when the transaction was unveiled, Pollak said: “I am excited to see vAuto join forces with AutoTrader.com because our two companies share a common passion for helping dealers leverage the Internet through strong product innovation and customer service.
“Together we are intent on ensuring that customers of both vAuto and AutoTrader.com will continue to benefit from the expertise and consulting services that they’ve come to depend on and trust,” Pollak added. “Another key benefit we expect to provide to both companies’ dealers is improved data products and services offered by both AutoTrader.com and vAuto.”