Polk to Buy Auto Price Data Firm

Automotive research specialist R.L. Polk has agreed to acquire a majority interest in ROADTODATA, a supplier of real-time automotive price and specifications data with operations in Europe, South America and Australia.

The new venture will be named Polk ROADTODATA and will provide price, specifications and vehicle comparison data as well as sales volume information on a global basis. The plan is to combine existing capabilities and add new data to allow customers to tap in to more comprehensive information about the global automotive market.

Chairman, President and CEO Stephen Polk explained: 'This expansion of capabilities will help us leverage our core assets and provide data in a way that will change how customers perceive and use price and specifications information.'

John Grant, CEO and MD or ROADTODATA said the partnership would provide customers with an enhanced level of market intelligence and the depth and scope of data that the global automotive industry requires.

In 2007 Polk has launched a number of new initiatives including its Vehicle Launch Program (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6671.htm ), Commercial Vehicle Loyalty Analysis solution (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6593.htm ) and an Internet lead scoring product (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6404.htm ). In February the firm acquired the Automotive Information Centre (AIC), a division of online automotive retailer Autobytel www.mrweb.com/drno/news6399.htm.

R.L. Polk & Co was founded in Detroit in 1870 and has operations in Australia, Canada, China, Japan France, Germany, Spain and the UK. The partner firms are online at www.polk.com and www.roadtodata.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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