

In May 2014, with much interest, Autodata was purchased by Bowmark Capital and Five Arrows for £150 million. In 2015 Autodata France included a new company set-up, as Autodata purchased one of its biggest distributors in Europe, SFTA. This also became an important hub for the company with many OEM ( Original equipment manufacturer) organisations based in the region.Īutodata France was created in 2011, with offices just outside Bordeaux, to support what was becoming one of the biggest country-specific markets for Autodata. In 2007 Autodata Germany was created, employing permanent staff near Stuttgart. In 2006, alongside the CD product, Autodata launched its first online product to accommodate for the rate of change and increased complexity within automotive technology. This allowed for much more focus on the research and development of region specific products. In 2004 Autodata Australia Limited was founded to support the increasing interest and operations across Australia and New Zealand. This soon moved to CD, which continued in production until 2014. In 1991 Autodata produced its first electronic media in the form of workshop technical information on floppy disk.
#AUTODATA DIRECT PROFESSIONAL#
This soon led to Autodata growing internationally, with the professional technical data and guidance becoming used across Europe, the United States and Australasia. Instead of focussing on one vehicle with each book, the books would cover hundreds of vehicles, but for one task or item, such as carburettors or replacing timing belts.
#AUTODATA DIRECT MANUALS#
These publications became popular during the 1970s and 1980s, allowing the business to expand internationally.Īlthough the owners’ manuals continued to be printed up until early 1990s, Autodata had already started to focus the business towards the professional market, producing numerous publications for workshops and garages. It's best known for providing the automotive aftermarket with OE manufacturer data and has its own APIs which other companies integrate to build bespoke consumer and business automotive solutions.Īutodata was established in 1972 in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in the UK, producing printed car manuals for owners and enthusiasts to work on their own vehicles. Autodata provides automotive technical information to professionally service, maintain, and repair cars, light commercial vehicles, and motorcycles. We found that to be the best business model for picking up anywhere from your small independent guy up to your big franchise customer.Autodata Limited is a British multinational that specialises in automotive data and software. “Anyone can log on and we also have no contract or monthly fees,” he said. Toms said access to the information is web-based an doesn’t require any software. Toms said while about 2,000 dealers in Florida use the company’s temporary tag and metal plate services, dealers nationwide use their records. “Whether you are a dealer or a financier, having information is always a powerful tool.” “We’re targeting any dealer or financial institution that has a use for motor vehicle record,” Toms said. “It’s a cheap insurance policy to make sure you’re not having a problem on the back end.”Īuto Data Direct has relationships with 34 state DMVs and works with a few thousand dealerships across the country. “You want to make sure the address information their providing you is accurate,” Toms said. The data could also be useful when putting together a financing contract. “If you’re taking a trade in, you want to verify ownership, make sure that the person actually owns the vehicle, make sure there’s no lien holders on the vehicle,” Toms said. It also can provide vehicle history reports, and salvage and end-of-life data.įrank Toms, manager of dealer services at Auto Data Direct, told Mega Dealer News at this spring's NADA Show in Las Vegas that the information can help in a variety of situations. The company provides real-time access to motor vehicle records and offers electronic lien and title, and tag services. The need for accurate and timely motor vehicle information is what led to the founding of Florida-based Auto Data Direct almost 20 years ago.
